Build the Kingdom

Build the Kingdom is a bible study guide that will lead you chronologically through the bible while highlighting the deep call to action we find in God's word: that we, his people, do the work he created and chose us to do. It is laid out for a full year of reading, separated into weeks and days with specific readings and exposition for each day.

In this year, you will read the parts of the bible we love and the parts we struggle to connect with. Every part of God's word can lead us into deeper relationship with him and, through that relationship, into his kingdom work. If you love God, want to serve him, and feel discontented with the lack of action you see in your church, Build the Kingdom is for you. If you are tired of being spoon-fed scripture and want to claim your faith and relationship with God for yourself, Build the Kingdom is for you. If you're a new believer who is excited about the bible and wants your newfound faith to transform every aspect of your life, this book is for you. It's for the believer who's never made it through the whole bible. It's for the ones who've read through God's word before without it falling into place as one big story. It's for the ones wondering if there isn't something more to this Christian life than sitting in church every Sunday.

Build the Kingdom is unique in its approach, combining a chronological reading plan with short thoughts, exposition, or encouragement for each day. Every day, you will read two passages (okay, most days). Sometimes one will be in the Old Testament and one in the New. Sometimes you'll read two prophetic books side-by-side. Sometimes, the heaviness of a difficult book is broken up with a few Psalms. I have made my best attempt at keeping the Old Testament story chronological. You'll take a break in Genesis to read Job. You'll stop in Judges to read Ruth. You'll take forever to get through Chronicles because you'll keep running off to the prophets to read what they had to say about Israel's kings. I sprinkled the New Testament books throughout as a reminder that Israel's disobedience isn't the end of the story and, honestly, because it's hard to read through Deuteronomy without a bit of Jesus to keep you sane.

I pray that this year in God's Word will inspire, encourage, and push you into the great work God has given us to do. Young, old, male, female, weak, strong - we all have to build the kingdom.