What on Earth is the Forty-Day Challenge?

All too often in our Bible study we go to church or sunday school and listen to someone tell us about a particular passage in the Bible and think we "have it" while failing to read the Bible for ourselves. In fact, for most of us the idea of reading the Bible is an overwhelming task - one that we hope or plan to do someday yet we never quite get around to it. Perhaps it's because it is such a big book (my study bible has almost 2000 pages). Or, perhaps, it's because it includes 66 different books. Some of us are afraid of the archaic language in the KJV we grew up with, or that a more modern translation isn't the "real" bible (for my opinion on bible translations, I would refer you to this post: Alphabet Soup). The links on this site will be to the English Standard Version, a "new, essentially literal Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning" that was first published in 2001.

The New Testament is an important story for the Church. In it we find the gospel message, the good news of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. This book, or compilation of twenty-seven books, provides for us the story of the redemption of mankind prophesied in Genesis 3:15 and developed throughout the Old Testament. In the pages of the New Testament we find the story of God who condescended to become man - fully God yet fully man - to live the perfect life and die our agonizing death in order to reconcile us to himself. Then on the very first Easter, he was resurrected from the dead in demonstration that he is God and after forty days ascended to the Father where he now intercedes for those who are his. This story is told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The remaining books of the New Testament provide the history of the growth of the early Church and provide doctrinal teaching (doctrine, by the way, means "teaching" or "instruction").

The "Forty-Day Challenge, New Testament Edition" is designed to get individuals into the habit of daily Bible reading. It has been said that if you do something for 28 days in a row, it will become a habit. I'm hoping and praying that that is the case for you. But more than that, the Forty-Day Challenge is also designed to acquaint you with the New Testament. There are no requirements for deep study; no hard questions to answer; no deep theological puzzles to solve. Just read the New Testament to start a habit and become acquainted with the nine authors of the New Testament and their writings. We won't jump around and we won't try to keep all the writings of one author together (except for John and Luke, the New Testament does this for us anyway).

By using this blog, it should all be very easy. Open your browser; connect to this site; and select the post for the current date. I'll provide a brief introduction to each day's reading and a hyperlink to the daily passage, but otherwise there will be no devotional content, no Q&A, no evaluation of the reading. My plan is to let the Scriptures speak for themselves. However, if you do have a question, I want to try to get you an answer. Respond to the daily reading in the comment section and I'll respond as soon as possible and to the best of my ability. For now the sessions will be moderated, but I may change my mind as this program develops and permit unmoderated comments.

The daily link connects to the ESV Bible Online and will open the complete reading for the day. You may choose to read right there on-screen, print the daily content, listen online (there's a button on the page), or simply determine the reading and read from your own favorite version. If you want a different online version, go to BibleGateway.com and enter the version and passage in the appropriate locations and you're on your way.

As you read, you may find the following chart of New Testament books, authors, dates, audience, theme and teaching to be of use to you. If you click on the chart, it should open in a new window, allowing you to print it for future reference.


The Apostle John pronounced a blessing on those who read and study the book of Revelation:

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3)

This blessing is available to all who read and study the Word of God and I'm sure that you will be blessed by taking up this challenge and completing the program.