The Bible’s Center

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

Jesus Christ is the Bible’s central message. This Old Testament looks forward to His coming; the New Testament recounts His coming. Without Christ the Bible is only another book of ancient history—but beyond that it has little relevance. But Christ gives the Bible its value, because before time began God planned to send Him into the world for our salvation (see Ephesians 1:4).

But Jesus Christ isn’t just the center of the Bible; He is the center of our lives. By believing in Him, John says, we “have life in His name.” What does this mean? First, it means eternal life. Without Christ we have no hope of Heaven; as the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But when we yield our lives to Christ and trust Him alone for our salvation, we know we will be with Him through all eternity.

But Jesus Christ also gives us life right now—not the artificial, unstable life the world offers, but a life of purpose and peace and joy. Is Christ the center of your life?

from “Hope for Each Day” by Billy Graham

Read the Bible in a Year

We hope that you will join us in 2016 as we read through the Bible. Don’t worry if you’re behind or even if you are just getting started—you can jump in or go at your own pace. This calendar features a reading plan that will take you through every book of the Bible in the order they are estimated to have been written. If you read each day’s suggested passage, you’ll finish by year’s end. Find past months plans here.

November 1 – Matthew 1-4
November 2 – Matthew 5-7
November 3 – Matthew 8-9
November 4 – Matthew 10-12
November 5 – Matthew 13-14
November 6 – Matthew 15-17
November 7 – Matthew 18-20
November 8 – Matthew 21-22
November 9 – Matthew 23-24
November 10 – Matthew 25-26
November 11 – Matthew 27-28
November 12 – Luke 1
November 13 – Luke 2-3
November 14 – Luke 4-5
November 15 – Luke 6-7
November 16 – Luke 8-9
November 17 – Luke 10-11
November 18 – Luke 12-13
November 19 – Luke 14-16
November 20 – Luke 17-18
November 21 – Luke 19-20
November 22 – Luke 21-22
November 23 – Luke 23-24
November 24 – Ephesians 1-3
November 25 – Ephesians 4-6
November 26 – Colossians, Philemon
November 27 – Philippians
November 28 – Acts 1-3
November 29 – Acts 4-6
November 30 – Acts 7-8