Robert Murray M'Cheyne's Bible-Reading Calendar

[bookslover]

Anyone planning to use M'Cheyne's calendar for the first time, starting next January?

For those who are using it now, what do you like/don't like about it?

I'm planning to start using it 1/1/11, and would like the opinions of those who are experienced with it.

Thanks.

 

[Augusta]

Hi Richard, I used it several years in a row and I really liked it. I only changed because I wanted to read through chronologically this year. I think you will like it a lot.

 

[bookslover]

Anyone planning to use M'Cheyne's calendar for the first time, starting next January?

As is evidenced by your seeming admission that this next January will be your first time, I can confidently answer that Yes. Someone (you) somewhere (wherever you'll) be is planning to use it. I hope you find this post helpful.

See, Joshua - this is why you get the Big Money! A fount of knowledge, is what you are!

 

[au5t1n]

I read the same number of chapters a day and find four to be a good number, but I have never used this plan. The major drawback to a plan like this is that you are only reading one chapter in a given place per day, which In my humble opinion is not how a book of the Bible is best processed. You won't make connections between, say, John 16 and John 4 (arbitrarily chosen) going one chapter a day through John that you would going four chapters a day through John.

For a better illustration, the story of Joseph is over ten chapters long, and if you use the M'Cheyne plan you will cover in two weeks what was intended to be one coherent story.

This is just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth, i.e.

 

[Michael]

An alternate suggestion: http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf

This reading plan breaks each day of the week into a different section of scripture...

SUN: Epistles
MON: The Law
TUE: History
WED: Psalms
THU: Poetry
FRI: Prophecy
SAT: Gospels

There are two things about this plan that were appealing to me. First, the variety of the readings. Second, you will notice some incredible connections of scripture along the way that you may miss if you read in chronological order.

Also, after a period of time it becomes somewhat cute how Wednesday begins to seem like "Psalm Day", Friday "Prophecy Day", etc...

Anyhow, just a suggestion.

 

[au5t1n]

Let me amend my previous statement by noting that the M'Cheyne plan would be excellent for a family reading schedule, only I would probably pick just one category (e.g. Family) and double the amount, i.e. Day One would be Gen. 1-2 and Matt. 1-2.

 

[JennyG]

I've done M'Cheyne's for several years, but recently moved over to Grant Horner's method. See this thread now running, for the latter.
I liked M'Cheyne's, but I like Horner's even better. More exposure to scripture, and much more variety, so that scripture interprets itself in constantly changing ways.
M'Cheyne's can begin to feel like a rut after several years - obviously that wouldn't bother you yet
Martyn Lloyd-Jones used it from the day he discovered it until his death, so it should be good