A new year is quickly approaching. It’s around this time that many start making New Year’s resolutions. Talk of self improvement and doing better than the previous year is in the air. Christians are no different. We too want to grow and mature. My goal for the new year is getting back to basics. This means focusing on my Bible reading, and I want to challenge you to join me.
Before I tell you what the challenge is, I want to introduce you to a Bible reading plan and tell you how it can improve your Bible study going forward.
The Plan
The Bible reading plan I want to introduce you to is called F-260, from Replicate Ministries. This is a 260-day Bible reading plan. Its purpose is to highlight the foundational passages of Scripture that all Christians should know. Many plans focus on reading the entire Bible in a year; not so with this plan. Instead, F-260 gives you the Bible’s big picture without getting bogged down in the minor details.
F-260 gives you the Bible’s big picture without getting bogged down in the minor details. @RGallaty @ReplicateMin Share on X
Why only 260 days? F-260 isn’t about checking off boxes. The goal isn’t to say you read the Bible, but for you to digest and internalize it. This plan wants you to grow your faith. Therefore, this 52-week plan only has 5 readings each week. This gives you the weekends off for reflection, or catching up if you fall behind.
Because you’re only reading the foundational passages, each day’s reading is only a chapter or two in length, instead of the handful required to read through the entire Bible in a year. This makes it easier to spend quality time in God’s Word, instead of reading and quickly moving on.
Scripture Memory
Another aspect of the F-260 plan is Scripture memory. This discipline is vital to Bible study and spiritual growth. Along with your daily readings, each week you are expected to memorize two Bible passages.
As we discussed in a previous Bible study tip, there are many tools available for memorizing Scripture. You just have to pick the method that works best for your learning style.
The goal of Scripture memory with F-260 is to not read the Word, but to internalize it and make it a part of your being. If you’re going to have the right word at the right time, battle sin, and renew your mind, then Scripture memory must be a part of your life. Disciples know God’s Word.
Disciples know God's Word Share on X
H.E.A.R. Journaling
As has already been stated, F-260 isn’t about checking off boxes and merely reading the Bible, it’s about transforming lives. It’s aim is to make you a better disciple of Jesus Christ through the study of the Scriptures. For this reason, the Replicate team developed the H.E.A.R. journaling method. Journaling the Bible in this way facilitates both understanding and application. As you read and go through the steps you will know what the Bible says and how God wants you to respond.
H.E.A.R. stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. Each step in the process allows you to digest what you’ve read while letting God speak directly to your spirit. The H.E.A.R. method helps you hear from God.
Highlight
The first step in the process involves writing down three things:
- The book and passage you read
- A verse or two that stood out during your reading
- A title for the passage you read that will help you remember it
That’s all there is to highlighting the passage in your journal.
Explain
The next step requires some work and diligent digging. It is here that you want to answer questions like:
- Who wrote the passage?
- Who is the audience?
- Why was this book written?
- How does this passage fit with the rest of the book and the Bible as a whole?
The goal of this step is to help you understand the meaning of the text and how it would have been understood by its original hearers. This steps moves you in the direction of making application from the text.
Apply
Once you understand the meaning of the passage, the next step is to apply it to your life. This involves asking questions like:
- What does this passage mean today?
- What does this verse look like in my life?
- Is there anything in this passage God wants me to do?
- How can it help me?
As you answer these questions you should be able to write down a few sentences about how God is speaking to you through the passage.
Respond
The last step in the H.E.A.R. journaling method is to put some action behind what you’ve read. This can be either a clear action step you need to take after reading a passage, or it can be a prayer to God. No matter what the action is, you should respond to the passage in some way.
H.E.A.R. stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. @RGallaty @ReplicateMin Share on X
Dig Deeper
The F-260 method, in and of itself, is pretty simple. You read a couple chapters a day, journal about it, and memorize Scripture each week. But, if you want to dig deeper, Replicate has produced additional resources that accompany the F-260 Bible reading plan.
First is the Foundations devotional journal. This journal takes the F-260 Bible reading plan and turns it into a devotional resource. Now, not only are you reading Scripture, but you get a paragraph that helps you make sense of the passage, as well as a reflection question or two. This is a great way to supplement the H.E.A.R. method while keeping track of your readings. If you want to go through it with your kids or teen, there are versions available for them as well.
Another resource is the CSB Disciple’s Study Bible. This study Bible combines the F-260 Bible reading plan, the Foundations journal, and throws in a lot more! Not only do you get the above, but you get book introductions & outlines, study notes, and discipleship articles. This is an all-in-one resource for the person who wants to really dig into the F-260 plan or go through it with others.
iOS and Android apps are also apps available for download. The F-260 Bible reading plan can also be found in the Bible app from YouVersion. Find out more by clicking here.
Note: Look for my review of the CSB Disciple’s Study Bible in the coming weeks.
The Challenge
On January 1, I will be starting the F-260 plan. My challenge to you is to join me on this journey throughout 2018. Join my group reading plan in the Bible app, and connect with the BibleStudy.Tips Facebook group as we share our insights with one another. And, if you use Scripture Typer to memorize verses, click here to join our group.
Click here to read more about the 2018 BibleStudy.Tips Bible reading challenge.
2018 is going to be a fun year of growing in faith, and I hope you join me! Leave a comment or send me an email to let me know!
Weekly Study Prompts
This week let’s dig into Romans 6. This is a great chapter to read through often, especially heading into a new year.
- Monday – Read Romans 6:1-4
- Tuesday – Read Romans 6:5-11
- Wednesday – Read Romans 6:12-14
- Thursday – Read Romans 6:15-19
- Friday – Read Romans 6:20-23
