For a full description of the plan, as well as guide to get started you can visit the following links:

Prof. Horner’s Bible-Reading System Facebook Group
Prof. Horner’s Bible-Reading System PDF Download

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Day 1 Reading Plan

Old Testament
Genesis 1
Joshua 1
Job 1
Psalms 1
Proverbs 1
Isaiah 1

New Testament
Matthew 1
Acts 1
Romans 1
1 Thessalonians 1

Notes:

• “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV) – It doesn’t get any clearer then that… God created it all and was around from the beginning of the beginning.
• “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31 ESV) – God did in in six days… period!
• “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.” (Joshua 1:5-6 ESV) – Wow! God is promising a lot here! The best part is He will fulfill it all!
• “And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!” (Joshua 1:16-17 ESV) – Wow! The PEOPLE are promising a lot too… too bad they don’t fulfill it… yet God is faithful!
• Job 1:1-5 – Gee whiz! Sounds like a great life!
• “And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”” (Job 1:8 ESV) – This verse is troubling… God is the one who suggests Job as an example. It’s not as if Satan said, “Hey what about that guy?” I don’t think I realized that before.
• Job 1:13-19 – Job faces several types of calamity: Man-Made Disasters, Natural Disasters and Man-Made Evil.
• “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”” (Job 1:20-21 ESV) – I still don’t understand these verses. What was it inside of Job that allowed him to worship, even after he lost so much? After the evil, the accidents and the loss of family he still worships God?
• “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” (Psalms 1:1 ESV) – The word for “wicked” in Hebrew is most often used in Psalms (92 times), Proverbs (85 times) and ironically Job (40 times). It’ll be interesting to see how wickedness plays such a big role in these books.
• Proverbs 1:1-7 – So it’s obvious that wisdom is an important attribute and characteristic to pursue and to even pray for (cf. James 1:5).
• “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV) – What an interesting description of the relationship between parents and children. Does this mean I look good when I do when I listen to their teaching?
• Proverbs 1:23-32 – It’s not only stupid not to listen to wisdom but it’s downright hazardous to your health! The consequences for ignoring wisdom are pretty steep and pretty heavy.
• “The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”” (Isaiah 1:3 ESV) – Is God saying that His people are dumber than oxen and donkeys? How sad is that?
• ““What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.” (Isaiah 1:11 ESV) – God is saying, “It’s over!” God still loves them, but their sacrifices are worthless because their hearts are far from Him.
• Isaiah 1:12-15 – The system that God has set up is no longer valid because of Israel’s sin!
• “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” (Isaiah 1:16-17 ESV) – God provides the solution to the problem and tell Israel EXACTLY what their sins are. Verse 17 is especially significant in light of Micah 6:8.
• Isaiah 1:21-23 – God explains that the city has become like an unfaithful wife… a whore. (Strong language!)
• Isaiah 1:24-31 – God explains how He will wreck the city as well as restore the city. God is specific and resolute. It will be done!
• Matthew 1:1-16 – For list of what all these names mean download This PDF of the Matthew Genealogy Name List (COMING SOON!)
• “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19 ESV) – This verse perhaps gives us the best glimpse of the quality of Joseph’s character. A “just man” that didn’t want to publically shame Mary. Most men these days are NOT this gracious. In fact, it seems that this could have been the big scandal that sold dozens of newspaprysus.
• Matthew 1:22-23 – Prophecy was a big deal to the Jews that were reading this. It should still be a big deal to us today!
• Acts 1:1-11 – These opening moments in Acts are really dependant on the end of the Gospels. I think my favorite verse in this section is verse 11 “… “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:11 ESV)
• “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:14 ESV) – The phrases “with one accord” and “devoting themselves” appear together many times in the book of Acts. What a picture of unity, perseverance (stole that from the Greek word for devotion: proskarterountes) and sticking together no matter what the situation. The fact that the early believers were also devoted to prayer should be a big deal to the chruch today as well. In fact, it should be a bigger deal for me.
• Acts 1:15-26 – Choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot seemed like a pretty orderly process. The Bible doesn’t mention a fight between the nominating committee, the pulpit committee and ladies luncheon committee that all had different ideas of the who the replacement should be. Instead they all came together and did the right thing by praying and allow the Lord to run the process. What a great example!
• “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” (Romans 1:1 ESV) – I will never forget the Truth And Life Conference from 2007 where Dr. John MacArthur made an astonishing assertion that when we saw the word “servant” in the Bible it really meant “slave” (Greek word doulas).
• Romans 1:8-14 – Paul expresses just how much the Roman church means to him. His words are filled with both love and admiration for them.
• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Romans 1:16-17 ESV) – Paul, who was beaten and eventually killed for the Gospel, was a shining example of what it means to not be ashamed of the Gospel. The Gospel contains the power to save and also reveals God’s righteousness. There is so much that is very important in these few verses!
• “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thessalonians 1:2-3 ESV) – These are kind words considering the reception and the controversy their visit to Thessalonica caused (cf. Acts 17:1-9). I have to be honest and say that it is incredibly hard to continually give thanks and constantly pray. But the Gospel is stronger and produces a “steadfast hope” that is transforming.
• “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” (1Thessalonians 1:6-7 ESV) – The contagiousness and the attractiveness of the Gospel here is very evident. Paul and his crew were changed by the Gospel and became witnesses for the Gospel. As a result, The Thessalonians saw how Paul and his crew reacted under pressure and when persecuted and realized that they were the real deal. So the Thessalonians are changed by the Gospel and then turn around and modle the Gospel for others. I think the church should learn a little something from this!

