A New Year Bible reading challenge for 2027 that you'll actually finish
A realistic New Year Bible reading challenge for 2027: four levels, a dated January plan, and streak insurance so one missed day won't end it.
In this article
A New Year Bible reading challenge is a commitment, starting January 1, to read a set portion of Scripture every day for a fixed period. For 2027, the realistic version is simple: choose one of four levels (31 days, a psalm a day, the New Testament, or the whole Bible), decide your minimum day in advance, and set "streak insurance" rules so one missed day doesn't end the challenge.
The usual breaking point is a busy Tuesday in the third week of January, when the plan turns out too big and there's no rule for what happens after a miss. This challenge is built around that Tuesday.
Below you'll find the four levels with real 2027 dates, a day-by-day January plan you can start on Friday, January 1, the five streak insurance rules, and a short list of other Christian New Year resolutions that pair well with reading.
Choose your 2027 challenge level
Be honest about your last year. If you read the Bible twice a month in 2026, the whole Bible in 2027 is a leap. Pick a level that feels a little easy. A finished small challenge does more for your faith (and your confidence) than an abandoned big one.
| Level | What you read | Dates in 2027 | Daily load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. First 31 | John, 1 John, five psalms (31 chapters) | Jan 1 to Jan 31 | 1 chapter, about 5 minutes |
| 2. A psalm a day | Psalms 1 to 150 | Jan 1 to May 30 | 1 psalm, 2 to 5 minutes |
| 3. New Testament in 2027 | Matthew to Revelation (260 chapters) | Weekdays, Jan 1 to Dec 30 | 1 chapter on weekdays, about 5 minutes |
| 4. Whole Bible in 2027 | Genesis to Revelation (1,189 chapters) | Jan 1 to Dec 31 | about 3.3 chapters, 10 to 15 minutes |
Level 1 is for anyone starting from zero or coming back after a long break. It gives you one full Gospel, one short letter and a taste of the Psalms. When you finish on January 31, you can roll straight into Level 2 or 3.
Level 2 is the gentlest year-long start. Psalms covers every human emotion, and most psalms take under five minutes. 150 psalms, one a day, ends on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
Level 3 has a neat fit with the 2027 calendar. The year starts and ends on a Friday, giving it 261 weekdays, and the New Testament has 260 chapters. Read one chapter every Monday to Friday and you finish Revelation on Thursday, December 30, with weekends free for catching up.
Level 4 is the full Bible in a year. We've built a dated version with a month-by-month and week-by-week calendar: the 2027 Bible reading plan.
Whichever level you choose, a plan you can see every morning beats a plan in your head. The app's reading plan lets you set 1 to 5 chapters a day, shows today's reading, and keeps your streak.
Level 1: the 31-day January plan, day by day
Here's the full plan for January 2027, with one thing to look for in each chapter. Read the chapter first, then see if you found it.
| Date | Reading | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1 | John 1 | "The Word was made flesh" (John 1:14) |
| Sat, Jan 2 | John 2 | Water into wine, the first sign (John 2:11) |
| Sun, Jan 3 | John 3 | Nicodemus and being "born again" (John 3:3) |
| Mon, Jan 4 | John 4 | The woman at the well and living water (John 4:14) |
| Tue, Jan 5 | John 5 | "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk" (John 5:8) |
| Wed, Jan 6 | John 6 | "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) |
| Thu, Jan 7 | John 7 | "If any man thirst, let him come unto me" (John 7:37) |
| Fri, Jan 8 | John 8 | "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) |
| Sat, Jan 9 | John 9 | "Whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25) |
| Sun, Jan 10 | John 10 | "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11) |
| Mon, Jan 11 | John 11 | "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43) |
| Tue, Jan 12 | John 12 | Palm branches and "Hosanna" (John 12:13) |
| Wed, Jan 13 | John 13 | Jesus washes the disciples' feet (John 13:14) |
| Thu, Jan 14 | John 14 | "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) |
| Fri, Jan 15 | John 15 | The vine and the branches (John 15:5) |
| Sat, Jan 16 | John 16 | The promise of the Comforter (John 16:7) |
| Sun, Jan 17 | John 17 | Jesus prays "that they all may be one" (John 17:21) |
| Mon, Jan 18 | John 18 | Peter's first denial (John 18:17) |
| Tue, Jan 19 | John 19 | "It is finished" (John 19:30) |
| Wed, Jan 20 | John 20 | Thomas: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) |
