To gain a better understanding of the Bible's grand story, it's helpful to read through entire chapters and books of Scripture like you would any other work of literature. Included below are three different plans to help you get started. It only takes about fifteen minutes a day or two hours a week of reading to follow these plans. Don't limit yourself to only one reading block a day. Read ahead if you want. And if you get behind, don't give up! Just start again where you last stopped.
Reading blocks are provided according to book and chapter. To locate a book, utilize the Table of Contents at the beginning of your Bible.
There are four different accounts that tell the story of Jesus' life: the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books are called the "gospels." This reading plan explores two of these accounts, which are found at the beginning of the New Testament about three-quarters of the way into the Bible.
Day 1: Luke 1-2
Day 2: Luke 3-4
Day 3: Luke 5-6
Day 4: Luke 7-8
Day 5: Luke 9-10
Day 6: Luke 11-12
Day 7: Luke 13-15
Day 8: Luke 16-18
Day 9: Luke 19-20
Day 10: Luke 21-22
Day 11: Luke 23-24
Day 12: John 1-2
Day 13: John 3-4
Day 14: John 5-6
Day 15: John 7-8
Day 16: John 9-10
Day 17: John 11-12
Day 18: John 13-15
Day 19: John 16-17
Day 20: John 18-19
Day 21: John 20-21
This reading plan includes entire books or significant portions of books from different time periods and literary genres in the Bible. For example, it includes historical narrative, songs, prophetic messages, travel accounts, and personal letters. This plan also traces the well-known stories of creation, the exodus, King David, the prophet Jonah, Jesus, and the early Christian movement. By reading these blocks of Scripture, you'll begin to discover the grand storyline of the Bible. In this plan, blocks of reading are delineated by week rather than day. But don't feel the need to accomplish an entire week's reading in one sitting. Pace yourself by reading a little bit each day.
Week 1: Genesis 1-25
Week 2: Exodus 1-20, Ruth
Week 3: 1 Samuel 16-31, 2 Samuel 1-7
Week 4: Psalm 1-41
Week 5: Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
Week 6: Esther, Ezra
Week 7: Mark
Week 8: Acts 1-12, 1 Peter
Week 9: Acts 13-28
Week 10: Romans, Ephesians
Many people benefit from reading through the entire Bible in a year. If you follow this plan, you'll accomplish this goal! These readings are also delineated by week rather than day.
The plan begins with the Old Testament and moves into the New Testament, but does not follow the exact order of books in your Bible (which is not always chronological anyway). For example, the books of poetry and wisdom literature (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs) are interspersed into the first half of the Old Testament readings to provide some variety. Also, in the New Testament, books have been grouped according to common theme (like Matthew, Hebrews and James, which reflect a Jewish audience) or common author (such as the books and letters written by the apostle John). Reading the entire Bible in a year seems like a daunting task. Don't be intimidated! Stay focused and be patient. You can do this!
Week 1: Genesis 1-25
Week 2: Genesis 26-50
Week 3: Job 1-24
Week 4: Job 25-42, Exodus 1-10
Week 5: Exodus 11-34
Week 6: Exodus 35-40, Leviticus 1-15
Week 7: Leviticus 16-27, Numbers 1-4
Week 8: Numbers 5-21
Week 9: Numbers 22-36, Psalms 1-17
Week 10: Psalms 18-55
Week 11: Psalms 56-94
Week 12: Psalms 95-150
Week 13: Deuteronomy 1-19
Week 14: Deuteronomy 20-34, Proverbs 1-7
Week 15: Proverbs 8-31
Week 16: Ecclesiastes, Joshua 1-10
Week 17: Joshua 11-24, Judges 1-5
Week 18: Judges 6-21, Ruth
Week 19: Song of Songs, 1 Samuel 1-16
Week 20: 1 Samuel 17-31, 2 Samuel 1-7
Week 21: 2 Samuel 8-24
Week 22: 1 Kings 1-18
Week 23: 1 Kings 19-22, 2 Kings 1-16
Week 24: 2 Kings 17-25, Isaiah 1-11
Week 25: Isaiah 12-37
Week 26: Isaiah 38-59
Week 27: Isaiah 60-66, Jeremiah 1-14
Week 28: Jeremiah 15-36
Week 29: Jeremiah 37-52
Week 30: Lamentations, 1 Chronicles 1-12
Week 31: 1 Chronicles 13-29, 2 Chronicles 1-7
Week 32: 2 Chronicles 8-38
Week 33: Ezekiel 1-20
Week 34: Ezekiel 21-38
Week 35: Ezekiel 39-48, Daniel
Week 36: Hosea, Joel, Amos
Week 37: Ezra, Nehemiah
Week 38: Esther, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
Week 39: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Week 40: Matthew 1-17
Week 41: Matthew 18-28, Hebrews 1-8
Week 42: Hebrews 9-13, James, Mark 1-9
Week 43: Mark 10-16, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude
Week 44: Luke 1-15
Week 45: Luke 16-24, Acts 1-7
Week 46: Acts 8-21
Week 47: Acts 22-28, Romans
Week 48: 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians
Week 49: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Week 50: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, John 1-10
Week 51: John 11-21 & 1, 2 & 3 John
Week 52: Revelation
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