Read the Old Testament With Me!

If you know me, it's no secret that I am a complete Hebrew Bible nerd. Especially the Torah, that is, Genesis through Deuteronomy. 

For a long time, it has been on my heart to commit to an ancient practice of reading what is called the Torah Portions. The Torah Portion refers to a weekly reading cycle that follows the Jewish calendar and spans the first five books of the Bible over the course of a year.

The books are divided into fifty-four weekly portions. Each portion contains 3 to 6ish chapters, and in some traditions, there are additional readings from the prophets. Fun fact: The addition of the prophetic texts (called the Haftarah) began in the 2nd Century BC when reading the Torah in public was outlawed under rulers like Antiochus IV.

It is one of my personal desires to help others grow in their understanding and love of the Old Testament scriptures, and the idea of leading a group through this section of the Bible has been a recurring thought in my mind that I just haven't been able to shake!

As I've continued to pray through this, I've realized that the practice actually follows with a long-standing biblical tradition found in Deuteronomy 31 and Nehemiah 8, where the community gathered to hear and understand God's Word - specifically the Torah!

This year, the reading cycle begins on October 18, and I'd love for you to join me in reading through each portion week by week. 

Here is what you can expect. Each week I will send a short email with:

1. That week's Torah Portion

2. A short reflection on a passage or theme that stood out to me the most 

3. A reflection of how that week’s reading connects to Jesus

No lengthy commentaries or pressure to keep it up perfectly. Just developing a rhythm of being in God's word and walking through it with others. 

I know it may seem like a lot to commit to a year long reading plan, but I’m confident that you will be surprised by how manageable and how meaningful it will be!

Whether you have read the first five books of the Bible before or are coming to them fresh, this is a journey worth taking to deepen your relationship with Jesus. 

If this resonates with you, subscribe here, and you'll begin receiving weekly emails starting October 18. You're welcome to read just the Torah portions, or include the Haftarah if you're up for the full experience.