ABOUT OUR reading plans

It’s the goal of the BRP that you’ll walk away each day with a greater understanding of what scripture says and how to apply it to your everyday life. Each day there will be a chapter of the Bible to read, a short devotional written by one of our BRP authors, application questions, and other fun facts and insights, all ultimately pointing to God’s plan of redeeming and rescuing the world.

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CURRENT READING PLAN: GENESIS

OLD TESTAMENT

In the beginning, God created. In the meantime, God sustains it all. In the end, God is faithful. To study Genesis is to study God’s faithfulness to His promises and His people. Want to know if He’s a good Father? Read this plan.

Exodus is the story of God rescuing and delivering the children of Israel from Egypt and forging a special relationship with them. Be encouraged that we worship a God who delivers His people and desires a relationship with us.

In the book of Leviticus, we read about how God is holy and set apart from everything that has ever existed. The book outlines the way to get to our holy God through sacrifices, feasts, and the priests. Our sin has always had consequences, but God has always provided an avenue for that to be paid. The sacrificial system established in this book allows for repentance of sin and points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Israelites are on the verge of entering the Promised Land, and Moses gives them a review of what has taken place so far. Moses gives a recap of the history of Israel, a review of the law, and then calls them to faithful obedience as they are about to enter into the land. He speaks of the blessings that will come from obedience to the Lord, and the curses that will come from disobedience. Walking with God and obedience to Him will always go hand in hand. 

Joshua continues the story of the Israelites as God leads them into the Promised Land. Through the ups and downs of Israel’s journey, one thing holds true: God’s plan is best.

The theme of Judges is found in the last verse of the last chapter of the book. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” Judges 21:25. This led Israel into a cycle of rebellion, crying out to the Lord for salvation, God delivering them, and then their return to rebellion. 

This book follows the story of Ruth, an ancestor of King David. The narrative displays God’s kindness, wisdom, and redemption. In fact, the words redeem, redeemer, and redemption appear 23 times throughout the 4 chapters.

1 Samuel is a history book that is full of theological truths that teach us about God and His character. Follow along as we learn from stories about Samuel, Saul, David, and many others.

2 Samuel continues the story arc from 1 Samuel with a focus now on David’s reign as king. Join us as we continue to unpack the life of David – a man after God’s own heart.

1 Kings starts out with the reign of Solomon in a kingdom that is united and ends with a kingdom that is divided between the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They are led by kings that turn away from the Word of God, but there was always a prophet to hold them accountable. We see that their disobedience leads to destruction and God’s Word always prevails. 

The people of God are now in exile, with the fall of Israel to the Assyrians and the fall of Judah to the Babylonians. This book records the events of the kings of Israel and Judah and what led to their downfall and 70-year captivity.

After decades of exile in Babylon, it was time for God’s people, the Israelites, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This historical book gives us a guide to revival within God’s people. Ezra calls the people of God towards spiritual revitalization, and there is much we can learn from their stories.

The book of Nehemiah picks up where the book of Ezra leaves off. This book, told from Nehemiah’s vantage point, lets us in on the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem and God’s faithfulness to His people. 

The book of Esther is a historical Old Testament full of twists and turns. While God’s name is never mentioned in this book, His hand is visible all throughout. Read this book and be reminded of the ways God is working in the details all around us!

The book of Job is an ancient poetical book that explores the themes of man’s response to loss and suffering. This is a complex book full of emotion, tragedy, and loss and will help us develop a theology of suffering.

The book of Psalms, composed of 150 different songs of praise, covers the full spectrum of emotions and stages of the spiritual life. Read along as we journey through these songs that date back thousands of years.

Proverbs description goes here.

Ecclesiastes, one of the poetical books in the Old Testament, deals with the question “What matters?” Written by Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man to ever live, this book is weighty. When read through the lens of the Gospel, it gives us a glimpse into what really matters.

Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon) is all about love and marriage. The purpose of this book is both historical and allegorical, detailing King Solomon’s love for his wife and illustrating the love God has for His people. It ultimately points to the church being the bride of Christ and how He showed His love for us. 

Lamentations is a book of mourning written by the prophet Jeremiah, who is known as the weeping prophet. It is a collection of five poems written after Jerusalem fell into the hands of the Babylonians. Jeremiah is expressing grief and sorrow for the state of Judah. However, in that mourning there is still hope. Like Jeremiah, we can be honest with God about our disappointments, but then look at His character and be reminded that His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness towards us is great! 

Hosea is a story of brokenness, sin, judgment, and redemption. Join us as we read God’s warning through His messenger Hosea.

This minor prophet speaks of God’s judgement that is coming not only for the enemies of Israel, but for Israel itself. They have enjoyed God’s favor, but are not exempt from accountability for their sin against God and man.

