Introduction to the Bible

1. 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 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 13. John 20: Resurrection.

Day 14. Luke 24: Jesus’ appearance after resurrection.

2. 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 10. 1 Corinthians 13: Paul’s description of love.

Day 11. 1 Corinthians 15: Thoughts on the afterlife.

Day 12. Galatians 5: Freedom in Christ.

Day 13. Ephesians 3: Paul’s summary of his mission.

Day 14. Philippians 2: Imitating Christ.

3. 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.

More Reading Courses

1. 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 Jewish community.

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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








Day 2. 1 Samuel 10: King Saul’s experience.

[en] 1 Samuel 10

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.