A Scriptural Beginning

Here's a life-changing "Bring-in-the-New-Year" project for your church: Ring in 2005 by reading the entire New Testament aloud as a church. It takes about twenty-four hours to read the New Testament, so you could begin reading at 5 p.m. December 31st and end at 5 p.m. January 1st. Can you think of a better way to start the year?

On a signup chart, list 96 15-minute shifts or 48 half-hour shifts for your 24-hour period. Ask church members to choose a time to read, i.e. 6:45 - 7pm December 31st. Purchase a large-print Bible for the pulpit, but let readers use their own Bible if they prefer. Each reader should write their name in the margin beside the Scripture where they begin reading, and the Bible may be placed in your church library as part of church history. If readers complete reading the New Testament before the 24-hour period, continue reading in Psalms.

Pastor Jerry Adamson of Indian Heights Baptist in Kokomo, IN, led his church to read the Bible for 24 hours to dedicate their newly refurbished sanctuary last year. Members read in ten-minute shifts, and hourly instrumental music was featured. They even invited local Christian leaders to participate along with church members. A fire chief, police chief, Baptist state and associational representative, congressional representative, and several neighboring pastors were among guest readers. The church youth group planned a lock-in the same night, and took early morning shifts.

The Pastor read the first and last chapters of the Bible. He did not plan to stay for the entire 24 hours but was so enthralled with the public reading of God's Word by his congregation he could hardly leave! Observers came and went throughout the readings. I Timothy 4:13a was printed in large letters by the entrance and beside the Bible: "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture...”

Participants ranged from eight to eighty years old. Families or couples could dual shifts together and read alternately. Just picture it...little children, new Christians, new and old church members, single adults, teens, college students home on break. What a beautiful way to begin 2005!

Let your community know what you're doing. A newspaper article emphasizing how much your church loves God's Word could feature a photo of a teenager reading. A sign outside your church could read:

We're bringing in the New Year right!
We're reading the Bible aloud for 24 hours
Stop by anytime to listen
5pm Dec. 31 to 5pm Jan. 1st

Our church opened the millennium New Year by reading through the entire Bible in half-hour shifts (which took eighty hours!) We tape-recorded the readings and took audiotapes to shut-ins afterward. 

Make the plan fit your church. Whether you use ten, fifteen or thirty minute shifts, or read New Testament or the entire Bible, God will bless the reading of his Word. I can attest that this project is worth all the effort. God truly spoke to His people.      
                                   
Take the challenge. "Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture"! And Happy New Year!

Fresh Ideas© are shared by Diana Davis, wife of Indiana Baptist State Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Davis. Email her at jesuslivesindiana@hotmail.com.