Most Bible reading plans aim to get you through Scripture in a year. Others focus on deep study of just a few verses at a time. But John MacArthur’s Bible reading plan sits in a fascinating middle ground. It’s simple, it’s repeatable, and it will give you a deep familiarity with the New Testament like few other methods can.
This is the plan I used in the years leading up to seminary, and I continue to benefit from it to this day. I can quickly recall where passages are, what each chapter is about, and how the New Testament fits together because of the investment I made in this reading plan over a decade ago.
If you own a MacArthur Study Bible, you’ll actually find the plan outlined in the front pages. But let me break it down for you here.
How the Plan Works
The goal is straightforward: read the New Testament 30 times over the course of about 3 years.
That might sound extreme, because it is! The purpose of this plan isn’t to rush through Scripture; it’s to build deep familiarity and let God’s Word sink into your heart. Remember David’s words in Psalm 119:11:
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
That’s what this plan is all about: storing up God’s Word so it becomes part of you.
Here’s the process:
- Choose a short book (MacArthur suggests starting with 1 John).
- Read it in one sitting each day for 30 days.
- The repetition may feel tedious at times, but somewhere around day 15 or 16, you’ll notice things “open up” in the text.
- Summarize each chapter.
- As you read, jot down a one- or two-word summary of each chapter.
- Over time, you’ll build a mental index of the book. You’ll know, “1 John 1 is about X, 1 John 2 is about Y…, etc.“
- Move through longer books by sections.
- Not every book is as short as 1 John. For longer books, divide them into natural sections you can read in a single sitting.
Why This Works
Most Bible reading plans are designed for exposure. A “Bible in a year” plan gives you the wide-angle view of Scripture, which is incredibly valuable. Memorization drills down to the other extreme, focusing intensely on just a few verses.
MacArthur’s plan lives somewhere in the middle.
By saturating yourself in the same book or section over and over, you push God’s Word deep into your mind and heart.
Years after finishing this plan, I can still feel its impact. I know where passages live, I can connect chapters to their themes, and I approach the New Testament with a kind of familiarity that has shaped my ministry and my daily walk with Christ.
Download the Worksheet
To make this easier, I’ve created a worksheet that divides each book of the New Testament into daily sections. You can print this off and use it to mark your progress.
If you commit to reading each section for 30 days, you’ll make your way through the whole New Testament about 30 times in three years.
