What is a good bible reading plan for beginners

The start of a new year always gets me excited to start off strong in Bible study. But how to choose a Bible reading plan that fits? I’ve detailed 7 of the best Bible reading plans. These Bible reading plans cover a range of types like chronological, topical, one-year and printable plans; a range of media like print, audio and visual; and those that work well individually and for families.

7 Best Bible Reading Plans

1.The One-Year Bible Reading Plan. The one-year Bible reading plans are for those who want to study the full sweep of God’s story through his Word. Reading through the whole Bible keeps us from skipping over certain passages or books to get the full counsel of God’s Word. Though I grew up in Bible study, I discovered passages and stories I’d never read when I read through the Bible the first time.

The Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible reading calendar is my favorite one-year plan because rather than read straight through the Bible (and get bogged down in Leviticus or the Minor Prophets), readings are in four books each day.

• Old and New Testament readings each day
• Psalms and gospels are read twice through the year
• Daily commitment of about 20-25 minutes
• Read in one sitting or break into morning and evening readings

2. Chronological Bible Reading Plan. This is for readers wanting to connect the dots between the historical narrative and the psalms, wisdom books and prophetic books. In the New Testament, Paul’s letters to the churches are read chronologically along with the narrative of Acts.

• Entire Bible read through the year
• Daily commitment of 20-25 minutes
• Use a chronological Bible specially designed for chronological reading (here in New King James Translation)  or
• Use your own Bible with The Bible Recap: a One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible 

3. 100 Days with Christ. This reading plan walks you chronologically through the all four gospels. Study Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This is for readers who want to dive deep into the gospels with the spotlight on Jesus. It’s an excellent study to do beginning January 1 and leading up to Easter but deeply meaningful any time of year.

• Harmonizes all four gospels with unique details of stories and parables each gospel writer shared.
• Daily commitment of 20-25 minutes
• Subscribe to get the free reading plan and journaling pages delivered straight to your inbox.

4. Gratitude Bible Reading Plan. We should do both expository Bible reading (reading verse-by-verse) as well as topical Bible study. Topical Bible reading plans are for the reader wanting to explore in depth what God says about a certain subject. It could be a word study (lovingkindness), a character study (the women named in Jesus’ genealogy) or a subject study – like gratitude. This Gratitude Bible reading plan is a 30-day study on thankfulness to help you cultivate a life of daily thanks.

• Daily commitment of 5 minutes
• 30-days in and out study
• Subscribe to get your free Gratitude Bible reading plan here.

5. Daily Audio Bible. On days I need an extra boost of God’s Word or haven’t gotten to my Bible study, I love listening to the calm Bible reading on Daily Audio Bible. This Bible reading is for those who like to listen — in the car, while exercising, while getting ready in the morning or even around the breakfast table. The reading is verbatim scripture in various translations and includes a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, a psalm and proverb. Commentary and prayer follows if desired.

• Accessible on your computer or any podcast app
• Multiple languages available in the app
• Teen and children’s versions available in the app

6. A daily proverb. This reading plan may look simple but it leaves a deep impact. With 31 chapters in Provers, read one chapter of Proverbs each day of the month. On the first day of each month, read Proverbs 1, on the second day of the month, read Proverbs 2 and so on. Repeat monthly. This Bible reading plan is great for families as Proverbs addresses God’s wisdom for relationships, money, work, emotions and more.

• No printable or digital reading plan needed.
• Daily commitment of 5 – 20 minutes
• Use modern translations to help study the meaning of the proverbs

7. The Bible Project. The Bible project is a visual stand-alone or add-on to your one-year Bible reading plan. The reading plan goes through each book of the Bible in order, except that the prophetic books are broken into pre-, intra- and post-exile. This plan includes free, not-to-be-missed animated videos introducing each book of the Bible, central themes, word studies, literary genres and commentary. Access the reading plan here and the videos here. 

• Visual animation helps explain as you read through the Bible
• Especially compelling for children and families
• Daily commitment of 25 minutes

Whichever Bible reading plan you choose, may your Bible study reveal God more profoundly and cultivate your faith more deeply so that you surrender more fully than ever before.