What started as a staff study led to an unexpected turnout for a year-long Bible Study.

By Jonathan Stallings

In late 2023, St. Mark’s UMC in Murfreesboro, TN was exploring ways to rekindle fellowship and mission in a post-COVID church environment. Beginning in January 2024, the church invited the congregation to participate in a cover-to-cover Bible reading called The Grand Sweep, written by Dr. Ellsworth Kalas.

This study is designed to guide groups through the entire Bible over the course of a year, encouraging participants to read a digestible 3 to 4 chapters daily from Genesis to Revelations.

Participants were invited to read and study on their own or to join one of four weekly reflection groups. Thinking a relatively small group would participate, organizers were surprised when sign-ups exceeded their expectations. There were 120 sign-ups—nearly half of a typical Sunday morning attendance. Out of those 120, 80 people finished the course, having read the Bible from start to finish, many with a new understanding of Scripture.

The Grand Sweep course was designed to allow for personal, internal transformation as participants read and reflected on the scripture for that week. Occasional group sessions were offered as well as several guest speakers in between sessions who offered the historical and contextual pieces of the scriptures.

As the course continued, so did the connection and fellowship of everyone who participated.

  • A private Facebook group was created where participants could share additional content and reflections based on where they were in the Bible that week.
  • A bulletin board at the church was updated to illustrate the group’s progress for the entire church to see.
  • Chatter was heard outside of group sessions discussing scripture interpretations and comparing thoughts on the last time they studied a particular book.

Rev. Martha Touchton, the church’s Minister of Adult Discipleship and Mission, sent out a group-wide survey at the study’s conclusion to better understand how it fostered new life and ideas in the church.

She said that most respondents credit this study with helping them develop a deeper connection with their church family. The majority of participants said they had never read the Bible cover-to-cover before this and discovered that controversial scripture was absent. Many also said they gained a better understanding of how the Old Testament intertwines with the New Testament.

Senior Pastor, Rev. Tommy Ward added, “We knew The Grand Sweep could be a meaningful experience, but we couldn’t have imagined how much. Seeing so many in our church commit to reading the entire Bible—and finish—was incredible. It was more than just a study, it was a shared journey of faith, one that strengthened our church and deepened our understanding of scripture.”

This experience has sparked interest in new studies among people seeking a deeper understanding of certain passages, such as four eight-week studies dedicated to each book of the Gospel.

Materials for This Study