Introduction to EVERYONE Bible Reading Plan
- Three tracks in Parallel
- Seven meals with at least one choice fitted for you
- Different meals, but same rate of progress
Three tracks in Parallel
There are five kinds of books in the bible,
- Old Testament history books
- Old Testament prophecy books
- Old Testament Poetic and wisdom books
- New Testament gospel books
- New Testament epistles of apostles.
Some people emphasize the New Testament. But if over-emphasized, it would limit our knowledge of God and complete biblical truth. Since our God is the same “yesterday, today and tomorrow”, we can not get a complete and balanced view of God unless we read the whole bible.
Also, if we only read one kind of book for a long time, we would get bored, especially when reading Old Testament history books and prophecy books. This makes it difficult to hold on to the end.
Therefore, the best way to read Bible is to read these books in three parallel tracks. Similar to our daily meals, we need not only bread, but also vegetables and meats to have a balance diet.
- Track 1 Old Testament history books and prophecy books
Reading history books and prophecy books will help us to learn lessons from Israelite history, understanding God’s way. We are not only seeing this life, but also focusing on eternity.
If we read two chapters a day, we can finish all the books in a year. To avoid getting bored when only reading history books and prophecy books, we would read them alternatively after the book of second Kings.
- Track 2 Old Testament poetic books and wisdom books
If you need to improve your prayer life, you need to practice using Psalms often. If you want to have more wisdom to deal with your daily life, you need to read Proverbs frequently. If you want to have more wisdom to see through this life, you need to pray Ecclesiastes again and again. If you want to develop intimacy with God and to have eternal wisdom, you need to mediate on Song of Solomon again and again.
We would read these four books alternatively during a year. We would read Psalms one time every year. We would read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon one time every quarter
- Track 3 New Testament gospel books and epistles of apostles.
Since Jesus Christ is the center of our faith, the four gospels are the most important books in the Bible. We need to read them again and again to come before Him to receive His grace and truth.
We would read the four gospels twice a year. Instead of reading four gospels continuously each time, we would read them alternatively with the epistles of apostles throughout the year. For a day after reading some of the books, there could be no reading assignment. You could use this day to summarize and meditate the book you just finished, or catch up on the reading plan.
Seven meals with at least one choice fitted for you
The best choice is to follow all three tracks each day. But considering the time availability of many people, I have combined them into seven different meals. You can choose the meal that fits you the best based on your time availability and appetite.
The key is for everyone to have a bible reading plan, no matter how much you read each day. As long as you hold on to it, you will accumulate significant over the time. Take meal 6 as an example, even if you only memorize one verse a day, which should be doable for anyone, you would be able memorize 365 important verses in a year.
- Meal 1 - Balanced diet: Learn from history, choose wisely today, and focus on eternity
Every day, read two chapters of Old Testament (finish reading history and prophecy books once in a year.)
Read one chapter of New Testament (finish reading four gospels twice in a year, epistles of apostles once in a year).
Read one chapter of poetic or wisdom books (finish reading Psalms once in a year, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon once in every quarter).
Memorize and meditate one verse (choose a verse that touched your heart most from the chapters you read that day) - Meal 2 - Truth, prayer and wisdom
Every day, read one chapter of New Testament (finish reading four gospels twice in a year, epistles of apostles once in a year).
Read one chapter of poetic or wisdom books (finish reading Psalms once in a year, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon once in every quarter).
Memorize and meditate one verse (choose a verse that touched your heart most from the chapters you read that day) - Meal 3 - Truth and life
Every day, read one chapter of New Testament (finish reading four gospels twice in a year, epistles of apostles once in a year).
Memorize and meditate one verse (choose a verse that touched your heart most from the chapter you read that day) - Meal 4 - Prayers and wisdom
Every day, read one chapter of poetic or wisdom books (finish reading Psalms once in a year, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon once in every quarter).
Memorize and meditate one verse (choose a verse that touched your heart from the chapter you read that day) - Meal 5 Nutritious buffet
Every day, choose at least one book chapter from the meal 1 schedule to read
Memorize and meditate one verse (choose a verse that touched your heart from the chapters you read that day) - Meal 6 Nutritious fast food
Every day, memorize and meditate one verse from the meal 1 schedule - Meal 7 Survival fast food
Every week, memorize and meditate one verse from meal 1 schedule
Different meals, but same rate of progress
Even though there are seven meals, they will have the same rate of progress, supporting each other. It is usually not easy for one person to read bible consistently. But it will be much easier if many brothers/sisters can read, share, discuss and pray together. If a fellowship or a church can read the bible in a synchronized way, they can receive greater grace and revelations.
You are welcome to join us at this bible devotional journal website to read, share and pray with other brothers and sisters.
Click here to download a copy of the reading schedule
