Why do 1 a Year Bible Reading Plan?

The reasoning on that is multifaceted. Let's get into it.

The Importance of Reading the Bible

One of the foundational elements of the Protestant Reformation is the importance of the people having the Bible accessible in their own language. That is critical, but it's even more critical that people actually read or listen to the Bible for themselves, not relying exclusively on the words they hear in a pulpit or those they read in a book by someone they respect.

Numerous passages in Scripture speak to the importance of reading the Bible, i.e. Psalm 1 & 119.

Psalm 1:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

1 Year & 2 Year Plans Help You to be Consistent

I've never been as consistent as reading the Bible all the way through as I have since using the Bible App's 1 year and 2 year Bible reading plans. If you seek to get somewhere in life, long term planning is key to accomplishing goals rather than exclusively short term planning.

The Bible App Provides Accountability

One of the reasons why the Bible app is helpful in the 1 year plan is that it provides an additional layer of accountability. Studies show that accountability helps provide significant help with achieving goals. The Bible App is a way to provide that accountability in a way that I didn't have before I used it in the Bible app.

As You use the app, there will be check marks by you each day that you complete the plan, with an honor system about whether or not you actually did it. Here's from the 2 year plan I'm doing where I used a 2 year plan instead of a 1 year plan to allow for more time for people to follow along with the mini Bible College (which would have required approximately 15 minutes more per day if we had done it during a 1 year plan, which I knew many wouldn't do if I asked that of them; that's also significantly more time than the 1 year plan's integrated video being done in 2024):

What We Did the Past 2 Years with the Mini Bible College

This year and last year I used a 2 year plan so that I would have more time to study the Bible using the Mini Bible College (Old Testament, New Testament), that provides an in depth study of each book of the Bible (180 30 minute videos), with some teachings of 30 minutes for a shorter book and some teaching of hours for a longer book.

The Importance of Integrated Study

In my time leading Bible studies from 1 year and 2 year plans, I've found that many people develop numerous questions in their minds and can even be discouraged simply reading the Bible with no direction as to what things can mean and potential devotional application. People can even go away from the faith or not read the Bible again because of reading the Bible without any direction. I feel it is very important to have study while going through the Bible even if it means a bit more time necessary.

The Importance of Integrated Discussion

By integrating discussion into a Bible reading plan, both within the app integrating the option for discussion each day within the plan and within video based or in person discussions (which we do once a month), it's a lot easier for people to ask those questions in their minds that they encounter as they go through a passage for the first time or 5th time. It's also beneficial to learn from what others have learned or applied from various passages. Many people won't always write into the app what they've learned, myself included, but it's definitely helpful when people do.

Versions & Audio

The Bible app provides numerous version of the Bible. My favorite English version is the ESV, but if wanting something more literal, the NASB is a good option (as is the KJV or NKJV, though keep in mind that they are not based on the earliest texts we now have, and there are some mis-translations that were never corrected), and if wanting something less literal, the NIV is less literal, and the NLT is less literal than the NIV. It's important that whatever version you choose, you're able to understand it.

The Bible App & this Plan are Free

The Bible App is a free resource and using the Bible App's plan is free.

How Long Will it Take?

This question is one that many wonder about. It really depends on the plan, the person, and how in depth they want to be. Many are able to read faster than they listen to audio. Some might speed read, while others might practice "lectio divina" in which they very slowly go through the Word of God.

If listening by audio on 1x speed on the Bible App's ESV, something like the 1 year Bible reading plan, including the devotional videos & 30 seconds of talking it over if desired in the space to do so, should take under 20 minutes a day on average.

When considering how much time would be good in devotional each day, it's important to keep in mind the following:

1. It is a blessing, not a burden, to have access to the Word of God. Many in history before us and even today in places like North Korea would have given everything to have the access that we now have to the Bible. Likewise, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and know more about the Lord, who provided the Bible and His Son out of His love for humanity. We don't do God any favors by doing God, but He does us a favor by enabling us to do good. As Romans 2:4 states, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

2. Time in the Word of God and other time in devotion is time that can be very well spent and is absolutely worth it. It's a very low percentage of people that spend "too much time" in devotion. It's mostly the other way around. The Bible talks a lot about stewardship. How we steward our time has eternal significance. Keystone habits like good sleeping patterns, good time management patterns & tools, devotion, education that goes beyond required curriculum, diet, & exercise are all beneficial to our success vocationally, in family, in friendships, & beyond.

All images courtesy the Bible app.