Five-Year Bible Reading Plan (Week-Based)

Overview

This plan properly organizes Bible reading by weeks, not months. Each week you read the same passage seven times (one passage per day for seven consecutive days). This combines your thematic 5-year progression with MacArthur's repetitive reading method.

This is inspired by the John MacArthur Bible Reading Plan seen over in Redeeming Productivity. That plan reads each passage of the New Testament daily for 30 days; 1 John for 30 days, but John 1-7 for 30 days because John is long. I wanted to extend the concept to the entire Bible.

The plan below repeats certain fundamental books of both Old and New Testaments. This is to reinforce their message within the context of the surrounding books. Since this is a weekly plan, you can omit those books if you choose. These additional readings add 1.6 years (83 weeks). If you do a pure read of each book, it will only take three years (157 weeks).

Structure

Total Weeks: 240
Total Time: 4.6 years
Reading Pattern: Same passage daily for seven consecutive days
Daily Reading Time: 15-30 minutes

How to Use This Plan

Weekly Pattern

Monday-Sunday: Read the same passage each day for seven consecutive days
Check off each day in the tracking sheet
After 7 days: Write 1-2 word chapter themes on a note card.
Move to next week's passage

Daily Routine

Time: 15-30 minutes per day
Translation: Use the same Bible translation throughout
Setting: Find a consistent time and quiet place
Approach: Read at a comfortable pace, don't rush

Why 7 Days Per Passage?

Familiarity: You'll know each passage well after seven readings
Sustainability: Less intensive than 30-day blocks
Memorability: Repetition creates lasting retention
Flexibility: Can extend to 14 or 30 days for deeper study

Key Features

Strategic Repetition

Gospels: Read multiple times (John 3x, Luke 3x, Matthew 2x, Mark 2x)
Romans: Three complete readings over five years
Major prophets: Second readings in Year 4
Foundation books: Genesis, Exodus return in Year 4

Christ-Centered Progression

Begin with John (Year 0)
Each year includes Gospel reading
Trace Christ throughout all Scripture in Year 5

Thematic Journey

Each year answers a question:

Year 0: Who is Christ?
Year 1: How is God's Kingdom revealed?
Year 2: What does it mean to be God's people?
Year 3: How does God restore what is broken?
Year 4: How does God's love extend to all nations?
Year 5: How does the whole Bible tell one story?

Tracking Your Progress

Use the accompanying CSV file:

Week column: Shows your current week (1-240)
Year column: Shows which thematic year you're in
Book/Passage columns: What to read this week
Day 1-7 columns: Check off each day
Chapter Themes: Add after completing the week

Weekly Reflection Questions

After completing each 7-day block:

What does this passage reveal about God's character?
What repeated words, phrases or themes did I notice?
How does this passage point to Christ?
What is one key verse to remember?
What is one way I should apply this?

Flexibility and Adjustments

If You Fall Behind

Don't quit! Just continue from where you stopped
Skip forward to the current week if needed
Better to continue than to restart perfectly

If You Want More Depth

Extend to 14 days per passage (9.2 years total)
Use 30 days per passage for MacArthur's full method (19.7 years)
Mix and match: seven days for familiar books, more for challenging ones

If Life Gets Busy

Take planned breaks between years
Use flex weeks built into the plan
Adjust pace to fit your season of life

Starting the Plan

Option 1: Start in October (Recommended)

Weeks 1-8 (Oct-Dec): Year 0 preparation
Week 9 (January): Begin Year 1
Advantage: Luke during Advent/Christmas, fresh start in January

Option 2: Start Anytime

Begin with Week 1 whenever you're ready
Track by week number, not calendar dates
Advantage: Start immediately, don't wait

Option 3: Jump to Current Calendar Week

If it's Week 20 of year: Start at Week 20 in the plan
Catch up later or skip earlier weeks
Advantage: Align with current week of year

Tips for Success

Use the same Bible throughout (physical or digital)
Read at the same time each day (morning routine, lunch break, evening)
Journal briefly after each reading
Share insights with a friend or small group
Pray before reading for understanding
Don't study deeply until after all 7 readings
Trust the process - repetition works!

May this plan help you gain deep familiarity with God's Word and see the unified story of Scripture from creation to new creation, one week at a time.

Year-by-Year Breakdown

Year 0: Preparation - "Encountering Christ"

Duration: eight weeks (typically October-December)

Weeks 1-3: John (3 blocks)
Weeks 4-5: Psalms 1-41 (2 blocks)
Weeks 6-8: Luke (3 blocks)

Purpose: Establish Christ-centered foundation before Year 1

Year 1: Foundation - "The Kingdom Announced"

Duration: 44 weeks

Weeks 9-11: Matthew (3 weeks)
Weeks 12-17: Genesis (6 weeks)
Weeks 18-23: Exodus (6 weeks)
Weeks 24-25: Romans (2 weeks)
Weeks 26-31: Isaiah (6 weeks)
Weeks 32-34: Acts (3 weeks)
Weeks 35-38: 1 Samuel (4 weeks)
Weeks 39-42: 2 Samuel (4 weeks)
Weeks 43-45: Proverbs (3 weeks)
Week 46: 1 John (1 week)
Week 47: James (1 week)
Weeks 48-49: Daniel (2 weeks)
Week 50: Hebrews (1 week)
Weeks 51-52: Revelation (2 weeks)

