Five Ways to Read the Bible in a Year

Reading the entire Bible may seem like a daunting task for some. Others may simply want to skip over sections of the Bible they feel don’t apply to them. I want to challenge both these views with Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God’s word is living and breathing, and it will not return void. Any time spent in God’s word is not a waste of time, even in passages of Leviticus or long genealogies that we don’t think apply to us. I know that whichever reading plan you choose, God will work through His Word to be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (Psalm 119:105).

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Chronological Order

This reading plan puts the events of the Bible in the order that they happened. For example, Job lived around the time of Abraham; so you will read Genesis 1 - 11, then study the life of Job, and then return to Genesis to learn about Abraham. Reading the Bible chronologically can provide a new perspective on biblical times, as many of us are not used to considering how the lives of the different people in the Bible intersected with each other.

Click here for a 12-month schedule to read the Bible chronologically.

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Historical Order

This reading plan orders the books of the Bible based on the dates the books were written. For example, Isaiah was written after 2 Kings. Similarly, several of Paul’s epistles were written before the gospels. As you read the Bible in a year according to the historical order, you will be reminded of the lives of the authors of each book, even as you contemplate the verses.

Click here for a 12-month schedule to read the Bible historically.

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The Old and New Testaments Together

This reading plan combines the Old and New Testaments. Starting at the beginning of the Old Testament and New Testament, you will read each section from beginning to end at the same time. As you receive encouragement from the good news in the New Testament, you will also be reminded of the wisdom and historical background that are evident in every line of the Old Testament. 

Click here for a 12-month schedule to read the Old and New Testaments together.

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Beginning to End

This reading plan starts in Genesis and goes straight through the Bible to Revelation. Many Christians and churches read the Bible in this way. As you read your daily Bible passage, remember that you are joining together with thousands of other Christians in your study and worship.

Click here for a 12-month schedule to read the Bible from beginning to end.

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Blended

This reading plan has the most variety. Each day, it blends passages from the Old and New Testament, but the order of the books varies. A blended order provides many opportunities to focus specifically on the themes of daily Bible passages. You will see how different sections of the Bible are connected to each other, as the God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow speaks through time.

Click here for a 12-month schedule to read the Bible in a blended order.

Which reading plan sounds most interesting to you? If you enjoy digging deep into the historical context of the Bible, you may enjoy the first, second, or fourth plans. If you enjoy reading both the New and Old Testament simultaneously, you may like the third or fifth plans. Whatever you choose, stick with it and allow God to speak into your life through His Word. This year I look forward to using the chronological plan to read the Bible in one year!

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” - Psalm 119:105

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