This guide may be freely copied and amended without any copyright restrictions or need to refer to the publisher for permission. It may be freely downloaded from our website at:
The 100-Minute Bible(ISBN 978-09551324-0-7) and The 100-Minute Bible Reflections(ISBN 978-09556695-0-7) may be purchased from all bookshops using these ISBN codes. It may also be purchased directly from our website – see below.
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The 100-Minute Press, Mystole Farm, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7DB
How to use this Guide
The way in which Michael Hinton has written The 100-Minute Bible enables Christians to understand the whole story of the Bible in a just 100 minutes, hence the title. It can, of course, be read at any time of the year in one sitting or by reading just one section read a day. However it is read, it reminds readers that the Bible is one story of God’s love to mankind and not merely a series of different authors’ writings published as a bibliography.
Michael Turnbull has now added a Reflection to each of the 100-Minute Bible’s 50 sections. These provide readers with a spiritual commentary, a meditation and most sections end with a prayer. It is recommended that this version is used for individual or group study during Lent.
As a Group meeting weekly
On the basis that Lent Groups generally meet midweek 5 or 6 times during lent the bulk of the readings have been divided into weekly groupings. Each grouping contains too much to consider in depth during a single meeting and it is suggested that leaders make a selection of issues to discuss using the 100-Minute Bible Reflections for guidance. Using this guide it will be possible for participants to gain an insight into the overall story of the Bible during the short but special period of Lent
The readings during Holy Week are designed to be read individually and a short commentary is provided here to promote consideration of the events of each day.
For individual Study
For individual study The 100-Minute Bible Reflections version is recommended. This guide designates a section for each day leading up the Holy Week when the reading relates to that day’s events.
Obtaining extra copies of this guide
This guide is free to be photocopied without reference to the publisher. Page numbers are provided to enable easy assembly of new copies.
Alternatively it can be downloaded from:
Maundy Thursday
April 21st40 The trials of Jesus
The Jewish and Roman leaders were not necessarily bad people but weak in that they sacrificed truth for expediency. Set against Jesus’ sublime integrity this lack of principle was what took him to the cross and exemplified the timeless moral battle in the world.
Good Friday April 2241 The Crucifixion
Even though Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice has shown the way in which evil is defeated, the battle between good and evil continues throughout the world.
Easter Saturday April 2342 Jesus rises from the dead
Something profound and lasting happened at the resurrection. For the disciples many preconceived notions of who Jesus was had to be abandoned.
Easter Sunday April 2443 Further resurrection appearances
Thomas was bold enough to express doubts and was only satisfied when Jesus spoke to him and he was able to touch Jesus’ scars. Sometimes faith is a struggle which demands the best of our thinking, our feeling and our activity. It will be stronger when doubts have been honestly faced.
Easter Monday April 2544 The Ascension, Pentecost
and the early Church
The early church and its members had a distinctive lifestyle. They listened to teaching in the context of ‘breaking bread’ and praying together; they shared in a common life together and generously helped each other out according to needs. They worshipped both in the Temple and in private houses and they clearly had a lot of fun together.
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
April 17th35 Arrival at Jerusalem
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was marked by signs of triumph – but his steed was a donkey, a beast of burden. Jesus had chosen a symbolic way to take possession of his heritage. Can we picture his journey and feel his tension and his apprehension at the approaching destiny?
Monday April 1836 Jesus teaches in the Temple
During his last week, Jesus travelled daily to the Temple in Jerusalem to teach. What would it have felt like for us to be there to hear him? Would we have been sympathetic, sceptical, or inspired?
Tuesday April 1937 Teaching about judgment
Behind the idea of judgement lies the objective reality of sin which separates us from God’s love. In that way we create a hell for ourselves. But the central message of the Christian faith is that no one is beyond the reach of God who will forgive us and restore us as we seek to find him.
