Most Bible reading plans assume you already love reading the Bible. They give you 3-4 chapters a day starting in Genesis 1, and 90% of beginners quit by week 3.

This is a different plan. 90 days. About 15 minutes a day. Front-loaded with the most accessible parts of the Bible. Designed for someone who has never finished a Bible book in their life.

If you finish this plan, you’ll have read the most important parts of scripture, you’ll know your way around the Bible, and you’ll be ready for a 1-year plan that won’t crush you.

TL;DR
  • 90 days. 15 minutes a day. About 1-2 chapters per day, lighter on weekends.
  • Starts with Mark (shortest Gospel) and works through the most accessible material.
  • Mixes Old Testament narrative, Psalms, Proverbs, and Gospels.
  • If you miss days, skip them. Don’t try to catch up. Just keep going.

How to use this plan

Pick a time. Morning if you can. Evening if you can’t. Same time every day.

Pick a place. A specific chair, the kitchen table, your bed. Your brain needs anchors.

Read out loud if you can. Slows you down. Helps retention. Especially for poetry (Psalms) and prophets.

Use NLT or NIV. Easiest for beginners.

Don’t make notes the first time through. Just read. Save the studying for later (see how to study the Bible).

Skip days you miss. Don’t try to make them up. Just keep going.

The plan

Days 1–14: Mark (the shortest Gospel)

Read 1 chapter a day, working through Mark.

  • Day 1: Mark 1
  • Day 2: Mark 2
  • Day 3: Mark 3
  • …continue through Day 16: Mark 16

Why Mark first: it’s short, action-packed, and gives you Jesus’s life in 90 minutes of reading total. Lays the foundation for everything else.

Days 15–30: Genesis (selected chapters)

Don’t read all of Genesis (50 chapters). Read the most important narrative chapters:

  • Days 15–16: Genesis 1–2 (creation)
  • Day 17: Genesis 3 (the fall)
  • Days 18–19: Genesis 6–7 (Noah)
  • Day 20: Genesis 11 (Babel)
  • Days 21–22: Genesis 12–13 (Abraham’s call)
  • Day 23: Genesis 15 (the covenant)
  • Days 24–25: Genesis 17–18 (Isaac promised)
  • Day 26: Genesis 22 (Abraham and Isaac)
  • Days 27–30: Genesis 37, 39, 41, 45 (Joseph)

This gives you the foundational stories without getting bogged down in genealogies.

Days 31–45: Acts (the early church)

Read 1–2 chapters a day through Acts.

  • Days 31–43: Acts 1–28

Why Acts here: it shows what the early church looked like and how Christianity spread. After reading Mark, Acts gives you the “what happened next.”

Days 46–60: Psalms (selected)

Don’t try all 150 psalms. Read these 30:

  • Day 46: Psalm 1
  • Day 47: Psalm 8
  • Day 48: Psalm 13
  • Day 49: Psalm 19
  • Day 50: Psalm 22
  • Day 51: Psalm 23
  • Day 52: Psalm 27
  • Day 53: Psalm 34
  • Day 54: Psalm 37
  • Day 55: Psalm 42
  • Day 56: Psalm 46
  • Day 57: Psalm 51
  • Day 58: Psalm 63
  • Day 59: Psalm 73
  • Day 60: Psalm 84

Read 1 a day. Slowly. Out loud if possible. The Psalms are poetry — they’re meant to be felt, not skimmed.

Days 61–73: John (the most theological Gospel)

Read 1–2 chapters a day through John.

Days 61–73: John 1–21

Why John after Mark: Mark gave you the action. John gives you the depth — the same Jesus, but with his teaching foregrounded. Together they paint a complete picture.

Days 74–90: Letters

The shorter New Testament letters give you Christian theology and practice.

  • Days 74–77: Philippians (4 chapters)
  • Days 78–80: 1 John (5 chapters, very accessible)
  • Days 81–83: James (5 chapters, very practical)
  • Days 84–86: Ephesians (6 chapters)
  • Days 87–90: Romans 1–8 (the theological core)

After day 90, you’ve covered:

  • Two of the four Gospels (Mark and John)
  • The early church (Acts)
  • The foundational narratives (Genesis selections)
  • The heart of the Old Testament’s worship and wisdom (Psalms selection)
  • Five of the most important New Testament letters

That’s a serious foundation. You’ve now read more of the Bible than 80% of self-identified Christians.

What to do after Day 90

Three options:

Option 1: A 1-year plan. You’re now ready. Try the YouVersion “Bible in a Year” plan or the M’Cheyne plan (4 chapters a day, completes the Bible in a year).

Option 2: Go deeper. Pick one Bible book and study it slowly using the method in our Bible study post. Take 2 months on Romans. Take 6 weeks on James. Depth instead of breadth.

Option 3: Repeat with new books. Do another 90 days hitting different parts: Matthew, Luke, 1-2 Samuel, Proverbs, Hebrews. Build coverage over multiple years.

There’s no wrong answer. The point is: keep reading. Faith grows in the soil of scripture.

What if I quit halfway through?

You will not be the first. Pick it up again whenever you can. The plan doesn’t have an expiration date. Day 47 will still be Psalm 13 a year from now.

The reason most people quit isn’t that the plan was too hard. It’s usually:

  • They picked the wrong time of day and never built a habit.
  • They started reading without praying first and lost the spiritual connection.
  • They tried to read too much and burned out.
  • They didn’t tell anyone and had no accountability.

Try again with one of those fixed. Most successful Bible readers failed multiple times before it stuck.

What’s next

15 minutes a day. 90 days. You can do this. Start tomorrow.

An open Bible with underlined passages, a brass pen, and a notebook with handwritten notes on a warm wooden desk.
90 days. 15 minutes a day. Don't try a 1-year plan if you've never finished a single book — this is the on-ramp.

Frequently asked questions

Why not just do a 1-year plan?
Because most people quit by week 3. The 1-year plans average 3-4 chapters a day, which is great if you're a strong reader who already loves scripture, but brutal if you're starting cold. This plan is shorter, lighter, and front-loads the most accessible material. Most people who finish 90 days successfully then graduate to a 1-year plan — and stick with it.
What if I miss days?
Skip them and keep going. Don't try to make up missed days — you'll get backed up and quit. The plan is designed to be flexible. If you miss a week, just pick up where you left off. Progress, not perfection.
Should I read in the morning or evening?
Whatever you'll actually do. Morning is ideal because it shapes the day, but if you're not a morning person, evening is fine. Pick a time when you have 15 quiet minutes. Same time every day, ideally — habits stick around anchors.
Can I just listen instead of read?
Yes. The YouVersion Bible app and BibleGateway both have free audio Bibles. Many people retain more by listening than reading. The apostles probably first encountered most of scripture as oral reading. Listening counts.
What translation should I use?
For first-time readers, the NLT (New Living Translation) or NIV (New International Version) are most accessible. Easy to read without sacrificing accuracy. Avoid the King James for now — beautiful but archaic. You can graduate to ESV or NASB later for more precision.

Further reading & references

About the author

Ryan Okafor — Lead Pastor, Carlsbad Coast Church. Ryan Okafor is the Lead Pastor of Carlsbad Coast Church. M.Div. from Talbot School of Theology. He lives in Carlsbad with his wife Maddie and their two kids.

  • M.Div., Talbot School of Theology
  • 12 years in pastoral ministry