Being in God’s Word
In the book of Acts, some believers were considered “more noble” because “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
We want everyone to read the Bible for themselves and discover the truth and beauty of God’s Word. Scripture is God’s gift to us, lighting up our paths and drawing us into relationship with him.
At HMCC, we use the English Standard Version (ESV), a more literal and yet beautifully readable English translation of the Bible, in our preaching and teaching ministry, but the use of different translations and resources in personal Bible reading and study are also helpful.
Bible Reading Plans (BRPs)
There are a variety of interactive Bible Reading Plans available on multiple platforms. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of BRPs for you to choose from and to preferably read and discuss together in community.
New Year: Fresh Perspective. Renewed Purpose
Duration: 10 days
In this 10-day devotional, we explore the perspective needed to kick the new year off right! Discover how to realign your heart, mind, and goals to seek after the heart and will of God and watch as your God-given purpose and passion is renewed!
Available on YouVersion here.
New Year, New Hope
Duration: 12 days
It’s a new year, and what better time to refocus your heart toward your Savior? Explore a different word each day–like obedience, faith, and trust–in 12 devotions designed to deepen your relationship with Jesus. Challenge questions at the end of each devotion will help you apply what you are reading so that this year, you can make Jesus your entire life–not just part of it.
Available on YouVersion here.
Live in God’s Will
Duration: 15 days
What does it look like to live in God’s will? Who does He want us to become? What does He want us to do? How can living in His will brings us hope, freedom and peace? This 15-day devotional will take you on a journey to dig deeper into God’s Word and deeper into your own life to know for certain you are living in His will today.
Available on YouVersion here.
Knowing God
Duration: 18 days
This is an 18-day devotional from R.C. Sproul on knowing God. Each devotional calls you to live in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.
Available on YouVersion here.
What Is God Like?
Duration: 21 days
What is God like? It’s a big question but an important one. What we understand about God will determine how we relate to Him. The more we know about God, the better our relationship will be. God reveals who He is throughout the Bible. Every name for God tells us something about Him. Reflect on God’s character for the next 21 days and see how your love for Him grows.
Available on YouVersion here.
Journey to Change
Duration: 21 days
In Journey to Change, you’ll meet 21 people who met Jesus and were never the same. This reading plan was written to show the life-changing difference a relationship with Jesus can make.
Available on YouVersion here.
Our Daily Journey: A 30-Day Walk with Jesus
Duration: 30 days
Every journey requires supplies. On the journey of life, some of the best supplies are God’s Word and a bit of encouragement from friends. This Our Daily Journey reading plan features 30 days of writing from trusted authors whose insights speak into your life. Each short devotional contains a story supported by multiple Scripture references as well as a “Next” section to help you think more deeply. Make the most of your devotional time with truth and encouragement from Our Daily Journey.
Available on YouVersion here.
100 Descriptions of God
Duration: 31 days
Praise God daily with 3-4 descriptions of God. Pray three sentences. “I praise You today Lord, because You… The one I appreciate most about You today is… In my life today, I want others to see You as…”
Available on YouVersion here.
Abiding in the Psalms
Duration: 63 days
The Psalms express the feelings and emotions that sometimes we find too hard to express to God by ourselves. Through diving into the Psalms and their different forms, the aim is that readers can lead prayer-filled lives, crying out, praising and worshipping our God through every season and in every moment.
Available on YouVersion here.
Gospels
Duration: 90 days
This plan takes you on a journey through all four Gospels in ninety days. Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with God’s Word.
Available on YouVersion here.
Daily New Testament – Quarter 1
Duration: 91 days
This is the first quarter of a plan to read the entire New Testament in one year. One Gospel is included in each quarter. Weekends can be used to reflect on or memorize a key verse. Notes are also included to assist with understanding.
Available on YouVersion here (see also Quarter 2, Quarter 3, Quarter 4).
The Essential Jesus
Duration: 100 days
In 100 carefully selected passages from the Bible, you will discover who Jesus is and why he is so significant — even life-transforming. Through both Old and New Testament readings, you will discover why God sent Jesus, what Jesus taught, how he treated people, why he did miracles, and the meaning of his death, the significance of his resurrection, and what the Bible says about his second coming.