| Thu, Jan 21 | John 21 | "Lovest thou me?" three times (John 21:17) |
| Fri, Jan 22 | 1 John 1 | Confession and forgiveness (1 John 1:9) |
| Sat, Jan 23 | 1 John 2 | "Love not the world" (1 John 2:15) |
| Sun, Jan 24 | 1 John 3 | "Behold, what manner of love" (1 John 3:1) |
| Mon, Jan 25 | 1 John 4 | "God is love" (1 John 4:8) |
| Tue, Jan 26 | 1 John 5 | "That ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13) |
| Wed, Jan 27 | Psalm 1 | The two ways, and the tree by the water |
| Thu, Jan 28 | Psalm 19 | "The heavens declare the glory of God" |
| Fri, Jan 29 | Psalm 23 | "The Lord is my shepherd" |
| Sat, Jan 30 | Psalm 103 | "Forget not all his benefits" |
| Sun, Jan 31 | Psalm 139 | "Fearfully and wonderfully made" |
Why John first? John tells you why he wrote his Gospel, which makes it a fitting first book for a new year.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
If you want the background before you start, read the Gospel of John summary. And if you prefer a challenge that isn't tied to January, our 30-day Bible reading challenge works any month.
Streak insurance: five rules to set before January 1
A streak is the number of days in a row you've kept your habit. Streaks are motivating right up to the day they break, and then many people quit entirely because "I already ruined it." Streak insurance is a set of rules you decide in advance, so a missed day becomes a small event instead of the end.
Rule 1: Define your minimum day. Decide now what counts on a terrible day. For Level 4, maybe it's the New Testament chapter only. For Level 1, maybe it's reading the "look for" verse and the five verses around it. Write it down. A minimum day keeps the streak alive and keeps you in the text.
Rule 2: Never miss twice. Missing one day happens to everyone: a sick kid, a late flight, a long shift. The rule is that the next day is non-negotiable, even if it's a minimum day. One miss is a pause. Two in a row is how a habit quietly ends.
Rule 3: Pick a catch-up slot. Choose one time a week, like Saturday morning, that exists only to catch up. If you're on track, it's free time. Level 3 builds this in: weekends have no assigned reading.
Rule 4: Use the restart rule after a bad week. If you fall more than seven days behind, don't try to read 25 chapters in one evening. Jump to today's date and keep going. Then add one extra chapter a day from the part you missed until you're even. Our guide on what to do when you fall behind on a Bible reading plan covers this in detail.
Rule 5: Write your if-then plans. Think of the three things most likely to break your streak and write a response for each:
- If I oversleep, then I read at lunch.
- If I'm traveling, then I listen to the chapter in a free audio Bible instead of reading it.
- If I'm too tired at night, then I read my minimum day before I pick up my phone in bed.
Here's a simple card to copy into your notes app on December 31:
| My 2027 challenge | Write yours |
|---|---|
| Level | 1, 2, 3 or 4 |
| Time and place | e.g. 7:15 a.m., kitchen table |
| Minimum day | e.g. one chapter, or one psalm |
| Catch-up slot | e.g. Saturday 9 a.m. |
| After a miss | Never miss twice; restart rule after 7 days |
| Who knows about it | e.g. a friend, my small group |
For more on habits that last past January, read how to stay consistent reading the Bible.
Quick quiz: John
What is the first miracle of Jesus recorded by John?
After the water turned into wine at the wedding, John notes: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee.” John 2:9–11
Which Pharisee comes to Jesus by night and learns that one must be born again?
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night”; Jesus tells him he must be born again. John 3:1–3
How does John the Baptist point out Jesus as he sees him coming to him?
Seeing Jesus coming to him, John says: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.
What the Bible says about starting again
The new year is a calendar event, not a biblical feast. But Scripture has a lot to say about fresh starts, and two passages fit January well.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations was written after Jerusalem fell. "New every morning" isn't a slogan from an easy season. It's hope spoken from the ruins, and it's a good word for anyone who failed at last year's resolution.
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
And for why daily reading matters at all, Joshua 1:8 describes meditating on God's word "day and night", and Psalm 1:2 calls the person blessed whose "delight is in the law of the Lord". Daily reading isn't about a perfect record. It's about delight.
