bookslover
Puritan Board Doctor
2025 is almost here, so it's time to ask, once again: what are your Bible-reading plans for next year? And (bonus question) did you successfully read through the Bible this year?
Time for My Annual Bible-Reading Question
- Thread starter bookslover
- Start date
J.L. Allen
Puritan Board Junior
I wish I could answer your last question in the affirmative. My Bible reading was haphazard at best this year. I did a lot of reading, but I jumped from plan to plan. I'm going to keep it simple this year (Lord willing!). By God's grace, I'll read through the One Year Bible (KJV). Additionally, I have a desire to read a single chapter a day and to read through a single volume commentary alongside. We'll see if I can do that...
dsanch1120
Puritan Board Freshman
I was able to read through the whole Bible this year and am getting a head start for next year! Although next year I should be done with Greek courses and would like to read through my gnt. I’m horrible at following plans, so my plan is just to read starting where I left off, and stop where I stop. Doing this it usually takes around a year to finish
ZackF
Puritan Board Professor
No. I’d like to try to read/listen through the Bible in a month.
I agree. I love this Bible reading plan. Recently Banner of Truth reprinted a wonderful book on M’Cheynes life and writings. It shows that the pastor who put this Bible reading plan together was a man of exceptional godliness. I aspire to be a godly man like M'Cheyne.
Memoir & Remains of Robert Murray M‘Cheyne
<p>A much-loved classic which contains Bonar’s life of M‘Cheyne and a wide selection of his sermons, letters and other writings. 664pp.</p>
banneroftruth.org
greenbaggins
Puritan Board Doctor
I have started a new plan that is quite different from reading through in a year. I had been trying to read through the Hebrew and Greek Reader's edition in a year. I found I couldn't keep up, and when you get to difficult books like Job, it gets to be too much (3 chapters of Job's Hebrew takes hours!). So, instead, I have resolved to divide the Scripture into its seven parts (Pentateuch, History, Wisdom, Prophets, Gospels, Acts/Paul, and General Epistles/Revelation). For each day of the week, I will read a chapter in the original language from one book in one of those parts. So Monday is currently Deuteronomy, Tuesday is 1 Kings, Wednesday is Job, Thursday is Micah, Friday is Mark, Saturday is 1 Corinthians, and Sunday is James. Then I also read a commentary on the chapter of the day. As a bonus, Wednesday's and Thursday's readings also correspond to the expository readings I have in the morning and evening services on Sunday. That way I have something intelligent to say about them. This plan will take approximately 3 1/2 years to get through the Bible, but I will have gotten through it in the original languages with commentary help as well.
Faithhopelove24
Puritan Board Freshman
Probably my favorite book!I agree. I love this Bible reading plan. Recently Banner of Truth reprinted a wonderful book on M’Cheynes life and writings. It shows that the pastor who put this Bible reading plan together was a man of exceptional godliness. I aspire to be a godly man like M'Cheyne.
Memoir & Remains of Robert Murray M‘Cheyne
<p>A much-loved classic which contains Bonar’s life of M‘Cheyne and a wide selection of his sermons, letters and other writings. 664pp.</p>
I had started the M'Cheyne in 2024 when I saw a review of the Chronological Bible. Rather than switching ponies midstream, I continued with M'Cheyne but will start the Chronological in January. Can't say I did 100 percent of the readings in 2024, but was pretty steady.
3dawgnight
Puritan Board Freshman
I've been using RC Sproul's Bible overview plan. He doesn't give a set number of chapters/verses per day but instead recommends an order to go through to get an overview of the Bible. Once I finish the overview, I'll go back and fill in the missing books. I'm reading two Old Testament chapters, two New Testament chapters, and one Psalm per day.
I also came across this Bible Reading Plan Generator, where you enter your parameters and it creates a plan for you. Could be a useful tool.
I also came across this Bible Reading Plan Generator, where you enter your parameters and it creates a plan for you. Could be a useful tool.
GulfCoast Presbyterian
Puritan Board Senior
I use Prof. Horners Bible Reading Plan. It's a lot of reading per day, but I have come to really enjoy it.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/prof-horners-reading-system.html is one breakdown.
It is easier to do it on an app than to keep up with the bookmarks, but I prefer reading from a book.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/prof-horners-reading-system.html is one breakdown.
It is easier to do it on an app than to keep up with the bookmarks, but I prefer reading from a book.
Ed Walsh
Puritan Board Graduate
For many years now I have spent roughly three times as much time in the Old Testament as I do the New.
Why?
Simple,
Because the Old Testament is roughly three times as long as the new.
