Resolution: Read the Bible in 2026 with Covenant Church!
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)
Dear friends,
I rejoice in the Lord for all the blessings that have come through being a part of Covenant Church with you all. And I'm confident in more to come, as I look forward with you to what God has in store for us in 2026.
As you know, it’s our hope together to expand this ministry into new areas this year as we continue to pursue our goal of making Christ known in Burbank and Los Angeles to the glory of God.
With new opportunities and new hopes and dreams in mind for this church and you all, my encouragement to you in 2026 is for you to resolve to be always meditating upon and subsequently practicing God’s Word.
What I mean is it's my hope for you that weekly or daily, that you will pick out some passage of Scripture to chew over in your mind. You'll turn it over and over mentally, looking at it with your heart, and considering it from all angles until you know it through-and-through. And then you'll put that Scripture into practice - whether that means believing something, doing something, or changing something to God’s glory, that we might be better utilized by God for his work as we are on mission by prayer, worship, and love for our city.
God be praised. May we read, and meditate, and do, together this year, with great resolve, peace, and joy in the Lord in 2026.
-Pastor Brooks
Bible Reading Options
It's not necessary (or recommended!) to read the Bible straight through from Genesis to Revelation. Instead, it's usually best to mix and match book, genre, and chapters. You'll find, by reading in a variety of places in the Scriptures, how the verses complement and build upon one another.
Bible Reading Checklist
To help you complete a Bible reading goal, I've created a Google Doc that has each book of the Bible and chapter number in a checklist that you can print and tape to your fridge or stick in your bag.
New for 2026: "Travel size" Bible Reading Checklist. The same checklist, now in a smaller form. Free copies are available Sundays at Covenant Church at 10 AM and 6 PM or let us know and we'll send you a copy.
Or you can make a digital Bible Reading Checklist copy and check off each chapter online. The printable includes lines after each chapter for writing the date completed or notes.
If using the online / phone version, make a copy in Google Docs and then I recommend adding a shortcut to the home screen of your phone for easy access and reminders.
Printable Bible Reading Checklist:
Online / Phone Bible Reading Checklist:
Recommended Bible Reading Plans
There are a variety of wonderful plans for reading the Bible in a year that you may find helpful and fun. These plans can be used in conjunction with the checklist documents above. I'll include links to some recommended plans below.
Whichever plan you choose, please stick with it! Perserverence will be key in this. And keep a notebook close at hand to write down questions that come up as you read. Bring those questions to Evening Worship for "Questions to the Minister and Answers!"
I Asked My Dad Podcast
A weekly podcast titled I Asked My Dad is now on Season 3, which means that all episodes of Seasons 1 & 2 are out now from Emily Woodard and her father, one of my seminary professors, Dr. Mark Ross.
Seasons 1 & 3 are Bible commentary to help you as you read along with Emily and Dr. Ross.
I highly recommend.
Here's a link to the Podcast:
Here's a file download of the Blue Letter Bible Chronological Plan, Utilized in Season 1:
M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Probably the most popular Bible in a year plan. Developed by Robert Murray M'Cheyne, the famous minister and missionary. Four chapters per day, seven days / week, OT once and NT / Psalms twice. Below is a PDF retrieved from ESV.org.
Five Day Bible Reading Plan
Read through the whole Bible on a five-day schedule instead of a seven day. Gives some wiggle room if you can't complete a full day's readings as you'll have the weekends to get caught up. PDF retrieved from fivedaybiblereading.com
The Psalms–Ezekiel Bible Reading Plan
Read through the Old Testament and New Testament once with this plan. It's called Psalms-Ezekiel because you'll read through the Psalms and Ezekiel alongside Old Testament readings before starting in on New Testament readings. More information can be found here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/schedule-bible-year-rookies/
Downloadable PDF of this plan is available here:
The Professor Grant Horner Bible Reading Plan (This is the plan I'm working through for 2026)
Read ten chapters a day. Through ten lists. And you'll find yourself immersed in Scripture. PDF retrieved from https://sohmer.net/media/professor_grant_horners_bible_reading_system.pdf
P.S., If you'd like to listen to the Bible being read, a tremendous resource is the ESV Bible app. It's free and has two fantastic voice options to choose from. This is the version of the Bible that we use at Covenant.
Though I highly recommend you keep things analog. The more phones, computers, etc. are involved, the greater risk of distraction during time meant for you to have heart and mind lifted up to considering the things of God.
iPhone link:
Android link:
Praying for you as you read!
-Pastor Brooks
