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A Bible reading plan for beginners: 30 days, one chapter at a time

Updated · By the Versiah team

A good Bible reading plan for beginners is short, gives you one chapter a day, and starts with Jesus. The 30-day plan below reads the whole Gospel of Mark, five well-loved Psalms, key chapters from Genesis and Exodus, and the letter to the Philippians, in about ten to fifteen minutes a day.

What makes a reading plan work

Most people who give up on reading the Bible do not give up because they stop caring. They give up because the plan was too big, started in a hard place, or made them feel like a failure after one missed day. A plan for beginners should do the opposite.

  • One chapter a day. Enough to think about, short enough to finish.
  • Start with Jesus. The Gospel of Mark comes first, because everything else makes more sense once you know him.
  • Variety. A psalm every week gives you words to pray, and a taste of Genesis and Exodus shows where the story began.
  • A finish line. Thirty days is long enough to form a habit and short enough to see the end from the start.
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2 (BSB)

The picture is of someone who returns to Scripture day and night, not someone who reads it all at once. Little and often is the biblical rhythm.

King James VersionBut his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

The 30-day starter plan

Read one passage a day. If you like, tick each day off in a notebook or screenshot this list. The short line after each reading tells you what to look for.

Week 1: meeting Jesus

  • Day 1: Mark 1. Jesus is baptised, calls his first followers and begins to heal.
  • Day 2: Mark 2. Friends lower a paralysed man through a roof. Jesus eats with outsiders.
  • Day 3: Mark 3. Jesus chooses the Twelve, and opposition begins to grow.
  • Day 4: Mark 4. Parables about seeds, and a storm that obeys him.
  • Day 5: Mark 5. Three people no one else could help: a tormented man, a sick woman, a dying girl.
  • Day 6: Psalm 1 and Psalm 23. Two short psalms: a tree by water, and the Lord as shepherd.
  • Day 7: Mark 6. Jesus feeds five thousand and walks on the water.

Week 2: who is he?

  • Day 8: Mark 7. What really makes a person clean or unclean.
  • Day 9: Mark 8. Peter says who Jesus is, and Jesus explains what following him will cost.
  • Day 10: Mark 9. The transfiguration, and a father who prays "help my unbelief."
  • Day 11: Mark 10. Children, a rich man, and blind Bartimaeus.
  • Day 12: Psalm 27. Confidence in God when enemies surround you.
  • Day 13: Mark 11. Jesus enters Jerusalem and clears the temple.
  • Day 14: Mark 12. The greatest commandment, and a widow who gives everything.

Week 3: the cross and the beginning

  • Day 15: Mark 13. Jesus tells his disciples to stay awake and watchful.
  • Day 16: Mark 14. The Last Supper, Gethsemane, and Peter denies Jesus.
  • Day 17: Mark 15. The crucifixion. Read it slowly.
  • Day 18: Mark 16. The empty tomb.
  • Day 19: Psalm 103. A list of everything God has done, starting with forgiveness.
  • Day 20: Genesis 1 and 2. God creates the world and calls it good.
  • Day 21: Genesis 3. The first sin, and the first promise of rescue.

Week 4 and the last two days: a people and a letter

  • Day 22: Genesis 12. God calls Abram and promises to bless all nations through him.
  • Day 23: Exodus 3. The burning bush, and God reveals his name to Moses.
  • Day 24: Exodus 20. The Ten Commandments.
  • Day 25: Psalm 139. Known completely, and loved anyway.
  • Day 26: Philippians 1. Paul writes from prison about joy.
  • Day 27: Philippians 2. The humility of Christ.
  • Day 28: Philippians 3. Pressing on toward the goal.
  • Day 29: Philippians 4. Peace, contentment and prayer.
  • Day 30: John 1. The Word became flesh. A first look at your next book.

How to use each day

Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Here is a simple shape for each session.

  1. Pray one line. Something like "Lord, help me understand what I read today."
  2. Read the passage once, all the way through.
  3. Write one sentence about what stood out, and one question if you have it.
  4. Pray one line back. Thank God for something in the passage, or ask for help to live it.

If you want to go deeper on some days, how to study the Bible explains the SOAP method, which fits neatly around a daily reading.

If you fall behind

You will miss days. Everyone does. The worst thing to do is try to catch up on six chapters at once, feel overwhelmed and stop. Instead:

  • Skip to today. Or simply pick up where you left off and let the plan run a few days longer. Both are fine.
  • Listen instead of reading. On a busy day, play the chapter on an audio Bible while you commute or cook.
  • Lower the bar. Read five verses rather than none.
  • Tie it to something you already do. Coffee, lunch break, the bus, just before bed.
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:22-23 (BSB)

Written in a season of ruin. The mercies of God are new every morning, which means every day is a fine day to begin again.

King James VersionIt is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Tools that make it easier

  • A readable translation. The Berean Standard Bible and World English Bible are clear and free to read. See which Bible translation is best.
  • Audio. Listening counts. Many people find it easier to follow a story by ear. See the benefits of listening to the Bible.
  • Someone to read with. Ask a friend to do the same 30 days and send each other one line a day.

In Versiah you can read or listen to each day in the plan with an audio Bible that offers five reading voices, and ask about anything confusing along the way. Answers cite the exact verses so you can read them in context. For keeping going long after day 30, see how to build a daily Bible habit.

These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (BSB)

Moses pictures Scripture woven into ordinary life: sitting at home, walking, lying down and getting up. A plan is simply a way of doing that on purpose.

King James VersionAnd these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Questions people ask

What is the best Bible reading plan for beginners?

A short plan that gives you one chapter a day and starts with a Gospel is best. The 30-day plan on this page covers Mark, several Psalms, key chapters of Genesis and Exodus, and Philippians, which gives you the heart of the story in about ten minutes a day.

How long does it take to read the whole Bible?

The Protestant Bible has 1,189 chapters, so reading it in a year takes about three to four chapters a day. Many people find it easier to start with a shorter plan and work up to a full year.

How many chapters of the Bible should I read a day?

For a beginner, one chapter a day is plenty. Once that feels natural, three to four chapters a day will take you through the whole Bible in a year.

What should I do if I miss a day of my Bible reading plan?

Just pick up again today. Either skip to the current day or carry on where you stopped and let the plan run longer. Trying to catch up on many chapters at once is the most common reason people quit.

Should beginners read the Bible in chronological order?

Chronological plans are rewarding, but they are usually a full year long and include some difficult books early on. Most beginners do better with a short plan that starts with Jesus, then try a chronological plan later.

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