This short book (only one chapter in length and the shortest in the Old Testament) is a warning from Obadiah, a prophet, about the dangers of pride and God’s judgment.

Throughout the story of Jonah we see God’s patience and compassion on display. He desires that all people repent of their sins and turn to Him. 

Micah is a pre-exilic minor prophet who wrote to the nation of Judah to declare the Lord’s indictment on His people and to show what the Lord requires for them. The prophet proclaimed judgment for past sins and hope for the future exaltation of Israel and for those who repent and turn to the Lord. We see that God does not have any tolerance towards sin but is ready to forgive and redeem those who are repentant.

NEW TESTAMENT

The book of Matthew is an eyewitness account of the ministry of Jesus. Matthew, a former tax collector, gave up his career to follow Jesus and then recount his stories so we may know the truth of who Jesus was and what he did. 

The book of Mark opens with these words, “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus the Messiah.” Curious about the Gospel and how Jesus changes everything? Start here.

Luke’s detailed account of Jesus’ ministry shows us His heart for the sinner, the poor, the weak, and the outcast. As we read this Gospel, take note of the compassion found in the Son of God. What would it look like to follow this example of Jesus’ life and ministry?

John said he wrote this book so that people would believe that Jesus was the Messiah and that faith in Him leads to life. If you’re interested in learning more about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, this is a great place to start.

What was it like to be a first century Jesus follower? How did the early church get established and empowered? We have much to learn from the forerunners of our faith. Their courage and obedience paved the way for us to know Jesus. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Let’s follow their example.

The book of Romans is a thorough explanation of not just what the Gospel is, but who it is for and why it matters. This book is the Apostle Paul’s most detailed attempt at unpacking the Good News that changed the world forever.

How do we live with integrity and character in a world that values immorality and self-indulgence? In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he gives practical wisdom to live in the world, but not be of the world.

The church at Corinth isn’t that different than many churches today. Arguments, favoritism, and lack of generosity are some of the issues Paul addresses in 2 Corinthians. Paul reminds us that in all and through all, Jesus is able to meet all of our needs.

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus calls them to know their identity, walk in the way of Jesus, and stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. 

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is one full of encouragement. It’s a helpful reminder for us of the importance of unity, being of one mind, and seeking joy in the midst of difficult seasons.

The Colossian church was being indoctrinated with Hellenistic heresies like Gnosticism, polytheism, and asceticism. Paul’s goal in this letter was to combat these false teachings. The truth communicated in Colossians is that Christ is preeminent. He takes first place in all things. Christ is superior and sufficient for our salvation, and our response to that is submission to Him in all things. 

1 Timothy is one of Paul’s pastoral letters written to a close friend and trusted partner in ministry. This epistle, complete with warnings and advice for Timothy, is full of truth and application for us today, just as they were two thousand years ago.

2 Timothy is another of Paul’s pastoral letters written to Timothy, a close friend and trusted partner in ministry, as he awaited execution in prison. This letter, the last one that Paul wrote, is deeply personal and is a reminder to Timothy to remain rooted in Truth.

This letter, written by Paul to Titus, gives us insight and instruction on what healthy church leadership looks like. This pastoral epistle highlights the relationship between belief and practice. 

The book of Philemon depicts partnership and reconciliation between believers. Paul writes this letter appealing to Philemon to accept his runaway bondservant Onesimus back as a brother in Christ. Although this book doesn’t explicitly mention Jesus, it is a clear picture of the grace of the gospel and how all people have equal value in Christ. 

Hebrews is a letter all about the greatness and the supremacy of Jesus. As following Jesus got difficult, the early Jewish Christians were tempted to go back to what they knew. This letter is an encouragement to them (and us) that following Christ is greater than anything the world has to offer.

Suffering for Christ is a key theme for the book of 1 Peter, calling believers to stand firm in the faith in the midst of persecution. Obedience to the Lord can be costly in this world, but we are still called to walk faithfully knowing that the trials we face will refine our faith.

2 Peter is a reminder to believers to be alert and on guard against false teaching. There were an increasing number of corrupt people that had infiltrated the church communities and were leading believers astray by their distorted theology and destructive lifestyles. Peter called believers to stand firm in the truth of the gospel amidst this corruption and to have hope as we await the Lord’s return.

The books of 1, 2, and 3 John give us a glimpse inside the early church. John uses each of these books to encourage and inspire early Christians to remain strong in their faith and pursue truth.

Jude addresses the apostasy taking place in the church, and the false teachers who were corrupting the doctrines of the faith. People were going from godliness to licentiousness and using the grace of God as permission to sin. Jude commissions believers to contend for the faith and fight strenuously for the defense of it.