PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-2

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2 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-2

3 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan by Carl Scott First Published 2014 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-3

4 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Written by Carl Scott PEGS Discipleship Programme text, logo and PEGS acronym (Prepare, Equip, Go Secure) Copyright 2014 Carl Scott All rights reserved. But permission is granted to duplicate or reproduce this Bible Reading Plan for discipleship purposes only on the condition that it is distributed free of charge. website: (where PDF versions of the PEGS Discipleship programme handout sheets and Bible Reading Plan are available for free download) Photography and booklet design by Carl Scott PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-4

5 Bible Reading Plan The Chronological New Testament+ in One Year + The books and letters of the New Testament in the most likely order they were written. PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-5

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7 What is a Bible reading plan? The Bible can seem like a big book. The amount of words it contains may put us off reading it. Some of us may never have read a book all the way through before! But a Bible reading plan divides the Bible into smaller parts which can be read each day. A good plan sets an achievable pace of reading for each day so, before we know it, we can read even a large book right to the end. Does a Christian have to read the Bible? Now, let us be clear, we do not pray or read the Bible to make us closer to God. Christ [God] is in us the moment we believe in him. How much closer can he be? But as we walk together, disciples (getting to know Christ, the way, the truth and the life who is in us), we will find that we naturally love the Word of God. We will want to pray and read the Bible as a result of Jesus. If it was the other way around that prayer and Bible reading brought us closer to God then the death of Jesus on the cross would be pointless.1 Is reading the Bible necessary to obtain salvation? No. But does reading the Bible benefit us? Yes. The Word is God's voice to us, a record of his promises and the story of how much he has done in order to be one with us. It reveals who we are and the meaning of life. The Word is life.2 As we are drawn to think about, hear and read the Bible, the life of Jesus, the Word, will effortlessly change us. Why is this plan 'chronological'? The New Testament could be read as it is printed, starting with the gospel according to Matthew and finishing with the Revelation to John (or the Apocalypse). And most reading plans do it just like that. But we are going to read the books in chronological order (the date order in which they were written).+ The New Testament is arranged in sets of books. The first set of books are the gospels, the true accounts of Jesus' life on earth by four different writers. Then there is the adventure story of how the Church began, called the Acts of the Apostles. After this are a set of books which are actually letters written by the apostle, Paul. These are ordered from the largest letter to the smallest letter. Next are the general letters by various writers (from the letter to the Hebrews and finishing with the letter of Jude). And finally comes the Revelation to John, a vision about Jesus Christ the saviour of the whole world and conquerer over evil. It may help us to picture these books and letters as if they are lined up side by side on a library shelf, arranged into categories to help us find them See Rom 5:10-11; Eph 2:13-16; Col 1:20. Also John 17:20-21; Cor 6:17 (oneness with God). See John 6:63 and Hebrews 4:12 The order in which they occurred, relating to the dates we think they were written. An apostle is basically a messenger who is sent out. The letters of the Bible are also called 'epistles' which is an old word for 'sent news.' PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-7

8 But the order of the books of the New Testament (and the Old Testament), which we have in our common Bible, is not the order in which they were written. Setting out things in order of time, from the earliest date to the latest date, is called chronological order. During the time the Bible was written, dates were not given by the writers to help us to know when things were exactly written. So people especially educated to understand the history of the Bible can only give us their best estimate of when the different books were written. By using these guessed dates, we are going to read the New Testament together in chronological order. Why? Here are a few reasons: Usually, if we read our New Testament form start to finish, we would begin by reading all four gospels together, one after the other. By using chronological order, we spread out some of these accounts of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus throughout the year. This will help the events of the life of Jesus to stay fresh with us and not become repetitive. Also, most reading plans end with the book of the Revelation to John. This can be a confusing book for many readers and uses some strange images. Our plan ends with John's more understandable letters of love and truth. By starting our plan with the letter of James, which is only five chapters long, we can read one whole book of the New Testament in our first week! Following this, we will read another book in one week. Hopefully those of us who have never finished reading a book before will be encouraged by this. By the time we get to longer books, we will have gained confidence we can complete our reading plan. Why not the Old Testament as well? All the things concerning Jesus, Son of God, our saviour, are revealed in the books of Moses and the Prophets. But the Old Testament is like a 'shadow' of him. Reading first about 'real' Jesus, who cast the shadow, helps us see him in the Old.3 The laws of Moses and the judgements of the Old Testament prophets were temporary until John the Baptist came to preach the gospel about the kingdom of God.4 This good news says Jesus makes us righteous, not law and punishment. Jesus did not come to destroy the Old Testament law and prophets, he came to fulfil them.5 This means Jesus carried out absolutely everything that was required for humans to be right with God. With his own blood, he provided a new, better commitment of relationship (a new covenant) between God and humankind. This is why we begin by focusing on this message, relevant to us now Read Luke 24: See Colossians 2:16-17 & Hebrews 10:1 See Luke 16:16 Read Matthew 5:17-18 (The law and prophets were to show us our need of a Saviour: Jesus.) See Hebrews 7:19, 22; 8:6-7, 13 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-8

