It’s that time of year again. Time to select a Bible reading plan and get started once again. Here are some links to Bible reading plans we like:
Three from the Discipleship Journal at the Navigators site:
The 5x5x5: a plan for reading the New Testament in one year – if you aren’t in the habit of daily Bible reading, this gives you a good start.
Book At a Time: this plan alternates between one OT book and one NT book with additional one chapter a day readings from the Wisdom literature and Isaiah.
DJ Bible Reading Plan: this plan has you reading four different portions each day, giving you a well-rounded look at all the Biblical message from different perspectives.
Each of these plans includes at least one flex day in the week. These enable you to catch up if you fall behind. Alas, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!
My own Chronological Bible Reading Plan. This plan came from a time in our church when we preached chronologically through the Bible in a seventeen-month period. I keep tweaking this plan as I use it regularly, but no doubt some errors remain. The idea is to read the Bible chronologically, with the prophets in line with the history so, as I say, “you can see what the prophets were mad about.” I’ve also included a flex day in the latest edition of this plan.
The Murray McCheyne plan. Many disciples use this plan, it might be just what you like to use.
One last thing I’d like to mention is the ESV Reader Bible. As of this writing, it is on clearance at Christian Book Distributors – I paid double for my copy! It has no verse or chapter numbers, just text, with a few headers. Lately I’ve been reading this myself. It makes for quite a different Bible reading experience. In the narratives, you do tend to feel less constrained by chapter divisions. My review is published here. The short version: I recommend this especially for the narratives and as an alternative to the plans you would use regularly. I don’t plan to read the Reader Bible every year, but will probably pick it up again for another foray in the future.
Preaching on this topic in our church last Sunday, I said, “Pick a plan and get started, see how long you can go before you peter out. Then when you realize you’ve stalled, get yourself started again. You may have to restart yourself several times a year. That’s all right. Just make a plan and work your plan and see what the Lord will do in your life.”
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