The Contenders

The holiday seasons marks the end of the calendar year. This simultaneously reminds us that the new year is just around the corner. With that said, Christians should be giving careful attention to how they might redeem the time for the Lord in the new year. This must include a calculated approach to the primary means of Bible intake, daily Bible reading. Check out the following Bible reading plans and choose one that may be best for your situation and maturity:

Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading Plan. This is an intensive Bible reading plan that demands 10 chapters of reading per day. The strength of this plan is that you are constantly reading different portions of Scripture at different times. There is no “reset button” at the end of each year. Rather, it works like a deck of cards that is constantly shuffling. The advantage to this is personal cross-referencing and a constant variety of reading. Here’s a direct link to the document.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Reading Plan. The strength of this reading plan is that it leads its followers to read through the entire Bible more than one time per year. If diligently practiced then the reader would complete the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice in one year. It also provides plans for personal reading and sections to be read with the family.

Denny Burk’s One-Year Bible Reading Plan. This study plan leads its followers to complete the Bible in on year. The difference in this plan is that it is structured canonically (Genesis to Revelation).

Donald Whitney’s Bible Reading Checklist. This resource allows individuals to print out a sheet of paper to neatly keep in their Bible. It is not controlled by any time marker or schedule.

Disciple Journal’s 5x5x5 Reading Plan. This plan is for relatively new readers and believers. If followed the reader completes the New Testament in one year. The plan requires five minutes a day and only five days a week (with weekends for catch-up days). It also provides five strategies for better reading: (1) highlight/underline; (2) put the text in your own words; (3) ask and answer questions about the text; (4) capture the big idea; and (5) personalize the meaning.

Tim Challies’ Favorite Bible Reading Plan. This plan takes readers throughout the entire the Bible in one year. It is also semi-chronological; in other words, it takes readers through the Bible in the order the events transpire. Another appeal is that it is a five day plan. This gives you the weekends to meditate, get ahead, or perhaps even catch up to some reading.