9 How to use the Bible reading plan pages 7 8 Each week we have five Bible readings from the New Testament. Each reading is just one chapter of a book. This means two days of each week are left free. God does not want spending time with his Word to be a difficult task or something that wears us down. We can use our 'free' days to catch up with missed chapters, reread chapters, think about what we have read that week or have time off. It is best not to rush ahead. Even if we are a fast reader! It is good to spend time with each chapter and let the Holy Spirit reveal things to us. Reading a chapter out loud or together with others is a powerful way of building faith7 and seeing things in scripture which are new and personal. If we read a chapter or part of it in the morning, we can find ourselves thinking about a particular verse for the rest of the day. Our new spirit has patience, let us give the Word time to affect our heart and thoughts. The days in the Bible reading plan have not been named, just numbered, so we can choose which days are best for us. It may be that Monday to Friday with a weekend 'off' is just fine, but some of us have life styles which may suit a different routine. Choose something doable. Beside each day is a little box so we can tick off each chapter as we read it. That way we can see where we have got to in our plan. Next to the tick boxes are some dotted lines. This is an area for writing thoughts, questions, likes and even doubts we can be honest. The Bible is more than a book, it is meant to speak to us, inspire us, to bring life to what is 'dead' in us. Each week we will take time to share and discuss what we write. Together we will build ourselves up with the word of his grace.8 For those of us who are unfamiliar with the Bible, it is okay to use the index page near the front - which lists the contents and their page numbers. It is a great help until we are familiar with where things are! The Bible is a set of books, with each book split into numbered chapters. Each chapter is also divided into little sections called verses. Each verse has a number too. For example, Acts chapter twenty verse thirty two is written like this Acts 20:32 (first the book name (or a shortened version), then the chapter number, and then the verse number (or numbers)). Chapters and verses are just a way to help us to find things in the Bible. Romans 10:17 Acts 20:32 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-9

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11 Week 1: James Day 1 James 1 Day 2 James 2 Day 3 James 3 Day 4 James 4 Day 5 James 5 Week 2: 1 Thessalonians Day 6 1 Thessalonians 1 Day 7 1 Thessalonians 2 Day 8 1 Thessalonians 3 Day 9 1 Thessalonians 4 Day 10 1 Thessalonians 5 Week 3: 2 Thessalonians Galatians 2 Day 11 2 Thessalonians 1 Day 12 2 Thessalonians 2 Day 13 2 Thessalonians 3 Day 14 Galatians 1 Day 15 Galatians 2 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-11

12 Week 4: Galatians 3 1 Corinthians 1 Day 16 Galatians 3 Day 17 Galatians 4 Day 18 Galatians 5 Day 19 Galatians 6 Day 20 1 Corinthians 1 Week 5: 1 Corinthians 2 1 Corinthians 6 Day 21 1 Corinthians 2 Day 22 1 Corinthians 3 Day 23 1 Corinthians 4 Day 24 1 Corinthians 5 Day 25 1 Corinthians 6 Week 6: 1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 11 Day 26 1 Corinthians 7 Day 27 1 Corinthians 8 Day 28 1 Corinthians 9 Day 29 1 Corinthians 10 Day 30 1 Corinthians 11 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-12

