Frequently Asked Questions

To put it simply, doing so will change your life in a positive way!

For those who believe, as we do at Word Way, that the Bible is the primary way in which God has chosen to communicate directly with us, reading Scripture for ourselves is one of the most important things we can ever do. Until you have sought to know God better by reading through the entire Bible, you will not fully understand what God has to say about Himself and the relationship He wants to have with each of us or all that is available in the Bible to help us in this life and prepare us for our future life. We believe it is vitally important to read through the entire Bible to have a more complete understanding of God.

For those who do not believe the Bible is God speaking to mankind, it is still worthy of being read. Read it for yourself, and discover why the Bible has often been called “the greatest book ever written.”

The essential parts to this program are:

The Word Way program is designed so that busy people can accomplish the important goals of reading the entire Bible and applying what they read to their everyday lives. The Reading Schedule is based on reading one chapter each day from the Bible. Most people find reading one chapter a day to be doable.

But there will be times when reading each day is not possible. For those times, we urge you to set a secondary reading goal and designate a special time each week to catch up on any of the seven chapters assigned for that week which you have not read. Reading and reflecting on the entire Bible can only be accomplished when you are determined to set aside time to do so.

It will take 170 weeks or just over 3 years. That may seem like a long time to accomplish this goal, but we think it is important for you to have time to think about what you are reading. Most people find that reading one chapter per day allows time to reflect on what they are reading and also allows them to catch up during the week if they fall behind in their Reading Schedule.

This may be the number one obstacle to attempting to read through the Bible.

The Word Way program is designed so that busy people can accomplish the important goals of reading the entire Bible and applying what they read to their everyday lives. But these goals cannot be accomplished without deliberately setting aside time to read and reflect on what has been read. If time constraints are a concern for you, it is important to ask God to help you pick a good time and place to read and to be dedicated to keeping that time with God.

We have found that most readers who are serious about learning about what God has to say to them through the Bible are able to carve enough time from their schedules to read one chapter each day and the Bible Reading Program is set up on this schedule. For readers who simply cannot read each day, it is often possible to set aside time each week to catch up on the seven chapters assigned for that week.

Making time with God a priority in your life will be something you never regret. If time constraint is an issue for you, pray for the determination to read a chapter a day or seven chapters each week in the Bible.

Stressful life circumstances certainly make consistent reading more difficult, but it is probably during these times that we most need the wisdom, guidance, and comfort that come through reading the Bible.

God’s words to us can truly make a difference when our lives feel out of control. Ask God to help you to read the Bible, to settle your mind so that you can understand what He wants you to know, and to guide you through your circumstances.

Not understanding what you are reading is often due to the Bible translation being used. Some translations are much harder to understand than others. One of the reasons Word Way recommends the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible is that it is a Bible which is easy to understand and has notes to help you apply what you read to your own life situations.

If you've tried reading the Bible before and felt lost, try reading the New Living Translation Life Application Bible. Before you begin reading, ask God to help you to understand what you read. And if you find there are still things which are confusing to you, email us at contact@thewordway.com, and together we will try to clear up those things which are puzzling.

Reading can be difficult for people, but the good news is that the Bible is different from reading other books. Something very special occurs when we reach out to God by reading His words to us. While many books are helpful, the Bible can literally change your life.

God wants you to be successful in your reading and your understanding of what you read. When you find you are losing interest or your mind wanders during reading, ask God to help you to concentrate and to comprehend what you are reading.

If outside sources are the cause of difficulty in concentration, try to find a place and a time to read where you will not be distracted, and ask for God's help in determining what these are.

The audio version of the New Living Translation Bible may be ideal for you. Unfortunately, the Life Application Notes associated with this Bible are not available on audio, but you will still have the incredible benefit of hearing the complete Bible.

The e-reader version of the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible may be ideal for you. It is available for download on many bookseller websites. Using the bookmark feature on your e-reader makes moving between Bible chapters and books as easy as using a physical Bible.

