Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bible in 90 Days?
The Bible in 90 Days is a Bible READING curriculum. It helps people read attentively the entire Bible -- from cover to cover -- in 90 days. Churches across denominations, prisons, drug rehab missions, corporate Bible studies and neighborhood small groups have all used the curriculum successfully to help people read the entire Bible. Recently, small towns have begun inviting their citizens to do this curriculum. To date, groups have ranged from 2 people to 1000 people. (No kidding). They span 47 states and several foreign countries.
What ISN'T The Bible in 90 Days?
The Bible in 90 Days is NOT a speed-read through the Bible. Rather, it's akin to reading the Bible like a novel.
What is the process, in a nutshell?
Each participant reads on his or her own, then gathers once a week with other participants. The weekly meetings include guided small group discussion, activities, and a video lesson. For most people, the fellowship, accountability and material shared during the weekly meetings is CRUCIAL to their successfully reading the entire Bible.
Why 90 days?
Because most people can wrap their minds around doing something for 90 days. Imagine giving a person a choice to diet for three months... or twelve. Which is more likely to succeed? From day one, the end is in sight. This becomes important AT SOME POINT for each participant. The reading IS a challenge, though most participants tell us it is a manageable challenge. And the payoff more than compensates.
Why does it work?
For MANY reasons. Here are a few:
* TIME FRAME: 90 days vs. a year (or more)
* READABILITY: large print, easy to read translation
* COMMUNITY: weekly meetings for support, fellowship, accountability and knowledgeable insight
* SUPPORT MATERIALS: we provide just enough additional materials to keep participants engaged in reading the Bible, but no more. We don't want reading support material instead of the Word
* A LOWERING OF BARRIERS: by tending to many of the PRACTICAL aspects of reading the Bible, we foster an environment in which the participant is MORE LIKELY to recognize the leading of the Spirit that he or she read and be transformed by the Word
I don't have time to meet once a week. Can I get the materials and do this myself?
This program has been successful because it is done in community. It’s the expectations of community that foster accountability – and that, in turn, creates success. If you are unable to attend weekly meetings, wait and commit to this program when you can devote your time to it. We hope to offer this program each year.
Is there an attendance policy?
In order to complete this adventure, attendance is necessary. However, we understand there may be some times when missing a meeting is beyond your control. A maximum of 4 absences is suggested during the 14 week period. In order to complete your goal, the daily reading must continue even if a meeting is missed. Also, the classes are interchangeable. For example, if you know you will miss your Sunday class because you are out of town - you can slip into the Wed class that week instead.
I missed a weekly session, can I borrow the DVD to catch up?
We will not be lending out the DVDs due to having groups scheduled often. Again, the classes are interchangeable. For example, if you know you will miss your Sunday class because you are out of town - you can slip into the Wed class that week instead.
Should I do anything before I start reading each day?
We recommend that you say a brief, silent prayer such as this: “Gracious Father, thank you for the gift I hold in my hands. May your Spirit fill me and interpret your precious words for me as I read. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.”
How much will I read each day?
Each day you’ll read 12 pages in the NIV Bible. On Day 1 you start with page 1, on Day 2 you start with page 13. At the end of 90 days, you’ll have read the entire Bible from cover to cover. We encourage you to do what you can to alleviate distractions, so that you can reach your goal of reading each word attentively.
When should I read?
That’s completely up to you. Some will read first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed. Others will make it the last thing they do each night. Still others will read at various times during the day and/or night. Some will read their daily quota all in one sitting. Others will space their reading throughout the day, reading a page or two in several sittings. Try more than one approach; one of the benefits of doing this reading is becoming comfortable with reading your Bible at any time.
What if I get behind?
Try your best not to get behind. But, if you do, there is one very important rule about catching up: Do not skip any pages! There are two reasons for this rule: (1) If you skip anything, by definition you will not have read from cover to cover, which is the goal. (2) If you skip anything, our research shows that you are unlikely to go back and read what you skipped, so, again, you won’t end up reading the entire Bible. If you get behind, just read some extra pages each day until you’ve caught back up to the class.
What if I get WAY behind?
If you happen to get more than a day or two behind, set aside a large block of time during one day — Sundays are particularly good for this — and just “plow through” the reading. This may seem more like a chore than a spiritual experience, but you will probably be surprised by the insights you glean from this.After a day (or so) of reading this way, you’ll be caught up! Remember, too, that God’s work sometimes seems like, well, work. Reading the Bible from cover to cover is a challenge; however, when this challenge is met, you’ll be glad that you persevered!
Brief History by Ted Cooper, Founder
Mr. Cooper, 52, said in an interview with The Blade that he and his wife, Becky, had been "happily agnostic" when he first began reading the Bible 8½ years ago. "I didn't know if there was a God or not, but we would find out when we died, and that would be soon enough for me," he said. He started going to church for his children's sake, and at a Bible study the pastor said a few things that got Mr. Cooper riled up."I said to myself, ‘I thought I had settled this long ago, but, dadgum, I've got to think about this God thing again,'" he said. At first, he mocked the Scriptures and laughed aloud as he read the Bible, he said, "but about halfway through, somewhere around [the books of] Isaiah and Jeremiah, I realized I believed what I was reading. It was a huge deal for me."
That life-changing revelation led him to develop the 'Bible in 90 Days' program for his church, and when 90 people showed up for the first session, he decided to try it out on a larger scale.
In 2002, he left his career and founded the Bible in 90 Days ministry.
In 2003, he developed the first video series. Jack Modesett created and presented fourteen lessons designed to keep people engaged in the reading. Not only do participants respond well to Jack's lessons, course leaders tell us they love to view them time and again.
In 2005, Zondervan published the curriculum and a Bible specifically for The Bible in 90 Days. A second video series was added to the curriculum, this one by two Bible scholars - John Walton (Old Testament) and Mark Strauss (New Testament). This series, too, has been very well received.
In 2007, the curriculum was translated into Spanish.
In 2009, we re-wrote the Leader's and Participant's Guides and are re-launching The Bible in 90 Days.
