How to Start a Bible Reading Group with Custom Plans

Reading the Bible is a profoundly personal journey, but it was never meant to be a solitary one. There is immense power in exploring God’s Word in community—sharing insights, asking hard questions, and encouraging one another. Many of us desire this experience for our small group, family, or friends, but the logistics can feel overwhelming.

How do you get everyone on the same page, literally? Finding a plan that fits everyone’s schedule and interests can be a challenge, and before you know it, the initial excitement fades as people fall behind. What you need is a simple, flexible way to create a shared path that everyone can follow together.

A custom, shareable Bible reading plan is the key to unlocking a rich community reading experience. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to start and lead a successful Bible reading group.

Why Read the Bible in a Group?

Before diving into the “how,” it’s helpful to remember the “why.” Reading Scripture together does more than just keep you accountable; it deepens your faith and your relationships in several key ways.

• Shared Accountability: It’s much easier to stay consistent when you know others are on the journey with you. A simple “How’s the reading going?” can be the nudge you need to catch up.
• Diverse Perspectives: The Holy Spirit speaks to each of us differently. When you discuss a passage together, you benefit from insights and applications you might never have considered on your own.
• Encouragement and Support: When you encounter a confusing or challenging passage, you’re not alone. You can wrestle with the text together, sharing questions and discoveries.
• Deeper Community: A shared journey through Scripture builds a unique spiritual bond. You move beyond surface-level conversations and connect on a much deeper level, fostering true fellowship.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Group

Organizing a Bible reading group doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tool, you can get a plan set up and shared in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Gather Your Group and Set a Goal

The first step is deciding who will be part of the group and what you want to accomplish together. Is this for your family? Your existing small group? A few friends from work?

Once you have your group, have a conversation about your goal. Don’t just say, “Let’s read the Bible.” Get specific.

• “Let’s read through the four Gospels before Easter.”
• “Let’s study the book of Proverbs over the summer.”
• “Let’s tackle the entire New Testament in the next six months.”

A clear, shared goal gives your group purpose and direction from the very beginning.

Step 2: Design a Custom Plan for Your Group

This is where a one-size-fits-all plan often fails. Your group is unique, and your plan should be too. Use Bible Plan Generator to create a plan that fits your group’s specific goal and schedule.

Log in to your free account and use the custom plan generator. For example, if your group decided to read the Gospels in 90 days but can only commit to reading on weekdays, you can set it up like this:

• Scope: Select “Gospels” (or manually select Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
• Duration: Enter “90 days.”
• Schedule: Choose “Weekdays only.”

This level of customization ensures the plan is realistic and achievable for everyone involved.

Step 3: Generate and Share the Plan with a Single Link

Once you’ve tailored the plan to your group’s needs, click “Generate Plan.” Now for the easy part: sharing.

Every plan created in Bible Plan Generator has a unique, shareable URL. You don’t need to email a spreadsheet or send a PDF. Simply copy the link to your plan and send it to your group via text, email, or your group chat app.

When a group member clicks the link, they’ll see the exact plan you created. They can then save it to their own free Bible Plan Generator account to track their personal progress. Everyone gets the same schedule, but each person can check off their own readings.

Step 4: Establish a Rhythm for Discussion

The plan provides the structure, but the real growth happens in the conversation. Decide how your group will connect and discuss what you’re reading.

• Weekly Meeting: Dedicate the first 20 minutes of your small group meeting to discussing the week’s readings.
• Group Chat: Create a dedicated group chat where members can share a verse or a thought from that day’s reading.
• Simple Question: Start your meetings with a simple question like, “What was one thing that stood out to you from this week’s reading?”

How Bible Plan Generator Makes Group Reading Simple

Our platform was designed with individuals and groups in mind, providing free and powerful tools to make reading together effortless.

• One Plan, One Link: Our URL-based sharing is the simplest way to get everyone on the same page. Create the plan once, share the link, and you’re done. No more confusion or version control issues.
• Ultimate Flexibility: Your group isn’t stuck with a pre-made plan that doesn’t fit. You can create a schedule for any part of the Bible, for any duration, on any days of the week.
• Individual Progress Tracking: Even though the plan is shared, each member tracks their progress privately in their own account. This fosters personal responsibility and allows everyone to move at their own pace if they fall behind, without derailing the group.
• Printable Plans for Leaders: For group leaders who want a physical copy to hand out, our Premium subscription allows you to print any custom plan. This is perfect for offline discussions or for members who prefer a paper checklist.

Don’t let logistical hurdles keep you from the rich experience of reading God’s Word in community. With a custom, shareable plan, you can lead your group on a transformative journey through Scripture.

Create a shareable plan for your group. Build the perfect reading schedule today and start experiencing the Bible together.

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