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2021 Christian Reading Challenge

2021 Christian Reading Challenge

Do you love to read? Do you want to learn to love to read? Do you enjoy reading books that cross the whole spectrum of topics and genres? Then I’ve got something that may be right up your alley—the 2021 Christian Reading Challenge.

Whether you are a light reader or completely obsessed, this 2021 Christian Reading Challenge is designed to help you read more and to broaden the scope of your reading.

How It Works

The 2021 Christian Reading Challenge is composed of 4 lists of books, which you are meant to move through progressively. You will need to determine a reading goal early in the year and set your pace accordingly.

  • The Light Reader. This plan has 13 books which sets a pace of 1 book every 4 weeks.
  • The Avid Reader. The Avid plan adds another 13 books which increases the pace to 1 book every 2 weeks.
  • The Committed Reader. This plan adds a further 26 books, bringing the total to 52, or 1 book every week.
  • The Obsessed Reader. The Obsessed plan doubles the total to 104 books which sets a demanding pace of 2 books every week.

Begin with the Light plan, which includes suggestions for 13 books. Choose those books and read them in any order, checking them off as you complete them. When you have finished those 13, advance to the Avid plan. Use the criteria there to choose another 13 books and read them in any order. Then it’s time to move to the Committed plan with a further 26 books. When you have completed the Committed plan (that’s 52 books so far!), you are ready to brave the Obsessed plan with its 104 books. Be sure to set your goal at the beginning of the year so you can make sure you’re reading at the right pace.

All you need to do is download the list (or buy a printed version—see below), choose your first few books, and get going. Happy reading in 2021!

Ideas

  • Take the challenge with your spouse and divide the list in two.
  • Take the challenge with your family and divide the books between the entire family
  • Take the challenge with your youth group or small group and divide the books between all of you. Regularly report on your progress with short reviews.
  • Set your goal and read the books from all of your lists in any order (rather than progressing from Light to Avid to Committed).
  • Discard all the rules and choose books from any plan in any order. Use the 2021 Christian Reading Challenge as a guide to diversifying your reading.
  • Use #vtReadingChallenge to connect and to keep track of others on social media.
  • Have fun with it!

Get the Challenge

The 2021 Christian Reading Challenge is available in 2 formats: plain and pretty. The plain version is a simple list you can easily print at home. The pretty version is styled as an infographic and will look amazing on your wall all year round. It might also make a neat Christmas gift. You can purchase it as a professionally-printed poster from our store. Those who subscribe to Visual Theology can download the HD file to print at home or take to a local printer.

FAQ

How does the 2021 challenge differ from the last few year’s? I have learned a lot from several years of Reading Challenges and continue to make a number of changes with every new edition. This year Julie Rolffs kindly offered her help; she helped create some new categories which has added a level of freshness, especially through offering “opposites” like “A book about parenting OR retirement.”


  • A La Carte (August 11)

    Strange OT laws / Pleasure in the (career) death of the woked / Honor thy boomer / Picking your successor? / Peace is better / Defend the doctrine of original sin / Biological war / and more.

  • How To Show Hospitality When You Live in a Small Home

    How To Show Hospitality When You Live in a Small Home

    For obvious reasons, hospitality can be more challenging for those in a small home than for those in a much larger one. It can be a bit more awkward, too. Yet I’d like to think we have generally been faithful in that regard.

  • A La Carte (August 10)

    Good morning. Grace and peace to you. I trust you enjoyed your weekend and have begun a new week rested and thankful for the Lord’s grace. Sales & Deals Today’s Kindle deals include books for preachers and those who listen to their sermons. Andrew Wilson’s new book on happiness is on sale at Westminster Books…

  • Works & Wonders (August 9)

    Works & Wonders: Nothing Ever Occurs to God, Reading Maps, Mysterious Shapes, The Phone in Your Hand, An Iceberg Rolls Over, and The Listening Museum

  • weekend 3

    Weekend A La Carte (August 8)

    Reader Recommendations / Against gambling / Is gambling sinful? / Our line in the sand on AI / What does the Bible teach about nations? / Ross Douthat and the future of digital media / The extras are tired / and more.