Joining Together to Journey with Christian

Emily, her brother Ruslan, and I will soon begin our journey with Christian through that immortal classic The Pilgrim's Progress by John Buynan. Being as we are on pilgrimage in this world toward our heavenly abode, faced with fierce trials and temptations, acutely aware our own weaknesses, as well as the surpassing worth of the reward for finishing in faith, it has seemed urgently fitting to us to get help for each step along the way. One way to do this is to look to those who've gone before and finished the course well. What follows then is the plan we'll be following as we sit at the feet of Buynan, listening and learning how to press onward. Please feel free to join us for the journey. Even more, we compel you with love to do so. We'd love to make the trek with you. The more, the merrier.

The Pilgrim’s Progress (Reading Schedule)

Read the following pages by the dates listed:

Oct. 31—Introduction and the author’s apology
Nov. 14—pp. 11-36
Nov. 28—pp. 37-62
Dec. 12—pp. 63-88
Jan. 2—pp. 89-114
Jan. 16—115-139

Jan. 30—pp. 140-165 (end of part 1)
Feb. 13—pp. 166-176 (beginning of part 2)
Feb. 27—pp. 177-202 (part 2)
Mar. 12—pp. 203-228
Mar. 26—pp. 229-254
Apr. 9—pp. 255-279
Apr. 23—pp. 280-298
May 7—pp.299-314

Reading the whole book will take a little over six months. The pace is typically about 25 pages every two weeks, though there are a few times when the pace is slower, and during the Christmas season the reading is spread over three weeks. In other words, this pace is very manageable. You’ll quickly notice, no doubt, that the allotted readings probably do not round off narrative sections very well. So it’s okay to read to a point that seems like a more natural break. With a book like this, I judged it best simply to apportion sections for digestion that are roughly equal. In any case, Buynan himself does not break the book up nicely for us. The Penguin Classics edition we'll be reading may be found here.

Here’s my recommendation for how to read this. Try to read the scheduled reading either in one sitting, trying to see the whole flow of the narrative. Or, read it devotionally and prayerfully in smaller portions early in the morning along with your Bible reading, especially for those sections that seem to be speaking most to your soul.

Also, try answering a few questions: 1) What is the main point or theme or movement in the scheduled section? 2) Does the story told, or the instruction embedded within it, disagree at all with biblical teaching? 3) What are the immediate applications for your journey toward our heavenly homeland?

Lastly, I urge you to commit your life and soul to God afresh with each reading according to what the Lord has been pleased to teach you. Meditate on the instruction, hold communion with God in it, and pray for his heavenly help to press on in the pilgrimage. The journey is hazardous, the path is long and hard, his reward at the end is very great, and he will never leave you or forsake you along the way.