Reading the Bible Together in 2026
By Ellis White, Senior Pastor
In the UK, Boxing Day, December 26, is a public holiday that follows Christmas Day. Traditionally, it’s a slower day: a pause after the celebration, marked by rest, long walks, and time with family. For me, it has always felt like a hinge moment—Christmas behind us, a new year quietly approaching.
That in-between space is often where I find myself reflecting. Not just on what I’ve done this past year, but on who I’m becoming. As one year closes and another opens, I ask a simple but searching question: What practices will shape my life in the year ahead?
Jesus says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Boxing Day is often about leftovers—finishing what we started the day before—but Jesus reminds us that what truly sustains us is not a once-a-year feast, but daily nourishment from God’s word.
Psalm 1 describes the person who delights in the law of the Lord as “a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.” That image has proven true in my own life. I’ve now read the whole Bible each year for almost ten years, and I can honestly say God has used that steady, ordinary rhythm to form me in ways I couldn’t have planned or manufactured.
The reading plan I follow is The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. It’s actually the same reading plan that appears in the Bible in One Year my dad gave me when I was 13. Over the years, I’ve returned to it again and again. Each day includes readings from the Psalms or Proverbs, the New Testament, and the Old Testament, along with reflections from Nicky and Pippa that help connect the whole story of Scripture to everyday life.
As we look ahead to 2026, I want to invite you to join me in this journey through God’s word.
There are three versions of the plan available:
- Classic—the full daily readings
- Youth—designed with younger readers in mind
- Express—a shorter option for busier schedules
Here’s how to get started:
- Download The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel app or sign up for daily emails here.
- Choose the plan that fits your life
- Decide whether you’ll read or listen each day
You might consider inviting your family, a friend, or your small group to join you. There’s something quietly powerful about knowing we’re opening the same Scriptures, even when we’re scattered across different homes and schedules.
And if you miss a day—or several—don’t be discouraged. Just pick it back up and keep going one day at a time. This isn’t about keeping a perfect streak; it’s about being shaped over the course of a year.
Paul reminds us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). My prayer is that, in 2026, we would give God room to do that work in us—patiently, faithfully, together.
So on this Boxing Day, this quiet pause after Christmas, I’d love for you to consider the invitation. Let’s begin 2026 rooted in Scripture and see how God meets us there.
Pastor Ellis