Reading the Bible
Have you always wanted to read through the whole Bible? Do you struggle to find time for regular Bible study? This page contains a number of ideas, ranging from printable and online reading plans, daily study notes, podcasts and mobile phone apps.
If you have a favourite resource that is not mentioned here, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All the reading plans and apps below have been used and recommended by members of St John's.
We want everyone to have access to the God's word, the Bible. If you don't own your own Bible, please ask any member of the ministry team.
Bible Reading Plans
St John's Bible Reading Plan
Click here to download a Bible reading scheme that enables you to read the whole Bible at your own pace. Depending on how much time you have, you can read the whole Old Testament in a year and the New Testament in six months. If you have less time, you can choose a more manageable pace. Just follow the instructions on the printable PDF.
Alternatively, simply return to this page every day and use the Bible Reading Plan box on the left (or below on our mobile site) to read or listen to each day's passage - just click the name of the passage to read or the little loudspeaker symbol to listen. It will update automatically each week.
DA Carson has written an excellent two-volume companion to this Bible reading scheme, which is already used by several people in church. The daily notes are available free of charge on The Gospel Coalition website - click here for a direct link to the notes.
You can buy the books at various bookshops, in paper and ebook formats, including The Good Book Company and Amazon.
The St John's weekly notice email has the daily readings alongside each day of the diary section to help you follow the full St John's reading plan. Please contact the office to receive it weekly via email.
Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway is a well-established on-line Bible. You can read many different translations with reading plans, commentaries and devotionals. They have many reading plans for reading the Bible in a year.
There is also Bible Gateway app for iPhone/iPad, Android and Amazon Fire.
YouVersion
YouVersion is a free app, without ads, that provides a copy of the Bible for your mobile phone or tablet (iPhone/iPad and Android). You can also read the Bible at Bible.com without an app. Alexa and Google Home are supported too.
It also comes with a wide range of reading plans, which you can read yourself or there is an audio version available that will read it for you. The choice of translations is very comprehensive.
Biblia.com
Another good online Bible, with lots of different versions including the NIV in English and the Bible in Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese Union Version).
Bible Apps and Podcasts
Maybe you spend too much time driving, walking, in the kitchen or in the gym? Do you want your smartphone to remind you to read the Bible? Here's some links to Bible reading podcasts and mobile phone apps - most are free and well worth trying. This is just a small sample of ones that we have tried. Plenty more are available, just search online for Bible apps, Bible podcasts or Bible in a year. Let us know what you find and we will share it here.
Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel - HTB Church
Holy Trinity Brompton in London have a Bible reading app that takes you through the Bible in a year, called "The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel", available for IOS and Android.
You can also get the daily readings delivered via email or simply read them on the Bible in One Year website.
There are classic, express and young peoples options.
Bible Project - Read Scripture
The Bible Project publish an app called Read Scripture.
It is a year-long Bible reading plan which supplements the readings with amazing videos from the Bible Project, that explain every book of the Bible, major theological themes of the gospel, and tips on how to read the Bible.
For an alternative approach, you may like to try the new Bible Dojo study tool.
Daily Audio Bible
Brian Hardin reads the Bible in a year, every year on the Daily Audio Bible - read fresh each day. You can listen online, or get the free DAB app available for Android and iPhone. There is also a podcast.
There are childrens and teenagers versions, reading through the New Testament.
Bible Reading Notes
There are many places to buy booklets to help you with daily Bible study - ask a member of staff for advice or contact the Church Office.
One option to consider are notes published by The Good Book Company.
Check the Good Book Company's Open Up the Bible website for information about Bible reading notes, magazines and many other resources, including the Explore daily Bible reading app for Android and iPhone - the first 28 days of readings are free.