Introduction

Introduction and Objectives

The sovereign, all-powerful, infinite God of the universe has chosen to speak to people through a book, the Bible. Consisting of 66 books in the Old and New Testaments, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It is God-breathed, without error in the original manuscripts, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). It is how we get to know God and his plan for the world.

But sometimes, the Bible can be overwhelmingly daunting in its size and scope. Many people who desire to read the Bible struggle with knowing where to start and how it all fits together. The purpose of this 40-day overview is to provide a tool to be in God’s Word consistently, reading key chapters throughout the Bible that highlight the overarching storyline of Creation, Rebellion, Redemption, and Restoration. The accompanying commentary seeks to fill in the gaps between chapters, provide connections to key themes, and offer questions for reflection and application. Ultimately, the goal of this study is for people to know God more through regular and thoughtful study of his unified Word.

It may be helpful to participate in this overview in a small group for purposes of discussion and accountability. It can also serve as an individual resource or a church-wide community initiative. The 40 days can be consecutive, or individuals or groups may want to spread it out over eight weeks, reading five days a week. Some people prefer to read in the morning before the start of their days; others might find it more practical to read in a specific space or time of day. Whatever an individual or group decides, planning and consistency will help keep readers on track as they go through this overview. Quotations in the commentary come from the New International Version (1984) of the Bible.

To supplement these readings, a podcast teaching series is also available here. This podcast takes the study 5 days at a time and digs deeper into the covenants and themes traced throughout the whole Bible.

May God work richly through the depths of his Word to reveal his character and his plan, and may we know him and love him ever more deeply through these 40 days.

Reading Plan

Day	Chapters	Overview		Day	Chapters	Overview
1	Genesis 1-2	The Creation Account		21	Luke 1-2	The Birth of Jesus
2	Genesis 3	The Beginning of Sin		22	John 1:1-18	Who Jesus Is
3	Genesis 12, 15, 17	God’s Covenant with Abraham		23	Luke 4	Jesus Begins His Ministry
4	Genesis 21:1-7; 22	God’s Faithfulness and Abraham’s Faith		24	Matthew 5-7	The Core of Jesus’ Teaching
5	Exodus 3	God Calls Moses to Deliver His People		25	John 3	God’s Love for the World
6	Exodus 11-12	The Passover and the Exodus		26	John 5, 11	Jesus’ Miracles, Authority, & Power
7	Exodus 20	The Ten Commandments		27	John 15, 17	The Christian Life Defined
8	Leviticus 16-17	The Levitical Law and Day of Atonement		28	Matthew 26-27	The Arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus
9	Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 18:14-22	Kings and Prophets		29	John 20	The Resurrection of Jesus
10	Joshua 1	Conquering the Promised Land		30	Luke 24	The Ascension of Jesus
11	1 Samuel 16-17	David and Goliath		31	Acts 2	The Coming of the Holy Spirit
12	2 Samuel 7	God’s Promises to David		32	Acts 9	The Conversion of Saul
13	1 Kings 8:1-9:9	King Solomon’s Wisdom and the Temple		33	Acts 17	Paul in Athens
14	1 Kings 18	The Prophet Elijah and the Prophets of Baal		34	Acts 26	Paul’s Defense of the Christian Faith
15	2 Kings 25	The Siege of Jerusalem and the Exile of Judah		35	Romans 3	Justification by Faith Alone
16	Psalm 89	Mourning the Downfall of Jerusalem		36	Romans 7-8	Battle with Sin; Life in the Spirit
17	Daniel 3	Exiles in Babylon; The Fiery Furnace		37	I Corinthians 15	The Power of the Resurrection
18	Ezra 3	Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem		38	Philippians 2, Colossians 3	Christ’s Example;  New Self
19	Isaiah 9, 53, 61	Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Coming Messiah		39	Hebrews 8-9	Old Covenant Meets New Covenant
20	Jeremiah 31	The New Covenant		40	Revelation 21-22	The New Heaven and Earth