Wednesday April 2038 The Last Supper
The Last Supper was indeed a final shared meal, and was a meal of sorrow. But it was also the institution of a promise which will never be broken: that Jesus will always be present with us in the bread and wine of the Last Supper. Jesus validated this promise in his crucifixion and resurrection.
and 39 The Garden of Gethsemane
Some moments require silence. Words seem empty. The Gethsemane moment was like that. The struggle between good and evil in the world comes to a climax here and then on the Cross. Jesus must still weep for the world.
Week 1
This week’s readings commence with the creation stories of Genisis about which there is a much controversy. Are they a true account of the first steps of God’s creation, a myth or perhaps a legend? And what is their true relationship with Darwin’s theory of Evolution?
Date Reading
Shrove Tuesday
March8th1 In the beginning
Ash Wednesday9 2 Abraham
Week 2
This week’s readings tell the stories of some of the major figures in the formation of the Jewish nation and people including Abraham, Jacob and Moses, to whom God gave the Law. The readings end with the period in Jewish history when national leaders embraced prowess and wisdom in enforcing the rule of law, diplomacy and in military leadership.
Thursday103 Jacob and his family
Friday114 Moses
Saturday125 The giving of the Law
Sunday 136 Joshua and the Judges
Monday 147 Samuel, Saul and David
Tuesday158 David as King
Wednesday169 The Psalms
Week 3
In this section we first read the moving story of Samuel and Eli and then move on to a period when the Israelites demanded to be ruled by a King. We read about the difficulties the various kings faced and the way they attained and lost their thrones. The Kingdom of Israel divides and the northern Kingdom eventually fails and its people are forced into exile. The week ends with the signal story of Jonah and his disobedience.
DateReading
Thursday March17th10 Solomon and the division of his
(St Patrick’s Day) Kingdom
Friday1811 Elijah and Elisha
Saturday1912 The northern Kingdom's downfall;
Isaiah
Sunday 2013 Jonah
Monday 2114 The southern Kingdom’s Downfall:
Jeremiah
Tuesday2215 Exile and return
Wednesday2316 The Writings: Job and Ecclesiastes
Thursday2417 The centuries before the coming of
Jesus
Week 4
Having studied the pre-Christian history of the Jews we now step forward in time to examine the early Christian church*. We first read about some of the incidents during Paul’s and Peter’s journeys and during the rest of the week we learn about the problems of integrating Gentiles into a Christian church still dominated by its Jewish roots. We end the week with a glance at the Revelation of John. Use the map to identify the places Paul and Peter visited.
* This enables the Holy Week sections to coincide with each day of Holy Week.
Friday 2545 Christian Church grows and develops
Saturday 2646 Further expansion: Paul’s travels
Sunday2747 The young Church: doctrine
Monday2848 The young Church: difficulties
Tuesday2949 The young Church: daily life
Wednesday3050 Revelation
Week 5
Before Mothering Sunday we read about the Christmas story taken from all the gospel accounts. On that day we read about Jesus’ baptism and his 40-day sojourn in the wilderness. We then learn of the difficulties that Jesus encountered when ministering to the very people he grew up amongst and then we read a summary of his teaching, firstly in his memorable sermon on the mount and then about prayer. The week’s readings round off with Jesus selecting his disciples.
DateReading
Thursday31st18 The visions of Zechariah and Mary
Friday April 119 Jesus is born
Saturday 220 Jesus’ early life
Mothering Sunday
321 Jesus’ baptism and temptations
Monday 422 Jesus begins his ministry
Tuesday 523 Jesus' ministry continues
Wednesday 624 Jesus chooses the Twelve
Week 6
This week’s readings contain the core of Jesus’ teaching and answers to some of the deeper questions and concerns that both his followers and opponents harboured about his teaching and his life. We end the week with Jesus making his last earthly journey to Jerusalem.
Thursday 725 The Sermon on the Mount
Friday 826 Teaching on prayer
Saturday 927 Parables
Sunday1028 Jesus answers questions
Monday1129 Miracles of healing
Tuesday1230 Raising the dead
Wednesday13 31 Nature miracles
Thursday1432 Who is Jesus?
Friday1533 Jesus’ true nature
Saturday1634 On the way to Jerusalem