‘Bible in a Year’ Fr. Mike Schmitz Resources: Why I bought the Companion (study guide), Bible and notebook
A picture of the various resources available as companions to use with the popular podcast and YouTube Channel for Catholics (or any Christian, really), “The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz.”
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I’ve never read the entire Bible all the way through. It wasn’t for lack of trying, I now realize, but lack of a guide. I’m the kind of person who needs help understanding what I’m reading. The Bible is a library of books of different genres (history, narrative, law, prophecy, poetry, biography) that intersect and connect in remarkable and divine ways. I want to grasp the story of the Bible, so I bought the “Bible in a Year” Fr. Mike Schmitz resources for 2026. Here’s what I discovered and what you should consider when purchasing them, too.
I’ve been following Fr. Mike Schmitz for years now, and I’ve found him to be a trustworthy, humorous, and heartfelt guide when it comes to Scripture and understanding how to navigate faith in the modern world. I grew up in Minnesota, and I started tuning in when he was primarily serving college students in Duluth. He seems to want you to not just read the Word, but to understand its context, its application, and current and historical stories that help bring it to life.
I started listening to the “Bible in a Year” Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast late this past year. I wanted to test the waters, to see if it was a resource that could help me in 2026. I listened as I emptied the dishwasher or loaded clothes in the laundry; I’m in a busy season of family and work life, and I found myself looking forward to the Word as well as his message at the end of each episode.
I’ve read the New Testament multiple times, and some of the narrative books of the Old Testament, but I’ve always struggled to finish other biblical books. When Schmitz said it’s OK if it takes you more than a year to get through the entire Bible — if you’re on the “three-year” schedule of reading it a few times a week instead of daily— I appreciated the grace. It made me feel like it was doable.
I should probably disclose that I’m no longer a practicing Catholic! I grew up “culturally” Catholic in an Irish-German family in Minnesota, attended CCD on Wednesdays and mass on Christmas and Easter. I attended a Catholic high school, and I was lucky to develop a faith foundation there.
As a young adult, I fell away and then returned to Catholic mass. As my faith grew, and my desire to learn and grow closer to God magnified, I began attending protestant churches. My husband and I now attend a large Lutheran church in our area.
So why go through a Catholic Bible in a Year if I’m no longer a practicing Catholic? Because I’ve been amazed at how much listening to this podcast has helped me understand and deepen my understanding of the Bible.
There are many excellent Bible in a Year study guides, resources, and podcast options, of course. I’ve just found the Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz particularly helpful, so I decided to dive in.
Why buy resources when the “Bible in a Year” Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast is free?
You don’t need to buy them, actually. The team at Ascension is committed to keeping the podcast and YouTube channel free, and it was encouraging to hear that the plan is to translate the podcast and videos into other languages so this “no cost” resource is widely available. In addition, you can download the free reading plan here.
But after a few weeks of listening for free, I realized I wanted to go deeper into understanding the timeline. What’s intriguing to me is how The Great Adventure Bible organizes the readings into the 14 narrative books that share the story of God’s people, and adds supplemental readings each day.
That’s exactly what I want to dive deeper into this year: God’s bigger story.
Jeff Cavins created this particular reading plan in response to his own struggles to understand Scripture. Cavins is also from Minnesota, and like me, was raised Catholic but left for a protestant denomination. He became a pastor, developed Bible teaching tools, and eventually returned to Catholicism and continued his ministry as a Bible teacher.
‘The Bible in a Year’ Fr. Mike Schmitz resources
With Jeff Cavins’ color-coded tabs to help you follow along the 12-period timeline of The Great Adventure Bible, I appreciated how I could visually reference where in the Bible the daily reading is from. The text is large enough not to make me have to squint, and while there’s some “ghosting” (as so often happens with Bible pages), it seems to be minimal. I’ve definitely seen worse.
Is it worth it? Yes, if you plan to follow along and want to read the exact passages Fr. Mike Schmitz is reading on his podcast or YouTube channel. If you’ve ever tried to read Scripture from a different edition than the one being read out loud, it can be distracting if not challenging. If you don’t own a Catholic Bible already, this is a great one to start with.
A peek inside “The Great Adventure Catholic Bible,’ Second Edition.” Its color tabs and key events correspond with the Great Adventure Timeline.
The “Bible in a Year Companion” (Volume I pictured, there are three volumes in total) is a study guide by Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, and Lavinia Spirito. It includes bullet points (yes, bullet points!) for each reading to help you understand the Scripture and apply it to your life. It also makes it really easy to understand which of the additional verses you’re reading that day. They’re listed at the top of each page.
Is it worth it? Yes, because of the bullet points, the short summaries, and the occasional graphics (see the picture I took below). This resource is accessible, doesn’t take much additional time to read or, honestly, skim, and it will help you understand the Bible passages for that day.
It’s worth mentioning that this Bible companion also has a one-page introduction and a one-page summary of each of the 12 narrative periods of the reading plan. As you can see in the picture below, each day has brief reflection, prayer, and “dive deeper” sections that relate to the daily reading.
A peek inside “The Bible in a Year Companion: Volume I.” It takes three volumes to share notes across an entire year of Bible readings!
I’m a fan of keeping my notes in one spot. I can be a little scatter-brained, so I was excited to see what “The Bible in A year Notebook” would look like on the inside. It includes a helpful checklist of the reading plan, as well as space on each of its spiral-bound pages for reflection and application. I appreciate the simplicity of the question on each page: “What do you see through the lens of Scripture?” That tends to be the theme of ‘The Bible in a Year’ Fr. Mike Schmitz resources.
Is it worth it? Not really. The best part of this notebook is the ability to keep all your notes in one place. The spiral binding is helpful for writing, but its thickness means it won’t necessarily be easy. If you are the kind of person who likes to have all the same resources, it might be worth it. But if you’re cash-strapped or have a favorite notebook or journal to use instead, then skip this purchase.
A peek inside the spiral-bound “The Bible in a Year Notebook” from Ascension.
My husband and I spent some time studying The Great Adventure Timeline Chart last night, and I appreciate its design and color-coded coordination with the other resources, including the Bible itself.
My husband was raised protestant, and we attend a protestant church, so he was unfamiliar with some of the books in the Catholic Bible that aren’t in the Protestant Bible. It was interesting to talk about those books, and if I’m honest, I’m looking forward to reading them. There’s definitely a curiosity factor.
Is it worth it? Maybe. If you buy “The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition,” you’ll also receive a folded timeline. I didn’t realize this when I ordered, so now I have two. I do really like the design and the chart, and I fully expect to be using it this year. For quick reference, I’m stashing one in the kitchen, where I typically listen to the podcast, and one in the Bible. It’s not expensive, and I figure this extra purchase is helping the team at Ascension translate the Bible in a Year Fr. Mike Schmitz resources or expand their reach in other ways.
‘The Great Adventure’ Bible Timeline Chart is a visual overview of salvation history by Jeff Cavins. It depicts the 12 distinct timelines of the Bible and shares the story of God and his people.
While not necessarily, if you like to have something physical to hold on to while finding the right passage, Ascension also offers color-coded Bible tabs specifically to help you follow the timeline.
Is it worth it? Maybe. It’s helpful, saves time and fuss, but not necessary — although I personally recommend Bible tabs. Here’s why.
While leading a youth group a few years back, the girls spent way too long trying to find the Scripture we were supposed to read. And if I’m honest, I’ve never been able to memorize the order of the books in the Bible, so I wasn’t always much help.
I made an investment, bought tabs for each of the 14 girls, and we spent a session or two putting them on. The up-front effort was worth it, as it helped them find a Scripture in the Bible, learn which books were in the Old and New Testaments, and honestly saved a ton of time each session. With the tabs, we could focus on the much more rewarding activities of reading and discussing!
A few more Bible-studying resources that are helpful complements to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s ‘Bible in a Year’ podcast
When I first started reading and studying the Bible, I was scared to mark up my Bible. I know! It seems ridiculous now, especially since I learn best when I interact with the text by highlighting, underlining, or taking notes. Thankfully, there are “Bible safe” highlighters available that are specifically designed to be used on the ultra-thin pages of most Bibles, including the Catholic Bible that I’m reading alongside Fr. Mike Schmitz’s podcast. These bestselling highlighters also include a fine tip on the opposide end for making notes.
Underlining meaningful passages, taking notes in the margins, even adding a date and a memory, can make your Bible a personal treasure, one that reflects your story of reading the Bible and growing closer to God. Archival-quality, “Bible-safe” pens are the go-to options, as they won’t bleed or smear. With multiple thickness options, you’re sure to find the best Bible pen for you.
One of the most frustrating parts of a Bible reading plan is having to find multiple passages, which are typically spread out across multiple books. While the Bible tabs are incredibly helpful, another great option is a set of magnetic bookmarks, which comes with enough to use both in the Great Adventure Bible, the companion, and any journal you decide to use. Because they use magnets to hold in place, this low-cost option won’t slip or damage your Bible.
This is a “nice to have,” and not a necessity by any means. But if you are listening to “The Bible in a Year” podcast on walks, while the television is on in the next room, or while waiting at an airport — and you’re looking to treat yourself— why not upgrade to a quality pair of earbuds or headphones?
This is definitely a splurge purchase, and there are cheaper options available, but if you have the income, Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (second generation) have six hours of battery life, multi-point pairing, and excellent sound. These earbuds are considered one of the (if not the) best noise-canceling earbuds available.
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Mackenzie Ryan Walters is the author of “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” which shares Christian testimonies and stories, as well as curated lists about Christian books, gifts, and more. A national award-winning former journalist who’s covered a presidential campaign, been inside NASA, and reported on education and schools, Mackenzie now edits the Faith Storytellers website and is passionate about lifting up and sharing the story God is writing in the world.
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