It’s that time of year again! Time to get into gear for the new year with Joni and Ken and read through the whole Bible front to back! Find out how you can follow along with them at joniradio.org.
JONI: Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada sharing hope with you today! And I got Ken Tada in the studio with me and Ken, and I have a challenge for you, listening friend!
KEN: That’s right, Joni. We want our friends to be able to read with us through the Bible in this next year.
JONI: Yup, yup! Starting January the 1st.
KEN: Yeah, just a few days away. We’ll start by going into Genesis.
JONI: Yup, and I love Genesis. The story of creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, Enoch, and Noah.
KEN: And the Tower of Babel and Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob.
JONI: And in Genesis don’t forget the story of Rebecca and Rachel, and Joseph.
KEN: And since it’s chronological, isn’t the book of Job thrown in there somewhere?
JONI: Yeah, it is! And all of the book of Genesis and it’s going to be a great way to start the year. Reading through the Bible chronologically and getting a real sense of God’s amazing flow of redemptive history. So, listening friend, Ken and I would love for you to join us next year. And sweetheart, what’s your favorite part of doing this?
KEN: Oh, it’s been life changing ever since we started. Just being able to read the Word of God, I mean, that’s a powerful, powerful tool. And actually, I think because we’re doing it together, it’s brought us closer together.
JONI: One of my favorite times is in the morning. Usually it’s [I don’t know] 9:30 whatever, pull up to the kitchen table – you pour me a cup of hot coffee. You get out all our study guides.
KEN: Now is that the only reason why you like to read the Bible?
JONI: No, no!
KEN: Because I get your coffee?
JONI: No, no, no, just being with you and both of us pouring over the chapters of God’s Word, page by page. And one thing I’ve heard you say Ken. You’re so much more familiar now.
KEN: Oh, yeah. I mean, it becomes more of a friend if I can use that terminology. I mean it’s what I look to get excited about – going back and reading the Bible.
JONI: Oh, we get to King Hezekiah, we both get so excited! Or especially King Josiah, one of the best kings ever.
KEN: AndI can actually pronounce most of the names now.
JONI: Okay, try one.
KEN: Hezekiah.
JONI: Nebuchadnezzar.
KEN: Zephaniah.
JONI: Sennacherib. We’re going to get some professor – Old Testament history telling no, it’s not Sennacherib, it’s Senna-sharib [or something like that].
JONI: But I think my favorite part is again, that familiarity with the Word of God. And to know what story flows into the next biblical story. Where Esther fits and who’s in the book of Judges. And who was a judge?
KEN: That’s why Joni, I think that reading the Bible chronologically like we do has really helped.
JONI: Absolutely! And you know Ken I love the chronology because it puts all of the historic events in God’s Word in perfect order so as you read them, you get a real sense of how the previous story or the previous chapter has an impact of what you’re reading on that day. And then you can anticipate the next day. It’s just a wonderful way of seeing the wholeness of God’s counsel. You can sign up at joniradio.org where the team has put a link so that you can receive your monthly email. And also you’ll find there at joniradio.org, a PDF download that shows the reading schedule so that you can read right along with Ken and me each and every day.
KEN: Hey, if you have Joni’s planner, we have included Through the Bible reading plans on the last few pages. If I don’t know the Bible reading for the day, I just get my planner and flip to the back.
JONI: Yup!
KEN: And if you don’t have the planner, you’ll want to get one for next year. Again, just go to joniradio.org.
JONI: I love that, Ken! Looking forward to having you next year listening friend, as together we read through the whole Bible in the new year! And those are your hope-filled words for today.
© Joni and Friends