Bible Reading Plans
Overview Samplings
Based on reader suggestions, we’ve broken down a year’s reading into more manageable segments, making it easier to measure progress. We’ve also used numbers instead of dates so the plan can be started anytime during the year.
Old Testament Sampling
The following chapters will introduce you to the Hebrew Scriptures, which we call the Old Testament. We suggest one chapter per day. You may read more, but don’t start the next chapter until you’ve taken a few moments to think about what the previous chapter is saying. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything. The meaning will become much clearer as you proceed through additional readings.
| Psalms 19 | The Glory of God; the Perfection of Scripture |
| Genesis 1 | The Creation |
| Genesis 3 | The Origin of Sin; the Fall of Man |
| Genesis 22 | Abraham and Isaac |
| Exodus 3 | God appears to Moses - the Burning Bush |
| Exodus 20 | The Ten Commandments (also Deuteronomy 5) |
| Deuteronomy 6 | God’s Relationship with Israel |
| 1 Samuel 17 | David and Goliath |
| 2 Samuel 11 | David and Bathsheba |
| 2 Samuel 12 | Nathan and David |
| 1 Kings 18 | Elijah and the Prophets of Baal |
| Job 38 | God speaks to Job |
| Psalm 23 | The Lord is my Shepherd |
| Psalm 51 | David’s Classic Confession |
| Daniel 6 | Daniel and the Lions |
| Isaiah 55 | Invitation to the Thirsty |
New Testament Sampling - Jesus
The following chapters will introduce you to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
| Luke 1 | Prepare the way of the Lord |
| Luke 2 | The Birth of Jesus |
| Mark 1 | Jesus Begins His Ministry, Calls His First Disciples |
| Mark 9 | Transfiguration, Healings and Teaching |
| Matthew 5 | Sermon on the Mount |
| Matthew 6 | Sermon on the Mount |
| Matthew 7 | Sermon on the Mount |
| Luke 15 | Some Parables of Jesus |
| John 3 | Ye Must be Born Again |
| John 14 | Final Instructions to His Disciples |
| John 17 | The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus |
| Matthew 26 | Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest |
| Matthew 27 | Execution of Jesus |
| Luke 24 | Jesus’ Resurrection, Appearances and Ascension |
New Testament Sampling - Christianity
The following chapters will introduce you to the birth and growth of the church, and the teaching of Paul and other Apostles.
| Acts 2 | Birth of the Church and Peter’s Sermon |
| Acts 7 | Stephen’s Speech, the First Christian Martyr |
| Acts 9 | The Conversion of Saul (Paul) |
| Acts 16 | Jailbreak |
| Acts 17 | A Missionary Journey |
| Acts 26 | Paul’s Life Story before a King |
| Acts 28 | Paul Arrives at Rome |
| Romans 3 | The Righteous Shall Live by Faith |
| Romans 7 | Struggling with Sin |
| Romans 8 | Life thru the Spirit, More than Conquerors |
| 1 Corinthians 13 | Paul’s Description of Love |
| 1 Corinthians 15 | the Resurrections |
| Galatians 5 | Freedom in Christ |
| Ephesians 3 | Paul’s Mission to the Gentiles |
| Philippians 2 | Imitating Christ |
| Hebrews 1 | Superiority of Christ |
| 1 John 3 | Children of God, Love One Another |