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Several years ago, I began a search for a new Bible reading plan for the coming year. I had enjoyed reading through the Bible chronologically in a year, but I was ready for a challenge. The Professor Grant Horner Bible-Reading System seemed right up my alley.

 

An Overview of the Plan

Professor Horner’s System is simple. You read ten chapters a day from ten different books of the Bible, chosen by literary genre. On day one, you read Matthew 1, Genesis 1, Romans 1, 1 Thessalonians 1, Job 1, Psalms 1, Proverbs 1, Joshua 1, Isaiah 1, and Acts 1. On day 2, read Matthew 2, Genesis 2, etc. And when you reach the last chapter of the last book in a list, you simply start over again. Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and the OT History and Prophetic books about 1.5 times. Here’s what that looks like:

  • List 1 (89 days) Matt­hew, Mark, Luke, John
  • List 2 (187 days) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
  • List 3 (78 days) Romans, I&II Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, Hebrews
  • List 4 (65 days) I & II Thess, I & II Tim, Titus, Philemon, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, Revelation
  • List 5 (62 days) Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
  • List 6 (150 days) Psalms
  • List 7 (31 days) Proverbs
  • List 8 (249 days) Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
  • List 9 (250 days) Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
  • List 10 (28 days) Acts

 

A Big Picture of the Bible

What I love about this plan is that it gives me a big picture of the Bible and helps me make connections between different parts of Scripture that I might not make if I were reading only one literary genre at a time.

Also, honestly, some books are harder to read than others. They are denser and require greater concentration and comprehension. Some of us might find it difficult to persevere day after day in a long book of the Bible that is over our heads at times, especially if it’s the only Scripture reading we have planned for the day. The advantage of this plan is that it provides a variety of books to read from, which speak to our souls in different ways. So, if one book in that morning’s reading doesn’t jump off the page, nine others may.

 

3 Ways to Enjoy This Plan

This plan works with various media:

a. Paper Bible

For those who follow a Bible reading plan with their paper Bible, they will need to use ten bookmarks to keep track of the ten portions of Scripture they’re going through. This may present a challenge, as it’s easier to lose one’s place this way. But reading a paper Bible has advantages that by far outweigh the challenge of keeping track of ten different chapters of reading.

b. Audio Bible

You can also enjoy this system via audio. For those who find it dificult to sit down and read ten chapters a day, this offers an alternative that allows them to immerse themselves in Scripture during moments such as a long commute. When I first started the plan, I found this helped me redeem the time, as I listened to the Scriptures while I exercised or prepared meals.

c. Bible Reading App

Eventually, I followed this plan on a Bible app. This allowed me to easily track my progress (no paper bookmarks required). Plus, I found that whenever I had a free moment, I could take out my phone and make progress on my reading for the day (which I normally split into 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening). And because my Olive Tree app on my phone syncs with the app on my computer, I was able to take notes and keep track of how the Lord was speaking to me through his Word. Some of my deepest insights for a study I was teaching came in such moments of communion with Christ.

 

This Plans Versatility

This plan is so versatile. After a few years, I decided to try something new. Rather than read the full ten chapters a day, I continued to use Professor Horner’s Bible-Reading System, but I split it up over two days. This allowed me to continue enjoying a variety of literary genres, which was a feature I had come to appreciate with this plan.

Yes, this plan is ambitious. It requires reading/listening for about 40-60 minutes a day. And it doesn’t allow for slow, meditative reading. But the benefit of immersing oneself in this amount of Scripture is enormous. This plan need not be intimidating. One need not have Bible school training or a seminary degree. Horner does not. He was a college dropout, and ex-drug addict when he started it. If he could do it, so can you! According to Professor Horner, the goal of this system is simple, and twofold: To know Scripture and to love and obey God more! May this be the case for you in the coming year.

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