Over the years, I have often used a Bible reading plan as a way of steadily working through the Bible. For those who don’t know, a Bible reading plan is simply a breakdown of the Bible into a set of daily readings so that each day you know what to read and when to stop. It’s a long-term approach to the daily consumption of God’s word.
I want to be clear that I don’t believe this is the only way to read Scripture. Sometimes you should just read, as in, pick up the Bible and read for as long as you feel. Sometimes you should read really slowly, thinking deeply about a small portion of text, even just a few words. Sometimes you should read one section or book again and again. In a sense, there are no rules, as long as you’re actively and regularly feeding on the God’s word, like the man in Psalm 1.
That said, some of my spiritual heroes have used and recommended the method of following a plan, and I have found myself coming back to it again and again as a helpful and consistent way of reading through the Bible. For those who don’t already have a consistent method of reading & studying Scripture, I’d encourage considering this for 2024.
My current practice involves reading the New Bible Commentary alongside the Bible. This helps me get to grips with passages that I might otherwise read and not really understand, which can be frustrating. Having access to some brief comments that get you quick answers is useful when you’re following a daily plan. In the past I’ve read all the Old Testament notes in the ESV Study Bible for much the same reason.
What kind of plan should you use?
There are lots of options. I want to limit myself to three:
Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Plan. M’Cheyne was a Scottish pastor who devised this plan for his own congregation. It has been a widely used plan for good reason. It takes you through the OT in a year, and the NT and Psalms twice, by reading four chapters of different books each day. You can also slow it down by reading two chapters per day, and complete the Bible in two years.
The Navigators Bible Reading Plan. I think I first came across this plan as a recommendation by John Piper. One of the big benefits is that it doesn’t require you to read the Bible every single day, but rather 25 days per month. This means that if you miss a day you won’t necessarily fall behind. For me, that’s really helpful as I’m quite unlikely to do my daily Bible reading on a Sunday(!) because in the morning I get straight down to preparing for the services.
The Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan. This is a slightly different take on the Navigators plan. It’s another example of a 25 day-per-month plan, but there are fewer daily readings, and instead you read in bigger chunks. You’re basically alternating OT and NT books throughout the year. It’s the plan I’m currently working through (I started in October, so I’m hoping to finish by next October).
A few practical suggestions
First, set a pace that you can stick to. If you can’t manage the Bible in one year, then read it in two years. It’s far better you stick to a plan instead of giving up by mid-February.
Second, get hold of a basic study tool, like those I recommended above. They can be a real game-changer when you’re scratching your head in confusion.
Third, try and change how you think about reading the Bible. Don’t think about performing a duty to make yourself feel better or impress others or impress God. Instead, think of it like you think of eating: Something you happily do that makes you healthy.
Fourth, persevere. The Bible becomes more rewarding the more you read it. Even the really tricky parts get more interesting the more deeply you engage with them. Don’t get discouraged if you’re confused or lost – everyone experiences that.
Finally, mingle prayer with your reading. Pray beforehand: God, speak to me through your word. Pray during: Lord, I’m struck by this. Please help me to love you, obey you. Pray after: Thank you for this Scripture, and the things I’ve learned about you today…