Ideas for How to Read Your Bible

Guest: Dr. Jim Wicker 

Professor of New Testament, Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary

jwicker@swbts.edu

1. Tips
2. Start small.
3. Use a simple plan for 1 month.
4. Read a chapter in Proverbs each day (31 chapters). It is easy to remember which one.
5. Read a chapter in Matthew each day (28 chapters). You will have 2-3 catch up days.
6. Read a chapter in Acts each day (28 chapters). You will have 2-3 catch up days.
7. Read 5 chapters of Psalms each day (150 chapters).
8. Do another simple plan the 2nd month & 3rd month.

     You might repeat Proverbs as a checkup to see if your life has changed any from the 1st month.

2. Set a specific daily time to do your reading.

      What is the best time for you?

1. Morning works well for many people.
2. Lunch time? Prior to bedtime?
3. If you miss one or several days, don’t get discouraged & quit. Either:
4. Pick up where you should be when you resume (my suggestion).
5. Catch up when you resume (my wife’s suggestion).
6. Read for inspiration, encouragement, knowledge, & wisdom.
7. Start with prayer.
8. Do not zip through the reading just to check off the box.
9. As you read, when a question comes up, jot it down to study later.
10. After you read a chapter, think through your personal application of it.
11. Spend time in prayer. Use a journal or list to keep track of your prayers & God’s answers.
12. Build in some accountability.
13. Have a sheet to check off the readings.
14. Use an app to click.
15. Use an accountability partner.
16. Do not use daily Bible reading to replace Bible study.

1. Online Plans (in chronological order) – Bible.org (5), Bible Study Tools (16), Bible Gateway (18), Blue Letter Bible (8), Olive Tree Bible

   Most descriptions of their plans are verbatim from their websites.

 Bible.org (NET Bible) (https://bible.org)

1. Choices: email
2. Translations: NET
3. Plans (5):

   Read The Bible in 90 Days - Read through the Bible in 90 days. This plan, made popular by another Bible translation publisher is now available in the NET Bible. The plan it self is 88 days long, with two grace days at the end. It repeats every 91 days so you can begin any time and be done in 90 days.

   Chronological Bible Reading - Read the Bible every day in the order events transpired.

NT, Psalms and Proverbs - Read through the NT, Psalms and Proverbs in a year.

Read Through the Bible - Read 2-3 chapters a day from Genesis to Revelation.

The Rev. R. M. M'Cheyne, Plan - The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. - The OT once, the NT and Psalms twice

 Bible Study Tools (https://www.biblestudytools.com) (Salem Web Network)

1. Choices: website with free account
2. Translations:
3. Go to their website. At top, click on “Bible,” then “Reading Plans”
4. Plans (16):
5. 71 Days in Isaiah - Carefully work your way through Isaiah in 71 days to experience the full impact of the prophet's words.
6. Read from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 in the order in which the books of the Bible are arranged.
7. Chronological - Read the Bible in the order that the events happened.
8. Chronological NT - in 3 months you can read the NT in the order that the events happened.
9. Classic - Read 3 passages each day, starting with Genesis, Psalms, and Luke. From the original Bible Study Tools reading plan.
10. Daily Gospel - This plan focuses on the record of the life of Christ. Length: 45 days.
11. Daily Psalm - Read one Psalm per day for a spiritual boost (150 days)
12. Daily Wisdom - Find wisdom each day as you read straight through the Psalms, Proverbs, & Song of Solomon. Length: 60 days.
13. New Testament - Read straight through the New Testament in 90 days.
14. Ninety-Day Challenge - Read the Bible all the way through in only 90 days. It's a challenge well worth taking. Length: 90 days
15. Old Testament and New Testament - Read one passage from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament each day. Length: 365 days.
16. One-Year Immersion Plan - With this immersive plan, you'll read the Old Testament once and the New Testament three times each year. Length: 365 days
17. Prof. Horner's Reading System - A unique and challenging system where you read 10 chapters a day. Length: 365 days
18. Stay-on-Track Plan - If you have trouble staying on track, this one-year plan will help. 5 daily readings, with weekends free to catch up or get ahead. Length: 364 days
19. The Busy-Life Plan - If your life is busy, this plan will help you get through the Bible at a pace that works for you. You’ll read a short selection each day and complete the Bible in two years. Length: 720 days
20. The Christmas Bible Reading Plan - Designed for personal or family reading times, these 25 New Testament readings highlight the birth of Jesus and the purpose for His coming. Related Old Testament passages are also featured daily. Length: 25 days
21. Thematic - This Bible reading schedule is thematic or connective in nature. The goal is to make as many associations as possible between the different parts of Scripture while still reading individual books of the Bible from start to finish. Length: 365 days

