How to join the plan and group coming soon
Starting on 1 January 2026, we’re reading through the whole Bible. We’ll be following ‘The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel’ plan on the YouVersion Bible app.
Each day, there are readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms and Proverbs, as well as devotionals on the passages. You can do all the readings, or decide to read through just the Old Testament or New Testament readings.
Alongside the plan, you can join the group on YouVersion to read the plan with others, hearing what stood out in the passage to others and sharing your own.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF READING THE BIBLE
It’s very easy to start seeing Bible-reading as just another thing to tick off the list and get out of the way as quickly as possible. While reading scripture quickly is better than not reading it at all, this is probably not going to be a very meaningful approach!
Here are four things we’d encourage you to do as you read through the Bible:
- Set aside a regular and realistic time for reading and reflecting – enough time for it to be meaningful, but also manageable and sustainable. And a regular time helps you get into a rhythm (if you don’t already have one) that become almost second-nature.
- Use a journal/notebook alongside your reading to note down anything that particularly speaks to you.
- Even though we are using an app for the reading plan, through which you can read (or listen to) the reading for that day, we would encourage you use a paper Bible for the actual reading wherever possible. It is very easy to be distracted by other notifications on your phone!
- Read in community – whether that’s through using/reading the chat on the app, or through regularly catching up with a couple of friends to discuss what you’ve read, what God has been saying and to spur one another on.
Primarily, the Bible is a book about God. (That might sound obvious, but so easily we can read it as though it’s about us.) Each book, each chapter, reveals something about His character. The more you dig, the more you’ll understand of His holiness, His authority, His kindness, His mission and His compassion. It’s only when we understand more of who God is, that we understand ourselves and God’s purposes for us.
Here’s how to read and reflect on a Bible passage:
- Find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted.
- Start in prayer, asking God to speak to you.
- Read the passage through a couple of times. As you read, ask God: “What do you want to say to me? What do you want me to notice?”
- Allow time for God to speak and note down whatever God draws your attention to – this might be about His character, yourself or something He is asking you to do.
- Pray and thank God for speaking to you.
If you’d like more ideas of how to study the Bible, here are two “practices”:
Lectio Devina
Slowing down to spend time with God, using four simple steps.
Find out more
Discovery Bible Study
A simple approach to reading the Bible together in small groups.
Find out more
