Read through the Bible in less than one year by reading 10 chapters a day from 10 different sections of the Bible using the Professor Grant Horner Bible reading plan. I’ve also designed four different styles of bookmarks to use with this method of Scripture reading. Scroll down to see them.
For many years my husband and I would do a Bible study together every morning before he left for work. But then he got a job which required him to leave home too early in the mornings. So while we could still continue to do our study together on the weekends, I had to do a Bible reading on my own on weekdays.
At that time (five or six years ago), I came across a website talking about the Professor Grant Horner Bible reading plan where you read ten chapters a day from various sections of the Bible. I had read the Bible all the way through a few times, but decided that I needed the challenge to do it again. My children were grown and were not demanding of my time, so I have been able to use this system, or my own slightly modified version of it, on and off, for several years now.
This is a great Bible reading plan for beginners but more mature believers will also love it.
How to Use the Professor Grant Horner Bible Reading Plan
This is how it works:
With the Professor Grant Horner Bible reading plan, you read through ten chapters a day, one from each of ten different sections of the Bible.
- Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (Reading through the gospels will take you 89 days if you read one chapter per day.)
- Law – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (187 days.)
- New Testament Letters #1 – Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews (78 days.)
- New Testament Letters #2 – 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude, Revelation (65 days.)
- Wisdom Literature – Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (62 days.)
- Psalms (150 days.)
- Proverbs (31 days.)
- Old Testament History – Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (249 days.)
- Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (250 days.)
- Acts (28 days.)
So on the first day, you read Matthew chapter 1, Genesis chapter 1, Romans 1, 1 Thessalonians 1, Job 1, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1, Joshua 1, Isaiah 1, and Acts chapter 1.
Then on day two, you read Matthew chapter 2, Genesis chapter 2, Romans chapter 2, … well you get the idea!
You continue reading through the books from each section, rotating back to the beginning of the list once you reach the end. This means that on day 29, you will continue reading the Bible chapters from where you are up to, but you will go back to Acts chapter 1 because you have reached the end of that list.
And so on day 90, you will have read Acts three times through, will be starting to read Matthew again for the second time, and will be reading the last chapter of Exodus for the first time.
Resources Needed for this Bible Reading Plan
Professor Horner recommends using one Bible and sticking to it – a physical one rather than a digital one. That way you will get to memorize where things are on the page. If you want to do this, you will need to make sure that you are using a translation that you like. It is also important to get a Bible with a sturdy cover and binding, and to have a format that you like (eg do you prefer one or two columns; do you like to see the verses in paragraphs or on individual lines etc).
Bookmarks are really handy (actually, essential) with this Bible reading method! So I have created some free printable bookmarks which you can access in my resource library (see below for how to get access).
The Benefits of this Plan
Here are some of the benefits of this Bible reading system:
- You will not feel bogged down in a book that you are struggling to understand because you will only be reading one chapter a day from the section
- You won’t miss out on any of the books of the Bible because now you won’t be sticking to only your favorite books
- It will be easier for you to find passages in your Bible as you get more familiar with your own Bible.
- You get to read daily nuggets of wisdom from the wisest man who ever lived (Proverbs)
- Every day you get to focus on the life of Jesus (the gospels)
- You will be inspired to walk in a way worthy of your calling by reading a couple of chapters from the New Testament letters each day.
- All you need is a Bible (and some bookmarks) – no other special resources are required
- You are able to gain a clearer understanding of the foundational teaching by which the rest of the Bible can be understood (Law)
- It’s not a problem if you do happen to miss a day because you just pick up the next day reading from where your bookmarks are
- The longest list, the prophets, is only 250 chapters (or 250 days) so even allowing for some missed days, you should be able to read the Bible in a year.
Let the Bible interpret the Bible…
- And last, but not least, my favorite benefit – You will find that as you cycle through each of these sections, because they are all different in length, you will never end up reading the same combination of chapters. This means you will often find verses from one section making something more clear from another section – Scripture interpreting Scripture. Even though the Bible has been written over a period of some 1500 years, because God is the author and he inspired the authors of individual books, we shouldn’t be surprised at how many times we will find Scriptures tying together and shedding more light on other scriptures as we read.
