I have to admit I have never read the mega bible but when I taught first communion for 14 years, I would read the picture bible which has most of the stories in a condensed version and a lesson at the end. I would read the bible several times throughout the year as I also taught catechism. I felt that the shortened stories allowed me to answer many more questions from the kids that were sometimes not part of that day's story. However, my late father used to read the bible every single day and I still have his copies in Arabic.
Your experiences preparing lessons for young people remind me of advice somebody gave me during training to become an instructor: "If you want to teach, learn. If you want to learn, teach." Glad to hear about your father's daily Bible reading practice. I wonder whether or not the copies you have are similar to an 1880 version posted online here: https://arabchurch.com/ArabicBible/jab/.
I love my picture bible and would hand it as gifts to people who had small children. My father's bible copies have date of print of 1960. He also had a small dictionary for Arabic to English that he must've bought while on route to USA from Egypt. That is written by a priest. That dictionary was always with my father as he would read the daily newspapers and look up the words.
Enjoy hearing more about ways you and your family have learned from and taught the Scriptures. Dictionary making has been very important for those who work to share the Bible cross-culturally. Reading Scripture in different languages has helped me build foreign-language vocabularies, too. Appreciate your father’s approach!
I delight to read this! Repeatedly reading the Scripture is the only way to move beyond reading for information to reading for transformation. I have tried all the plans you mentioned and more, often in a different translation each time through. For several years now I have settled into Professor Horner's Bible Reading System (10 chapters a day, from different books, mixing Old and New Testament books, with many fascinating juxtapositions, as you mentioned), changing transaltions each time through. One day I hope to be able to add the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament. God meets me regularly, melting my heart and encouraging my confidence in Him. Teaching others how to read the Bible remains one of my favorite tasks.
I have to admit I have never read the mega bible but when I taught first communion for 14 years, I would read the picture bible which has most of the stories in a condensed version and a lesson at the end. I would read the bible several times throughout the year as I also taught catechism. I felt that the shortened stories allowed me to answer many more questions from the kids that were sometimes not part of that day's story. However, my late father used to read the bible every single day and I still have his copies in Arabic.
Your experiences preparing lessons for young people remind me of advice somebody gave me during training to become an instructor: "If you want to teach, learn. If you want to learn, teach." Glad to hear about your father's daily Bible reading practice. I wonder whether or not the copies you have are similar to an 1880 version posted online here: https://arabchurch.com/ArabicBible/jab/.
I love my picture bible and would hand it as gifts to people who had small children. My father's bible copies have date of print of 1960. He also had a small dictionary for Arabic to English that he must've bought while on route to USA from Egypt. That is written by a priest. That dictionary was always with my father as he would read the daily newspapers and look up the words.
Enjoy hearing more about ways you and your family have learned from and taught the Scriptures. Dictionary making has been very important for those who work to share the Bible cross-culturally. Reading Scripture in different languages has helped me build foreign-language vocabularies, too. Appreciate your father’s approach!
I delight to read this! Repeatedly reading the Scripture is the only way to move beyond reading for information to reading for transformation. I have tried all the plans you mentioned and more, often in a different translation each time through. For several years now I have settled into Professor Horner's Bible Reading System (10 chapters a day, from different books, mixing Old and New Testament books, with many fascinating juxtapositions, as you mentioned), changing transaltions each time through. One day I hope to be able to add the Septuagint and the Greek New Testament. God meets me regularly, melting my heart and encouraging my confidence in Him. Teaching others how to read the Bible remains one of my favorite tasks.
Thank you for mentioning the Horner plan! Here’s a link to an online version of this approach: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/prof-horners-reading-system.html. Enjoyed reading your perspective on how transformative Scripture has been in your life and what future goals you have in mind.
Reading the Bible draws you closer to God. My life is blessed because I study it.
Appreciate your point about the difference between reading and studying!