10 Bible Reading Challenge Ideas to Motivate Your Faith in 2026
Matt · April 24, 2026
A Bible reading challenge gives you a concrete goal, a timeframe, and a reason to open Scripture every day — whether you're a first-timer or a long-time reader needing fresh motivation.
Why Challenges Work Better Than Vague Goals
"Read my Bible more" is easy to forget by February. A challenge flips that: it gives you a finish line, a daily action, and something to track. The psychology here is simple — when you can see progress, you keep going. That's why apps like Bible In A Year build in streaks and progress tracking, because watching your streak climb from 7 days to 30 days to 100 days actually changes the way you show up.
A good Bible reading challenge has three things: a clear goal, a defined timeframe, and some form of accountability — even if that's just a checkmark in an app.
10 Bible Reading Challenge Ideas Worth Trying
1. Read the Bible in a Year The classic. 3–4 chapters a day gets you through all 66 books in 365 days. Bible In A Year is built specifically for this, with daily reading assignments and reminders so you never have to figure out what's next.
2. Read the New Testament in 90 Days At about 3–4 chapters a day, you can finish the entire New Testament in three months. A great starting challenge for beginners or anyone returning to faith.
3. One Psalm a Day for a Month There are 150 Psalms — read 5 per day in April and you'll finish them all. Psalms are especially good for people going through hard seasons.
4. Read One Gospel Straight Through Pick Mark (the shortest) and read it in a week, one chapter per day. Reading a whole Gospel in one sitting — or close to it — helps you see Jesus's story as a unified narrative rather than disconnected passages.
5. The Proverbs Challenge Proverbs has 31 chapters. Read one chapter per day for a month and you'll have worked through the whole book. Many people do this every month, cycling through it repeatedly.
6. The Epistles Sprint Paul's shorter letters — Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon — can be read in a single week. One letter per day builds a rich picture of early church theology fast.
7. 40-Day New Testament Challenge Starting from Matthew and reading about 7 chapters a day, you can finish the entire New Testament in 40 days. Lent is a natural fit, but you can start anytime.
8. Read the Bible Chronologically in a Year Instead of Genesis to Revelation, you read events in the order they happened historically. It changes how you understand the Old Testament prophets and the context behind Paul's letters.
9. Family Read-Aloud Challenge Commit to reading one chapter together as a family every night for 30 days. Pick a story-heavy book like Acts or Joshua for maximum engagement with kids.
10. The Book-a-Month Challenge Assign one Bible book per month. January is Genesis, February is Matthew, March is Romans, and so on. You won't finish the whole Bible this way, but you'll develop deep familiarity with key books.
How to Pick the Right Challenge for You
Start with your schedule, not your ambition. If you can realistically give 10 minutes a day, the Proverbs challenge or a Gospel sprint is a better fit than Bible in a Year. If you've got 20–25 minutes, the full-year plan is achievable and deeply rewarding.
Then pick accountability. Tell a friend, join a small group, or use an app that tracks your streak. The moment you miss a day and nobody knows, the challenge quietly dies. Keep yourself visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest Bible reading challenge for beginners?
The Proverbs challenge — one chapter per day for 31 days — is the most accessible. The chapters are short (many are just a page), the content is immediately practical, and finishing a whole Bible book in a month builds real confidence.
How do I stay on track with a Bible reading challenge?
Set a consistent time each day (morning works best for most people), use an app with reminders and streak tracking, and find at least one other person doing the challenge with you. Accountability is the biggest factor in follow-through.
Can I restart a Bible reading challenge if I fall behind?
Absolutely. Falling behind by a day or two is normal — you can double up on readings to catch up. If you've missed weeks, the best move is to simply pick back up where you left off rather than starting over. Progress matters more than perfection.