Okay. So here’s a challenge:
Try out this system for 30 days and see how you go.
Isn’t that a lot of reading? Well, yes. But in the Professor Grant Horner Bible reading plan, the idea is just to read and not do any in-depth studies as you read. I find that I can read the ten chapters in 30-40 minutes (sometimes it will be a little longer if the day’s reading includes one or more really long chapters). Even without doing an “in-depth” study, you will find that you will be getting a good idea of the big picture of the Bible.
Don’t stress out if you miss a day or you don’t read all 10 chapters in a day. Just pick up again the next day from where you left off. You’ll still have your bookmarks in place 🙂
Remember that your goal should not be to “get through” your reading, but to learn and to know God more. And we are not just filling our heads with knowledge, because as we grow in our knowledge of the Lord, his word transforms us.
But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Here are a few variations you could try
If you think that reading ten chapters a day is too much:
- Maybe try reading only five chapters a day. Read sections 1-5 on one day, then alternate on the next day and read sections 6-10.
- Read nine chapters per day: read sections 1-6 and 8-9 and alternate between Proverbs and Acts. You could either read the whole book then switch to the other or switch between books every second day.
- You may find that it is easier to read, say, five chapters in the morning and five chapters in the evening.
- At the moment, I am doing a modified Horner Bible reading plan – I have cut back to eight chapters a day – I have incorporated #10 (Acts) in with #1 (the gospels) and #7 (Proverbs) in with #5 (wisdom literature) because I have a new(ish) Bible and I take a bit of extra time in color coding the Bible – one or two chapters a day.
If you want to challenge yourself even more:
- If your goal is to read the Bible in six months, you could read twelve chapters a day, doubling up on the Old Testament history and the prophets sections. You will also need to read a few extra chapters in the Law section to achieve this goal.
- Keep a Bible study journal to record all the treasures you are learning 🙂
Free Printable Bookmarks for the Professor Grant Horner Bible Reading System
To help you keep track of where you’re up to in each section, I’ve designed four sets of printable bookmarks to use in your Bible – three sets of coloring bookmarks and one with purple and pink watercolor flowers.
Print them out on card so they will be more durable. With the black and white ones, you can choose to color them or just leave them as they are. The top set in the picture above is designed to include magnets so the bookmark can snap shut and stay in place. This is the set that I use. I clip them over the side of the page to mark the chapter I’m up to. This is helpful especially when there is more than one chapter on that page. You may be able to skip incorporating a magnet and just fold them over the page. (Let me know in the comments below how this goes if you decide to try this.)
The paper in my Bible is quite thin, so I find it better not to have the bookmarks sticking out too much, putting pressure on the pages.
Because these bookmarks are printable, when they wear out (as they inevitably will!), you can just print them out again. Easy!
I’ve now added a fourth version of printable bookmarks – some plain bookmarks for my readers who are not as fond of the pretty flowers 🙂
Get my free Bible reading plan printable bookmarks:
Subscribe (free!) to get access to the printable bookmarks (as well as my whole resource library with all my coloring crafts and printables!) Once subscribed, I will send you a semi-regular newsletter with details about my new free files, occasional offers, and other things you may be interested in.
Save the Bible reading plan with printable bookmarks to your favorite Pinterest board
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I use this plan on YouVersion, allowing the narrator to read to me, but also following along in my bible, using my own bookmarks devised as ribbons with metal numbers on the ends. I also have a printed list in the front of my bible. Love this plan!
Thanks for those ideas Carole. I love your idea of ribbons with the numbers on the end. 🙂
Thank you for this post. I was just thinking about trying to find someone to start this plan with me, and then I started wondering how I would explain it, and I found your post, which does it perfectly. I’ve started this plan on my own twice before, but didn’t keep up with it. To me, the greatest benefit was all the connections I made in scripture as I work through the daily readings. The first time I read through Matthew 1, it will be with Genesis 1, but the next time, it will be with something completely different. I was blessed to start seeing those connections on the very first day, as you say, scripture, interpreting scripture.