Reading can be difficult for people, but the good news is that the Bible is different from reading other books. Something very special occurs when we reach out to God by reading His words to us. While many books are helpful, the Bible can literally change your life.

God wants you to be successful in your reading and your understanding of what you read. When you start to feel overwhelmed by how much there is to read, ask God to help you to focus on what He wants to say to you rather than on how much there is to read.

Remember, you are not reading the entire Bible in a few weeks. You are committing to reading just one chapter each day, and when you have finished you will have accomplished an important goal—maybe one you never thought possible: you will have read through the Bible. Even more importantly, your reading will help you to know God better.

While the Bible is historically accurate, it also contains universal themes which are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. It is truly amazing to see how the topics contained in the Bible are exceptionally applicable to our lives today.

The only way to verify the Bible’s relevancy to your life is to read it. We suggest reading the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible to see the many ways God's word applies to the circumstances of your life.

Reading a daily devotional is terrific! We, at Word Way, do the same.

But reading through the entire Bible is different than reading selected, small portions of it. When you make a commitment to read all of Scripture, you will be surprised at how much of it you have never heard before and how significant these unknown portions are. As your knowledge of all that is contained in Scripture expands, you will come to know God in an even more meaningful way.

Hearing selected Bible passages from time to time is entirely different from reading and studying the entire Bible. When you make a commitment to read all of Scripture, you will be surprised at how much of it you have never heard before and how significant these unknown portions are.

The only way to verify the Bible's importance to your life is to read it. We suggest reading the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible to see what you are missing!

This is a difficult situation because we often want to please those who care about us. Nevertheless, there are times when we realize that it is important for us to do something that others might not understand. If you are sensing a desire to read through the Bible, it is because God has something vital and life-changing to show you in His words found there.

This may be true, or you may be surprised that it turns out not to be the case at all. It may even be that some of the people you anticipate ridiculing you are looking for some of the very answers found in the Bible without realizing where these answers are found.

Nevertheless, there are times when we realize that it is important for us to do something that others might not understand. If you are sensing a desire to read through the Bible, it is because God has something vital and life-changing to show you in His words found there. Do not let your fear of being ridiculed keep you from reading something which can be so profoundly significant to your life and the lives of others.

This Bible Reading Program is a great way to plunge in and learn more about both! We believe that, if you commit to reading through the Bible with Word Way, you will look back in 3 ¼ years and be amazed at what you have learned and how your life has changed.

The Bible is God's written words regarding the relationship He wants to have with us and the relationship that He wants us to have with Him. The Bible is unlike any other book you will ever read. It is powerful and has the ability to change your life!

  • The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is generally about events before Jesus Christ was born. The New Testament is generally about events after Jesus Christ was born.
  • The Old and New Testaments are divided into many books. For example, one of the books in the Old Testament is "Exodus," and one of the books in the New Testament is "John." An index of the books contained in the Bible is listed at the beginning of the Bible.
  • Each book is divided into chapters. The third chapter in the New Testament book of John is often displayed like this: John 3.
  • Each chapter is divided into verses. The sixteenth verse of the third chapter in the New Testament book of John is usually displayed like this: John 3:16. A series of verses may be shown as John 3:16-19.

The New Living Translation (NLT) is a Bible that is easy for modern day readers to understand without sacrificing accuracy, and it contains notes to help make Scripture relevant to life situations. It is a translation that is especially good for those who are just becoming familiar with the Bible, but it is also appreciated by people who have read and studied the Bible for many years. It is not a paraphrased Bible but a translation from the original Hebrew and Greek texts which is written in modern language syntax. If you have never read the NLT Life Application Bible, why not give it a try and see what you think? Many have found it to be a life-changing experience, and you, too, may come to love this Bible.

The Life Application Notes help readers to understand what they are reading and enables them to connect the Bible to their own life situations. Word Way considers the Life Application Notes to be one of the key reasons that many people continue to read through the entire Bible when they were unable to do so in the past.

