After a recommendation from a friend, I decided to investigate the website Christianity.com. She used it for her daily Bible study in an effort to read the entire Bible in one year. I quickly jumped on the bandwagon and now use the site eagerly each day.
The site caters to the mainstream protestant Christian world, though I believe the non mainstream could gain a lot as well. Between the plethora of daily and weekly devotionals to choose from, many translations of the Bible, concordances, dictionaries, and commentaries you can find many answers to your study questions.
One feature I enjoy tremendously is the ability to parallel view of two translations. You can view The New International Version alongside The Good News. Maybe you want to use The Complete Jewish Bible in conjunction with The King James. Whatever you choose, you have over 25 translations to study from.
You can highlight verses, make notes, read commentaries, check lexicons, whatever you need to do in order to enrich your Bible education.
Several translations include the Apocryphal Writings which fell out of favour with many over 150 years ago. While considered by most as “not-inspired”, the books might shed some enlightenment and to see it covered on this website is a nice plus.
The Devotionals section holds something for just about anyone. Women, favourite pastors, lifestyle, Bible reading plans, Spiritual growth. You can choose to read the ones you want on the site each day or the website happily sends them to your email box. Each day they have a devotional they feature, and they cycle through the different categories.
Best of all, you can tell the site you want to read the Bible in 365 days. You can choose your start date and your translation. You also get the choice of a strait read through or the popular plan of each day reading from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms/Proverbs. I chose the latter for something different, and I must say it is an interesting experience. Thanks to this plan I completed Luke, Hebrews, Genesis, and Exodus since the start of the year!
When you look at your Bible in a Year plan your screen is basically split. On the left you can see each day’s reading assignment by month. There are easy to use check boxes to show your completion. On the right you find a box with that day’s reading assignment in one hand dandy place. Zip! In roughly 15 minutes of strait reading, you are done! Matthew 8:1-13, Exodus 25-27, and Proverbs 12, complete! At the start of each chapter you see a link in case you want to “study” it, which allows for the parallel viewing and notes. At the bottom of the reading you have the wonderful button to update your chart for your finished reading.
In preparing my essay on Elizabeth, I studied Titus Chapter 2. On this website, I found an excellent lesson on that very chapter! You should see the notes in the margins of my Scriptures! Most was stuff that I thought about, but seeing the lesson helped me find a good way to make notes. And then the new nuggets of information brought a joy and satisfaction to me.
Overall, I find this site exceedingly enriching. Because of that, and the fact I found it first, I continue my Bible assignments there as opposed to yesterday’s site. I never understand the not reading in order, but I admit I have found a definite fulfillment from it. The selections fit each other quiet well.
–Lady O
-edited because for some reason even though I see the formatting of paragraphs, LJ ate it. Go fig.
gauvaine said:
That sounds like a huge help. Or a huge information overload. I’m trying to decide which.
The Old Testament stuff would be helpful, though, because I have barely begun to even scratch that. I haven’t diligently studied it since I was in seminary. Reading it yes, studying it, no. There’s a difference.
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Lady Ozma said:
Probably a mix of both!!!
This site is excellent. If it helps you any, a lot of times when the GA’s or the Ensign quote the Bible, it’s the NIV format. I know that we accept the KJV, but I thought I’d let you know. Sometimes it can seem like ‘But but but”
Also, there’s good to be taken. You can have the power of discernment in what these various concordances and whatnot are saying. A lot of them are universally accepted by Churches at large so are definitely OK to use, as well.
I didn’t go SEARCHING the anti-mormon sentiment there, because I figure it is there and I don’t need to actively seek it out. Such is life. You know? But in a month I have yet to come across it and trust me, I was looking up just about everything in my study of the women and scriptures. 🙂 Soooo. That’s a good sign!
There are also forums, but I leave them alone so I didn’t think to mention it. I really like the site alot.
I have had to watch myself. My study is supposed to be WOMEN and this is meant to be a READ. But sometimes I”m like ‘oooh” or “Wow, that’s cool” and find myself lost in study. Snap, back to focus, Lady O! *GRINS*
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Lady Ozma said:
Sorry ti was hideous to read
I did not realize that LJ ate the formatting till you commented. Geeze louise. *SIGH*
I fixed it. HAHA
BTW I did these two site reviews in prepertion for RS tonight. I’m supposed to talk about the sites. 🙂
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Good luck with that! I thought all you guys did was sew quilts and bake bread. *snicker*
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
ROFL… yup, that’s all we do!
But it’s OK cause i know all you blokes do in Priesthood is discuss Basketball tips 😉
*VBG*
OK, RUNNING now. Pray traffic is light! I’ll be home at 9:30 Eastern
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Phah. Unfortunately, teaching the 16-18 year olds require that the bishop be present during my class discussions. It’s like giving an comprehensive oral exam every week, with the reward of doing a good job not losing your calling because you don’t suck.
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
What? So you get the Bishop giving you the best Basketball tips???
HAHAHA
LOL… that’ sjust a great way to put it… I bet you’re fine though.
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Only if i prepare and study and pray about the lesson. Otherwise, I get muddled and turned around. YOu can tell when they are interested and when they aren’t interested.
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Well I think that is normal. If you are prepared and all… things go so much better. *GRINS*
I never get asked to teach. I don’t know how i’d handle that. I’d hope to find ways to interest people because I wouldn’t want to have to deal with the uninterested…
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Well, two weeks ago I set up a poster board with Jeopardy questions that were worth “money” and split the boys up into teams. Most points won the prizes that I brought. They were really interested in that. And they knew alot of the questions. So, they have been paying attention, thankfully. I always try to link one lesson to the next, which helps.
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Excellent way to make learning fun! And to gauge their learning. Looks like you are doing your job well! WOOOT!
Next time bribe them with candy. *GRINS*
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Too late. First prize was one of those huge candy bars from Trader Joe’s, if you have those back east. The Elder’s quorum president wanted to know why there was a huge candy bar laying on his kitchen counter and why is wife was getting to eat it but he couldn’t have any.
I left that between him and his son, though. har har.
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
OOOOH anything from Trader Joe’s is good. Big huge candy always good. You go!!!
*SIGH* I am hoping we get a TJ soon. The nearest one is about 45 minutes away.
Good plan to leave that between that family. Nice son for sharing with his mum. She must have claimed THE PARENT TAX!!! HAHAHA
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gauvaine said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
Now they will expect it, unfortunately. I already give them snacks every week, which has become legendary now, evidently. I guess i’m the only advisor or teacher that feeds their students on a weekly basis. At least it keeps them focused.
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Lady Ozma said:
Re: Sorry ti was hideous to read
THey are growing boys. They need it. And hello, that’s why RS is the best class around. Always something to snack on! LOL The best ever was the priesthood/rs class that the neurosurgeon taught. He gave away a bulk box of M&Ms! Guess who won it? ME! I was nice and shared. LOL
When I was 17 my sunday school teacher always was opening the fridge looking for food. (We were in the kitchen. Lack of room, our ward had a LOT of kids.) He finally got sick of it. He worked Saturday nights delievering pizzas so he started bringing in pies that he warmed up in the oven 😉 HEHEHE
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