I’m not sure that many of you have taken the time to read this awesome little book in the Old Testament. Yeah it has a funny name but there is nothing funny about this book. Habakkuk has only 3 Chapters and 56 verses but don’t let this little book fool you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed to turn to this book for guidance and comfort.

• 1:1-3 – These first few verses set the tone for the opening part of this book. A truckload of questions about some of the toughest stuff to deal with: unanswered prayer, seeing the sinful go unpunished and experiencing injustice. The trick is that all those things are as a result of Habakkuk’s own people, Israel.
• God’s response is that He is working behind the scenes and is raising up the Chaldeans to deal with the sin of Habakkuk’s people.
• Wow, the list of stuff the Chaldeans have and can do would definitely make me crap my pants if I was a part of Israel. I wonder if Israel knew what was coming they’d repent? Oh wait… they did!
• 1:12 “Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die.” I wonder if Habakkuk is reminding God or rminding himself inlight of what’ coming?
• I agree with Habakkuk Israel is bad, but the Chaldeans are worse. Sometimes it seems that the punishment is lopsided and doesn’t fit the crime.
• 2:1 “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me and what I answer concerning my complaint.” It’s so easy to throw up a prayer or even a complaint to the Lord and then not expectantly wait for an answer. I know that I’ve treated God like a suggestion box, just dropping in my complaints and never expecting a reply. But Habakkuk gets it right. He goes to the highest point and expectantly waits for God’s answer both spiritually and physically. He would have seen the army coming.
• God’s grace in the midst of Habakkuk’s questioning is a great comfort. God not only responds, but He’s detailed and precise.
• Five Woes to the Chaldeans and all those who act like them!
• 3:1 -  Habakkuk’s response to God’s reply is to worship. Despite the fact that judgment is coming for Israel’s sin, Habakkuk finds comfort in God’s ultimate judgment of those that carry out Israel’s sentence unjustly.
• 3:17-19 – Even though Habakkuk’s world is falling apart he is rejoicing in the Lord and in the Lord’s salvation. He even calls the Lord his strength. What an important reminder to be mindful of the Lord’s promises when the bottom falls out. I can honsetly say, it takes a lot of faith to do so.

I recently read through the entire book of Hebrews in one sitting. Hebrews was written by an unknown Author (although I’ve always leaned toward Apollos) and has 13 chapters and 303 verses. It was surprisingly easy to read through it and later found out from a good friend that it may have been a transcription of a sermon. Whatever the case may be, here are a few of the thoughts and questions I had as I was reading through.

• Jesus is more glorious and worthy of worship over every other created thing… period.
• The Psalms don’t just talk about Jesus they shout His essential attributes.
• 2:1 “There fore we must pay much closer attention to what we have hear, lest we drift away from it.” (ESV) This tore me up. I know I have been drifting big time because I haven’t paid much attention to the Word until recently.
• God has been making Himself know since the beginning.
• 2:8b “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.” I bet that includes the good the bad and the ugly. But what about me? Have I been in subjection to Him?
• 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Again, another verse that laid me out. I have no excuse for yielding to temptation.
• Houses are nice but it’s the builder who gets the glory. Hopefully I can just be a 2×4 for the Builder Jesus. He was a carpenter after all!
• 3:13 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” I haven’t been doing a lot of exhorting lately, much less daily. Guess it’s time I shape up for my own benefit as well as the benefit of others.
• 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Ouch. It seems that God’s Word is a big theme in this book. Guess the Lord knew I needed to be reminded of just how important His Word is.
• Jesus was tempted in every way… guess I’m not so special after all.
• Hard to tell the difference between good and evil if you’re not paying much attention the decisions you make and the situations you put yourself in.
• God swears by Himself… how awesome!
• I’ve always thought this Melchizedek dude was pretty interesting. A King, a Priest and he even gave a tenth of his loot to Abraham. Whatever the case, Jesus is still better.
• Although animal sacrifices had their place, they never fully took care of the problem of sin. That’s why Jesus had to come along and finish the job.
• 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Jesus is faithful, and we should be faithful to Him and to those whom He has seen fit to put in out path.
• 10:35-36 “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” It’s had to admit this, but I’m recovering my confidence not in this life, but in the promise of the life to come.
• Faith, faith and more faith. Everyone from the big names like Abraham and Moses to the small names like Jephthah and Rahab the bottom line was not their deeds, it was their faith.
• Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, adn sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race tha tis set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or faithearted.” No matter what name was on the list in the hall of faith, they paled in comparison to the faith of Jesus. His example should give me the strength to keep fighting when I am weary from this every day battle of life.
• 12:12-13 “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” I know that my hands have drooped and my knees are weak. It is encouraging to know that the Bible has verses for people like me and for times like these in my life.
• The closing thoughts of this letter are so practical and so precise as to their instruction that you can’t just ignore the fact that inlight of all the soul searching the text was calling for, the persecription was looking toward those around you instead of yourself.