We urge you to read each note in your NLT Bible. You may find, after reading a verse and any notes associated with that verse that you will want to read the verse again because of new insights triggered by the notes.

In addition to the Life Application Notes, there are:

  • One or two page introductions to each book of the Bible that help to set the general tone of that book
  • Profiles of individuals who play significant roles in the Bible
  • Maps
  • Historical time lines
  • Explanations of key words within verses
  • Cross references between key verses
  • Specialized cross references of all the events in Jesus’ life as they appear in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
  • A dictionary
  • A concordance

The NLT is available in many different print sizes. There are also numerous colors and materials to choose from for the cover.

There sure is! It is available at many bookseller websites for direct download to your electronic reader.

The NLT Life Application Bible is published in a large-print edition and is also available on audio.

You may want to use the NLT Bible on audio. Unfortunately, the audio version does not include the Life Application Notes but is a good alternative for those who do not like to read.

Not at all! If you have found a Bible translation that you enjoy reading, please use that version and join with Word Way in reading through your Bible.

There are two reasons a Reading Schedule is needed.

The first reason is that the Word Way program does not read straight through the Bible but moves back and forth between the Old Testament and New Testament. A schedule is necessary for the reader to know what the assigned reading is for each day. See Why does the Reading Schedule move back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament each week?

Secondly, the program is based on reading one chapter a day from the Bible. By reading only one chapter a day, it will take 170 weeks, or 3 ¼ years, to read through the Bible. Realistically, there will be situations where a person will not be able to read the assigned chapter for that day. For the times when a reader falls behind in reading, a schedule can help to track your reading progress and allow you to know what chapters need to be read.

There are two reasons why it can be beneficial to read between the Old Testament and the New Testament rather than attempting to read straight through the Bible or to read only the New Testament.

First, when trying to read straight through the Bible, readers often bog down when they come to the parts that may not hold their attention, such as the long genealogies found in the first 9 chapters of the Old Testament book of Numbers. Moving between the Old and New Testaments each week helps to keep us reading through the entire Bible when we hit difficult-to-read spots.

Secondly, some Christians today erroneously believe that the Old Testament is not relevant to believers. By moving between the Old and New Testaments, the reader is able to see how closely these sections of the Bible are tied together. There is much to learn about God and ourselves in the Old Testament.

You are right! You can spend a lot of time just finding where you are supposed to read for each day. We have found that it is useful to keep three bookmarks in your Bible. One for where you are reading in the Old Testament, one for where you are reading in the Psalms (which are part of the Old Testament), and one for where you are reading in the New Testament. For e-readers, using the bookmark feature of your e-reader works well.

Certainly! Please contact us at contact@thewordway.com to request either a Chronological (in time sequence) Reading Schedule or a Reading Schedule that reads straight through the Bible.

Unfortunately, for these two additional Reading Schedules, Word Way is unable to save your schedule online or track your reading progress. In addition, Weekly Thoughts are not available for these two schedules. And finally, these two schedules are only available to individual readers, not group readers, at this time.

Certainly! In addition, Word Way will automatically track your progress if you check off each chapter you have read. You can also choose to have Word Way send you reminders of each day's reading.

Certainly! Many readers find it valuable to have a hard-copy of their Reading Schedule available especially if you prefer to not come to the website each day.

Certainly! To receive emails, make sure to select the email reminders you want to receive by editing your User Profile. You can receive email notifications of:

  • Today's reading
  • Weekly thoughts for the week you just finished
  • Milestones to let you know when you've achieved something great!

If you have signed up for those emails but do not receive the emails, you may want to check your spam folder to make sure our emails don't show up there. If they do, add our address to your safe sender list.

The last column of the printed or on-line Bible Reading Schedule is designed to be checked off as each day's reading is completed. This enables you to see with a quick glance where you are in the reading schedule.

