M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan: Read the Bible in One Year
I recently discovered the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan and feel it should be shared more often. The plan provides a unique approach to reading through the Bible in one year.
You might be hesitant about working your way through the entire Bible. It's not uncommon to get bogged down in sections of the Old Testament (hello, Leviticus) and give up. But the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan includes passages from the Old Testament and New Testament or Psalms daily. M'Cheyne's original plan includes four passages a day. If you follow this plan, then at the end of one year, you'll have read through the entire Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.
Let's learn more about the life of Robert Murray M'Cheyne and this inspired Bible reading plan!
Who Was Robert Murray M'Cheyne?
Robert Murray M'Cheyne was an influential 19th-century Scottish minister. You'll also see this name sometimes spelled McCheyne. He was born in 1813 in Edinburgh. He was a precious and advanced child. It's said that he knew the characters of the Greek alphabet by age four.
Throughout his life, he diligently studied Hebrew, Greek, and theology. M'Cheyne was known for his profound understanding of scripture, his godly life, and his passionate and evangelistic zeal for souls. He famously wrote a plan of bible readings that is still used to this day by many believers for reading through the Bible over a one-year period.
Sadly, M'Cheyne passed away at the young age of 29 after contracting typhus. He was buried beside St Peter's church in Dundee, where he pastored. It's reported that around 7000 people attended his funeral.
M'Cheyne's ministry was incredibly blessed during his short tenure on Earth and left a lasting impression on generations through his writings, sermons, and personal example. He passed away in 1843 but is remembered fondly even today as an example of faithfulness and holiness within the Christian church.
What is the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan?
M'Cheyne originally created this plan for his "dear flock." He outlined both dangers and advantages to the plan, but first, let's review the structure of the plan.
The M'Cheyne plan will take through the entire Bible in one year. In fact, you will read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice. Here is what you'll find in the original scripture listings.
The reading plan consists of four readings daily (sometimes more than four chapters, depending on length).
Each day includes readings from the Old Testament and either the Psalms or New Testament.
The original plan had two columns labeled Family and Secret. The intention was for "Family" passages from the first two columns to be read and discussed in family devotions and "Secret" (referencing Matthew 6:6) passages from the last two columns to be read privately for personal devotionals.
These days, many people choose to read all four passages on their own. However, you could still form a habit of reading two passages in the morning and two at night. Breaking up the four passages in this way allows you to meditate in even greater depth.
As you'll see below, readers over the years have adapted this Bible plan to use for different timetables. You can also use a Bible app or additional study resources to help you make the most of your Bible study. According to M'Cheyne, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a formal Bible reading plan.
Advantages of the Plan
Here are some of the original points Robert Murray M'Cheyne made about the advantages of this Bible plan.
You'll read through the whole bible in a year in an orderly manner without passing over any passages.
You won't be lost or waste time figuring out what to read.
Parents can more intentionally disciple their families and households.
Everyone will be united around the same reading plan, which is advantageous for discussion amongst family and friends and preaching for the pastor.
Dangers of This Type of Plan
Robert Murray M'Cheyne was wise to realize there are also pitfalls when we become ruled by processes or systems. Here are some dangers we should all keep in mind.
Formality - as M'Cheyne says, "We are such weak creatures that any regularly returning duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form." In other words, avoid letting your reading plan become a religious duty.
Self-righteousness - don't become complacent about your faith because of your devotion to the practice of Bible reading; continue to allow the Lord to transform your soul.
Careless reading - don't read in a slight or careless manner; maintain your reverence and awe of the Word of God because the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.
A yoke heavy to bear - don't allow your daily reading to become a burden or work of the flesh; remember the joy and sweetness of dwelling in God's Word.
I was touched by these reminders. Although Robert Murray M'Cheyne's words were recorded in 1842, they are every bit as applicable today!
M'Cheyne Plan Study Resources
Read on for some study resources and Bible reading plans. Whether you prefer a print Bible or a digital reading plan, we have something for you here. Having a digital resource for your readings can be helpful if you don't get to your reading in your own home, are traveling, etc.
Here are some options for you!
Download a Copy of the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (Free)
If you love a print Bible or simply want a handy overview, download this free M'Cheyne Bible reading plan. The plan is set up for reading four passages daily, seven days a week. You can write your own dates in the columns, so it's easy to start this plan at any time. Following the classic plan, you'll read through the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament and Psalms twice a year.
For most of this chart, the readings from the first two columns (Family) are in the first line, and those from the last two columns (Secret) are in the second line. With this plan, you'll have read through the entire New Testament and Psalms by the time you've made it halfway through the year.
M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan YouVersion
The YouVersion Bible app is one of the most popular digital Bible reading options today. They offer the Bible app for adults and kids. Their app has been downloaded over 560 million times and counting! You can read on desktop or the mobile app, and it's easy to highlight scripture, take notes, and share verses.
M'Cheyne Plan Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway is a website and Bible app with lots of great resources for Bible study. In addition to various Bible versions and translations, you'll also find numerous free Bible study tools and resources. Bible Gateway resources include:
Audio Bibles
Commentaries
Bible dictionaries
Encyclopedia of the Bible
Scripture Engagement study tools
Reading plans
And more!
As you read through the entire Bible, you'll have questions or come across passages that don't make sense. Having these study tools close at hand will definitely be helpful as you focus on your daily McCheyne Bible reading plan.
