Nothing can shape our lives in the right way more than the Bible, and nothing can make the Bible come alive to us more than reading it every day.

[Yet] if we don’t get anything out of it, then it is a useless habit. But it shouldn’t be that way! God gave the Bible to us, and He wants us to understand it and apply it to our lives. He wants to teach us about Himself through its pages, and He also wants to use it to change our lives. The Bible says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

How can you make the Bible come alive? First, take it seriously. If an angel were to speak to you, wouldn’t you listen very carefully? But God has already spoken to us in the Bible, and we should listen to it even more carefully. Before you open it, take a moment to ask God to help you understand it.

Then ask two questions as you read. First, what is happening in this passage? What is it all about? Second, what does this teach me about God, or Jesus, or how I ought to live? Keep a pen and paper handy, and write down your answers to these questions. Then ask God to help you make them a part of your life.

from “My Answer” by Billy Graham

Read the Bible in a Year

We hope that you will join us in 2016 as we read through the Bible. Don’t worry if you’re behind or even if you are just getting started—you can jump in or go at your own pace. This calendar features a reading plan that will take you through every book of the Bible in the order they are estimated to have been written. If you read each day’s suggested passage, you’ll finish by year’s end. Find past months plans here.

April 1 – 1 Samuel 25-27
April 2 – 1 Samuel 28-31
April 3 – 2 Samuel 1-3
April 4 – 2 Samuel 4-7
April 5 – 2 Samuel 8-12
April 6 – 2 Samuel 13-15
April 7 – 2 Samuel 16-18
April 8 – 2 Samuel 19-21
April 9 – 2 Samuel 22-24
April 10 – 1 Kings 1-2
April 11 – 1 Kings 3-5
April 12 – 1 Kings 6-7
April 13 – 1 Kings 8-9
April 14 – 1 Kings 10-11
April 15 – 1 Kings 12-14
April 16 – 1 Kings 15-17
April 17 – 1 Kings 18-20
April 18 – 1 Kings 21-22
April 19 – 2 Kings 1-3
April 20 – 2 Kings 4-5
April 21 – 2 Kings 6-8
April 22 – 2 Kings 9-11
April 23 – 2 Kings 12-14
April 24 – 2 Kings 15-17
April 25 – 2 Kings 18-19
April 26 – 2 Kings 20-22
April 27 – 2 Kings 23-25
April 28 – Isaiah 1-4
April 29 – Isaiah 5-8
April 30 – Isaiah 9-12