Here is a recommended list of the Books of the Bible organized to help you grow in your faith and in your overall understanding of the Bible. If you want to read through the Bible in one year, you need to read about three chapters a day. But there is nothing wrong with reading at a slower pace. The important thing is to keep reading. The Bible is both simple, providing faith strengthing words for all ages, as well as complex, teaching us some of the deepest mysteries of God and universe. You don't need to understand everything at once. As you keep reading and rereading the Bible, you will begin to understand the deeper and more difficult parts.
The following pages provide a brief overview of the book and chapter summaries. As you read the book a few chapters at a time, glance back at the chapter summaries so that you can keep the overall message of the book in mind. You might also want to copy and paste the chapter summaries into a document for your own notes. Then you can add anything that you found important to each chapter summary.
The Book of Acts – The Birth and Growth of the Church
The Gospel of Matthew – The Life, the Words & the Work of the Messiah (The Tax Collector Matthew's Point of View)
Genesis – The Creation of the World and of Israel
1 & 2 Peter – Living by Faith, Facing Persecution
Exodus – Israel’s Sojourn in the Wilderness
The Gospel of Mark – The Life, the Words & the Work of the Messiah (The Fisherman Peter's Point of View)
Proverbs – Living by Faith, Learning the Wisdom of God's Word
Leviticus – How Israel Sojourned in the Wilderness with the God of Holiness
Hebrews – The Sacrifice of the Messiah
Numbers – Israel's Sojourn in the Wilderness and the Troubles Encountered There
The Gospel of Luke – The Life, the Words & the Work of the Messiah (The Rabbi Paul's Point of View)
Deuteronomy – The Last Words of Moses as Israel Enters the Promised Land
Romans – How Jews and Gentiles Are Saved and Live by Faith
Joshua – The Conquest of Canaan
Judges – The Disobedience and Deliverance of Israel
Ruth – The Story of a Faithful Woman and Our Faithful God
Gospel of John – The Life, the Words & the Work of the Messiah (The Oldest Apostle's Point of View)
Job – The Story of a Faithful Man Who Endures the Testing of His Faith Through Suffering
1 & 2 Samuel – King David, The Great Grandfather of the Messiah
Psalms – The Hymnbook of God
1 & 2 Kings – Idolatry in Israel, Civil War, and God's Discipline
1 & 2 Chronicles - The Preservation of the Line of David and the Priesthood
Ecclesiastes – The Journal of Solomon
1 & 2 Corinthians – Healing the Divisions in the Church
Song of Solomon – The Love of Husband and Wife and of God and His Church
Isaiah – Prophetic Warnings and Promises
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians – Encouraging Words to Christian Churches
Jeremiah – Prophetic Warnings and Promises
Lamentations - The Destruction of Jerusalem and Prayer of Repentance
1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon – Encouraging Words to Christians
Ezekiel – Prophetic Warnings and Promises
James – Wise Advice to Christians
Daniel and the Twelve Prophets – Prophetic Warnings and Promises
1, 2, & 3 John, Jude & Revelation – Perseverance Through Persecution