A Bible reading plan for
Starting the Bible in 7 Days
7 days, about 10 minutes a day
If you want to start reading the Bible but do not know where to begin, do not open at Genesis and push through. Start where the whole story shines clearest, with Jesus. This seven-day plan gives you a short, doable reading each day to meet Him first, so the rest of the Bible has a center to gather around.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”John 1:1 (KJV)
The plan, day by day
Day 1
Meet Jesus as the eternal Word who became flesh and came to live among us.
Day 2
The most famous conversation in the Bible, and the most famous verse, John 3:16.
Day 3
Three short stories that reveal the searching, welcoming heart of God.
Day 4
See Jesus in action in the fast-moving opening of the shortest Gospel.
Day 5
Learn to pray and rest with the best-loved passage in the Old Testament.
Day 6
Jesus comforts His friends: I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Day 7
The empty tomb. Everything rests on the risen Jesus, and here you meet Him alive.
A reading plan is a servant, not a master. If you miss days there is no guilt here and no scorecard in heaven. Simply begin again where you left off. The goal was never to finish a list but to meet the One these words are about, Jesus, who is glad to be found by you today.
Where this plan is leading
The Bible is not mainly a rulebook or a history; it is the story of God coming to rescue and be known, and it all centers on Jesus. Start by meeting Him in these seven days, and you start at the heart of everything. He is the best possible first chapter, and knowing Him is what reading the Bible is finally for.
Who is Jesus? · Begin with Jesus · Ask someone to pray with you
Walk this plan in the app
The Living Bread carries the whole Bible with you in a warm reader you can return to every day, and a family who is reading too. Open each day's passage, mark what a verse stirs, and let the Word become a place you meet Jesus. Free, no ads, for all people.
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Where should a beginner start reading the Bible?
Start with a Gospel, an account of the life of Jesus, not with Genesis. Reading John or Mark first lets you meet Jesus, who is the center of the whole Bible. This seven-day plan begins there and adds a psalm, giving you a gentle first week that leads straight to Him.
How do I start a Bible reading habit?
Keep it small and regular. Pick a set time and place, read one short passage a day like the ones here, and give yourself grace for missed days. A seven-day start builds momentum; after that you can continue with a beginner plan or read a Gospel a chapter at a time. Consistency matters far more than length.
Do I need to understand everything I read?
No. Even lifelong readers meet passages they do not fully grasp. Read for the big picture first, note your questions, and let the clear parts light up the unclear ones over time. Pray before you read, asking God to show you Himself, and trust that understanding deepens as you keep going.