One reader commented: "Thank you for the new program of study. I have just downloaded a copy of the February studies, printed it and am getting ready to head for Office Max to start making copies. One copy will be conveniently left on the office break table. The format of the study should not offend and may be the enlightenment some are looking for. I look forward to many joyful hours of study."

As we continue our work of preaching God's truth and preparing Christ's Bride for His return, the United Church of God, an International Association, is preparing to launch a new Bible study program involving the entire Church. Adopted from the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship, whose ministry was recently added to our own, the program is essentially a Bible reading program, in which we read through the entire Bible, book by book, within three years.

"Words of Eternal Life"

As CGCF's former president, Larry Salyer, explained when he first introduced the program, it is in the pages of the Bible itself that we find the "words of eternal life" (John 6:68). What better source of information, then, can we direct people to? Indeed, every Christian should make it a goal to read the entirety of God's Word. Reading the Bible from cover to cover provides us with a broad familiarity and overview of the truth God has revealed.

While we often stress the subject study method as the best way to understand what God has to say on a particular topic, the only way to be sure we know all that God has to say on any topic is to have read everything in the Bible. Consider that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help bring Scripture to remembrance (John 14:26). Yet that requires us having heard or read it to start with. And if we haven't read the whole of God's written revelation before, the time to start is now.

Of course, as Mr. Salyer mentioned, there is also a need for ministerial guidance in our study of Scripture (Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 8:30-31; Romans 10:14-15). To that end, each month's issue of the program will, in addition to providing a reading schedule, pose some questions and give some commentary. We will cover the background, history and authorship of each book, discussing its time frame and major themes, the many intriguing people whose lives the Bible records for us, many of the doctrinal truths presented, interesting facts that bear on the readings, and the crucial lessons God wants us to learn. Sometimes participants will also be directed to supplementary, though usually optional, reading material from Church publications.

Shared Understanding and Greater Unity

Furthermore, we are asking our field ministry to deliver occasional sermons and Bible studies, or assign sermonettes, to supplement the program-perhaps once a month or so. However, just to actually have all participants reading the Bible-and reading it together-is the primary goal. Not only will some wish to delve deeper and study into things they are covering, but the fact that members will be reading the same verses each day will engender conversation over what's been read-helping bring shared understanding and greater unity to the Body of Christ.

We are also inviting others to join with us in the program. Any visitors to our Web site will see a link to it. And the program has already been advertised in the Good News magazine.

It should also be mentioned that there will be breaks in the program around the annual Festivals to allow more time for personal reading and Feast-related study during those periods.

The original idea for the Bible Reading Program came from a field pastor in the northeastern United States, Jack Hendren, formerly of CGCF. He had instituted a similar program in his church area locally, which turned out to be quite successful.

When he introduced the program to the whole of CGCF, he drew attention to the hours before Christ's final suffering. Jesus prayed to His Father for all His followers, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth . . . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me . . . that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:17-23).

The resurrected Jesus Christ now serves as the living, active Head of the Church of God (Ephesians 1:22). He will accomplish the work of unity He discussed with the Father by cleansing the Church "with the washing of water by the word." He will remove its spots and blemishes and present it to Himself-radiant, holy and blameless (5:26-27). It is in light of yielding to Christ's work of unifying His Church that we undertake the Bible Reading Program.

Larry Salyer and Jack Hendren will continue to serve as official reviewers for the program, in addition to Noel Hornor, Don Hooser and Bob Berendt. Managing editor for the project will be Tom Robinson, who served in that capacity in CGCF.

Two-Tiered Program

The starting date for the new program was Feb. 1. It must be noted that it will be two-tiered. We are beginning fresh for newcomers to the program with Genesis. This will actually be the main program-The Good News Bible Reading Program-promoted on the Web and in Church publications, etc. Much of the work on these already-published installments was already done in CGCF. However, these are being revamped.

The other tier of the program is for those who have already been participating. For them we will be continuing from where we left off, starting with the book of Isaiah. This will be referred to as the continued program.

This arrangement was carefully considered. One of the main purposes of the Bible Reading Program, as stated, is to have most of the Church reading the same parts of the Bible at the same time-to provoke biblical discussion between members. The two-tiered approach, granted, does hinder that somewhat. But another important purpose of the program, as mentioned, is to have all members read through the entirety of God's Word. And since the UCG at large has not been participating, a major goal is to have the membership start-and we realize that most of you are much more likely to start at a beginning point rather than late in the game (you'd be likely in that case to wait till it ends and starts up again). Yet if we had everyone start with Genesis, this could be discouraging to those of you who have persevered with the program already up to its present point. Many might drop out altogether. With the two-tiered approach, we will add the most new participants and retain the involvement of past participants.

Of course, those of you in the continued program may also participate in the main program if you desire. Indeed, we encourage you to stay abreast of where the main program is, perhaps even regularly reviewing the material being covered by it as you are able so as to more fully participate in Church discussion.

Both programs, new and continued, will be posted on the Web-but the new one, as the official one, will be given greater prominence. In general, we will try to have a particular month's issue posted at least two weeks prior to its start date.

If You Can't Get It From the Internet...

While the BRP is an Internet-based program, this should, it is hoped, pose no problem for those without Web or e-mail access, as we are asking those who do have access to provide copies of the monthly program for those who don't. Please discuss this within your local congregation to see who needs what program (main or continued) and who can help whom. Pastors should coordinate this. Or if you are not able to attend anywhere, please contact the pastor for your area or the home office.

We hope you are excited about this new program and will join it with enthusiasm. As we focus on reading the Bible and letting its words dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:16), God will be pleased.

As we talk with one another in the fear of the Lord, bringing honor to His name, allowing Christ to complete the work in us, we can have confidence in the promise recorded in Malachi 3:16-17: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate upon His name. 'They shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.'" UN

Access the Bible Reading Program online at www.ucg.org/brp/