13 Week 7: 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians 16 Day 31 1 Corinthians 12 Day 32 1 Corinthians 13 Day 33 1 Corinthians 14 Day 34 1 Corinthians 15 Day 35 1 Corinthians 16 Week 8: 2 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 5 Day 36 2 Corinthians 1 Day 37 2 Corinthians 2 Day 38 2 Corinthians 3 Day 39 2 Corinthians 4 Day 40 2 Corinthians 5 Week 9: 2 Corinthians 6 2 Corinthians 10 Day 41 2 Corinthians 6 Day 42 2 Corinthians 7 Day 43 2 Corinthians 8 Day 44 2 Corinthians 9 Day 45 2 Corinthians 10 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-13

14 Week 10: 2 Corinthians 11 Romans 2 Day 46 2 Corinthians 11 Day 47 2 Corinthians 12 Day 48 2 Corinthians 13 Day 49 Romans 1 Day 50 Romans 2 Week 11: Romans 3 Romans 7 Day 51 Romans 3 Day 52 Romans 4 Day 53 Romans 5 Day 54 Romans 6 Day 55 Romans 7 Week 12: Romans 8 Romans 12 Day 56 Romans 8 Day 57 Romans 9 Day 58 Romans 10 Day 59 Romans 11 Day 60 Romans 12 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-14

15 Week 13: Romans 13 Philippians 1 Day 61 Romans 13 Day 62 Romans 14 Day 63 Romans 15 Day 64 Romans 16 Day 65 Philippians 1 Week 14: Philippians 2 Colossians 2 Day 66 Philippians 2 Day 67 Philippians 3 Day 68 Philippians 4 Day 69 Colossians 1 Day 70 Colossians 2 Week 15: Colossians 3 Philemon Ephesians 2 Day 71 Colossians 3 Day 72 Colossians 4 Day 73 Philemon Day 74 Ephesians 1 Day 75 Ephesians 2 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-15

16 Week 16: Ephesians 3 Luke 1 Day 76 Ephesians 3 Day 77 Ephesians 4 Day 78 Ephesians 5 Day 79 Ephesians 6 Day 80 Luke 1 Week 17: Luke 2 Luke 6 Day 81 Luke 2 Day 82 Luke 3 Day 83 Luke 4 Day 84 Luke 5 Day 85 Luke 6 Week 18: Luke 7 Luke 11 Day 86 Luke 7 Day 87 Luke 8 Day 88 Luke 9 Day 89 Luke 10 Day 90 Luke 11 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-16

17 Week 19: Luke 12 Luke 16 Day 91 Luke 12 Day 92 Luke 13 Day 93 Luke 14 Day 94 Luke 15 Day 95 Luke 16 Week 20: Luke 17 Luke 21 Day 96 Luke 17 Day 97 Luke 18 Day 98 Luke 19 Day 99 Luke 20 Day 100 Luke 21 Week 21: Luke 22 Acts 2 Day 101 Luke 22 Day 102 Luke 23 Day 103 Luke 24 Day 104 Acts 1 Day 105 Acts 2 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-17

18 Week 22: Acts 3 Acts 7 Day 106 Acts 3 Day 107 Acts 4 Day 108 Acts 5 Day 109 Acts 6 Day 110 Acts 7 Week 23: Acts 8 Acts 12 Day 111 Acts 8 Day 112 Acts 9 Day 113 Acts 10 Day 114 Acts 11 Day 115 Acts 12 Week 24: Acts 13 Acts 17 Day 116 Acts 13 Day 117 Acts 14 Day 118 Acts 15 Day 119 Acts 16 Day 120 Acts 17 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-18

19 Week 25: Acts 18 Acts 22 Day 121 Acts 18 Day 122 Acts 19 Day 123 Acts 20 Day 124 Acts 21 Day 125 Acts 22 Week 26: Acts 23 Acts 27 Day 126 Acts 23 Day 127 Acts 24 Day 128 Acts 25 Day 129 Acts 26 Day 130 Acts 27 Week 27: Acts 28 1 Timothy 4 Day 131 Acts 28 Day Timothy 1 Day Timothy 2 Day Timothy 3 Day Timothy 4 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-19

20 Week 28: 1 Timothy 5 Titus Day Timothy 5 Day Timothy 6 Day 138 Titus 1 Day 139 Titus 2 Day 140 Titus 3 Week 29: 2 Timothy Mark 1 Day Timothy 1 Day Timothy 2 Day Timothy 3 Day Timothy 4 Day 145 Mark 1 Week 30: Mark 2 Mark 6 Day 146 Mark 2 Day 147 Mark 3 Day 148 Mark 4 Day 149 Mark 5 Day 150 Mark 6 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-20