This happens. There are going to be days when you get behind in the Reading Schedule. Don't be discouraged or give up reading when this happens. Because life isn't always smooth, we won't always read the chapter on the day it is assigned.

Because the lessons of the Bible build on each other, it is most beneficial to read all, not just part, of Scripture. If you miss large sections of reading, there may be gaps in your knowledge that affect your understanding of what you read later. If you have fallen far behind in the Reading Schedule, you may want to start again, from the beginning, rather than pick up from where you stopped reading.

To create a new reading schedule:

  • Go to My Account
  • Click the Edit tab at the top of the page
  • Click the Reading Schedule Information tab
  • Use the Reading Start Date pull-down bars to choose a new date to begin reading
  • Click Save at the bottom of the page.

After changing your Reading Start Date, you may want to reprint your Bible Reading Schedule. 

It is more important to read at a pace that works for you rather than to skip sections of scripture to keep current with your group. You may want to check with your group leader to see if others have also fallen behind. If so, it may be the right time to form a second group that starts again with a different Reading Schedule. Or you may want to start over using an Individual Reading Schedule.

To create an Individual Reading Schedule, reset your personal reading schedule start date on the My Account page. You may also want to remove yourself from your group. To leave the group, go to the group's page and click the Leave Group button.

 

Go for it! There are two different directions to go when reading ahead. First, God may give you such a strong desire to keep reading once you begin that the Reading Schedule becomes irrelevant for you. We rejoice if this is the case! After you have completed reading through the Bible the first time, you may want to use a Reading Schedule for a second read–through.

Or, you may find that it is only occasionally that you feel like reading ahead of the schedule. Reading ahead during those times will help offset the times when you are unable to read and help to keep you in-line with your Reading Schedule and a part of any reading group of which you are a member.  

 

There are a few things that can make a difference. They are:

  • Your commitment and determination to read are the most powerful tools you control. Decide from the beginning that you are dedicated to reading through the entire Bible and learning about God.
  • Choosing a specific time of day and place to read. When you commit yourself to a time and place, you are more likely to continue reading because you have consciously made it part of your daily schedule. Over the course of reading through the entire Bible, you may need to change the time or place you have chosen several times as your life circumstances change.
  • Keeping your Bible in a highly visible place so that you are more likely to make it part of your daily routine.
  • Having a specific reading schedule. View our sample reading schedule to get an idea of how this might help.
  • Tracking your reading progress on your Reading Schedule. See How Can I Keep Track of My Reading Progress?
  • Using the NLT Life Application Bible. See Why does Word Way recommend using the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible?
  • Using an e-reader and its bookmark feature may be helpful to some readers.
  • Reading back and forth between the Old and New Testament rather than straight through. See Why does the Reading Schedule move back and forth between the Old Testament and the New Testament each week?
  • Reading the Weekly Thoughts. See What are the Weekly Thoughts? and How do I receive the Weekly Thoughts?
  • Finding a reading partner or a group to provide encouragement to continue reading and to share insights or questions.
  • Praying. Pray that God will help you to find the time to read and to help you complete the reading. Ask God to help you to understand what you read so that reading is beneficial to you and so that you can put His words into action in your life. Ask God to give you joy in reading scripture rather than allowing it to become a chore.
  • Setting secondary reading goals for yourself. If you cannot read every day, can you set a time to catch up each week? Each month?
  • Keeping a journal. See How do I make this a more personal journey?
  • Getting rid of any guilt if you do fall behind in the Reading Schedule. It is more important for you to continue reading than it is to stay on schedule. Just pick up where you last read or start over.

Congratulations! That is wonderful news. We suggest that you start again because each time you read God's words, you will discover new things. You may even be surprised at what readings become relevant and helpful to you each time you reread the Bible.

To create a new reading schedule:

  • Go to My Account
  • Click the Edit tab at the top of the page
  • Use the Reading Schedule Start Date field to choose a new date to begin reading
  • Click Save at the bottom of the page.

