Bible reading plans have their pros and cons. You don’t want your daily Bible reading to become a legalistic ritual, a burden, or fuel for self-righteousness. But having a plan—even if you don’t finish “on time”—helps you maintain the vital spiritual discipline of Bible intake. Without a plan, it’s easy to fall into aimlessness or laziness, missing too much time with the Lord for no other reason than not knowing what to read next.
“A whole Bible gives us the whole Christ,
and only a whole Christ can make us whole Christians . . .
No holiness without the Bible!”
As we head into a new year, several members of the BER team shared what they plan to read in 2022, and as it turns out, several of them will be using the M’Cheyne reading plan.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne was a 19th-century Scottish minister known for his passion for Scripture. He acknowledged the potential pitfalls of reading plans but believed the benefits are greater. As Jordan Stone wrote in his article for The Gospel Coalition:
“The chief benefit of systematic reading, no doubt, is intentional time with Jesus Christ. M’Cheyne often spoke of daily Scripture reading as a ‘trysting time’ with the Savior. Christ meets his people in each chapter; his voice thunders forth from the sacred page. A whole Bible gives us the whole Christ, and only a whole Christ can make us whole Christians. ‘Go then,’ M’Cheyne proclaimed, ‘to Jesus for all you need; learn the means of sanctification—the Word. No holiness without the Bible!’”
Reading Plan Roundup
Here’s what some of the BER team members are planning for 2022:
- Chuck Gianotti: “I have been using the M’Cheyne Reading Plan in the Logos Bible software.”
- Greg and Lexi Smelker: “We always do our reading plan together so we can talk about what we’re reading. We use the M’Cheyne reading plan in the ESV app and also found through The Gospel Coalition; it is easy to use and includes a small devotion by D.A. Carson. The plan has you do the whole Old Testament and the New Testament twice. This year, we want to slow down and will just do the New Testament.”
- Alex Strauch: “I plan in this new year to do a very slow meditative reading of the New Testament. I will not rush or try to cover a certain amount of material each day. I will read with understanding and insight and record any new insights I receive.”
- Erica Fitzgerald: “I’ve been using the One Year® Bible plan this year. In the past I’ve also enjoyed the 52-Week Bible Reading Plan by Ligonier Ministries, which covers a different genre of the Bible every day of the week—I liked reading a bigger chunk of a single book in a day while still getting variety throughout the week. Having a plan to follow—even though it always takes me longer than a year—keeps me from getting aimless and ensures I’m getting a good, varied ‘diet’ of Scripture.”
Resources for Your Bible Reading
Looking for a daily devotional for the new year? Check out the Day by Day books by Chuck Gianotti—they provide expositional meditations in bite-sized portions, perfect for busy elders. The daily readings go verse by verse through a book of the Bible, providing commentary, explanation, meditative thoughts, and practical applications. The books are 40% off through December 31. You can also subscribe to the daily readings online at Bible-Equip.org.
Need some extra motivation to make a plan? Check out Alex Strauch’s three-part series, Becoming a Bible-Reading Leader, on BiblicalEldership.com. Alex offers fresh reminders of why we need to be faithful Bible readers, plus practical tips for making the habit easier.
Need a list of plans to choose from? Check out the reading plans on Bible.org.