From the Preface to the Revised Edition: The Year of the Bible Participant’s Book
I first introduced the ideas of The Year of the Bible to the staff and members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since that time, I have heard many stories of how reading through the entire Bible — either along with a congregation or individually — has opened people’s eyes to the riches of the Scriptures, deepened family and church relationships, or generally strengthened the faith of the persons who have followed the schedule of readings in this book. Some of those stories have been simply amazing, and I am thankful that the program has been so useful to so many people.
Here I simply want to thank, once again, the members of Westminster — especially those who helped me plan and implement the program, first at the church, and later for more than eighty congregations in Pittsburgh Presbytery. I wish to thank, too, the staff in the denominational offices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, Kentucky. The Congregational Ministries Division first published the program, and now Congregational Ministries Publishing has arranged for a second edition.
And finally, my thanks to all who have participated in the program, who have encouraged each other to keep with it when the readings felt tedious, and who have borne their own testimony to family, to friends — and sometimes to me — about what The Year of the Bible was doing in their hearts and lives. It is my fervent hope that readers of this new edition will experience the same joy and growth as they live with the Scriptures this year.
James E. Davison
