After failing to complete Bible reading plans for years, I tried a few literature-style reading charts. They were a great improvement, but something was still missing. Some days, they had me gorging and other days I was just snacking. They just didn’t feel consistent.
Then I came across Tim Challies’s post, Ten Chapters per Day, in which he discussed Professor Grant Horner’s 10-chapters-per-day reading plan. I was immediately intrigued and decided to give it a try. I have been hooked ever since! Check it out on the YouVersion app. I think you’ll get hooked too!
Here’s how it works…
Professor Horner’s plan is a Bible genre plan, where you read 10 chapters per day. You read one chapter from each of 10 different literary genres of the Bible:
- the Gospels
- the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
- Paul’s Epistles
- the general Epistles + Revelation
- the wisdom literature (Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon)
- the Psalms
- Proverbs
- the History Books (Joshua through Esther)
- the Prophets (Isaiah through Malachi)
- Acts of the Apostles
On day one, for example, you read Matthew 1, Genesis 1, Romans 1, and so forth. On day 2, read Matthew 2, Genesis 2, etc.
On day 29, you will have just finished Matthew, so go to Mark 1 on the Gospel list; you’ll also be almost to the end of 2nd Corinthians and Proverbs, you’ll be reading Psalm 29 and Genesis 29, and so forth. When you reach the last chapter of the last book in a list – start over again. Rotate all the way through all the Scriptures constantly.
Once you have finished the entire book of Matthew, move on to Mark, and continue through all the Gospels — then start over. Once you have read Genesis, continue until you have read the entire Pentateuch. Continue this pattern with each section, until you have read the entire Bible by the end of the year.
What’s makes this plan special?
You will read the entire Bible more than once. You’ll read the Gospels 4 times, the Pentateuch and Psalms 2 times, the Epistles 4-5 times, the Wisdom books 6 times, Proverbs and Acts 12 times, and the Old Testament historical and prophetic books about 1⁄½ times.
Seeing the similarities between Ecclesiastes and 2 Corinthians, and between Deuteronomy and Matthew, and so on. So it provides both variety and consistency, and I retain more of what I read.
From chore to joy!
10 chapters can sound a bit heavy, yet it surprisingly isn’t! It’s as Tim Challies says, “It’s unique among the systems I’ve attempted in that it requires more reading and yet somehow makes all that reading seem so much easier, enjoyable and attainable.” That is what I’ve found, too.
Some helpful tips:
I follow this plan on the You Version Bible App, because it keeps track of my progress, and takes me directly to the current day’s reading. But you can download a PDF file of the plan here.
This is a plan for reading the whole Bible in one year, not for Bible study. So no dawdling, no looking back, no cross-referencing. You can do all that and more during your Bible study time.
I highly recommend this plan. I’ve found that it creates greater hunger for God’s Word. The more we eat, the more we want to eat. And this is one food we can never get enough of! So get started – I’m sure you won’t regret it!
Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4
📷 Image credits: woman in blue shirt; woman in striped shirt.
9 replies on “Ten Chapters a Day Bible Reading Plan”
It always helps to have a plan. The challenge is following through with it! I’m excited to give this a try.
I hope this plan will work for you, Dayle. It’s one of the best that I’ve ever tried. It seems as if 10 chapters would result in overwhelm, but I found it to be, as Tim Challies states in his post, to be enjoyable and attainable!
Isn’t it wonderful when we find a Bible reading/study plan that WORKS for us! I’ve found Bible study workbooks help me glean truths out of passages that I might otherwise miss. Also, I greatly benefit from studying with others in our Women’s Bible Study Groups at church. Accountability helps!
Yes it is, Nancy! And it’s wonderful that there are so many useful resources, along with God’s people, to help keep us on track and going forward!
That is something interesting to consider. Bible study versus Bible reading.
I can see why this direction of reading is enticing and exciting. It definitely sounds interesting!
I really like this plan. It’s helped take my Bible reading to another whole level. I’m grateful I found it! You might want to give it a try! Be blessed.
Currently, I’ve found to randomly pick a bible book and chapter one from the old and one from the new very helpful. It all speaks to me and I dont know where Ill read next.
Hey, that’s great if it’s helping you grow. The main thing is stay in the Word!!
:) definitely!