BIBLE READING PLANS

Below is a list of the bible reading plans that we recommend with links to each one: (some are two and three years)

  • The Five Day Reading plan: You read five times a week. This allows time for catching up, taking a day off, read other parts of the Bible to prepare for Bible class, etc. Read the entire Bible or just the New Testament.

  • 52 Week Bible Reading Plan: Read through the Bible in a year with each day of the week dedicated to a different genre: epistles, the law, history, Psalms, poetry, prophecy, and Gospels.

  • A Bible Reading Chart: Read through the Bible at your own pace. Use this minimalistic yet beautifully designed chart to track your reading throughout the year

  • Every Word in the Bible: Read through the Bible one chapter at a time. Readings alternate between the Old and New Testaments.

  • Historical Bible Reading Plan: The Old Testament readings are similar to Israel’s Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament readings are an attempt to follow the order in which the books were authored.

  • The 'Backward' Reading Plan: It's more than just reading the bible backwards. It gives you an amazing historical context of the entire narrative of scripture and radiates God's redemptive plan throughout the history of His people. So you're not bouncing around and you're also taken deep into the stories and theology of each book without distraction.

    • By doing it backwards, it helps break the monotony, keeps your interest, and makes you think more about what and where you're reading, and more than all that, it gives a better perspective and appreciation of every book of the bible and where it fits in God's redemptive history.

    • Here's how it works:

      • Begin with the prophetical books to see how the Lord dealt with His people by warning them and promising deliverance during their rebellion:

      • Depending on how long you read, this will take you 1-2 years to get through the entire bible

      • You'll get through the New Testament first, so just begin again or spend the full time in the OT

      • Read 15 minutes of the Old Testament beginning with the last prophetical books chronologically, first (follow directions for remaining books below)

      • Read 15 minutes from the New Testament beginning with Matthew and go straight through

      • Read the bible 15- 30 minutes daily (or more)

Start with the prophetical books in reverse:

  • Post exile (this is after the Jews returned to the land from captivity and begin to rebuild the temple): Read Malachi, Zechariah, Haggai, Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther

  • 70 year exile (before/during): Read Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel

  • Pre- 70 year exile and during northern captivity: Read Isaiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Nahum, Micah

  • Pre-exilic prophets: Read Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Joel, Obadiah

Then go the the historical books which took place before and during the exile:

  • Here you can see all the details of how Israel rebelled, how the kingdom split into a north and southern kingdom, and how many kings rebelled and how some obeyed. Elisha and Elijah's ministry are also featured here.

  • Historical books: Read 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ruth, Judges, Joshua

  • Poetical books: Read Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Psalms, Job

  • Pentateuch: Read Deuteronomy, Numbers, Leviticus, Exodus, Genesis

Here's the key... use the chart below to help guide you and keep you focused on where you are in the story with the backward reading plan.

If you do decide to do the backward plan, I would love to hear from you and even discuss it with you along the way. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

First, regardless of what plan you choose, invest in Halley's Bible Handbook...

This book has sooo much easy to follow biblical information, charts, timelines, study tools, etc, but what I like more than anything, is that it gives me a small overview of each chapter of scripture that I'm reading each day.

It gives the historical context along with a bit of theology as well. It doesn't overwhelm you and it makes an excellent companion to any bible reading plan.

Don't just read through your reading plan for devotional application alone. Get the historical and biblical context and then the application for your life will amplify times ten. This is what Haley's allows you to do regardless if you're a beginner or theologian.

Here's a link to Haley's Bible Handbook on Amazon.