For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16 (NRSV)
FOCUSED BIBLE READING PLAN These five Bible books will give you the history and basic principles you'll need to understand the rest of the Bible. Genesis gives the origin of the earth and stories of early men and women of faith. Deuteronomy expresses God's love and summarizes God's laws for his people, Israel. John introduces Jesus as God's Son and shows the meaning behind his life, death and resurrection. Acts follows the Gospel of John and gives a history of the early church. Romans is a letter from the Apostle Paul to people in the early church. It explains the needs of the human race and how God has met those needs through Jesus.
 Take it personally. To fully appreciate the Bible, what you read must become relevant in your life. After you read a passage, pause for a moment and ask three simple questions: 1. Observation: What is this passage about? 2. Interpretation: What does it mean? 3. Application: How does it apply to my life? TWO WEEKS ON THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS Day 1. LUKE 1: Preparing for Jesus' arrival Day 2. LUKE 2: The story of Jesus' birth Day 3. MARK 1: The beginning of Jesus' ministry Day 4. MARK 9: A day in the life of Jesus Day 5. MATTHEW 5: The Sermon on the Mount Day 6. MATTHEW 6: The Sermon on the Mount Day 7. LUKE 15: Parables of Jesus Day Day 8. JOHN 3: A conversation with Jesus Day 9. JOHN 14: Jesus' final instructions Day 10. JOHN 17: Jesus' prayer for his disciples Day 11. MATTHEW 26: Betrayal and arrest Day 12. MATTHEW 27: Jesus' execution on a cross Day Day 13. JOHN 20: Resurrection Day 14. LUKE 24: Jesus' appearance after resurrection TWO WEEKS ON THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF PAUL Day 1. ACTS 9: The conversion of Saul Day 2. ACTS 16: Paul's Macedonian call and a jailbreak Day 3. ACTS 17: Scenes from Paul's missionary journey Day 4. ACTS 26: Paul tells his life story to a king Day 5. ACTS 27: Shipwreck on the way to Rome Day 6. ACTS 28: Paul's arrival in Rome Day 7. ROMANS 3: Paul's theology in a nutshell Day 8. ROMANS 7: Struggle with sin Day 9. ROMANS 8: Life in the Spirit Day Day 10. 1 CORINTHIANS 13: Paul's description of love Day 11. 1 CORINTHIANS 15: Thoughts on the afterlife Day Day 12. GALATIANS 5: Freedom in Christ Day 13. EPHESIANS 3: Paul's summary of his mission Day 14. PHILIPPIANS 2: Imitating Christ TWO WEEKS ON THE OLD TESTAMENT Day 1. GENESIS 1: The story of creation Day 2. GENESIS 3: The origin of sin Day 3. GENESIS 22: Abraham and Isaac Day 4. EXODUS 3: Moses’ encounter with God Day 5. EXODUS 20: The gift of the Ten Commandments Day 6. 1 SAMUEL 17: David and Goliath Day 7. 2 SAMUEL 11: David and Bathsheba Day 8 2 SAMUEL 12: Nathan’s rebuke of the king Day 9. 1 KINGS 18: Elijah and the prophets of Baal Day 10. JOB 38: God’s answer to Job Day 11. PSALM 51: A classic confession Day 12. ISAIAH 40: Words of comfort from God Day 13. DANIEL 6: Daniel and the lions Day 14. AMOS 4: A prophet’s stern warning TWO WEEKS ON BECOMING A CHRISTIAN Day 1. Genesis 3: The first sin creates a need.
Day 2. Isaiah 52: Salvation prophesied.
Day 3. Isaiah 53: The role of the suffering servant.
Day 4. Luke 15: Three stories about God’s love.
Day 5. John 3: Jesus explains “born again.”
Day 6. John 10: The good shepherd.
Day 7. Acts 8: Conversions spread outside the Jews.
Day 8. Acts 26: Paul testifies of his conversion before a king.
Day 9. Romans 3: God’s provision for sin.
Day 10. Romans 5: Peace with God.
Day 11. Galatians 3: Salvation unavailable by obeying the law.
Day 12. Ephesians 2: New life in Christ.
Day 13. 1 Peter 1: Future rewards of salvation.
Day 14. 2 Peter 1: Making your salvation sure. TWO WEEKS ON PRAYERS OF THE BIBLE Day 1. Genesis 18: Abraham’s plea for Sodom.
Day 2. Exodus 15: Moses’ song to the Lord.
Day 3. Exodus 33: Moses meets with God.
Day 4. 2 Samuel 7: David’s response to God’s promises.
Day 5. 1 Kings 8: Solomon’s dedication of the temple.
Day 6. 2 Chronicles 20: Jehoshaphat prays for victory.
Day 7. Ezra 9: Ezra’s prayer for the people’s sins.
Day 8. Psalm 22: A cry to God for help.
Day 9. Psalm 104: A prayer of praise.
Day 10. Daniel 9: Daniel’s prayer for the salvation of Jerusalem.
Day 11. Habakkuk 3: A prophet’s prayer of acceptance.
Day 12. Matthew 6: The Lord’s prayer.
Day 13. John 17: Jesus’ prayer for his disciples.
