Selecting a Bible Reading Plan for the New Year


With the new year, I'm starting a new Bible reading plan that I wanted to share, in case any of you are also interested in using it to guide you through your Bible this year.

The one that I'm using is a chronological reading plan that arranges the Bible so that you read them in the order that the events happened (although not necessarily in the order the books were written).

I've tried out different reading plans over the past couple of years and have often wished that I had read about this prophet when I was reading about that event back in Kings or Chronicles. So, I set out to find a plan that would help me get a larger understanding of what all was going on (particularly regarding Old Testament events), intertwining the history with the prophets of the era with the Psalms being sung and so forth.

From the research I've done, it seems that this reading plan that I've selected will do that. It's set up so that by reading between about three and four chapters a day, you'll make it through the entire Bible in a year. I don't really mind how long it takes me to get through the Bible, because I care more whether I remember what happened, rather than just speed-read my way through.

But, I think that having a plan to help guide me through my Bible reading is incredibly useful and motivating, especially when you're not really in the mood to read (because that is all too often reality some days!). It also helps me read the stories I wouldn't normally want to, if I were the one arbitrarily selecting passages. (Ahem, the story in Judges where the fat guy gets a sword to the stomach? Yeah, that one.)

Anyway, so if you want to try this reading plan, you can print out a 2-page PDF that lists out each date and the corresponding readings for that day. Then just keep it with your Bible and mark off the days as you go.

(There are also a variety of other reading plans you can choose from, if you're not into the chronologically-arranged type. They also have ones that walk you through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously, or ones that integrate daily Psalms and Proverbs readings, as well as others.)

Do you have a reading plan you're using that you really like? Feel free to share it in the comments!


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11 comments:

  1. Hey Carmen!
    I found YouVersion (http://www.youversion.com) from the Bible app on my iPhone. They have all sorts of reading plans including a chronological reading plan (http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/chronological). It has been really helpful for me. You can use the website even if you don't have an iPhone. I started the chronological bible a month or so ago and I love it!

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  2. My church is doing a reading plan as a church family. I had been really motivated but for some reason just haven't started now that the plan is out. This post convicted me to get started. Thank you.

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  3. Hey Carmen! Thanks for posting, I think I'm going to try the chronological reading :)

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  4. thanks for doing all the research! i'm going to give this a try=)

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  5. I have loved the one year Bible! It transformed my bible reading years ago! I agree with you that having a plan is so important! I think I'm going to go check out the chronological reading plan-- it sounds really awesome :)

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  6. Great post.

    I read through the Bible last year and really enjoyed the process.

    Best of luck!

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  7. Thanks so much for all of your feedback, encouragement, suggestions AND willingness to join along with me in this new Bible reading plan! It's so wonderful to have such a like-minded community, even online!

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  8. I echo Brandy: YouVersion is awesome! I like that the reading plans are all different lengths. Some are 1 or 2 years or just a few months. I did the Old Testament plan last year. I'm starting this year with the Essential 100 plan, which coincidentally lasts 100 days.

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  9. I've tried a few plans, mostly adapting into my own, but I really love the sound of this one. I think I'll try it this new year. :)

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  10. Oh, I'd definitely recommend it, Elspeth! It's been so insightful for me to read everything in context, especially when it comes to the Old Testament.

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  11. I once did a reading plan where I read the Bible in 90 days. I'll be looking for something a little less...hurried! Time to go look through what you shared! :)

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