 Bible Gateway (https://www.biblegateway.com) (Zondervan)

1. Choices: on the web (free personal account), mobile app (Android & IOS), or receive readings by daily email
2. Some 60 English Bible translations (but avoid Jubilee Bible, Orthodox Jewish Bible) & many other languages.
3. Choose from 18 different plans):

   Old/New Testament - Each day includes a passage from both the Old Testament and New Testament.

   Chronological - Read the Bible in the chronological order in which its stories and events occurred.

   Beginning - Read the Bible from start to finish, from Genesis to Revelation.

   Historical - Read the books of the Bible as they were written historically, according to the estimated date of their writing.

   Bible in 90 Days - An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.

   Read the Gospels in 40 Days - Read through the four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--in 40 days.

   New Testament in a Year - Read the New Testament from start to finish, from Matthew to Revelation.

   The Daily Audio Bible - This reading plan is provided by Brian Hardin from Daily Audio Bible.

   Book of Common Prayer  - Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.

   Readings for Lent and Easter - Short readings from throughout the Bible that focus on the meaning and events of Easter.

   Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God - 40 daily Scripture readings that illustrate the character of God and the nature of faith.

   Readings for Celebrating Advent - Scripture passages that focus on the meaning of Advent and Christmas.

   Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks - A reading plan that walks through the entire New Testament in 24 weeks of daily readings.

   Verse of the Day - A daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse.

   Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary) - Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with thematically matched Old and New Testament readings.

   Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous) - Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with sequential stories told across multiple weeks.

   M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan The classic M'Cheyne plan--read the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms or Gospels every day.

   Proverbs Monthly - Read through the book of Proverbs every month of the year.

 Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org)

1. Choices: thru the website, Android app, Apple app (not as developed)
2. Subscribe to one of 8 reading plans (all are available as a free downloadable pdf)

• Canonical Plan (1Yr) (Gen.-Rev. straight through, 7 days a week)
• Canonical Five-Day Plan (2Yr) (same as above, but 5 days a week)
• Blended Plan (1Yr) (non-traditional sequence of OT & NT books, 7 days a week; most days have OT & NT readings, such as: day one: Gen. 1-3; Rom. 1. It goes Gen. & Rom., Isa. & Mark, etc.
• Chronological Plan (1Yr) (reads according to when the events occurred
• Historical Plan (1Yr) (reads OT in Jewish order of Law-Writings-Prophets; NT in order written)
• Life Journal Plan (1Yr) (reads thru OT once & NT twice; it is a blended non-traditional order 7- day plan, produced by http://lifejournal.cc/)
• OT & NT Each Day (1Yr) (readings from both testaments most days and in canonical order, such as: day one-Gen. 1-3 & Matt. 1)
• OT & NT Each Day (2Yr) (same as above, but at a slower pace, 7 days a week, such as: day one-Gen. 1-3; day two-Matt. 1)

3. You can either "Subscribe" or "Subscribe with Accountability." Setting your reading with accountability, makes it so when you click the "accountability on" button you will be able to see if you are on track or behind on your reading progress.

 Bible by Olive Tree (https://www.olivetreebible.com)

1. Choices: Android & IOS app
2. Translations: You choose four free translations and can pay for additional ones in English or other languages.