Thank you for writing this. I read somewhere the intention of McCheyne's plan was for head of households read the first two passages personally in the morning and then for family worship read the last two passages with their children. Thomas Manton, writing in the 1600's, wrote in his observation the reason for the decline in society was because families no longer worshiped four times a day. In our day, 2026, there are many Christians who struggle with worshipping God one day a week; better yet, one hour on one day of the week.
McCheyne was not wrong, and neither are you. I have used McCheyne's reading plan for the last 10-15 years and God has used it to reveal wonderful truths. I have also spent time in individual books studying them at length; which, once again, God has used to reveal wonderful truths.
The best way to engage the Word of God is the one that will get you to engage with the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will use either one, not because we are faithful to do it, but because He is faithful to fulfill His promises. He beckons all who are thirsty to come to the waters and drink, and like the rain and snow that water the earth, His word does not return to Him empty, but accomplishes what He purposes. (Isaiah 55)
Well, I am embarrassed. I went to track down the quote for you only to discover it does not exist. All I can say is I am sorry. My initial place I thought it was from was the letters to the readers found in the Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition, written by Thomas Manton. I would recommend reading these letters, both for encouragement and as a challenge. Joel Beeke has a very good chapter in his book, A Puritan Theology titled, The Puritans on Walking Godly in the Home. In this chapter, Beeke shows some puritan views of when family worship is lacking in the home.
Once again, I am sorry. My intention was not to mislead anyone, and at 50+ years old I can say this was not my first mistake. As for everything else I wrote, I stand behind it. While Manton (nor any other person from what I can see) lamented the lack of worshipping in the home four times a day, many did make the correlation of society woes to the lack of instruction in the home.
Brother thanks so much for looking, massively appreciate that.
Will definitely get into A Puritan Theology thanks for the recommendation.
My whole actual job is about helping people read, understand and teach the Bible to others so am always desperately keen for info in this arena, especially if the way we have been utilising RMM reading plan was beyond his original purpose.
Writing at the end of 1842, Robert Murray M‘Cheyne, tells his flock: ‘It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.’ The Calendar gives four portions (usually four chapters) for each day of the year: two for family worship, morning and evening, and two for private reading, morning and evening. In this way, the entire Bible is read once and the New Testament and Psalms twice in the course of a year.
The fact that the M'Cheyne plan has endured for 180 years should not be so lightly dismissed. Nor the checking of boxes, etc. I've personally never used the plan. For the last several years, I've used a plan that takes you through the Bible every 88 days. That's about 40-50 minutes of reading per day for the average reader. There is enormous value in immersing yourself in the Word--all of the Word--systematically. One could easily do what you hold out as better here, i.e., spending a month or three in one book, alongside a plan like M'Cheyne, which I believe takes about 15 minutes of reading per day to complete.
Currently, I'm using the Horner plan, which involves reading 10 chapters each day from all over the Bible. I'm loving it, and I'm seeing the interlacing of Scripture in ways I've never experienced before. But that isn't all I'm doing. We're "deep-diving" through Matthew in family worship; we're memorizing Isaiah 55 (and keeping fresh about a dozen other passages) as a family; we're working through Philippians and 1 Samuel each week in corporate worship, etc.
I think your article is unnecessarily critical of a system of Bible reading that has served countless Christians well for decades upon decades.
I find your comment that this article was generated by AI somewhat offensive, suggesting that something I took the time to try and articulate and then post as mere AI slop a bit harsh.
I was simply trying to help people engage better with the Bible at the beginning of the year. You have obviously found a system that works well for you, the whole thing in 88 days, well done for cracking through that.
All strength to you in your Horner approach, I enjoyed that during 2020 when lockdown afforded more space.
All strength to you in your ongoing endeavours, blessings OaO <><
Robert Murray M'Cheyne was not wrong for everyone. His Bible reading plan was not right for you. My husband and I read the Bible aloud together and discuss each chapter we read. This year we are following a chronological plan reading through the entire Bible in a year reading 5 days a week, so that we have Saturday to prepare for Sunday worship and fellowship with our church family. We are greatly blessed for doing it together and not just individually.
To quote the actual article I actually wrote - ‘The McCheyne plan works wonderfully for some people. They have the time, the discipline, the reading speed, and the mental capacity to maintain the schedule year after year. If you’re one of these people, crack on.’
All the best with your chronological endeavours. Stay strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, blessings OaO <><
Can it really be right vs wrong? Is your proposed method not capable of producing false guilt?
bibleforlife.com presents the opportunity to read and study one book as you have proposed, as well as the method you have warned us against. (without ads)
There is fruit to be produced by both ends of the spectrum. I have experienced it, grown from it, by reading both fast and slow.
My observation is that most christians will neither wrestle one or two books to the ground ever, and nor will they get a good grasp of the sweeping story lines of the bible. Both take work that is seldom encouraged.
Maybe good and better is more accurate. I think the fact that focussing in on one book doesn’t have the same relentless, what if I get behind edge to it. I know many people who do the RMM plan every year and benefit from it enormously, I also know others who start well but cannot sustain it, I was just offering them an alternative that maybe promotes depth over breadth. I had never seen bibleforlife.com thanks so much for pointing to it.
Thank you so much for this! I've been enjoying reading small sections of the Bible so l and having time to really think about them, but I'd seen so much about reading the Bible in a year recently that I was thinking of trying it. This article has helped me to stick with what I love and what helps me rather than a to do list. Thank you!
