Most Christians agree that reading the Bible matters. Far fewer of us actually finish reading it. That disconnect usually isn’t about desire; it’s about design. We start the year with good intentions, but without a clear plan, Scripture reading slowly becomes sporadic, fragmented, or abandoned altogether. Life gets busy. Leviticus arrives. We fall behind. Eventually, we give up. What if the question for 2026 isn’t whether you’ll read the Bible, but how?
Why Having a Plan Matters
Without a day-by-day plan, all of our good intentions to read the Bible can easily get derailed. Mike Tyson said something like, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” January will probably be OK, but by February, we might suffer some sort of existential punch that knocks us off course. When that happens, it’s good to know how to get things back on the rails.
Few things shape us more deeply than what we consistently give our attention to. Scripture itself assumes this kind of sustained, formative engagement. God’s people are called, not merely to hear his word occasionally, but to meditate on it day and night, to let it dwell richly among them, to be shaped by the whole counsel of God.
A Bible reading plan isn’t about checking boxes (even though I really like checking boxes) or keeping score. It’s about creating a realistic, life-giving rhythm that keeps us rooted in God’s revelation, rather than drifting toward whatever voices are loudest around us. A plan keeps us consistently reminded that our story is part of a grander story of God’s design. Lesslie Newbigin wrote, “The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which my life story is a part?” In another place, he also wrote, “I more and more find the precious part of each day to be the thirty or forty minutes I spend each morning before breakfast with the Bible. All the rest of the day I am bombarded with the stories that the world is telling about itself. I am more and more skeptical about these stories. As I take time to immerse myself in the story that the Bible tells, my vision is cleared and I see things in another way. I see the day that lies ahead in its place in God’s story.”
Scripture Together 365
Scripture Together 365 was designed to address these challenges with one simple goal: to help God’s people read their entire Bible, together, in a way that is sustainable, coherent, and spiritually formative.
The plan walks readers through all 66 books of Scripture over the course of the year, every chapter, from Genesis to Revelation. Rather than jumping around, it keeps books intact. Once you start a book, you finish it. This allows the theology, storyline, and pastoral weight of each book to emerge naturally. (I realize this is a preference that not all people share, but this is the way I like to do it!)
The plan alternates between Old Testament and New Testament readings. This rhythm keeps the reading fresh while helping readers see how the promises of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Christ. Each quarter includes a Gospel, ensuring regular, repeated immersion in the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Weekly structure matters too. Scripture Together 365 follows a simple, repeatable rhythm: five days of reading in either the Old Testament or the New Testament, with every Wednesday devoted to three Psalms and one Proverb, and Sundays left free to focus on the text being preached in your church.
The Research
A landmark multi-year study by the Center for Biblical Engagement found the following:
Christians who engage Scripture four or more times per week experience:
- 62% lower odds of viewing pornography
- 59% lower odds of drinking to excess
- 31% lower odds of struggling with loneliness
- 228% higher likelihood of sharing their faith
- 407% higher likelihood of memorizing Scripture
- Increased frequency of serving, giving, forgiving, and reconciling
In the study, reading Scripture one to three times per week showed minimal impact, but something dramatic happened at four or more times per week.
They called it a “spiritual tipping point.”
The conclusion is unmistakable:
“Regular, consistent engagement with Scripture is the number one spiritual discipline that transforms a believer’s thoughts, emotions, habits, and relationships.”
Reading Scripture, Together
Many people will begin this new plan on January 1, but my goal isn’t simply to help people start a new plan, but to complete it. To support and encourage one another as we read Scripture, we’ve created a Scripture Together 365 WhatsApp channel. This space is designed to provide simple encouragement, no more than once or twice a week, as we walk through the Bible together over the course of the year. We will share links to video overviews of new books and offer general encouragement. It’s not a discussion thread, but a way to stay connected, on track, and mindful that we aren’t reading alone.
This way, you aren’t just completing a plan; you are participating in a shared journey through God’s Word.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The beginning of a new year offers a quiet invitation: what will shape me this year? A Bible reading plan answers this with intentionality.
Whether you choose Scripture Together 365 or another faithful plan, the most important thing is this: have a plan. Choose one that leads you through the whole story of Scripture, keeps Christ at the center, and is realistic enough to sustain over time.
God has spoken. The question is not whether his Word is worth our attention, but whether we will order our lives in such a way that we actually hear it.
As 2026 approaches, perhaps the most important spiritual discipline to establish is not trying harder, but planning wiser.
Note: if you are a pastor who wants to introduce this plan for your church, email me and our team will get you a template you can use including the plan, bookmarks, and a booklet format people can use throughout the year.
iPhone users can find Scripture Together 365 listed on the free Reading Plan app.
A PDF copy of the plan can be found here.
Follow the WhatsApp Channel here.
