A Family Bible Reading Plan — Fifty-Two Weeks

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Psalm 1:2 · King James Bible

How the plan works

The plan gives you one theme per week and a small daily reading. Six evenings a week, one chapter or short passage. Sunday is rest. In one year the household will have walked through Genesis, Exodus, key psalms, the four Gospels, Acts, the great chapters of the epistles, and Revelation. This is not the whole Bible — it is a serious first pass, and enough for a lifetime of return.

Weeks 1–4 · Beginnings

Week 1 — Genesis 1–3 (Creation & Fall) + Psalm 8.
Week 2 — Genesis 6–9 (Noah) + Psalm 33.
Week 3 — Genesis 12; 15; 17; 22 (Abraham) + Psalm 23.
Week 4 — Genesis 28; 32; 37; 45; 50 (Jacob & Joseph) + Psalm 27.

Weeks 5–8 · Exodus

Week 5 — Exodus 1–4 (Moses called).
Week 6 — Exodus 12; 14 (Passover, Red Sea).
Week 7 — Exodus 19–20 (Sinai, Ten Commandments).
Week 8 — Deuteronomy 6; 30 (the Shema, choose life).

Weeks 9–14 · Kings & Prophets

Week 9 — 1 Samuel 3; 16; 17 (Samuel, David chosen, Goliath).
Week 10 — 2 Samuel 7 + Psalms 51 and 32 (David).
Week 11 — 1 Kings 3; 17–19 (Solomon, Elijah).
Week 12 — Isaiah 6; 40; 53 (the call, comfort, servant).
Week 13 — Jeremiah 31 + Ezekiel 36 (new covenant, new heart).
Week 14 — Daniel 3; 6 + Jonah 1–4.

Weeks 15–20 · The Psalms

One evening per psalm: 1, 8, 19, 23, 27, 34, 42, 46, 51, 63, 84, 90, 91, 100, 103, 116, 121, 130, 139, 145, 150. Read the psalm; talk about one line.

Weeks 21–28 · Life of Christ (Matthew, Mark)

Matthew 1–2 (Christmas); Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount, one section per evening); Matthew 13 (parables); Mark 1–2 (early ministry); Mark 4 (storm); Mark 6 (feeding 5,000); Mark 10 (children, rich young ruler); Mark 14–16 (passion, resurrection).

Weeks 29–36 · Gospel of John

One chapter per evening: John 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21. Fifteen chapters, so easy pace over eight weeks.

Weeks 37–42 · Acts

Acts 1–2 (Ascension, Pentecost); Acts 3–4 (Peter preaches); Acts 7 (Stephen); Acts 9 (Paul's conversion); Acts 10 (Cornelius); Acts 16 (Philippi jailer); Acts 17 (Athens); Acts 20 (Ephesus farewell); Acts 27 (shipwreck).

Weeks 43–48 · The Letters

Romans 3–8; 1 Corinthians 13 + 15; Galatians 5; Ephesians 1–3 then 4–6; Philippians 2 + 4; Colossians 3; Hebrews 11–12; James 1; 1 Peter 1–2; 1 John 3–4.

Weeks 49–52 · Revelation & Return

Revelation 1; 2–3 (seven churches); 4–5 (throne room); 7:9–17 (the great multitude); 19 (marriage supper); 21–22 (new heaven and new earth). Close the year at the Bible's last chapter.

Print it

Print this page. Cross off each week when you have finished. In a year the household will have walked from Genesis to Revelation.

Bible Stories