4 Brain Hacks that will Help You Read the Whole Bible in 2025

[@PGCCTN]

I've listened to your content for awhile now and I've heard you explain how to read so many pages a day to complete reading the Bible by a certain goal I set. But the one thing you said that really stood out to me in this video was to time about how long it takes you to read that goal per day. I think that will be a game changer for me to know that's the time I need to dedicate. It seems so obvious, yet I needed to hear it. Thank you!

[@keithferrin]

I'm so glad it was helpful! It definitely has been a game-changer for me! One suggestion...add 5 minutes to whatever timeframe you come up with. That way, you will ALWAYS be ahead, so when you miss a day it'll be no big deal!

[@PGCCTN]

@@keithferrin Thanks for that tip too!

[@keithferrin]

@@PGCCTN You're very welcome! :)

[@kata75f]

Thank you just ordered the chronological Day by Day, excited to check it out. ordered from amazon

[@keithferrin]

Awesome! You'll love it.

[@jeffstormer2547]

excellent material! i also have a psych degree as well as theological. I'd only quibble a bit about saying listening is less effective than reading... this is a common perspective of folks who are visual learners, esp as opposed to auditory learners. it is also a stereotypical Western perspective; much different from an Eastern/Middle Eastern one. As Westerners, we tend to be heavily influenced by Greek thinking: logic, lists, outlines, and bullet points. The Eastern perspective is relationally oriented. Westerners read Genesis and think how does this tie In with evolution or not,... looking for Western history patterns or scientific points. The Eastern view will read the same material and ask what does this tell me about God? This is more of the storytelling mindset you're talking about. Back to listening... being able to read the Text for yourself is a very recent thing, only the past few hundred years. for the bulk of history in which the Text has been available, you listened to someone else read it (bc you were likely illiterate) or you listened to someone else recite it... in both cases you worked to memorize it for later recitation and discussion. And you're spot on about the necessity of community... another problem with us Westerners, esp Americans, marinated in a culture that worships independence and rugged individualism. the church is community. Israel is community. Yes, we can survive by ourselves but we thrive in community. part of getting the Text in us, being baptized in it--so immersed in it that it colors every fiber of our being--comes by daily exposure to it, and routine wrestling with in in community. We look at Jesus and the boys.. and boys they were... teens anyway, though counted as men in their culture... listened to Hi day in and day out and likely talked about what He taught while walking or around the evening meal fire. AFTER they had memorized the Text as children. but i digress... great content! looking forward to seeing more while binging on your archives! thanks!

[@keithferrin]

I would imagine you and I are pretty close on the idea of listening and reading. I always say, "It's not a replacement. It's a supplement." As our Western culture has changed the WAY we listen (much more music, tv, etc. in the "background"), I find that we need our eyes and ears to work together more than ever. Blessings to you and thanks for your thorough comment!

[@red58impala]

Thanks for the video and the tips! I've had some successes and failures with reading through the Bible. My first one year Bible read through took approximately three years. I did really well for the first 6-7 months and got really ill. Once I was recovered I just couldn't get back into the grove. I'd just read from time to time. My second one, my beloved BSB, I completed in 60 days. My third one, HCSB, I completed in 30 days. That was pretty brutal but quite satisfying. My fourth, and most recent one, NKJV, will take over two years to complete unless I read three hours a day to finish up about a third of the OT and all of the NT by 2025. I have other reading plans I'm following so sometimes the read through has to take a back seat. One thing I do when listening to an audio Bible is speed it up a little, 1.25x - 1.5x. 1.35x is my current sweet spot. If you look at the play time for some of these audio Bibles they range from 69 hours to 98 hours. I find if I adjust the speed so it falls more in line with how fast I speak, I stay better engaged. I also listen to an audio Bible of the same translation while I read my Bible to help fill in any gaps if my mind strays. I prefer a chronological reading. I find it helps fill in the gaps and makes the read more interesting and enjoyable. Crossway just came out with a chronological ESV audio Bible. I plan on picking that up when I finally get around to the ESV read through. There is a chronological one for the NLT as well, but it's a previous update so it won't match up with a more recent NLT. Now I'm going to spend some time with extended one year read through.