Thanks Susan. So glad you found the post helpful 🙂
Thank you for beautiful bookmarks for Professor Horner’s Bible reading plan. I’ve made one set, but am now going to use the ones for the magnets. The bookmarks keep slipping down into my Bible. Of course, that could be because I laminated them. I’ve read through the Bible numerous times (one semester at Biola we read through it 4 times in 4 different translations), but this plan is truly enlightening. You do get a deeper sense of what God is telling us about His Son. I highly recommend doing it as the bookmarks state.
Thanks for your encouragement Patti. I love hearing about people committed to reading through their Bible :-). Laminating the bookmarks will make themn last longer, but the advantage of printable bookmarks is that you can always print them out again once they wear out. Having said that, I use the magnetic bookmarks because when there are several chapters on one page (like in Psalms), I can place the bookmark horizontally to mark the start of the chapter I am up to.
I have been working on this plan off and on for YEARS! 🙂 I really love it as well and am following his original plan and using the bookmarks that came with the original post. Yours are cute as well. I believe the plan I have lists out 500 days of reading, but really you can finish it in 250 if you read all 10 chapters a day.
love the magnet idea! What kind of do you use? Could you please provide a link?
Thank you
Hi Jill. Actually, I recycle advertising magnets that we are given to put on our fridges. They are quite strong enough for this and I have dozens of them! 🙂
Great post! I just started today! It only took about 50 mins to get through it. Not bad at all!
Well done RL. And if you’re running short of time you don’t have to read all 10 chapters. But it’s great to give God’s word priority over the many other trivial things we often find time to do!
Should you read the lists in order, meaning start with list 1 through list 10 each day jumping around in the Bible rather than reading based on their location in the Bible?
Could I read; List 2 Genesis, List 8 Joshua, List 5 Job, List 6 Psalms and so on as they appear in order from the Old Testament to the New Testament? I didn’t know if their order has some significance.
Thank you!
Good question Hilary. When I first started I did read in number order (1, 2, 3…). But after a while, I started reading from the start of the Bible with the Genesis list. I think it probably doesn’t matter what order you read the lists.
I think it would be easier for me to just read the chapters in the order you suggest.
Certainly. Do that then 🙂
One more book, I’ll leave you alone.
“Things that are different are not the same.” by Dr. Mickey P. Carter christianbook dot com $7.00
As I said, I’m using the ESV 🙂
Is your Bible missing something? Recommended reading “Look What’s Missing” by David W. Daniels.
For instance, the phrase “Godhead” (found three times) is it in your bible? Can it be found in 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.
One word is missing in John 7: 6-10 that makes Jesus’ word not true, making Jesus a liar.
Hi Dave. I think the best translation for this reading plan is the one that you will read. Some people prefer the KJV and others like a version they can more easily understand. I am using the ESV. When you want to study a passage in the Bible, I recommend reading it in several different translations and comparing them. Then look up any differing words in the original Greek or Hebrew (there are several websites that can help you with this). Also, make sure to check out any footnotes the translators may have included for a particular passage… But really that’s a topic for another blog post!
Just finished my last day. First time I ever read entire bible all the way through. Praise God. I’m now hooked.
What I did was add “post it sticky glue” to your bookmarks which I printed on card stock.
That lets them stick just enough to the pages without slipping around but easily removable for the next chapter. I also wrote the numbers of the chapters on back so I could cross off what read. I did have to reprint them to add more chapters. Thanks
Yay! That’s wonderful! I’m so encouraged, Susan. Thanks so much for sharing your tips for using the bookmarks too 🙂
This is what I came looking for! Tips to keep track better. Thanks!
Hello, thank you. I have been doing this reading for years and I so appreciate it!! I am wondering (as I can’t recall) why there is a skip from Colossians to Ephesians?
Sorry Sancy, I’m not sure what you mean about a skip from Colossians to Ephesians. Have I made a mistake on a bookmark (Always a possibility!)
Oh, and thank you for the beautifully designed bookmarks! Just printed them ? I praise God that you’re using your gifts and talents for the Lord.
? Sandy
Thanks for your encouragement Sandy. I pray that you can achieve your goal. It’s so worth it! 🙂
I’m new. I could never find a place to print the bookmarks. How did you do that? Thanks.
