Reading through the Bible in 2024

Over the years, I have often used a Bible reading plan as a way of steadily working through the Bible. For those who don’t know, a Bible reading plan is simply a breakdown of the Bible into a set of daily readings so that each day you know what to read and when to stop. It’s a long-term approach to the daily consumption of God’s word.

I want to be clear that I don’t believe this is the only way to read Scripture. Sometimes you should just read, as in, pick up the Bible and read for as long as you feel. Sometimes you should read really slowly, thinking deeply about a small portion of text, even just a few words. Sometimes you should read one section or book again and again. In a sense, there are no rules, as long as you’re actively and regularly feeding on the God’s word, like the man in Psalm 1.

That said, some of my spiritual heroes have used and recommended the method of following a plan, and I have found myself coming back to it again and again as a helpful and consistent way of reading through the Bible. For those who don’t already have a consistent method of reading & studying Scripture, I’d encourage considering this for 2024.

My current practice involves reading the New Bible Commentary alongside the Bible. This helps me get to grips with passages that I might otherwise read and not really understand, which can be frustrating. Having access to some brief comments that get you quick answers is useful when you’re following a daily plan. In the past I’ve read all the Old Testament notes in the ESV Study Bible for much the same reason.

What kind of plan should you use?

There are lots of options. I want to limit myself to three:

Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Plan. M’Cheyne was a Scottish pastor who devised this plan for his own congregation. It has been a widely used plan for good reason. It takes you through the OT in a year, and the NT and Psalms twice, by reading four chapters of different books each day. You can also slow it down by reading two chapters per day, and complete the Bible in two years.

The Navigators Bible Reading Plan. I think I first came across this plan as a recommendation by John Piper. One of the big benefits is that it doesn’t require you to read the Bible every single day, but rather 25 days per month. This means that if you miss a day you won’t necessarily fall behind. For me, that’s really helpful as I’m quite unlikely to do my daily Bible reading on a Sunday(!) because in the morning I get straight down to preparing for the services.

The Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan. This is a slightly different take on the Navigators plan. It’s another example of a 25 day-per-month plan, but there are fewer daily readings, and instead you read in bigger chunks. You’re basically alternating OT and NT books throughout the year. It’s the plan I’m currently working through (I started in October, so I’m hoping to finish by next October).

A few practical suggestions

First, set a pace that you can stick to. If you can’t manage the Bible in one year, then read it in two years. It’s far better you stick to a plan instead of giving up by mid-February.

Second, get hold of a basic study tool, like those I recommended above. They can be a real game-changer when you’re scratching your head in confusion.

Third, try and change how you think about reading the Bible. Don’t think about performing a duty to make yourself feel better or impress others or impress God. Instead, think of it like you think of eating: Something you happily do that makes you healthy.

Fourth, persevere. The Bible becomes more rewarding the more you read it. Even the really tricky parts get more interesting the more deeply you engage with them. Don’t get discouraged if you’re confused or lost – everyone experiences that.

Finally, mingle prayer with your reading. Pray beforehand: God, speak to me through your word. Pray during: Lord, I’m struck by this. Please help me to love you, obey you. Pray after: Thank you for this Scripture, and the things I’ve learned about you today…

My favourite reads of this past year

I think every Christian should try and read (or listen to) good books that stretch you and cause you to grow. We’re living at a time when thinking has become more shallow; when we’re more likely to snack on short videos and hot takes rather than sit and think with furrowed brow, chewing on a pencil. One thing you can do to stand apart from the lemming-like madness of the modern age is simply read more, and read more deeply. It’s a proven method of growing more wise.

That said, not all books are equal. Some of them are actually worthless. I’ve learned to pay much closer attention to the recommendations of other people. 

In that spirit, I thought I’d share my five favourite books from my reading over the past year.

The Genesis of Gender by Abigail Favale. Apart from anything else, this is a wonderfully well written book. Favale is a professor at the University of Notre Dame and a very gifted writer. She has been on a journey, having been immersed in feminist and gender studies literature, and then in her adult life converting to Christianity as a Catholic some years ago. This gives her a unique and provocative perspective on the question of what it means to be a woman. I don’t agree with everything in this book, but I loved it nonetheless.

The Thrill of Orthodoxy by Trevin Wax. It’s very sad to hear of so many people ‘deconstructing’ their faith these days in a reaction against whatever forms of Christianity they’ve experienced. If they don’t abandon faith altogether, they usually end up with some kind of altered and adapted version of Christianity: pared down, stripped back, pruned of all the awkward, thorny and difficult parts, but actually no longer orthodox and no longer Christianity at all. In this brilliant book, Wax makes a case for ancient orthodoxy in all of its complexity and wonder.

Humility by Gavin Ortlund. We’re living in the age of narcissism, when life is a performance and social media is the stage. The more you think about this, the more nauseating it becomes. But the gospel calls us to joyful self-forgetfulness. It’s a kind of freedom that only comes through humility. And I believe that humility is at the heart of our faith, not only because Jesus is the humble servant, but also because nobody can call themselves a Christ-follower unless they have humbly acknowledged their utter bankruptcy and inadequacy and need for him. This small book on humility is punchy and provocative. I loved it.

Confessions by Augustine of Hippo. It’s a little embarrassing that it has taken me until this year to finally read this classic. I was persuaded to have (another) crack at it after reading John Piper’s short biography of Augustine. Confessions is a truly unique book written by one of the most influential theologians of all time. Growing up in the North African part of the Roman Empire in the 300–400s AD, Augustine was captured by certain philosophies and religious beliefs, and was a slave to lust. He was interested in Christianity, but he didn’t want to give up sex outside marriage. His believing mother, Monica, was a woman of prayer who had prophetic dreams confirming that her son would come to know Jesus. Augustine finally buckled and acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and history was altered by the impact he would have. This book is written to God as a confession or prayer in which Augustine mingles together his story with some philosophy in a strange way. There were moments when I gasped, and moments when I scratched my head in confusion.

The Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund. It is no secret that pornography is one of the most destructive forces we face today, and that young men especially are too often the casualties as they get bound up in chains of shame and lust. I sometimes wonder how different the Church of Jesus would look today if porn were not so easily available. In this brilliant book, Ortlund senior (father to Gavin of Humility and Dane of Gentle & Lowly) writes a series of letters to young men. It’s a heartfelt plea to get serious in dealing with this issue personally, and then joining the cause of justice by seeking to eradicate porn altogether. It’s a life-giving, hopeful and encouraging read. But perhaps not one to give as a Christmas gift.

This post first appeared on the Grace London website.