The
E100 Bible Reading scheme is attractively packaged by its author Whitney
Kuniholm, who is President of the Scripture Union of the US, and offers those
who follow it fifty extracts from the Old Testament and fifty from the New. The
great difference in length between the two Testaments is ignored. The scheme,
after all, is intended for Christians. A proportionately more intensive selection
from the New Testament is therefore appropriate. Kuniholm writes: ‘…remember
that your goal is not just to read the world’s greatest book, or to gain Bible
knowledge, or even to develop greater spiritual discipline. All those things
are important. Your higher goal is to meet the Author. The secret to making
Bible reading more than just a good habit is to think of it as an opportunity to
meet God – to have an encounter with the God who made you, who loves you and
who desires to have a living relationship with you.’
The
Old Testament selection of readings draws heavily on the early history of the
people of Israel, on the deeds of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. One of the
great weaknesses of the E100 Bible Reading scheme in my view is the fact that
there is only one selection – number 46 on the suffering servant – from the
Prophet Isaiah. Did we really need the repetitive errors of Samson (no. 29) in preference to selections from the prophet (or prophets) who is sometimes referred to as the Fifth Evangelist? In the prologue to his translation of Isaiah,
Jerome (ca. 342-420) writes: ‘he should be called an evangelist rather than a
prophet because he describes all the mysteries of Christ and the Church so
clearly that you would think he is composing a history of what has already happened
rather than prophesying about what is to come.’ Is that not the sort of resource we should have more of in the E100 Bible Reading scheme than so much on the history of the people of Israel?
The
New Testament selection has the majority of readings after the death and
resurrection of Christ. There are only five passages which seek to encapsulate
the teaching of Christ. True, the good Samaritan (no. 59) and the Prodigal Son
(no. 60) are there, but what of the great story recounted by Luke, the Rich Man
and Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives (Luke 16:19-31) and the Parable of the Sheep
and the Goats or the Judgement of the Nations in Matthew (Matthew 25: 31-46)?
Both of these have the theme of punishment as a central focus, and on our
conduct in this life as being a determining factor in how God will regard us
when we see our maker. It is right to emphasise forgiveness in Jesus’ teaching;
but we have also to recognize it’s not all plain sailing and that we are called
to do our utmost to help bring about God’s kingdom here on earth and may be punished if we do not. Jesus identifies acts
of mercy and kindness to others with mercy and kindness towards himself. We are
called to love and serve God first, before all others. But it is in part by our
respect for, and love of, humanity that our love of God is demonstrated.
OLD TESTAMENT
IN THE BEGINNING
1 Creation Genesis 1:1–2:25
2 The Fall Genesis 3:1–3:24
3 The Flood Genesis 6:5–7:24
4 God’s Covenant with Noah Genesis
8:1–9:17
5 Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1–11:9
ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB
6 The Call of Abram Genesis 12:1–12:20
7 God’s Covenant with Abram Genesis
15:1–15:21
8 Isaac’s Birth and ‘Sacrifice’ Genesis
21:1–22:19
9 Jacob and Esau Compete Genesis
27:1–28:22
10 Jacob and Esau Reconcile Genesis
32:1–33:20
THE STORY OF JOSEPH
11 Sold into Slavery Genesis 37:1–37:36
12 Prison and Promotion Genesis
39:1–41:57
13 Ten Brothers go to Egypt Genesis
42:1–42:38
14 The Brothers Return Genesis
43:1–44:34
15 Joseph Reveals His Identity Genesis
45:1–46:7
MOSES AND THE EXODUS
16 Birth of Moses Exodus 1:1–2:25
17 The Burning Bush Exodus 3:1–4:17
18 The Ten Plagues Exodus 6:28–11:10
19 Passover and Exodus Exodus 12:1–12:42
20 Crossing the Red Sea Exodus 13:17–14:31
THE LAW AND THE LAND
21 The Ten Commandments Exodus 19:1–20:21
22 The Golden Calf Exodus 32:1–34:35
23 Joshua Succeeds Moses Joshua 1:1–1:18
24 Crossing the Jordan Joshua 3:1–4:24
25 The Fall of Jericho Joshua 5:13–6:27
THE JUDGES
26 Israel’s Disobedience Judges 2:6–3:6
27 Deborah Leads Israel Judges 4:1–5:3
28 Gideon Defeats the Midianites Judges
6:1–7:25
29 Sampson Defeats the Philistines
Judges 13:1–16:31
30 The Story of Ruth Ruth 1:1–4:22
