Bible intake is how your soul eats. Every Christian needs to learn to feed themselves so they can come to a point where they feed others. That starts by reading the Bible either by oneself or with a friend, spouse, or family member.
Before you look at the plans I suggest below, keep in mind that there is nothing in God’s Word that says His people must read large portions of Scripture in a certain period of time. You don’t have to read the whole Bible in a year. If you’re an actual Christian and you want to stay one, you have to eat, but there are different ways to eat. For those two different ways, see Tim Challies’ blog about intimacy or familiarity. The plans I suggest below will mostly focus on familiarity.
There are so many different Bible reading plans to engage. My Dad uses a certain plan but changes the translation of the Bible he reads every year. A year ago I was able to read the whole Bible in one year (that was the first year I had ever done it). In 2020 Lynsey and I read through the New Testament. This year we are attempting to read through the Old Testament.
Perhaps you’s like to read through the whole Bible in 2021. Or maybe you’d like to attempt something smaller but still challenging. However you do it, just start! Oh, and remember your value comes from God’s love for you, not your efforts for Him!
Without further adieu, here are what I think are the best Bible reading plans for 2021.
5-Day/Week Plan
This plan is what I used in 2019. I liked it because I ironically find reading the Bible on Sundays to be very difficult as a pastor since I have a different routine on that day. For a layperson it’s also helpful because it builds in 2 makeup days every week.
52 Week Plan With Different Genres Each Day
This plan involves reading about 3 chapters each day of the week. It breaks up the reading so that a different genre is read every day. It will take you through the whole Bible in a year.
5x5x5 New Testament Plan
The Navigators have given us a wonderful plan to equip us to read through the New Testament in a year spending 5 minutes a day for 5 days a week. This one is more of an intimacy plan.
Chronological Whole Bible
The Bible is not printed chronologically, but based on genre and era (before Christ and after Christ). Some like to read based on chronology. If that’s you, this is your plan. Follow this and you’ll read the whole Bible in one year in the same order each text was written.
M’Cheyne Reading Plan
Robert Murray M’Cheyne was a Scottish pastor in the 1800’s. He prepared this Bible reading plan for his congregation. It takes you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice. I’ve included two download options for this plan. One only includes the schedule and the other includes what looks to be an adaptation of M’Cheyne’s original plan given to his flock.
Bible Reading Plan Generator
This is what I used to create our Old Testament reading plan. It is completely customizable to generate whatever kind of plan you’d like to use. You can even export your custom plan into your digital calendar.
Pastor Jacob’s Blog 