The Year of the Bible, Revised Leader's Guide

Newly revised, this ever-popular, comprehensive Bible-reading program for individuals and group study offers a sweeping introduction to biblical themes and concepts. Complete with a detailed reading schedule for every day of one year, The Year of the Bible leads participants to a better understanding of Scripture and a greater sense of community within the church. Newcomers to Scripture and longtime Bible readers alike will find their Christian faith enhanced and feel a sense of accomplishment from reading the Bible in its entirety.

Bible literacy is on a steep decline. Fifty-five percent of adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center could not name the four Gospels, 66 percent do not know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and 12 percent of Americans questioned identified Joan of Arc as Noah s wife.

Reading the Bible is on a downward trend as well. In fact, only 37 percent of Americans said they read the Bible at least once a week; 19 percent participated in a small group for Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship. In addition, only a minority of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) laity report reading the Bible on their own, either at least daily (members, 18 percent; elders, 17 percent) or often, but not daily (16 percent; 17 percent).

The Bible is the root of Christian faith sharing stories of God s interactions with God s people with the intention of instructing the reader in how he or she should live his or her life. How, then, if readership and knowledge of the Bible are decreasing, can believers strive to be Christ-like without knowing God s commands for being a Christian?

The Year of the Bible is a comprehensive Bible-reading program designed for group and individual study. Newly revised, this ever-popular study offers a sweeping introduction to biblical themes, persons, and concepts. Published by Witherspoon Press, it includes a detailed reading schedule for every day of one year, leading participants to a better understanding of Scripture. Newcomers to the Bible and longtime readers alike will find their Christian faith enhanced and feel a sense of accomplishment from reading God s Word in its entirety.

James E. Davison, director of continuing education at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of The Year of the Bible, conjured up the idea for this study several years ago. He encouraged members of his church to read the whole Bible in one year as a congregation-wide project.

Davison said, The Bible became much better known and appreciated by folks in the congregation; a deeper sense of unity developed within the congregation. People began to share their impressions and questions with each other. They seemed to relish the sense that they are in this together.

Since its inception, The Year of the Bible has been used by nearly 60,000 people in the United States and Canada. Now it is your turn to read the whole Bible over the course of one year with your congregation.