THE RISE OF ISRAEL
31 Samuel Listens to God 1 Samuel 1:1–3:21
32 King Saul 1 Samuel 8:1–10:27
33 David and Goliath 1 Samuel 16:1–18:16
34 David and Saul 1 Samuel 23:7–24:22
35 King David 2 Samuel 5:1–7:29
THE FALL OF ISRAEL
36 David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11:1–12:25
37 King Solomon 1 Kings 2:1–3:28
38 Solomon’s Temple 1 Kings 8:1–9:9
39 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal 1
Kings 16:29–19:18
40 The Fall of Jerusalem 2 Kings
25:1–25:30
PSALMS AND PROVERBS
41 The Lord is My Shepherd Psalm 23:1–23:6
42 Have Mercy on Me Psalm 51:1–5:19
43 Praise the Lord Psalm 103:1–103:22
44 Godly Wisdom Proverbs 1:1–4:27
45 Proverbs of Solomon Proverbs 16:1–18:24
THE PROPHETS
46 The Suffering Servant Isaiah 51:1–53:12
47 Jeremiah’s Call and Message Jeremiah
1:1–3:5
48 Daniel in the Lion’s Den Daniel
6:1–6:28
49 The Story of Jonah Jonah 1:1–4:11
50 The Day of Judgment Malachi 1:1–4:6
THE NEW TESTAMENT
IN THE BEGINNING
51 The Word Became Flesh John 1:1–1:18
52 Gabriel’s Message Luke 1:1–1:80
53 The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1–2:40
54 John the Baptist Luke 3:1–3:20
55 Baptism and Temptation Matthew
3:13–4:17
THE TEACHING OF JESUS
56 Sermon on the Mount – Part 1 Matthew
5:1–6:4
57 Sermon on the Mount– Part 2 Matthew
6:5–7:29
58 The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew
13:1–13:58
59 The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25–10:37
60 Lost and Found Luke 15:1–15:32
THE MIRACLES OF JESUS
61 Feeding the Five Thousand Luke 9:1–9:36
62 Walking on Water Matthew 14:22–14:36
63 Healing the Blind Man John 9:1–9:41
64 Healing a Demon Possessed Man Mark
5:1–20
65 Raising Lazarus from the Dead John
11:1–11:57
THE CROSS OF CHRIST
66 The Last Supper Luke 22:1–22:46
67 Arrest and Trial John 18:1–18:40
68 The Crucifixion John 19:1–19:42
69 The Resurrection John 20:1–21:25
70 The Ascension Acts 1:1–1:11
THE CHURCH IS BORN
71 The Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1–2:47
72 Growth and Persecution Acts 3:1–4:37
73 The First Martyr Acts 6:8–8:8
74 Sharing the Word Acts 8:26–8:40
75 Good News for All Acts 10:1–11:18
THE TRAVELS OF PAUL
76 The Road to Damascus Acts 9:1–9:31
77 The First Missionary Journey Acts
13:1–14:28
78 The Council at Jerusalem Acts
15:1–15:41
79 More Missionary Journeys Acts
16:1–20:38
80 The Trip to Rome Acts 25:1–28:31
PAUL TO THE CHURCHES
81 More than Conquerors Romans 8:1–8:39
82 The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians
5:16–6:10
83 The Armour of God Ephesians 6:10–6:20
84 Rejoice in the Lord Philippians
4:2–4:9
85 The Supremacy of Christ Colossians
1:1–1:23
PAUL TO THE LEADERS
86 Elders and Deacons 1 Timothy 3:1–3:16
87 The Love of Money 1 Timothy 6:3–6:21
88 Good Soldiers of Christ 2 Timothy
2:1–2:26
89 All Scripture is God-breathed 2
Timothy 3:10–4:8
90 The Coming of the Lord 1 Thessalonians
4:13–5:11
THE APOSTLES’ TEACHING
91 The Most Excellent Way 1 Corinthians
13:1–13:13
92 A New Creation in Christ 2
Corinthians 4:1–6:2
93 A Living Hope 1 Peter 1:1–2:12
94 Faith and Works James 1:1–2:26
95 Love One Another 1 John 3:11–4:21
THE REVELATION
96 A Voice and a Vision Revelation
1:1–1:20
97 Messages to the Churches Revelation
2:1–3:22
98 The Throne of Heaven Revelation
4:1–7:17
99 Hallelujah! Revelation 19:1–20:15
100 The New Jerusalem Revelation 21:1–22:21
PRAY: before you read, asking God to help you
understand.
READ: the Bible passage for the day, perhaps
more than once.
REFLECT: on the passage. Write your thoughts in
a journal.
APPLY: what God teaches you from His Word to
your life.
PRAY: again, asking God to help you live out His
Word.
The E100 Bible Reading Challenge is a new exciting
way to read through the Bible. The Challenge is
based on carefully selected short Bible passages
— 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New
Testament — that helps you get the big picture of the
Bible without getting bogged down.
To take The E100 Bible Reading Challenge, follow
these simple steps:
1. Find
a Bible translation that is easy for you to
understand.
2. Set
aside a special time and place to read the Bible
each day.
3. Use
this Track Your Progress Card.
4. Take
the E100 Bible Reading Challenge!
takes you through the 100
Old and New Testament
passages — so you’ll see how
all the major Bible themes fit
together. Written in a warm
& engaging style, it provides
life-related explanation for all
100 passages: plus application
questions, prayer help and
more.
