Bible Study Guide
Reading the Bible regularly is easier with a plan. Choose what you want to read — the whole Bible, the New Testament, the Gospels, Psalms and Proverbs or a single book — how many days you want to take and which days you read, and this tool divides the chapters evenly into dated daily readings. Tick them off as you go, print the plan, and use the study guides to go deeper.
- Free to use
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Bible reading plan builder
Bible Study Journal Templates
SOAP journal pages, an inductive Bible study worksheet, a 1,189-chapter reading tracker, a prayer journal, a group discussion guide and sermon notes sheets.
- SOAP journal (PDF/DOCX)
- Inductive study (PDF/DOCX)
- Reading tracker (PDF/XLSX)
- Prayer journal (PDF, XLSX)
- Group guide (DOCX/PDF)
Formats: PDF, DOCX, XLSX. Instant download after payment (link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). AI-assisted: the templates were drafted with AI help and reviewed and laid out before publishing.
$5.00 USD, one-time 5 files · about $1.00 each
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Free sample: SOAP Journal (PDF, 56 KB)
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Free printables
Single sheets you can print right now, no sign-up. The full pack adds every sheet in one download plus the editable files.
Printable SOAP Bible Study Journal
Printable Inductive Bible Study Guide
Printable Bible Reading Tracker Chart
Printable Prayer Journal Page
Printable Bible Study Group GuideHow the reading plan works
- Choose what to read and how many days you want to take.
- The planner lists every chapter in order and divides them as evenly as possible across your reading days.
- Consecutive chapters from the same book are grouped, so a day might read “Luke 3–5” or “Ruth 4; 1 Samuel 1–2”.
- Choose whether to read every day, six days a week or weekdays only; the dates skip your rest days.
- Tick each day as you finish — progress is saved in this browser — and print the plan to keep in your Bible.
Common plan lengths
| Plan | Chapters | Days | About per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Bible in a year | 1,189 | 365 | 3–4 chapters |
| New Testament in 90 days | 260 | 90 | 3 chapters |
| New Testament in a year | 260 | 365 | Under 1 chapter |
| Gospels in 30 days | 89 | 30 | 3 chapters |
| Psalms in a month | 150 | 30 | 5 psalms |
| Proverbs in a month | 31 | 31 | 1 chapter |
Chapters vary a lot in length — Psalm 117 has two verses, Psalm 119 has 176 — so some days will be quicker than others.
Two simple study methods
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| SOAP | Scripture (write out a verse), Observation (what does it say?), Application (what does it mean for me?), Prayer |
| Inductive study | Observe (who, what, where, when), Interpret (what did it mean to the first readers?), Apply (how does it shape how I live?) |
Both methods slow reading down enough to notice details. The printable pack includes SOAP journal pages and an inductive study worksheet.
Worked example
Someone wants to read the New Testament in 90 days, starting on the first of the month and reading every day. The planner divides 260 chapters into 90 readings of about three chapters each — day 1 is Matthew 1–3 — and shows the finish date. Choosing weekdays only stretches the same 90 readings over about 18 weeks, finishing later but leaving weekends free.
Tips for keeping going
- Read at the same time and place each day.
- Start with a shorter plan, such as a Gospel, before attempting the whole Bible.
- If you miss a day, pick up with today’s reading rather than trying to catch up all at once.
- Read with a friend or group and share one thing you noticed each week.
- Use a translation you find easy to read, and an audio Bible for busy days.
Sections of the Bible
| Section | Books | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Law (Pentateuch) | Genesis–Deuteronomy | 187 |
| History | Joshua–Esther | 249 |
| Poetry and wisdom | Job–Song of Songs | 243 |
| Major prophets | Isaiah–Daniel | 183 |
| Minor prophets | Hosea–Malachi | 67 |
| Gospels | Matthew–John | 89 |
| Acts | Acts | 28 |
| Letters | Romans–Jude | 121 |
| Revelation | Revelation | 22 |
Knowing the sections helps you plan: a year might mix a Gospel with some Psalms, or alternate Old and New Testament readings so each day has variety.
Reading plans for groups and families
A shared plan keeps a small group, class or family reading the same passages each week. Choose a book that suits the group — Mark or John for newcomers, Acts for a church group, Proverbs for teenagers — and set a pace that everyone can manage. The printed plan works on a fridge or noticeboard, and the discussion guide in the template pack gives leaders simple questions for each meeting.
Memorising verses
Many readers pick one verse a week from their plan to memorise. Write it on a card, read it aloud morning and evening, and review earlier verses on Sundays. Short, meaningful verses from the Psalms and the letters are good places to start.
Choosing a translation
Translations range from word-for-word (such as the ESV, NASB or KJV) to thought-for-thought (such as the NIV, NLT or CEV). Word-for-word versions are useful for detailed study; thought-for-thought versions can be easier to read in longer sections. Many people use one for reading and compare another when studying a passage closely.
Order of the books
The planner follows the order used in most Protestant Bibles: 39 Old Testament books from Genesis to Malachi and 27 New Testament books from Matthew to Revelation, 1,189 chapters in total. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books; you can still use the planner for the books they share.
The printable study templates
The template pack includes SOAP journal pages, an inductive Bible study worksheet, a whole-Bible reading tracker (1,189 chapters to tick), a prayer journal, a group study discussion guide and a sermon notes sheet — PDF, Word and Excel.
Privacy
Your plan and ticks are kept in this browser only.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters are in the Bible?
1,189 in most Protestant Bibles: 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New.
How many chapters a day to read the Bible in a year?
About 3 to 4 chapters a day.
Can I make a plan for one book?
Yes, choose “One book” and pick it from the list.
What is the SOAP method?
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer — a simple way to study a passage.
Can I skip weekends?
Yes, choose six days a week or weekdays only.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, in this browser.
How long does it take to read the whole Bible?
At an average pace, reading all 1,189 chapters aloud takes roughly 70–80 hours.
What is a good first book to read?
Many people start with the Gospel of Mark or John.
Should I read the Bible in order?
You can, but many plans mix books so each day has variety.