21 Week 31: Mark 7 Mark 11 Day 151 Mark 7 Day 152 Mark 8 Day 153 Mark 9 Day 154 Mark 10 Day 155 Mark 11 Week 32: Mark 12 Mark 16 Day 156 Mark 12 Day 157 Mark 13 Day 158 Mark 14 Day 159 Mark 15 Day 160 Mark 16 Week 33: Matthew 1 Matthew 5 Day 161 Matthew 1 Day 162 Matthew 2 Day 163 Matthew 3 Day 164 Matthew 4 Day 165 Matthew 5 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-21

22 Week 34: Matthew 6 Matthew 10 Day 166 Matthew 6 Day 167 Matthew 7 Day 168 Matthew 8 Day 169 Matthew 9 Day 170 Matthew 10 Week 35: Matthew 11 Matthew 15 Day 171 Matthew 11 Day 172 Matthew 12 Day 173 Matthew 13 Day 174 Matthew 14 Day 175 Matthew 15 Week 36: Matthew 16 Matthew 20 Day 176 Matthew 16 Day 177 Matthew 17 Day 178 Matthew 18 Day 179 Matthew 19 Day 180 Matthew 20 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-22

23 Week 37: Matthew 21 Matthew 25 Day 181 Matthew 21 Day 182 Matthew 22 Day 183 Matthew 23 Day 184 Matthew 24 Day 185 Matthew 25 Week 38: Matthew 26 Hebrews 2 Day 186 Matthew 26 Day 187 Matthew 27 Day 188 Matthew 28 Day 189 Hebrews 1 Day 190 Hebrews 2 Week 39: Hebrews 3 Hebrews 7 Day 191 Hebrews 3 Day 192 Hebrews 4 Day 193 Hebrews 5 Day 194 Hebrews 6 Day 195 Hebrews 7 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-23

24 Week 40: Hebrews 8 Hebrews 12 Day 196 Hebrews 8 Day 197 Hebrews 9 Day 198 Hebrews 10 Day 199 Hebrews 11 Day 200 Hebrews 12 Week 41: Hebrews 13 1 Peter 4 Day 201 Hebrews 13 Day Peter 1 Day Peter 2 Day Peter 3 Day Peter 4 Week 42: 1 Peter 5 2 Peter Jude Day Peter 5 Day Peter 1 Day Peter 2 Day Peter 3 Day 210 Jude PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-24

25 Week 43: Revelation 1 Revelation 5 Day 211 Revelation 1 Day 212 Revelation 2 Day 213 Revelation 3 Day 214 Revelation 4 Day 215 Revelation 5 Week 44: Revelation 6 Revelation 10 Day 216 Revelation 6 Day 217 Revelation 7 Day 218 Revelation 8 Day 219 Revelation 9 Day 220 Revelation 10 Week 45: Revelation 11 Revelation 15 Day 221 Revelation 11 Day 222 Revelation 12 Day 223 Revelation 13 Day 224 Revelation 14 Day 225 Revelation 15 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-25

26 Week 46: Revelation 16 Revelation 20 Day 226 Revelation 16 Day 227 Revelation 17 Day 228 Revelation 18 Day 229 Revelation 19 Day 230 Revelation 20 Week 47: Revelation 21 John 3 Day 231 Revelation 21 Day 232 Revelation 22 Day 233 John 1 Day 234 John 2 Day 235 John 3 Week 48: John 4 John 8 Day 236 John 4 Day 237 John 5 Day 238 John 6 Day 239 John 7 Day 240 John 8 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-26

27 Week 49: John 9 John 13 Day 241 John 9 Day 242 John 10 Day 243 John 11 Day 244 John 12 Day 245 John 13 Week 50: John 14 John 18 Day 246 John 14 Day 247 John 15 Day 248 John 16 Day 249 John 17 Day 250 John 18 Week 51: John 19 1 John 2 Day 251 John 19 Day 252 John 20 Day 253 John 2 Day John 1 Day John 2 PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-27

28 Week 52: 1 John 3 2 John 3 John Day John 3 Day John 4 Day John 5 Day John Day John PEGS Discipleship Programme: Bible Reading Plan Page-28