Why Preachers Should Regularly Read Through The Entire Bible

When I was in seminary, a friend shared his belief that annual Bible reading plans and popular, one-year devotional Bibles were designed primarily with everyday Christians in mind. His conviction was that gospel preachers should be reading through the Bible at least once a year, if not more frequently. He felt since ministers had devoted themselves to a life of teaching God’s Word, they should be all the more immersed in regularly reading through the Scriptures. I agree!

Familiarity with the entirety of Scripture is essential to those called to preach it. For this reason, ministers should be reading through the Bible at least once annually, if not more frequently. Here are four benefits to the preacher who reads through the entire Bible regularly and devotionally:

1) We’re Exposed To A Bigger Picture Of Redemption

In my earlier years of preaching, I was a bit nearsighted in my weekly expositions. I understood the importance of studying a passage in its immediate book context but was not as careful to interpret it in its broader, canonical context. As a result, my preaching often failed to emphasize the broader, comprehensive theme of redemption culminating in the gospel. In recent years, I have discovered that regularly reading through the entire Bible helps me see that theme more quickly and preach it more effectively.

2) We’re Reminded Of A Greater Amount Of Content

The emphasis here is on the word “reminded.” After many years of preaching, I am discovering the unfortunate truth that, at least for some of us, memory fades. As time passes, immediate recall of biblical chapters, verses, names, and texts becomes a more significant challenge. Regularly reading through the entire Bible helps keep more of its content fresh and vivid.

3) We’re Nourished By A Broader Diet Of Teachings

Christians grow spiritually by regularly taking in the nourishment of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2). When we regularly read through the entirety of Scripture, we enjoy a healthy, balanced diet of biblical teaching. On the other hand, when we focus on only a select number of passages or biblical books, we deprive ourselves of other teachings that also grow us and feed the soul.

4) We’re Equipped With A Larger Storehouse Of Material

Regularly reading through the entire Bible equips pastors with a wealth of material to supplement weekly preaching. While pastors discover useful material in routine sermon study, they are equipped with a greater supply of content when regularly reading through the Scriptures. Often, what is read devotionally throughout the week finds its way into the sermon to explain better or illustrate the preaching passage.