McCheyne · since 1842McCheyne reading plan · since 1842
The whole Bible in a year.
Four chapters a day — two read with the family, two in private devotion — with the whole church in the same portion, on the same day.
November 2
Free. No sign-up. About 20 minutes.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
How the McCheyne plan works
Four chapters a day
A daily portion that fits the routine — about 20 minutes of reading, without hurry and without guilt.
The New Testament, twice
In one year you read the Old Testament once, and the New Testament and the Psalms twice.
Family and secret
Two readings for family worship and two for private devotion — the mark of the method, from 1842 to today.
Prefer the whole year on paper? Download the printable reading plan (PDF) →
The plan began with a letter: read M'Cheyne's original 1842 letter.
Who was Robert Murray McCheyne
“My dear flock,”
So begins the letter that Robert Murray McCheyne (often spelled M'Cheyne), minister of St Peter's in Dundee, wrote to his congregation at the end of 1842 — a few months before he died, aged 29. With it came a reading calendar he called “Daily Bread”.
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.
Three months later McCheyne was dead. The letter remained — and for more than 180 years it has kept the same appointment: people all over the world open at the same portion, on the same day. Right now, somewhere, someone is reading the very chapters that wait for you.
The calendar outlived its author: D. A. Carson wrote two volumes of daily devotionals, For the Love of God, following exactly this order of reading — and churches around the world still follow it.
He left only one warning: “My desire is not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy.” So there is no streak to lose here and no trophy to win — there is bread on the table, set again every morning.
— Robert Murray McCheyne, St Peter's, Dundee, 30 December 1842
Also in other languages
The same plan, the same portion of the day, with the Bible of each language.
P.S. — tomorrow's portion will be here, in the same place as always: devocionalmccheyne.com/en/today