Day 14. Colossians 1: Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving. TWO WEEKS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT Day 1. Judges 14: The Spirit gives Samson strength.
Day 2. 1 Samuel 10: King Saul’s experience.
Day 3. Matthew 3:1–4:10: Role in Jesus’ baptism and temptation.
Day 4. John 14: Jesus promises the Spirit.
Day 5. John 16: The work of the Spirit.
Day 6. Acts 2: The Spirit comes at Pentecost.
Day 7. Acts 10: The Spirit guides Peter to accept Gentiles.
Day 8. Romans 8: Christians’ victory in the Spirit.
Day 9. 1 Corinthians 2: Wisdom from the Spirit.
Day 10. 1 Corinthians 12: Gifts of the Spirit.
Day 11. 1 Corinthians 14: Gifts of tongues and prophecy.
Day 12. Galatians 5: Life in the Spirit.
Day 13. Ephesians 4: Unity and gifts.
Day 14. 1 John 4: Signs of the Spirit. TWO WEEKS ON WOMEN OF THE BIBLE Day 1. Genesis 2: Eve, the first woman.
Day 2. Genesis 18: Sarah laughs at God’s promise.
Day 3. Genesis 24: Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.
Day 4. Genesis 27: Rebekah, the manipulative mother
Day 5. Judges 4: Deborah’s leadership frees her people.
Day 6. Ruth 1: Ruth and Naomi’s deep friendship.
Day 7. 1 Samuel 1: Hannah prays for a son.
Day 8. 1 Kings 17: A poor widow and the prophet Elijah.
Day 9. 1 Kings 21: Jezebel, an emblem of wickedness.
Day 10. Esther 2: Esther is chosen as queen.
Day 11. Esther 4: Esther’s courage at the risk of death.
Day 12. Luke 1: Mary and Elizabeth receive great news.
Day 13. Luke 2: Mary gives birth to Jesus.
Day 14. John 11: Mary and Martha and their brother’s death. TWO WEEKS ON MEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Day 1. Judges 6: God calls Gideon to rescue his people.
Day 2. Judges 7: Gideon conquers his fears—and his enemies.
Day 3. 1 Samuel 3: God calls young Samuel.
Day 4. 1 Kings 3: Solomon is given wisdom.
Day 5. 1 Kings 19: Elijah runs for his life.
Day 6. 2 Kings 5: Elisha heals a powerful foreign general.
Day 7. Isaiah 6: God calls the prophet Isaiah.
Day 8. 2 Kings 18: King Hezekiah under military siege.
Day 9. 2 Kings 19: Isaiah speaks God’s word to King Hezekiah.
Day 10. 2 Chronicles 34: Josiah sets his nation back on course.
Day 11. Nehemiah 2: Nehemiah courageously begins rebuilding a wall.
Day 12. Jeremiah 38: Jeremiah, in prison, refuses to change his message.
Day 13. Daniel 1: Daniel risks his life in captivity.
Day 14. Daniel 5: Daniel’s word to a royal orgy. TWO WEEKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE Day 1. Exodus 3: God hears the cries of the slaves.
Day 2. Leviticus 25: The year of jubilee, a time of economic revolution.
Day 3. Ruth 2: A poor woman finds help.
Day 4. 1 Kings 21: Elijah speaks to a land-grabbing, murderous king.
Day 5. Nehemiah 5: Nehemiah demands justice for the poor.
Day 6. Isaiah 5: Warning to fun-loving materialists.
Day 7. Isaiah 58: Worship that God appreciates.
Day 8. Jeremiah 34: Freedom for slaves.
Day 9. Amos 2: Sins against God by his own people.
Day 10. Amos 6: Warning to the complacent.
Day 11. Micah 6: What the Lord requires.
Day 12. Luke 3: John the Baptist tells how to prepare for Jesus.
Day 13. Matthew 6: Jesus speaks on material things.
Day 14. James 2: How to treat the rich and the poor. TWO WEEKS ON GOD AND NATURE Day 1. Genesis 1: God creates the earth.
Day 2. Genesis 2: God creates human beings.
Day 3. Proverbs 8: Wisdom’s view of creation.
Day 4. Genesis 7: God preserves the species.
Day 5. Job 38: The greatness of nature.
Day 6. Job 39: The wildness of nature.
Day 7. Job 40: God’s mastery of nature.
Day 8. Psalm 8: Praise for the Creator.
Day 9. Psalm 98: Nature joins in the praise.
Day 10. Psalm 104: God sustains the earth.
Day 11. Isaiah 40: The ruler of all creation.
Day 12. Romans 8: The “groanings” of our present state.
Day 13. Isaiah 65: Preview of a restored earth.
Day 14. Revelation 22: The end of history. FURTHER TWO-WEEK COURSES FOR PERSONAL STUDY Two weeks on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33. Two weeks on Moses and the exodus:
Exodus 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14, 16, 19, 32; Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1, 2, 4, 31.
Two weeks on David:
1 Samuel 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24; 2 Samuel 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18.LUKE 1: Preparing for Jesus' arrival NRSV searchable Bible Searchable Bible for various translations Blue Letter Bible Unless otherwise noted, the author is unknown for the selections on this site. | 
