Bible Reading Plans

Reading the Bible prayerfully and asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit is one of the best ways to draw close to God. Below are some Bible reading plans to guide your study, and we pray that God will bless you as you get into his Word.

We recommend that you set aside time for this. It can be one block of time or several throughout the day, but it's best if you set it aside. And if your schedule is different on different days, change it up as you need.

But having said that, any time you invest reading the Bible is better than not reading it!

• Scope: whole Bible.

In this plan you read a larger chunk of the Old Testament in the morning and a smaller portion of the New Testament in the evening. You start your day with God’s redemptive plans as revealed to His covenant people, and end your day with Jesus.

• Scope: New Testament.

5 minutes a day | If you’re not used to reading the Bible daily, start with this easy to use tool to read a chapter of the New Testament in 5 minutes a day. This reading plan will take you through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, one chapter per day. The Gospels are read throughout the year to weave in the story of Christ all year long.

5 days a week | Determine a time and location to spend 5 minutes a day for 5 days a week. It is best to have a consistent time and a quiet place where you can regularly meet with the Lord.

5 ways to dig deeper | Pause in your reading to dig into the Bible. Below are 5 different ways to dig deeper each day. These exercises will encourage meditation. Try a single idea for a week to find what works best for you. Remember to keep a pen and paper ready to capture God’s insights.

1. Underline or highlight key words or phrases in the Bible passage. Use a pen or highlighter to mark new discoveries from the text.
2. Put it into your own words. Read the passage or verse slowly, then rewrite each phrase or sentence using your own words.
3. Ask and answer some questions. Questions unlock new discoveries and meanings. Ask questions about the passage using these words: who, what, why, when, where, or how. Jot down your answers to these questions.
4. Capture the big idea. God’s Word communicates big ideas. Periodically ask: What’s the big idea in this sentence, paragraph, or chapter?
5. Personalize the meaning. Respond as God speaks to you through the Scriptures. Ask: How could my life be different today as I respond to what I’m reading?

• Scope: whole Bible.

Did you ever wonder when Bible events took place in relation to one another? For instance, did you know that the events in the book of Job took place in the time period described in Genesis? This plan takes you through the Bible in chronological order.