Theme: Understanding God's Kingdom through the Gospel and foundational Old Testament narrative

Year 2: Building - "The People of God"

Duration: 54 weeks (exceeds 52 by 2 weeks - use vacation/breaks)

Weeks 53-54: Mark (2 weeks)
Weeks 55-58: Leviticus (4 weeks)
Weeks 59-63: Numbers (5 weeks)
Weeks 64-68: Deuteronomy (5 weeks)
Weeks 69-71: Joshua (3 weeks)
Weeks 72-74: Judges (3 weeks)
Weeks 75-76: Psalms 42-89 (2 weeks)
Weeks 77-78: 1 Corinthians (2 weeks)
Week 79: 2 Corinthians (1 week)
Weeks 80-83: 1 Kings (4 weeks)
Weeks 84-87: 2 Kings (4 weeks)
Weeks 88-94: Jeremiah (7 weeks)
Week 95: Lamentations (1 week)
Week 96: Ephesians (1 week)
Week 97: Colossians (1 week)
Week 98: Ruth (1 week)
Week 99: Esther (1 week)
Week 100: 2 John, 3 John, Jude (1 week combined)
Weeks 101-103: Job (3 weeks)

Theme: Understanding covenant community and God's relationship with His people

Year 3: Restoration - "Return and Renewal"

Duration: 49 weeks

Weeks 104-106: Luke (3 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 107-109: Acts (3 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 110-113: 1 Chronicles (4 weeks)
Weeks 114-117: 2 Chronicles (4 weeks)
Weeks 118-119: Ezra (2 weeks)
Weeks 120-121: Nehemiah (2 weeks)
Weeks 122-123: Psalms 90-119 (2 weeks)
Weeks 124-129: Ezekiel (6 weeks)
Week 130: Galatians (1 week)
Week 131: Philemon (1 week)
Week 132: 1 Timothy (1 week)
Week 133: 2 Timothy (1 week)
Week 134: Titus (1 week)
Week 135: Hosea (1 week)
Week 136: Joel (1 week)
Week 137: Amos (1 week)
Week 138: Obadiah (1 week)
Week 139: Jonah (1 week)
Week 140: Micah (1 week)
Week 141: Nahum (1 week)
Week 142: Habakkuk (1 week)
Week 143: Zephaniah (1 week)
Week 144: Haggai (1 week)
Week 145: Zechariah (1 week)
Week 146: Malachi (1 week)
Week 147: 1 Peter (1 week)
Week 148: 2 Peter (1 week)
Week 149: Ecclesiastes (1 week)
Week 150: Song of Solomon (1 week)

Theme: God's faithfulness to restore and renew His people

Year 4: Mission - "God's Heart for the Nations"

Duration: 46 weeks

Second readings of major foundational books:

Weeks 151-153: John (3 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 154-159: Genesis (6 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 160-165: Exodus (6 weeks, 2nd reading)
Week 166: 1 Thessalonians (1 week)
Week 167: 2 Thessalonians (1 week)
Weeks 168-169: Psalms 120-150 (2 weeks)
Weeks 170-171: Romans (2 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 172-177: Isaiah (6 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 178-184: Jeremiah (7 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 185-190: Ezekiel (6 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 191-192: Daniel (2 weeks, 2nd reading)
Week 193: Hebrews (1 week, 2nd reading)
Weeks 194-195: Revelation (2 weeks, 2nd reading)

Theme: Seeing God's mission to all nations with deeper understanding

Year 5: Integration - "The Whole Counsel of God"

Duration: 39 weeks

Final review and integration:

Weeks 196-198: Matthew (3 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 199-200: Mark (2 weeks, 2nd reading)
Weeks 201-203: Luke (3 weeks, 3rd reading)
Weeks 204-206: John (3 weeks, 3rd reading)
Weeks 207-209: Acts (3 weeks, 3rd reading)
Weeks 210-211: Romans (2 weeks, 3rd reading)
Weeks 212-213: 1 Corinthians (2 weeks, 2nd reading)
Week 214: 2 Corinthians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 215: Galatians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 216: Ephesians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 217: Philippians (1 week)
Week 218: Colossians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 219: 1 Thessalonians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 220: 2 Thessalonians (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 221: 1 Timothy (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 222: 2 Timothy (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 223: Titus (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 224: Philemon (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 225: Hebrews (1 week, 3rd reading)
Week 226: James (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 227: 1 Peter (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 228: 2 Peter (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 229: 1 John (1 week, 2nd reading)
Week 230: 2 John, 3 John, Jude (1 week, 2nd reading)
Weeks 231-232: Revelation (2 weeks, 3rd reading)

Weeks 233-240: Use for review, catch-up, or skip weeks from earlier years

Theme: Seeing the unified story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation