Foundations - Old Testament

Robby Gallaty built this study after his own attempts to read the entire Bible in a year, made with earlier discipleship groups, fell short. The result is a 260-day plan for working through most of the Old Testament, with devotional commentary that accompanies every Scripture reading and a structured journaling method.

Gallaty saw that a standard schedule of four or five chapters a day tends to backfire. Once readers fall behind, the unread chapters accumulate and they end up skipping whole sections to catch up. Reading can then feel like a checklist to complete rather than a time to listen to God, and there is little room left to think about what was read.

This plan asks for only one or two chapters on each of five days a week. The other two days are built in as rest or catch-up time, so readers can move at a comfortable pace. The approach also encourages reading less in order to absorb more. Its HEAR journal method, which stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond, is meant to help readers retain what they read, grasp its meaning, and put God's wisdom into practice.

The plan suits people working through a busy schedule, whether studying alone or with a group, and it is designed to be approachable for readers who are new to Bible study as well as those who want a deeper grasp of Scripture.