Thank you for writing this. I read somewhere the intention of McCheyne's plan was for head of households read the first two passages personally in the morning and then for family worship read the last two passages with their children. Thomas Manton, writing in the 1600's, wrote in his observation the reason for the decline in society was because families no longer worshiped four times a day. In our day, 2026, there are many Christians who struggle with worshipping God one day a week; better yet, one hour on one day of the week.
McCheyne was not wrong, and neither are you. I have used McCheyne's reading plan for the last 10-15 years and God has used it to reveal wonderful truths. I have also spent time in individual books studying them at length; which, once again, God has used to reveal wonderful truths.
The best way to engage the Word of God is the one that will get you to engage with the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will use either one, not because we are faithful to do it, but because He is faithful to fulfill His promises. He beckons all who are thirsty to come to the waters and drink, and like the rain and snow that water the earth, His word does not return to Him empty, but accomplishes what He purposes. (Isaiah 55)
Thanks Mark, if you find that quote I’d love to chase it down.
Blessings, OaO <><
Well, I am embarrassed. I went to track down the quote for you only to discover it does not exist. All I can say is I am sorry. My initial place I thought it was from was the letters to the readers found in the Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition, written by Thomas Manton. I would recommend reading these letters, both for encouragement and as a challenge. Joel Beeke has a very good chapter in his book, A Puritan Theology titled, The Puritans on Walking Godly in the Home. In this chapter, Beeke shows some puritan views of when family worship is lacking in the home.
Once again, I am sorry. My intention was not to mislead anyone, and at 50+ years old I can say this was not my first mistake. As for everything else I wrote, I stand behind it. While Manton (nor any other person from what I can see) lamented the lack of worshipping in the home four times a day, many did make the correlation of society woes to the lack of instruction in the home.
Please forgive me.
Brother thanks so much for looking, massively appreciate that.
Will definitely get into A Puritan Theology thanks for the recommendation.
My whole actual job is about helping people read, understand and teach the Bible to others so am always desperately keen for info in this arena, especially if the way we have been utilising RMM reading plan was beyond his original purpose.
All strength to you, blessings, OaO <><
This is from the Banner of Truth site:
Writing at the end of 1842, Robert Murray M‘Cheyne, tells his flock: ‘It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.’ The Calendar gives four portions (usually four chapters) for each day of the year: two for family worship, morning and evening, and two for private reading, morning and evening. In this way, the entire Bible is read once and the New Testament and Psalms twice in the course of a year.
This article reads like AI.
The fact that the M'Cheyne plan has endured for 180 years should not be so lightly dismissed. Nor the checking of boxes, etc. I've personally never used the plan. For the last several years, I've used a plan that takes you through the Bible every 88 days. That's about 40-50 minutes of reading per day for the average reader. There is enormous value in immersing yourself in the Word--all of the Word--systematically. One could easily do what you hold out as better here, i.e., spending a month or three in one book, alongside a plan like M'Cheyne, which I believe takes about 15 minutes of reading per day to complete.
Currently, I'm using the Horner plan, which involves reading 10 chapters each day from all over the Bible. I'm loving it, and I'm seeing the interlacing of Scripture in ways I've never experienced before. But that isn't all I'm doing. We're "deep-diving" through Matthew in family worship; we're memorizing Isaiah 55 (and keeping fresh about a dozen other passages) as a family; we're working through Philippians and 1 Samuel each week in corporate worship, etc.
I think your article is unnecessarily critical of a system of Bible reading that has served countless Christians well for decades upon decades.
I find your comment that this article was generated by AI somewhat offensive, suggesting that something I took the time to try and articulate and then post as mere AI slop a bit harsh.
I was simply trying to help people engage better with the Bible at the beginning of the year. You have obviously found a system that works well for you, the whole thing in 88 days, well done for cracking through that.
All strength to you in your Horner approach, I enjoyed that during 2020 when lockdown afforded more space.
All strength to you in your ongoing endeavours, blessings OaO <><
Robert Murray M'Cheyne was not wrong for everyone. His Bible reading plan was not right for you. My husband and I read the Bible aloud together and discuss each chapter we read. This year we are following a chronological plan reading through the entire Bible in a year reading 5 days a week, so that we have Saturday to prepare for Sunday worship and fellowship with our church family. We are greatly blessed for doing it together and not just individually.
To quote the actual article I actually wrote - ‘The McCheyne plan works wonderfully for some people. They have the time, the discipline, the reading speed, and the mental capacity to maintain the schedule year after year. If you’re one of these people, crack on.’
All the best with your chronological endeavours. Stay strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, blessings OaO <><
Can it really be right vs wrong? Is your proposed method not capable of producing false guilt?
bibleforlife.com presents the opportunity to read and study one book as you have proposed, as well as the method you have warned us against. (without ads)
There is fruit to be produced by both ends of the spectrum. I have experienced it, grown from it, by reading both fast and slow.
My observation is that most christians will neither wrestle one or two books to the ground ever, and nor will they get a good grasp of the sweeping story lines of the bible. Both take work that is seldom encouraged.
Maybe good and better is more accurate. I think the fact that focussing in on one book doesn’t have the same relentless, what if I get behind edge to it. I know many people who do the RMM plan every year and benefit from it enormously, I also know others who start well but cannot sustain it, I was just offering them an alternative that maybe promotes depth over breadth. I had never seen bibleforlife.com thanks so much for pointing to it.
Thank you so much for this! I've been enjoying reading small sections of the Bible so l and having time to really think about them, but I'd seen so much about reading the Bible in a year recently that I was thinking of trying it. This article has helped me to stick with what I love and what helps me rather than a to do list. Thank you!
Thanks so much Anne. Hope it is a great year if Bible reading in whatever you turn your attention to. Blessings, Jon