Every year, I try to read my Bible all the way through. Uhhhhh… yeah before you anoint me a saint (I’m not), you should know that sometimes it takes me two years. Sometimes, I’m not even sure what happens, and I read all over the place so I have to just start over in January. It’s kind of my ever-present New Year’s Resolution.
A unique spin on Read-Your-Bible-In-A-Year
Most of the time I start in Genesis and set a course towards Revelation. But you know what happens right around the book of Numbers… the begats, begats, begats. Phew. I think that’s right around this time of year, too. Then I end up having to read double for days when I couldn’t get through the whole passage.
In search of a fresh take on reading my Bible, I googled and found a unique plan: Bible reading by genre (category). Oh the English teacher in me did two skips and clicked my heels together when I saw this chart! You can download it here.
I’m not sure what you believe, but to me, the Bible is the best written piece of literature – it has story, poetry, laws, letters… The plot of the Bible is closely, and intricately, wound around the character of Christ. Rich in vocabulary (I read only the King James Version), literary devices, and varied in sentence structure, the Bible can also be a resource for grammatical and writing instruction. (Pick up the book Words of Delight to get in depth treatment of all the literary devices you can find).
Advantages to reading the Bible by genre:
Because I read a different book each day, my reading stays fresh. If one day is a difficult passage from Numbers,the next day might be a more meditative reading in Psalms. Knowing my reading will have variety daily keeps me focused and motivated to keep going day after day with my reading plan!
At first, it might seem disjointing to read SEVEN different books in a week. (Personally, I do this all the time with novels, so it doesn’t bother me). But I found I made stronger connections between books of the Bible. If I read in Genesis about God’s promises to Abraham, and a few days later, I read in the gospels about Abraham, I would consider how the two passages were connected. This would’ve never happened in the regular reading schedule, because I would’ve read Genesis in January, but not gotten to the Gospels until September. By then the ideas and connections would’ve been too far apart for me to take note.
This is the second year I am doing Bible Genre reading (actually, I started halfway through last year). I encourage you to give it a try – it’s something different, and you may enjoy it as much as I do!
Bible Study Helps and Gifts
Do you have a favorite Bible? If you’re looking to set up a Bible study area or gift a friend some Bible study materials, here’s a list of ideas – everything from pretty Bibles to study guides, and note-taking helpers!
KJV Deluxe Gift & Award Bible (DiCarta Pink) (King James Bible)KJV, Deluxe Gift Bible, Imitation Leather, Blue, Red Letter Edition, Comfort PrintHoly Bible: KJV Pocket Edition: TurquoiseA Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year: A Life-Changing Journey Into the Heart of GodMy Bible Study Journal: A Creative Christian Workbook: A Simple Guide To Journaling ScriptureThe Women’s Devotional Guide to Bible: A One-Year Plan for Studying, Praying, and Responding to God’s WordAccu-Gel Bible Highlighter Study Kit (Pack of 6)iStudy Bible KitHoly Bible Study Sticky Notes
Do you have a regular reading schedule (of any kind of book)? How do you keep your daily devotions fresh?
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Hello, I am really interested in this Bible reading plan. I have tried several others but nothing sticks. When I click to download, the site says there is an error. Can this please link please be updated..
Hi, I found the same list (probably) on Pinterest. If you cannot find it there by yourself, this is my link.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/208502657731735200/
I definitely struggle to keep my devotions fresh. I try to use devotional books to keep me on the path to gleaning wonderful things from the Word. But then I fall away and just grab a chapter and start reading. I’ll have to check out the genre chart. (I’m an English teacher, too!)
Thank you so much for sharing this! I too have trouble reading the bible form beginning to end all in a row. I love the idea of reading by genre.
After many failed attempts to read the bible cover to cover I am trying a new approach.
I’m reading the “Daily Bible” this year:
http://www.christianbook.com/niv-daily-bible-chronological-order-softcover/9780736901987/pd/7596#curr
It is set up chronologically and has great teaching information to help me learn and keep everything in context while reading. Good Luck!
This is such a neat idea!
I am a big fan of Chuck Missler studies as he can make even some of the “begats” interesting when he ties them in somewhere else.
I used to read my bible cover to cover every year… but, somehow I let it slide and
just did devotions by topic instead, you end up missing a lot that way.
I am heading over to check this out, and hope it looks like a method I want to try.
thanks.
I used to read the Bible about once ever 2-4 years. Usually just the Old Testament one year and then the New the next year. Sometimes it would take me a bit to just absorb everything. However, now I just don’t seem to read it just to read it – usually I’m focusing on something in particular. So, this might be an interesting twist to it.
Now we’ve started integrating Biblical lessons into our lessons with our kids. We’ve been spending quite a bit of time on Noah because it seems to be the first story in the Bible that our son has really taken an interest to. It’s pretty cute. When I ask “Who built the Arc?” T Rex replies, “Brother Noah”. If doing these lessons means I don’t make it through the entire Bible within the year or even 4, that’s alright if it means my kids learn something from all of it.
I try to read through the Bible each year too – right now I’m about halfway through (and at a bit of a standstill, I admit…I need to get back into daily reading + meditation).
I can not tell you how many times I’ve read Genesis and that’s it. For some reason I can not get further! But I sooo want to so I will be checking this out. Thanks so much! š
I also have had daily devotions but I always get out of my groove. Need to do better.
I definitely struggle to keep my devotions fresh. I try to use devotional books to keep me on the path to gleaning wonderful things from the Word. But then I fall away and just grab a chapter and start reading. I’ll have to check out the genre chart. (I’m an English teacher, too!)
Thank you so much for sharing this! I too have trouble reading the bible form beginning to end all in a row. I love the idea of reading by genre.
After many failed attempts to read the bible cover to cover I am trying a new approach.
I’m reading the “Daily Bible” this year:
http://www.christianbook.com/niv-daily-bible-chronological-order-softcover/9780736901987/pd/7596#curr
It is set up chronologically and has great teaching information to help me learn and keep everything in context while reading. Good Luck!
This is such a neat idea!
I am a big fan of Chuck Missler studies as he can make even some of the “begats” interesting when he ties them in somewhere else.
I used to read my bible cover to cover every year… but, somehow I let it slide and
just did devotions by topic instead, you end up missing a lot that way.
I am heading over to check this out, and hope it looks like a method I want to try.
thanks.
I used to read the Bible about once ever 2-4 years. Usually just the Old Testament one year and then the New the next year. Sometimes it would take me a bit to just absorb everything. However, now I just don’t seem to read it just to read it – usually I’m focusing on something in particular. So, this might be an interesting twist to it.
Now we’ve started integrating Biblical lessons into our lessons with our kids. We’ve been spending quite a bit of time on Noah because it seems to be the first story in the Bible that our son has really taken an interest to. It’s pretty cute. When I ask “Who built the Arc?” T Rex replies, “Brother Noah”. If doing these lessons means I don’t make it through the entire Bible within the year or even 4, that’s alright if it means my kids learn something from all of it.
I try to read through the Bible each year too – right now I’m about halfway through (and at a bit of a standstill, I admit…I need to get back into daily reading + meditation).
I can not tell you how many times I’ve read Genesis and that’s it. For some reason I can not get further! But I sooo want to so I will be checking this out. Thanks so much! š
I also have had daily devotions but I always get out of my groove. Need to do better.