J.L. Allen
Puritan Board Junior
This is my absolute favorite reading plan. I used that plan some years ago (when I was able to get through the reading better), and then followed it up by reading through the Bible cover-to-cover in 90 days. I became a Presbyterian as a result. The Bible in 90 days (there's a PDF promoting the CSB out there with the plan) is a fantastic route to go, too.
Phil D.
ὁ βαπτιστὴς
Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
I tried out a new plan this year... and then another, then another (and maybe two or three more?). I read my Bible a lot, but I did not successfully complete a full read-through.
This year I'm going back to M'Cheyne which has worked well for me a number of times in the past.
StevieG
Puritan Board Freshman
I've been using the One Year bible reading plan this year and have mostly enjoyed it. I like how it tries to find natural breaks in the text and not just the end of a chapter. I also like how it spreads Proverbs out over the whole year and means I've had the time each day to reflect on a couple of them.
I'm currently half way through Zechariah, Revelation and then just Malachi to go for the year. I'll probably use it again next year.
I'm currently half way through Zechariah, Revelation and then just Malachi to go for the year. I'll probably use it again next year.
erickinho1bra
Puritan Board Freshman
So you're trying to listen/read through the bible 12x this next year?!
I'm sure Dr. Horner would be happy you did it but unhappy with the result
Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
Of course now that I'm seeing all of these ideas it's making me want to try something new again 
The Calvinistic Methodist
Puritan Board Freshman
The last five years or so I have read through the Bible in a year every year. This next year will be different. The yearly plans usually have 3-4 chapters per day. I plan on taking time with at least one of those chapters per day and does exegetical study on it in a separate notebook. The remaining chapter I will just read. That way, as the following years go by (after four or so years) I will have done a deep level study on every chapter in the Bible. The advantage of this is as follows:
I won’t just be “reading” but I’ll actually be studying
When finished (though I’ll keep going even after I finish) in a few years I’ll have an outline and exegeses on the whole Bible!
My kids will have my work to sort through on the whole bible after I am gone.
The discipline of it will be good for me
Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
How long have you used it for? I have tried for a month or two a couple times but I have always struggled to stick with it. Is there a "wall" to push through where it clicks, or did it feel good to you right away?
ZackF
Puritan Board Professor
Seeking_Thy_Kingdom
Puritan Board Sophomore
M’Cheyne. Again.
J.L. Allen
Puritan Board Junior
I know the question wasn't directed to me, but have you tried splitting it into AM/PM reading? That way, you're only doing five chapters at a time.
Blood-Bought Pilgrim
Puritan Board Sophomore
I haven't tried that before. In the past I've struggled making both morning and evening consistent, but I could see how that would be nice.
Andres
Puritan Board Doctor
For myself, the appeal is the wide scope of the Scriptures that the Horner plan exposes one to. I struggle more reading 3-4 chapters through the prophets than I do reading 10 chapters across all the bible. It has also helped me to "connect" the Scriptures in ways I never was able to do previously. It's difficult to explain but it keeps me engaged best out of all the bible reading plans I've tried. Yes 10 chapters a day can sound daunting, but I would say I can usually read those 10 chapters in about 45-60 minutes each morning, which really isn't that long of time considering how much time we often spend watching tv or surfing the internet or chatting on PB. I even take the words of Job to heart when he says, "I have esteemed the words of [God's] mouth more than my necessary food (Job 23:12). Feeding upon the Scriptures should take priority in our lives even over eating physical food. Practically skip breakfast and read your bible or use your lunch break at work to read. Lastly the emphasis with the Horner plan is quantity over quality. By no means am I saying that one should read the Holy words of God dismissively or without proper attention, but I do think the Horner plan isn't the plan if you want to look up all the cross-references and read commentaries along with it.
Here are Horner's own "Secrets to Success" (and I can personally attest to these tips as helpful):
• Read one chapter from each list each day; in one sitting or two. At the end of a book; go to the next book. At the end of the list; start it again. Do it in the order given above.
• Read quickly (without “speed-reading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
• GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back reading, looking up cross-references!
• There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
• Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks! I now read and retain the entire text of Ma hew in 35 minutes, Romans in 20, Genesis in one hour!
• Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
• If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.
• If you are wondering why you should read Acts (or Proverbs) all the way through every single month, then -- you've just shown that you NEED to read them that often!
• The goal of this system is simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
J.L. Allen
Puritan Board Junior
Sage advice for any reading plan!
GulfCoast Presbyterian
Puritan Board Senior
Probably the last 5 years. The reading/comprehension really does get quicker as you get used to the plan. Especially if you use the reading plan on an app like youbible instead of spending time juggling the bookmarks.