Available on YouVersion here.
The Discipleship Journal BRP
Duration: One year
The Discipleship Journal BRP provides four readings for each day, two from the New Testament and two from the Old Testament.
To prevent the frustration of falling behind and to provide some reflection time, each month consists of only 25 readings.
Available on YouVersion here or as PDF here.
Book-at-a-Time BRP
Duration: One year
The Book-at-a-Time BRP provides two readings for each day. The first reading alternates between Old and New Testament books, giving you three or four chapters a day. The second reading takes you through a chapter or so of the wisdom literature and Isaiah. The Gospels are spread throughout the year.
To prevent the frustration of falling behind and to provide some reflection time, each month consists of only 25 readings.
Available on YouVersion here or as PDF here.
OT in a Year
Duration: One year
This plan takes you on a journey through the Old Testament in one year. Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with God’s Word.
Available on YouVersion here.
NT in a Year
Duration: One year
This plan will lead you through the New Testament in one year. Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with God’s Word.
Available on YouVersion here.
Chronological BRP
Duration: One year
The Chronological BRP enables you to read through the entire Bible in one year in the order the events occurred chronologically.
Available on YouVersion here or as PDF here.
M’Cheyne BRP
Duration: One year or two years
The M’Cheyne One-Year BRP provides four readings for each day–two from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from either the Psalms or the Gospels. In one year, you’ll read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.
Don Carson adapted the M’Cheyne One-Year BRP to be spread over two years.
One-Year BRP available as PDF here (365 days) and here (by month).
Two-Year BRP available as PDF here.
A daily devotional commentary from Don Carson’s For the Love of God that follows the M’Cheyne reading plan is also available as a podcast (Apple | RSS | Stitcher).
Mobile Bible Resource Apps
YouVersion Bible
The YouVersion Bible app has over 1,000 Bible versions in hundreds of languages, audio streaming in select versions, hundreds of reading plans, and enables you to add your own Verse Images, highlights, bookmarks, and public and private notes.
ESV Bible
The ESV Bible app includes the English Standard Version Bible, audio streaming, interactive reading plans, and free access to the ESV Global Study Bible, which gives quality, accessible commentary alongside the biblical text.
If you are currently working in ministry outside of the US, free access to the ESV.org Basic subscription plan (which includes the ESV Study Bible among other Bible study resources) is available here.
Read Scripture
The Read Scripture app includes a year-long Bible reading plan, supplemented with amazingly creative videos produced by the Bible Project (see below) that explain every book of the Bible, major theological themes of the gospel, and tips on how to read the Bible.
The New City Catechism
The New City Catechism app is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers, each paired with a Scripture reading, a short prayer, and a devotional commentary written by contemporary pastors. It also includes a short version of each answer and kid-friendly songs designed to help children memorize the entire catechism.
Online Bible Study Resources
Bible Gateway
Read and research Scripture online in multiple languages and translations with advanced searching capabilities which allow you to find and compare particular passages in Scripture based on keywords phrases or Scripture reference.
Available at biblegateway.com.
ESV Global Study Bible
The ESV Global Study Bible is a free quality, accessible commentary alongside the biblical text.
Available at esv.org.
Knowable Word
Knowable Word helps readers experience the fullness and joy that comes from studying the Bible for themselves through the Inductive Bible Study method (also known as the OIA method for its three-step process of Observation, Interpretation, and Application).
Summary of the OIA method available here.
Details of the OIA method available here.
One-to-One Bible Reading
Helpful resources from One-to-One Bible Reading have been made freely available, including guided questions for context, observation, meaning (or interpretation), and application for different biblical genres, as well as an eight-week study through the Gospel of Mark.
Available as PDF here (A4) and here (US Letter).
The Bible Project
The Bible Project produces amazingly creative videos that explain every book of the Bible, major theological themes of the gospel, and tips on how to read the Bible.
Available at thebibleproject.com/explore and youtube.com/thebibleproject.
Bible Study Tools
Bible Study Tools is the largest free online Bible website for verse search and in-depth studies with multiple Bible translations, commentaries, concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedias, reading plans, as well as Greek & Hebrew lexicons and interlinear Bible.
Available at biblestudytools.com