Read the Bible in a Year
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Whether you’re someone who’s been a Christian for years, or someone who has very little knowledge of God’s Word, one of the best and most important things you can do is familiarize yourself with the Bible.
Why Read All of It?
The passage from 2 Timothy (written above) says that all Scripture is given to equip us. That little word ‘all’ is vital. If we really want to be equipped for our Christian life, then we need to get to grips with the whole Bible. Here’s three reasons why committing to read through the whole Bible in one year is worth doing:
1. It gives you a better idea for how to Bible fits together and a fuller picture of God’s eternal plan for all things.
2. It keeps you reading God’s Word daily. To read the Bible in a year, you need to commit to reading it every day.
3. It forces you to read portions of Scripture that you wouldn’t normally read, rather than simply skipping to your favourite passages.
Getting Started
Reading the Bible in a year can be a daunting process. How do you avoid starting well and then getting lost in the middle of Leviticus!? Here are three suggestions to help you along your way:
• Track your progress. Tick a box every day you do your reading.
• Plan a regular time to read. (Over breakfast, during your morning commute, etc.) If you prefer, why not download an audio version to listen to?
• Read with others. Find someone, or perhaps a group of people who will hold you accountable. Meet with them each week or each month to talk or pray about what you’ve been reading.
Suggested Reading Plans
• 52 Week Bible Reading Plan
Read through the Bible in a year, with each day of the week dedicated to a different genre: Epistles, The Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, and Gospels. Each day covers one or more whole chapters.
http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
• Chronological Plan
Read through the Bible in the order the events occurred chronologically. Each day covers one or more whole chapters.
http://static.esvmedia.org/assets/pdfs/rp.chronological.pdf
• Straight Through the Bible Plan
Read straight through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Readings are every day and cover one or more passages each day.
http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/reading_plans/straightthrough.pdf
• New Testament in a Year Plan
This plan takes you through the New Testament in a year, reading 5 days a week, for 5 minutes a day. Each day covers just one chapter. Weekends are set aside for reflection and other reading.
http://web.archive.org/web/20131207190241/http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/5x5x5_BRP.pdf
• A Bible Reading Chart
If you’d prefer not to have a structured plan, use this chart to read at your own pace.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130123171445/http://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bible_reading.pdf
For more reading plans, visit http://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/