[@keithferrin]

30 days and 60 days is impressive! Nice job! I agree...some of the Bible readers I need to speed up as well. :)

[@red58impala]

@@keithferrin Thanks! I was looking at your chronological reading, which matches ones I've done in the past, and was curious to your thoughts about the placement of the book of Job. The Crossway ESV Chronological audio Bible has Job between Genesis and Exodus. I looked up arguments for both and about the best I can come to agreement on is that the story of Job would definitely have occurred before the Law was given to Moses. I say "definitely" because Job gave an inheritance to his daughters which would only have been allowed by the Law if he had no living sons. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@robertenos4982]

I will try reading the Bible in chronological order. Thank you for the really great tips.

[@keithferrin]

@ Reading chronologically is a game-changer!

[@keithferrin]

@ I have done a little research on that but not a ton. When I created my plan I examined about 5-6 other reading plans from trustworthy ministries and went with the most common placement for Job.

[@sharonetheridge]

That was very helpful. I’m home alone and I read for an hour in the afternoon and I read for an hour in the evening. Depending on my schedule I will read in the morning too.

[@keithferrin]

Wow! At that pace, you could read through the whole Bible in 2-3 months!

[@sharonetheridge]

@ I love reading the Old Testament! I am fascinated by how humanity is so crazy and caught up in other gods and all the mistakes made. So much to learn every year! With each year I grow little bits at a time with what I read and learn. I love reading about Jesus and what he did. When I first started many years ago I was not thrilled to read a book I didn’t understand, but my grandmother read through the Bible every year! I wanted to be like her. Boy did it change my life! Still changing my life! ❤️

[@keithferrin]

@@sharonetheridge Amen!

[@HollyTidball]

I finally read the Bible through this year! I have tried for years! Yay…I even finished a few weeks early! I started over this week by setting a timer becuase I found your channel and have been fascinated by all of it! I have a question! I have trouble comprehending and getting sidetracked, is it bad that I listen to the Bible app and follow in my Bible at the same time? I got a “readers Bible” that you talk about! Yay! I’m also following your chronological plan! I’m very excited! I am also trying to internalize/memorize James!! it might take years…..but I will do it…with God’s help! I am terrible at memorizing! Anyway, love your channel! Thanks for all your content!!!

[@HollyTidball]

Hahah! You answered my audio question! I was listening and typing and had not reached the end of the video!

[@keithferrin]

@@HollyTidball hahahaha

[@keithferrin]

So glad you "found" me. :) BTW...in the BibleLife Community, we'll be studying James in February and March. I'm writing "James Scripture Journey" right now. It'll be out in mid-January!

[@HollyTidball]

@@keithferrin Just went to your site and signed up! Yay!

[@keithferrin]

@ Wahoo!! Welcome aboard!

[@kata75f]

Goal to ask 2-3 friends to read together & meet up.

[@keithferrin]

So important! Enjoy!

[@EquippedDisciple]

I love the don’t do it alone point. I’m going to challenge my men’s group to do the reading plan together

[@keithferrin]

Game-changer for sure!

[@Rene3873]

I was keeping up with reading the Bible & yes fell off of it so I went to a chronological reading & really liked it a lot bc it has OT then the new along with psalms & a proverbs that is in some way to fit together - thus is internet o me so we’ll see hoe long i last- but I like that it’s somehow to fit with each story - & a devotional I’ve been doing that’s from Paul Tripp where he also has you reading with a chapter or whole psalm with what he’s wrote - very good devotional called morning mercy

[@keithferrin]

@@Rene3873 Paul has created some great resources for sure!

[@donivers9454]

Fighting cancer pray please add me to your praying circle please thank you Don ivers