View the M'Cheyne Bible Gateway Daily Reading Plan
Bible Gateway also allows you to sign up for an account. When you log in to your account, you can record your reading progress and pause your devotional anytime. You can access your reading plan in various translations and also have your daily devotionals emailed to you. For digital Bible reading, Bible Gateway is an excellent option!
ESV: M'Cheyne Reading Plan Podcast
Do you prefer listening to your daily Bible readings? Although the apps mentioned above have several audio versions, here's another option.
Check out the ESV Reading Plan Podcast.
You can easily listen to your daily readings while walking, driving, or at other times. The only downside to this podcast is that it starts at the top of the year, so if you're midway through you'll have to scroll back to start from the beginning. On that note, you may want to check out the next resources
Custom Bible Reading
Here is a very cool tool for Bible readers: custom Bible reading plans. Using this online tool, you can choose a sequence and create your own reading plan. Along with the M'Cheyne plan, you can also explore other options such as One Year Chronological, Chronicles and Prophets, or Psalm and Wisdom Literature.
Here's what the customization allows you to do:
Choose your sequence
Choose reading days - you can select any timeframe you prefer
Choose days to skip - for example, if you want a 5-day a week reading plan
Choose the amount to read - specify verses, everything, or what time allows
Then, create your plan!
This is a great option when you want to speed up or slow down a standard reading plan, or use customized dates when you're starting in the middle of the year.
Try the Custom Bible Reading Plans
M'Cheyne Plan 2 Year with Companion Books
Another thing you may be interested in is the works of D.A. Carson, For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word. This two-volume set was written based on the M'Cheyne Bible reading schedule and expanded for a two-year timeframe.
Don Carson is a research professor and founding member of the Gospel Coalition and has written or edited about 60 books. These daily reading volumes include comments and reflections for each day's Bible reading passages.
Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links; please read our full disclosure policy here.
Original M'Cheyne Plan and words of Robert M'Cheyne
Finally, please be sure to look at this document that contains some of M'Chenye's original writing about the plan and his intention for creating it. You'll also find an accompanying reading calendar.
Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar
Benefits of Reading the Entire Bible
Many of M'Cheyne's writings and manuscripts were documented in the biography compiled by his friend Andrew Bonar: The Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne. He was a passionate lover of the word of God!
Here is a quote from one letter M'Cheyne wrote:
"You read your Bible regularly, of course; but do try and understand it, and still more to feel it. Read more parts than one at a time. For example, if you are reading Genesis, read a Psalm also; or if you are reading Matthew, read a small bit of an Epistle also. Turn the Bible into prayer. Thus, if you were reading the First Psalm, spread the Bible on the chair before you, and kneel and pray, “O Lord, give me the blessedness of the man”; “let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly.” This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible, and of learning to pray."
As many would agree, reading the Bible is vital for the spiritual health and growth of every Christian. We live in a day and age when attention spans are shrinking and multimedia resources are increasingly popular. However, there's no substitute for reading and meditating on the Bible and dedicating time to personal devotions. Although having additional resources is helpful, you can't fast-track all elements of studying the Word of God.
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God that captures and conveys the living thoughts of our Creator. Reading the Bible will give us greater insight into who God is, what He desires for us, and how we can apply His truths to our lives.
Reading for Breadth and Depth
As we often say, it's essential to read the Bible for breadth and depth! Regarding breadth, that means reading the ENTIRE Bible to have the full context of scripture.
Reading the Bible cover to cover will help you gain a better understanding of the people, places, and events of scripture. You'll appreciate the grand story that unfolds from Genesis to Revelation. Familiarity with each book helps you connect different scriptures and understand references and themes.
And as for depth, reading through the Bible more than once will allow you to uncover richer and more profound meanings. In addition, reading slowly and meditating on what you read can uncover the depth of scripture. Using study tools like concordances, Bible dictionaries, or commentaries helps you explore the text and gain insight.
Through personal devotion and prayer, we can draw closer to God and develop our spiritual maturity. Reading the Bible will help us cultivate an intimate relationship with Him while providing us comfort and strength when we need it most. So now let's move on to the details of the M'Cheyne reading system.
How Long Does it Take to Read the Bible in a Year?
You may have heard this before, but you can read the entire Bible in a year by reading approximately four chapters daily, which takes approximately 15 minutes daily.
Here's an interesting way to view the breakdown: check out the ESV podcast times for the M'Cheyne plan. Clearly, these readings are done at a slow and even pace. You'll see that daily reading times range from 12-17 minutes but are mostly around 15 minutes a day.
Just 15 minutes a day, and you'll have read through the entire Bible by this time next year! Think about scheduling 15-20 minutes in your day for Bible reading. Here are five EASY ways to do it:
Wake up 15 minutes earlier.
Read your Bible instead of scrolling social media or watching TV.
Listen to an audio Bible while you're getting ready in the morning.
Read the Bible during lunch breaks or when you're taking a break or waiting during your day.
In Conclusion
We can draw closer to God and develop our spiritual maturity by setting aside time for personal devotion and prayer. Reading the Bible is an essential part of growing as a Christian, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or burdensome.
In fact, you can read through the entire Bible in one year with just 15 minutes of reading per day using the M'Cheyne system! And that's not just one time through...you're actually reading the New Testament and Psalms twice with just four passages a day!
With five easy ways to fit this into your daily routine, you can make reading scripture a priority. So let's start today on deepening our relationship with God through His Word!