A 30-Day Reading Plan for New Disciples

This plan is recommended for new Bible readers. Consider reading the main passages in the morning and the psalm before bed.

1. Genesis 1–2; Psalm 8. God creates all things “very good,” and man in his image.
2. Genesis 3; Psalm 14. Adam sins against God, bringing death and corruption into the world.
3. Genesis 12:1–9; 2 Samuel 7:1–17; Psalm 2. God promises to the bless the world through a royal descendent of Abraham and David.
4. Matthew 1–2; Psalm 98. Jesus is the royal descendent of Abraham and David through whom God will save his people from their sins and restore creation.
5. John 1:1–18; Colossians 1:15–20; Psalm 50. Jesus is more than a human descendent of Abraham and David; he is the Word of the Father, God in human flesh.
6. Mark 1–2; Psalm 23. Jesus is baptized, calls disciples, and begins his earthly ministry.
7. Mark 3–4; Psalm 65. Jesus teaches and performs miracles.
8. Mark 5–6; Psalm 57. The disciples struggle to understand the true identity of Jesus.
9. Mark 7–8; Psalm 49. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah—the anointed king who fulfills God’s promises to David and Abraham. Jesus foretells his death and resurrection.
10. Mark 9–10; Psalm 104. Jesus reveals his glory.
11. Matthew 5; Exodus 20:1–21; Psalm 1. Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount. He expounds the Ten Commandments.
12. Matthew 6–7; Psalm 15. The Sermon on the Mount (continued).
13. Mark 11–12; Psalm 110. Jesus enters Jerusalem. His authority is challenged. Jesus proves that he is the Lord of David, not just his descendent.
14. Mark 13–14; Psalm 70. Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. He is betrayed and arrested. 
15. Mark 15; Isaiah 53; Psalm 22. Jesus is crucified and buried, as the prophet Isaiah foretold.
16. Mark 16; Matthew 28; Psalm 16. Jesus is raised from the dead and appears to his disciples.
17. 1 Corinthians 15; Psalm 30. The resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of the dead.
18. Acts 1–2; Psalm 104. Jesus ascends into heaven and pours out the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
19. Acts 3–4; Psalm 24. The early church spreads the gospel (the good news about Jesus) and faces persecution.
20. Acts 5–6; Psalm 77. The early church faces various challenges. The apostles perform miracles.
21. Acts 7–8; Psalm 136. Stephen is stoned for preaching Jesus from the Scriptures. Saul persecutes the church and approves of Stephen’s stoning. Philip shares the gospel with an Ethiopian.
22. Acts 9:1–11:18; Psalm 117. Saul, later called by his Greek name Paul, becomes a Christian. Peter learns that Jesus is a Savior for the whole world, not just the Jewish descendants of Abraham.
23. Romans 1–2; Psalm 19. God’s wrath is revealed against sin. God’s judgment is righteous.
24. Romans 3–4; Psalm 51. No one is righteous, but God has offered his righteousness to us as a gift in Jesus Christ.
25. Romans 5–6; Psalm 32. Jesus reverses the disobedience of Adam, bringing life from death.
26. Ephesians 1–3; Psalm 103. All of God’s blessings come through Christ.
27. Ephesians 4–6; Psalm 34. Christ transforms our relationships in the church and family.
28. 1 John 1–2; Psalm 27. We know that we are in Christ if we love the brothers and walk in the light.
29. 1 John 3–5; Psalm 28. Christians live in love and overcome the world.
30. Revelation 21–22; Psalm 40. Jesus is coming again to make all things new.