Another great opportunity would be to share with your friends and family about how life-changing it is to read through the Bible and to invite them to join together with you to form a new reading group. See Getting Started for Group Leaders.

The Weekly Thoughts are short writings based on each week’s scheduled Bible chapters. They were written to encourage readers in their relationship with God, to answer questions that may not be addressed in the Life Application Notes, and to increase the reader’s knowledge of the Bible.

The Weekly Thoughts were also written to help readers remain dedicated to reading the entire Bible throughout the 170 weeks it takes to do so when reading one chapter a day.

You can choose to receive the Weekly Thoughts automatically on the last day of each week of your Reading Schedule, or you can access them on this website.

The Weekly Thoughts are also available in book format through Amazon or the Word Way.

It is very simple to get started in the Bible Reading Program. Here is all you need to do:

You can receive email delivery of:

  • The complete Bible Reading Schedule
  • Daily reminder of the chapter scheduled to be read each day
  • Weekly Thoughts
  • Milestone notifications of reading accomplishments such as being half-way through the Bible

Click My Account to note your preferences or create an account now.

Certainly! Word Way will automatically track your reading progress on your on-line reading schedule if you check off each chapter as you complete it. In addition, those chapters which are not checked off and whose reading date is prior to the current date will be highlighted in red so that you can more easily see what chapters need to be read to bring you up-to-date on your reading schedule.

Some people find that it helps to journal their thoughts, questions, or noteworthy Bible verses while reading. Others find that sketching rather than writing works best for them. Either way this may provide a personal journal that becomes significant to you. It may also become a roadmap of your personal spiritual journey, especially if dates are included.

Readers may want to keep a separate notebook or write directly in their Bibles.

Certainly! Register now to create your Individual Reading Schedule if you have not already done so. Joining a group is dependent upon an invitation from a group leader.

Joining a group is usually dependent upon an invitation from a group leader. Occasionally, groups are formed through open membership. If there are currently any groups accepting open membership, the group will be listed on the registration form, and you may select it during your registration process.

If you have received an invitation from a group leader to join their specific group, you will need to:

  • Register an account if you don't already have one.
  • While registering, choose your individual delivery preferences with Word Way regarding your Bible Reading Schedule and Weekly Thoughts.  See What types of information can I receive automatically when I register with Word Way?
  • Find your group through the Join A Group page or by following the link provided by your group leader.
  • Click "Join" and enter the group password provided by your group leader to join the group.
  • Print your Bible Reading Schedule if you would like a hard copy.
  • Decide if you will use the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible and if so, obtain a copy if you do not already own one.  See New Living Translation Life Application Bible for more information on this Bible.
  • Contact us at contact@thewordway.com if you would like to use the NLT Life Application Bible and cannot afford it. Sponsorship help is sometimes available.

You can receive email delivery of:

  • The complete Bible Reading Schedule
  • Daily reminder of the chapter scheduled to be read each day
  • Weekly Thoughts
  • Milestone notification of reading accomplishments such as being half-way through the Bible.

You may choose which items you would like to receive when you register with your group.

Certainly! Word Way will automatically track your reading progress on your on-line reading schedule if you check off each chapter as you complete it. In addition, those chapters which are not checked off and whose reading date is prior to the current date will be highlighted in red so that you can more easily see what chapters need to be read to bring you up-to-date on your reading schedule.

Some people find that it helps to journal their thoughts, questions, or noteworthy Bible verses while reading. Others find that sketching rather than writing works best for them. Either way this may provide a personal journal that becomes significant to you. It may also become a roadmap of your personal spiritual journey, especially if dates are included.

Readers may want to keep a separate notebook or write directly in their Bibles.  
 

You sure can! Register now to create your Individual Reading Schedule if you have not already done so. Join a group by searching the Group Directory or receiving an invitation from a group leader.

That is terrific! People have found it very rewarding to become group leaders.

