October Bible Reading Plan
Hi everyone,
Below you’ll find the Scripture readings for this month. If you’ve been looking for ways to deepen your faith and participation in Christ and in his body, I’d like to invite you to join my family and many others in committing to five simple practices. Here’s a quick synopsis of the five practices with some helpful links to get you started:
SCRIPTURE: We share a common reading schedule, usually one passage from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and a Psalm each day. Learn more: How To Read The Bible
PRAYER: We pray on our knees the first minute we get out of bed and the last minute before our head hits the pillow. Learn more: How To Pray
FASTING: Fasting makes space for God. We do it in different ways in different seasons (e.g. internet fast on Sundays; no meat or dairy on Fridays; special alms-giving in summer). Learn more: Why We Fast
CHURCH: Make a commitment to physically go and worship with other Christians at a local church every Sunday. Learn more: Losing Our Religion
AUTHORITY: Begin to ask God for a trustworthy pastor, priest, or spiritual leader. Then approach that person and give them authority in your life. Learn more: What Is A Priest?
If you’d like to read more about how these sorts of practices help to form and shape our faith and identity, check out this recent post: Creeds, Deeds, & Needs.
October Scripture Readings
The readings for this month are as follows. If you’re the analog type, you can access the reading plan here and print it out or bookmark it on your phone or computer. We also have a personalized plan on the Dwell app (FREE for you!), which automatically loads each new day’s Bible passages. You can read or listen right on the app. It’s pretty awesome. You have to create an account to get started, but once you’re in, it’s free thanks to VB Fellows footing the bill (we welcome your donations to help keep it going).
In the Old Testament, we are concluding the Book of Genesis with the story of Joseph (perhaps my favorite story in the Bible; pay close attention…it is a bottomless well). Then we begin the Book of Exodus. In the New Testament, we tackle the story of the early church in the Book of Acts. Definitely check out the excellent Bible Project introductory videos below before you begin. The Psalm readings are listed as “optional,” but I highly recommend praying through the selected Psalm each morning, evening, or both.
In other news, here are the latest highlights from my Substack. For those who like short reads, I published a 5-minute synopsis of one of the major problems I see in contemporary Christian thinking and practice and its solution: Blank Slate Theology vs. A Theology of Continuity. Then, a few days ago I wrote a somewhat fiery reflection on the “moral failings” of pastors, which has already become the most popular piece I’ve published: There But For The Grace Of God.
God bless you all!
— Ross