Reading Scripture
One of the most important things you can do in life is read the Bible. Below are some plans that have been made available to assist you in reading through the Bible in one year.
You will find at the end of each brief description some links. These links will take you to the media version of the reading plan that you think would serve you best.
For those of you reading this on a day that’s not January 1st, you’re still good to read the Bible through in a year too! Remember, it’s not about the plan it’s about diving into the Word of God. Yes, making it through the Bible in a year is a good goal to have but getting to know God better through reading His Word is the best goal to have!
Through the Bible in a Year
Each day includes a reading from the Old Testament and New Testament. Starting in Genesis and Matthew, the readings continue sequentially—over the course of a year, you never read the same passage twice. Web RSS Email iCal Mobile Print
ESV Study Bible
We recommend both this plan and this Bible! The ESV Study Bible plan has you reading in four places: 1) Psalms and wisdom lit, 2) Pentateuch and Israel’s history, 3) Chronicles and prophets, and 4) Gospels and epistles. Web RSS Email iCal Mobile Print
Chronological
Read the events of the Bible as they occurred chronologically. For example, the Book of Job is integrated with Genesis because Job lived before Abraham. Web RSS Email iCal Mobile Print YouVersion
Discipleship Journal
NavPress’s Discipleship Journal plan has been the most used at Bethlehem Baptist Church for years. There are four daily readings (the year starts with Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Acts), but it’s only 25 days each month—which leaves some margin for missing here and there when life gets busy. Print
M’Cheyne
Our church has used this plan for the past few years. This was designed by Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843), the well-remembered Scottish minister who died before his 30th birthday. The plan has readings for every day of the year and will take you once through the Old Testament and twice through the Psalms and the New Testament. (Don Carson’s daily devotionals called For the Love of God are based on the M’Cheyne plan.) Web RSS Email iCal Mobile Print YouVersion
On a couple of the options you will see a link entitled YouVersion.This is an online/mobile program that allows you to choose from 20 different reading plans (including making your own), show you the progress you’ve made based on your plan, and syncs your online and mobile YouVersion accounts. It works with an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android.
As a pastor once put it, “In these times we have no excuses. Plans are available, countless translations exists; technology gives us an added advantage. The issue is inclination. Psalm 118:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies… So, pick a plan, pray for inclination, and preserve in knowing God.”