We suggest that you begin with prayer for God’s help and guidance in forming a group. Pray that God will give you the words to tell others why reading through the Bible is important to you and for help in knowing who to invite.  

 

People form groups by asking:

  • Friends
  • Coworkers
  • Ministers or leaders of their church to form a group within their church
  • Leaders of groups to which they belong such as Book Clubs
  • Prison Chaplains
  • Leaders of groups providing services to others such as addiction rehab groups, abuse groups, literacy groups, and grief groups

 

Communication depends on the group make-up and the group size.

For local groups who regularly meet together such as churches or groups providing services to others, you may want to introduce the program in person.

For groups made up of potential members who do not regularly meet together, communication via the internet or telephone is often appropriate. Word Way has sample emails available about the reading program to help you in communicating to potential group members.
 

There are only a few key points that you should be sure to communicate to the people you contact. It is important for your potential group members to know:

  • Why you think it is important to read through the Bible.
  • The proposed start date.
  • Why reading the New Living Translation Life Application Bible is recommended if they do not currently have a Bible that they prefer using and that it can be purchased in many bookstores and through most on-line booksellers.
  • To contact us at contact@thewordway.com if they would like to use the NLT Life Application Bible and cannot afford it. Sponsorship help is sometimes available.
  • They will be reading through the Bible using a Reading Schedule that moves between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
  • Whether you will be sending them a Word Way generated email invitation to join your group or if they should visit the website to review the program and join your group through open registration.
  • That during registration they may choose to automatically receive Daily Reading Reminders, Weekly Thoughts, and Milestone Markers.
  • The group name.
     

Both the group leader and group members need time to get ready to participate in a Bible Reading Program. Most groups need at least a four week lead time. This allows time for the group leader to:

Four-week lead time also allows potential group members time to:

To register your new group, you will need to know the:

  • Group name
  • Reading start date for the group. When deciding a start date for your group, allow enough time to contact and communicate with potential members of your group. Also allow these potential group members enough time to decide if they would like to participate in the Bible reading group, purchase a Bible if necessary, print their Reading Schedule if desired, and register as a group member at the Word Way. We suggest at least a four week lead time for most groups.
  • Method you will use to invite people to join your group.
    • For small groups, you may want to send invitations directly from the website. To do so, you will need the email addresses of the people you are inviting to join your group.
    • For larger groups, you may want to use other means of communication to invite potential group members to the website to join your group.
  • Complete the group registration form.
  • After you have received notification from The Word Way that your group has been registered, it is time to invite your potential members to join your group. Our team will send you invitation information. You will need to provide a link to the Word Way website and the password for your group to members you would like to invite.
  • Before the official start of your group, Word Way recommends that you review the registered members of your group so that you can follow up with those who have not yet registered.

Word Way believes this is the most important relationship you can possibly develop, and it is a relationship that will change your life forever.

We encourage you to visit Find Peace With God, a member site of www.billygraham.org

Here are just a few reasons:

  • Your sins will be forgiven.
  • You will be assured of eternal life with God.
  • You will have the friendship, comfort, and guidance of God to help you each moment of your life.

Please make this change by editing the information in My Account so that you continue to receive your Daily Bible Reading Reminders and Weekly Thoughts.

Your most valued gift to this ministry is to pray for us and for those who have chosen to read through the Bible. 

An index of key words and where these words are found in the Bible.

The first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The story of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection.

One of two major sections into which the Bible is divided. The New Testament is generally about events after the birth of Jesus Christ. See Old Testament for the other major section of the Bible.

One of two major sections into which the Bible is divided. The Old Testament is generally about events before the birth of Jesus Christ. See New Testament for the other major section of the Bible.

Psalms is a book in the Old Testament section of the Bible. The writings in Psalms often express deep human emotions. Many people feel that the Psalms closely describe emotions they have experienced or are experiencing.

Another word for the contents of the Bible.

Short writings based on the Bible chapters to be read for the week.