Devotional Bible Reading Guide

This reading guide will provide you with daily readings for use during your reflection time each day during the year.

We encourage you to use the Revised Common Lectionary, used by churches around the world, for your daily readings. The lectionary is a calendar of readings and The Vanderbilt Divinity Library provides a free version on their website.

Revised Common Lectionary

Please note, the lectionary calendar begins with the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Commonly called Advent, this season begins the Christian Year. This means that the readings for 2019 began in December of 2018 and continue to through December of 2019. The readings are also on a four-year repeating cycle designated C (2018-2019), A (2019-2020), and B (2020-2021).

Find a quiet space, a journal, and a pen to use as you read through the Bible readings for each day. Be sure to choose a Bible translation that is easy to read and understand. The version we use at Southeast is the New International Version (NIV). It is a popular, common, version.

GUIDE FOR READING:

  1. Create an inviting/inspiring space.

  2. Select a passage to read from one of the selected texts for that day. You do not need to read every text provided. Simply choose one text to meditate on.

  3. Have paper or a journal and a pen ready.

  4. Give yourself to these four directions (20 minutes total, 5 minutes for
    each).

  5. READ– Slowly read the selected text.

  6. REFLECT– Select a word or phrase from the passage that sticks out.

  7. WRITE– Spend time writing about why you selected that word or
    phrase.

  8. REST– Suspend all thought and sit quietly with God. Trust that
    God heard your worry, anxiety, and /or longings, and is acting on your behalf.

It is expected to have questions as you read the scriptures. In fact, wrestling with questions, and the scriptures themselves is a part of faith and an important part of the Christian faith. Instead of leaning away from questions as you read, we encourage you to lean into them; write down your questions for further study and reflection.

As you reflect further, talk to people within your circles at Southeast. Good interpretation is done through a community. Also, consult commentaries. The Old Testament for Everyone- John Goldingay & The New Testament for Everyone- N.T. Wright are great resources to start with and are available through public libraries.

For further questions about the Bible, see our resource page here.