When it comes to Bible reading and plans, God is not basing his love and acceptance on your performance! Plans are not intended to become burdens and cause you to feel guilty. Nor are they intended to be tasks you conquer in order to “clear your plate” for the day. No, God’s love for you is based on Christ’s work—not your work—even in Bible reading.
So, if not to get or keep God’s approval, then why think about a Bible plan? To put it simply, we want to know God more than we did before.
John 17:3: And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Savoring any moments you get with the God who loves you is a far different reason for reading to check it off the list to make him happy. The plan is intended to create structure and space for you to fellowship with the Lord, to enjoy moments of knowing more and more the God who loves you.
To that end, here are some plans & tools for the new year!
Bible Reading Plans
If you are like most people, you barely know what your name is when you wake up!
Having a plan for Bible Reading, while it may seem to eliminate spontaneity and following the Spirit in your devotions, gives vital direction to daily devotions.
There are many different Bible Reading Plans, but here are a few we recommend:
Bible in a Year - This plan takes you through the entire Bible with two readings each day: one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
M’cheyne One Year Plan - This plan is based on the M’Cheyne reading system, featuring four different readings for use in both family and personal devotions. Each day has two passages from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from either the Psalms or the Gospels. In one year, you read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.
Chronological Bible - The Blue Letter Bible “Chronological” plan is compiled according to historical research, taking into account the order in which the recorded events actually occurred. This is a fantastic plan to follow if you wish to add historical context to your reading of the Bible.
Bible Project Bible - This plan takes you on a journey through the entire Bible over the course of one year. Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with God's Word.
Also, for the tech savvy, Bible.com is a great resource. This website/app curates an endless array of bible reading plans. If you download the app, you can access the plan of your choice from your phone/tablet/device. You can set a prompt to remind you each day.
Study Bible
As you know that, we preach from the English Standard Version (ESV). Several years ago, Crossway released the ESV Study Bible.
The ESV Study Bible is designed to help you understand the Bible in a deeper way. Created by a diverse team of 95 leading Bible scholars and teachers—from 9 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and 50 seminaries, colleges, and universities—the ESV Study Bible is a very valuable resource. It includes commentary on every verse; context and background for every book; maps and illustration for greater detail; and a host of articles addressing various subjects! You can purchase a hardcopy or create an online account at www.ESV.org to read digitally and make notes.
A good study Bible is at often neglected, excellent resource! If you do not have this one or another comparable one, we would encourage you to purchase one!
Daily Devotionals
In addition to a daily Bible Reading plan, there are many great devotionals. Here are two good daily devotionals we would recommend.
Morning and Evening—One of the most well-known, and deservedly well-loved, daily devotionals is Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. If you have not read it, you must! You can access an online version here or purchase a handsome hard-copy version here.
For the Love of God—Some years ago, author D.A. Carson wrote two daily devotions for the M’cheyne Bible reading plan (Vol 1, Vol 2). Now, you can access both volumes online here. You can even get them emailed to you each day!
Everyday Gospel Bible—More recently, Paul Tripp has released several good devotions. Everyday Gospel Bible is his first year-long, whole-Bible devotional. Check it out here.
Hopefully these will give you some tools to help you know more deeply the God who loves you.