Christian New Year resolutions that pair with reading
Reading the Bible is the foundation, but a few other spiritual New Year's resolutions grow naturally out of it. Pick one, not all.
Memorize one verse a month. Twelve verses in a year is very doable. Here's a 2027 list that follows the calendar, with Easter on March 28, Thanksgiving on November 25 and Christmas in December.
| Month | Verse | Why this month |
|---|---|---|
| January | Lamentations 3:22-23 | New every morning |
| February | Psalm 119:105 | A lamp for the year's path |
| March | John 11:25 | Easter falls on March 28, 2027 |
| April | Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust when plans change |
| May | Joshua 1:9 | Courage for big decisions |
| June | Matthew 6:33 | Priorities in a busy season |
| July | Philippians 4:6-7 | Peace instead of worry |
| August | Psalm 46:10 | Stillness before the fall rush |
| September | Romans 8:28 | Hope in hard things |
| October | John 15:5 | Staying connected to Christ |
| November | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 | Thanksgiving |
| December | Isaiah 9:6 | The promised child |
Our list of Bible verses to memorize has more, sorted by topic, and our guide to New Year Bible verses gives a second 12-month list built on New Year themes, with the context behind each verse.
Keep a simple journal once a week. The SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) takes ten minutes. Use it on the chapter from your challenge that stood out most that week.
Take notes in church. Writing down the main passage and one takeaway each Sunday connects your reading with what you hear preached.
Read with someone. Send this page to one friend and agree on a level. A weekly two-line text ("Finished John 14. You?") is enough accountability for most people. In the app, you can add a friend by @username or invite link, see each other's weekly streak and send a word of encouragement.
Test what you remember. At the end of each month, try to name the main event of every chapter you read. The gaps tell you what to reread.
If you want those last two pieces handled for you, the app adds a short quiz after each reading and a memory-verse review, so January's verse is still with you in June.
What to do on February 1
Finishing Level 1 or getting through January on any level is worth marking. Then decide your next step:
- You finished Level 1 easily: start Level 3 (the New Testament) on Monday, February 1, 2027, from Matthew 1. You'll finish in early 2028, or double up on some days to finish in 2027.
- You finished Level 1 with effort: move to Level 2, a psalm a day, and stay there until spring.
- You're on Level 4 and behind: use the restart rule, or switch to Level 3 for the year. Reading the whole New Testament in 2027 is a great year.
- You stopped: start again on February 1. The challenge was never about a perfect January.
And if you want to see how the people you're reading about connect, browse the Bible characters pages, starting with Peter, whose restoration in John 21 ends your first three weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good New Year Bible reading challenge?
A good challenge is one you can finish. For most people that means starting smaller than they think: one chapter a day for 31 days, such as the Gospel of John, 1 John and five psalms in January 2027. If that goes well, extend it to the New Testament (one chapter each weekday) or a psalm a day through May.
How do I start reading the Bible on January 1, 2027?
Pick a level, choose a fixed time and place, and read the first chapter on Friday, January 1. For the 31-day level, that's John 1. For the whole Bible, it's day 1 of whichever one-year plan you picked. Decide your minimum day and catch-up slot before you start, so you already know what to do after a miss.
What are good spiritual New Year's resolutions?
Good spiritual resolutions are specific and small: read one chapter a day, memorize one verse a month, journal once a week, take notes at church, or pray for one person daily. Choose one or two, tie each to an existing habit, and review them at the end of every month instead of waiting until December.
What if I miss a day of my Bible reading challenge?
Don't restart and don't double up for a week. Follow the "never miss twice" rule: read at least your minimum the very next day. Use a weekly catch-up slot, like Saturday morning, to read the chapter you missed. If you fall more than seven days behind, jump to today's reading and fold the missed chapters in gradually.
Can I do the New Year Bible reading challenge in a group?
Yes, and it usually helps. Have everyone pick the same level and dates, then check in once a week with a short message or a five-minute conversation after church. Groups work best when the level matches the least experienced reader, so nobody falls behind in the first week.
How long does it take to read the New Testament in 2027?
At one chapter per weekday, the New Testament's 260 chapters take exactly the weekdays from Friday, January 1 to Thursday, December 30, 2027. At one chapter every day including weekends, you'd finish on September 17, 2027. Most chapters take about five minutes to read.