Welcome Betty 🙂 I have a printer of my own but if you don’t, maybe you could try a google search like “where to print documents near me”.
You can go to a UPS store for printing. My credit union did mine.
Thanks for that suggestion Larry.
Hi! I’ve never heard of this sytem but it’s intriguing and I’m excited to start! I’ve never read through the whole Bible before. I desire to do it – by God’s grace. ? Thanks for this!
About to start using this system for the second time!
Hope you are really blessed as you do 🙂
Great idea and resource… However, any chance you could design a couple, “less feminine” bookmarkers? You obviously have a great eye for design but it’s a little outside my “masculine” tastes (grunt, snarl, grunt). Anyways… just a suggestion. Thanks for publishing this Bible reading plan though as it’s a great plan.
Hi Bruno. Thanks for the suggestion. My focus is for females but I could look at creating a version a bit less floral 🙂 I’ll see what I can do.
Hey Bruno. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get this done. I have now uploaded a plain version of the bookmarks which will be suitable for men. It is in my free resource library with the rest of my freebies. Hope it’s useful for you.
https://sohmer.net/media/professor_grant_horners_bible_reading_system.pdf
You probably have some other ones by now, but in case anyone else would like a different look.
Thanks Melissa 🙂
Hello, I have been reading the Bible this way and enjoy it very much.
I am reading in a parallel Bible. Now I am wondering what version of the Bible you recommend. A Bible scholar friend of mine likes the New Revised Standard Version.
Hi Sancy. Thanks for the great question. I use the ESV (English Standard Version) but the short answer is this: a version you will read! A nice easy read version is the New Living Translation.
James:
I feel encouraged about reading
Though the Bible again.
February 12,2021
THANK you
I’m so glad! Let us know how you go 🙂
Thanks for this. I hadn’t heard of this plan before so will check it out. I have to say it was extremely irritating have the 3 symbols for Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest on the page blocking your blog all the way through.
Thanks for your feedback Rozz. I’m very sorry about that. I’ll have to look into it.
Fixed 🙂
Thank you for sharing the bookmarks. These will be helpful in keeping track of the readings!!✨?
Thanks for your encouragement. I pray that they are helpful for you.
Thank you for making the pretty bookmarks! I wanted to get back to the Dr. Horner Bible Reading Plan and found your site looking for bookmarks.
Glad you like them 🙂
Jeanette,
Thanks for your reply! And yes, I agree with what you’re saying. 🙂
I just found out about this method of reading the Bible. I started using it yesterday. It seems to me that one might get more familiar with the location of each book in it. Helping us navigate through the Bible more efficiently. Does anyone know if this is so? I welcome any comments, thank you. ?
Yes Diane. I think you do, so long as you are intentional at looking at the book name where you are reading and not just looking for the next bookmark.
The bible app “YouVersion” has a number of bible reading plans within it. Prof. Horner’s is one of these plans. You can just click and read (it keeps track for you) and if you choose a bible translation with a read aloud option, you can follow along as the verses are read to you by the reader. I like this although you don’t get the benefit of increased familiarity with your own bible. But I will remain more consistant in followthrough.
Thanks Carole. That sounds interesting. I’ll have to go check it out!
This has been one of my favorite plans. It is one I return to regularly.
Are you still using the plan? If so, what have your thoughts been?
I love most everything about it, except that for longer books and parts I am not familiar with, I feel like the flow is sometimes broken up. Have you felt the same, or do you feel that, over time, you start getting the feeling of the flow of the larger and less-known books as well?
The other plan I go with is just reading for a set time each day to read through the Bible, but you can get “bogged down” in certain parts, as you stated. The upside is that the internal flow of a book is maintained since you are reading it more like a normal book.
Thanks for your time!
Thanks Martin,
I am still using the plan, but I am pretty flexible. That’s one of the great things about this plan – you don’t get “behind” if you miss some days. Your bookmarks keep track of where you are up to. Sometimes I feel that I’d like to read a book as a whole or at least, in bigger chunks, and not just one chapter per day (to get a better flow of that one book) and I think this plan is adaptable enough for this. Just recently I decided to read the whole book of Amos in a couple of days (for a Bible course I was doing), so I just cut back on some of the other sections I was reading.