One of the most exciting parts about a new year is the thought of diving into Scripture from a different perspective or through a new study. One of the best habits I have been forming this year is going through a Bible reading plan. Whether you have been regularly reading the Scriptures or you are wanting to get started for the very first time, there are countless resources to help you get into God’s Word daily.
BibleStudyTools.com shares, "Statistics show that most people professing faith in Jesus have never completely read their Bible. Many people start reading the Bible but then become overwhelmed by the number of chapters (1,189) and verses (31,102) there are. What we don't realize is that we can read the Bible in a year by reading fewer than four chapters a day."
Today I will share a few Bible reading plans to take on.
The Bible Recap
The Bible Recap was created by a ministry called D-Group (Discipleship Groups). What I love about the Bible Recap is that there is a reading plan on the Bible App that tells you what to read each day. This particular plan goes in chronological order, which means the order in which each event took place. Also, there is a podcast that goes along with the reading plan. You can listen to the short 8-minute podcast as a recap of your reading. The Podcast has reached #2 on the most downloaded podcast in the world. The host is Tara-Leigh Cobble. She has read through the Bible 10 times and gives a short summary of what is happening in the Scriptures in a relatable way. Her tag line is, “He’s where the joy’s at.” You will find great delight in seeking God and having a “God shot” for the day (meaning what He taught you about Himself).
To learn more about The Bible Recap, visit TheBibleRecap.com and check out the Bible reading plan on the Bible App and the podcast anywhere.
A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace
Daily Grace Co. is an incredible resource for women in particular. They provide Bible studies, podcasts, magazines, apparel, and more. One thing that I love that they are putting out this year is a 2022 Bible reading plan. The plan is called A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace and can be found on the Bible App as well as the podcast which pairs with the study can be found anywhere podcasts are present. This plan is unique because the concept is the story of redemption. Every day there are around 3 chapters of the Bible to read and daily reflection questions. The podcast highlights the reading and how it fits into the story of salvation through Jesus. If the Bible in one year is too much for you right now, they also have shorter plans like a Lent 2022 plan. The Daily Grace Co. was established in 2014 and shipped over one million Bible Studies in 2021.
To learn more about The Daily Grace, visit TheDailyGraceCo.com and check out the Bible Reading plan on the Bible App and the podcast anywhere.
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Bread is a ministry that has been reaching people around the world for over 75 years. They provide resources to help others connect with God through the Bible. They provide a daily devotional and have a Bible in a year plan that is unique because it weaves in Old and New Testament readings each day. This helps people stay connected with the Bible as a whole and gives us a breather when we get to more detailed books. They also have a podcast to go along with the readings.
They share, “The ‘Bible in One Year’ feature can be found on the Our Daily Bread and My Utmost for His Highest devotional pages. Visit the sites at odb.org and utmost.org."
The Busy Life Plan
I smiled and laughed a little with joy when I saw this particular plan. I know that many of you reading this do not have enough time in a day to read the large portions of Scripture in a yearly Bible plan. However, there is another wonderful alternative that will still get you into the Word, The Busy Life Plan. This can be found on BibleStudyTools.com. It does not have a fancy podcast or anything complex. You can simply view the link or print off the plan. The reading is only 1-2 chapters a day and is over the course of 720 days (Or 2 years) There is no shame in taking this pace or even doing a longer plan. The point is to be getting time with God and reading His Word.
For more Bible reading plans visit BibleStudyTools.com.
YouVersion Topical Plans
There are so many special times of year that can lead us to want to study the current holiday or a specific topic that relates to us in a season. YouVersion is a wonderful resource for short study plans that coincide with these. If you go to the app and click on plans there are many short, week-long reading plans on topics such as, “Fruit of the Spirit,” “Going Through Hard Times,” “Being Intentional in Marriage,” “Imperfect Parenting,” and “Sharing Your Faith.”
The beauty of a search bar is that we can type in anything that we would like to explore and learn more about and then click plans to see what the YouVersion offers. YouVersion’s mission is “To encourage and challenge people to seek intimacy with God every day.” If you are looking to do these and desire some guidance, check out their app. They also have a Bible App for Kids now that can get your little ones learning as well.
To discover more about YouVersion visit YouVersion.com or download the Bible App on your phone.
Navigators
Navigators provide a Bible reading plan that can start on any day. Simply start whenever you would like and use this free download for a guide. The plan is similar to Our Daily Bread in that it provides readings from the Old and New Testaments each day. This unifies our hearts with seeing Scripture as one when we can often separate into two parts. The entire Bible is one book with one Savior, Jesus. The Navigators is a discipleship ministry that has been around since 1933. Their mission is “To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.”
Book Studies
Then, there is always a benefit to taking time and really diving into book studies. There are 66 books of the Bible and it can be extremely beneficial to take time to dedicate studying one book at a time. There are countless Bible studies by incredible authors on certain books of the Bible. My personal favorite teachers are Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Kelly Minter, and Jennie Allen. For men, I recommend Tony Evans, Max Lucado, Billy Graham, and Matt Chandler. Check out Lifeway for more information.
Another wonderful program to consider looking into is BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). This is an international ministry that is an incredible way to get plugged in with others in your local community. BSF takes your Bible reading to a deeper level and appreciation for God’s Word.
However you decide to get into the Bible, the time with God will never be wasted. Every effort that we make to spend time with the Lord is a blessing. He is inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. The Bible is a book of who our Savior Jesus is and how much He loves us. God has gone to great lengths to have a relationship with us. The least we could do is ask the Holy Spirit to help us meet with the Father and learn more about who He is in the Bible. The journey through Scripture is a privilege that many who do not have Bibles in the world dream of having, may we never take it for granted.
Photo credit: Unsplash.com/KellySikkema
Emma Danzey’s mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and mom to Graham. Emma serves alongside her husband in ministry, she focuses most of her time in the home, but loves to provide articles on the Bible, life questions, and Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 on Crosswalk in 2021. Most recently, Emma released Treasures for Tots, (Scripture memory songs) and multiple books and devotionals for young children. During her ministry career, Emma has released Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness, two worship EP albums, founded and led Polished Conference Ministries, and ran the Refined Magazine. You can view her articles on her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com