Justin Taylor has assembled an astonishing number of Bible reading plans. In the past I have used the Book of Common Prayer plan, which I have set as the opening page on my computer. It's daily passages are taken from the Old Testament, Psalms, Gospels, and Epistles. The selections are fairly short. It's not a disciplined program for reading the entire Bible through in a year. Of the various programs listed by Justin Taylor, the one put out by the Navigators and used by Bethlehem Baptist (John Piper's church), looks very good indeed. Many of the programs have "catch-up days" for when you fall behind (which inevitably happens and causes discouragement).
Here is a sampling of a couple paragraphs from Taylor's blog post, but it's only a taste of what is there:
For the highly motivated and disciplined, Grant Horner’s plan has you reading each day a chapter from ten different places in the Bible. (Bob Kauflin read the whole Bible this way in five and a half months and explains why he likes this system a lot.) [// This intrigues me. I may try it and see how long I can keep it up.]
Update 1/6/11: I've adopted Horner's plan and love it! As someone else wrote:
This method is the equivalent of “channel-surfing” the Bible. I must admit I have been enjoying it because the wide exposure to different genres in one sitting keeps me engaged and makes it easier to read more content than I normally would.
Me: As far as missing a day, so what?! No problem. At least that's going to be my approach, and it seems to be most everyone's viewpoint who are on the program.
Joe Carter and Fred Sanders explain James Gray’s method of “How to Master the English Bible.” My pastor, David Sunday, told me that “the plan they recommend is, from my vantage point, the most productive way to read and to master the Bible’s contents (or more importantly, to let the Bible master you!).” [This intrigues me as well! In a small way I've already fallen into it, but not as extensively as suggested]
I like these suggestions from Paul and Kaelin:
"...Journaling has been one of the key things that has helped drill God’s Word down into my mind and heart.
Here is the method I use:
Request – I pray to ask God to guide my reading
Read – I do my reading
Rewrite – After the reading or while I am reading, I copy down (yes word for word!) the verses that stand out to me. Sometimes it is one or two, sometimes I feel compelled to write down a couple paragraphs. Rewriting a verse is HUGELY helpful in remembering it and meditating upon it!
Respond – Then I write out a prayer to God telling Him what I believe He is showing me and how those verses relate to me at the moment (this is very helpful to look back on!).
Release - I then write out quick petitions to God for all the things I am concerned about in my day. I then release those to God, knowing God has heard and He will respond (see Phil. 4:6-7 and 1 John 5:14-15)