Bible Reading Plans

The Bible is God’s word to us.  As a christian it is vital to read, study, and mediate on God’s word.  However, sometimes it can be difficult to know how and where to start.  Thankfully there are lots of Bible reading plans that can serve to give you some assistance (we’ve listed some below).

Now, while Bible reading plans are a great tool, there are some important things to remember when using one:

• Reading the bible is not a race.  You don’t get a prize for reading the Bible in a year.
• Allow God to speak through his word.  Don’t rush over all the verses.  Take time to listen to what God is saying.
• If you pick a plan, do not get discouraged if you miss a day or fall behind.  Just pick up where you left off and keep on going.
• Be willing to put your plan on pause.  If you find a particular book or chapter is particularly ministering to you, feel free to spend a couple days or weeks reading and studying that section.  Again, this isn’t a race.
• Pary and enjoy your time in God’s word.  This should not be a duty.  If you find it becoming dry or difficult, remind yourself that this is God’s word to you and ask God “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18 ESV)

Now, all that said, here are some Bible reading plans that we’ve found helpful.

Downloadable Versions

• Bethlehem Baptist Church offers what is, in my opinion, the BEST bible in a year reading plan.  Each day has readings in the Old and New Testaments, and in Psalms and Proverbs. The layout is nice and, when printed, can be folded and kept in most standard size bibles.
• Zondervan offers a number of reading plans based on topics, timelines, and other criteria.  Well worth checking out.
• NavPress has 3 really great plans available.

Online Versions:

• Heartlight has five different daily online plans to follow.
• BibleGateway has four plans available that vary in length.  Also, they offer audio versions of the daily readings.
• The ESV website offers several plans and also includes audio versions of the day’s readings.
• Studylight has a daily online reading plan.

How to Read the Bible Book by Book

This is the second book by Fee and Stuart that we’ve recommended here.  The first was How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.  In the first book Fee and Stuart help bible readers understand how to properly approach reading the bible, while this book takes things a step further and helps readers learn how to read each book of the bible. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour is an amazing resource that will help you gain a richer understanding and appreciation for each book of the bible.

From the Back Cover
A Guided Tour from Genesis through Revelation

Reading the Bible need not be a haphazard journey through strange and bewildering territory. Like an experienced tour guide, How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its key elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Written by two top evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible knowledgeably and understanding it accurately.

In an engaging, conversational style, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart take you through a given book of the Bible using their unique, progressive approach:

• Orienting Data - Concise info bytes that form a thumbnail of the book
• Overview - A brief panorama that introduces key concepts and themes and important landmarks in the book
• Specific Advice for Reading - Pointers for accurately understanding the details and message of the book in context with the circumstances surrounding its writing
• A Walk Through - The actual section-by-section tour that helps you see both the larger landscape of the book and how its various parts work together to form the whole. Here you are taken by the hand and told, “Look at this!”

How to Read the Bible Book by Book can be used as a companion to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. It also stands on its own as a reliable guide to reading and understanding the Bible for yourself.

About the Author
Gordon D. Fee (PhD, University of Southern California) is professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Douglas Stuart (PhD, Harvard University) is professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Have you ever read the Bible and come away more confused than before?  If so, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In their excellent book, Gordan Fee and Douglass Stewart seek to help Bible readers at every level.  How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth is an great resource for anyone who wants to get a better understanding on how to read the bible in such a way that they can understand what is being said.

From the Back Cover
Your Guide to Understanding the Bible

Understanding the Bible isn’t for the few, the gifted, the scholarly. The Bible is accessible. It’s meant to be read and comprehended by everyone from armchair readers to seminary students. A few essential insights into the Bible can clear up a lot of misconceptions and help you grasp the meaning of Scripture and its application to your 21st-century life.

More than half a million people have turned to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth to inform their reading of the Bible. This third edition features substantial revisions that keep pace with current scholarship, resources, and culture. Changes include:

• Updated language
• A new authors preface
• Several chapters rewritten for better readability
• Updated list of recommended commentaries and resources

Covering everything from translational concerns to different genres of biblical writing, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth is used all around the world. In clear, simple language, it helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible, their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today, so you can uncover the inexhaustible worth that is in God’s Word.

About the Author

Gordon D. Fee (PhD, University of Southern California) is professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Douglas Stuart (PhD, Harvard University) is professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.