Best 2026 Chronological Bible Reading Plan (Free)
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2026 Chronological Bible Reading Plan
Have you always intended to read the whole Bible through but within a few days, the busyness of life overshadows the best laid plans? Or maybe you have started consistently, only to get bogged down in Levitucs or Numbers and wondered how any of it is relevant to your life here today? In 2026, move beyond just the key stories of the Bible and start to see God’s plan as one big story.
Reading Scripture in the order that events actually happened helps us to see the Bible as one connected story rather than a collection of separate books. Creation flows into covenant. Kings and prophets speak into real historical moments. The Gospels shine more brightly when the promises behind them are already familiar. Chronological reading connects the key events of the Bible and builds understanding and context.
For 2026, I’ve put together a clear, well-structured chronological Bible reading plan for families, based on the Blue Letter Bible Chronological Reading Plan. Designed to fit real life, the chronological order is not rushed or overwhelming and it is organised in such a way that you will always know what comes next.
In order to set you up for success, we are going to be reading through the whole Bible in 3 years. For first time readers, attempting to read through the whole Bible in one year can be unrealistic for many. It is too easy to fall behind very quickly in the daily readings and then give up altogether. This plan is created in order to set you up for success so that you will read through the entire Bible in just 3 years.
We will begin at the very beginning in Genesis, followed by the book of Job and then Exodus etc. The breaking away from the canonical order of the books of the Bible into the chronological plan will be seen most clearly once we start reading about the lives of King Saul and King David in 1 and 2 Samuel.
David wrote many of the Psalms so these will be inserted into the chronological order of events of David’s life. We will also see how 1 and 2 Chronicles fit into the stories of the kings by providing more detail in regard to the historical events that took place during their reigns.
The 2026 Chronological Bible Reading Plan will cover the first half of the Old Testament, the 2027 Chronological Bible Reading Plan will cover the second half of the Old Testament and the 2028 Chronological Bible Reading Plan will cover the New Testament.
Once you have read through the entire Old Testament, the New Testament will make so much more sense and you will be able to see how Jesus Christ was there from the very beginning. You will see how the entire Old Testament was pointing toward His coming and fulfilment of all those prophecies in His life, death and resurrection.
If you are wanting to enjoy this plan with the whole family, one of the simplest ways to make this work across multiple ages is by pairing the plan with the right tools. For younger readers and independent early readers, The Adventure Bible is a wonderful companion.
Age 6+
This is a great full text Bible for children without commentary. Includes helpful notes and historical and cultural details for context as well as maps and many other features.
The Adventure Bible’s colourful maps, timelines, memory verses and short explanatory notes help children engage with Scripture without interrupting the reading flow. When your plan takes you into historical books or unfamiliar passages, the Adventure Bible is a good choice that provides just enough background to spark curiosity and conversation.
For teens and adults, The New Inductive Study Bible is one of the best ways to start with independent or group Bible study. Chronological reading naturally raises questions: Why does this prophet speak here? How does this event connect to earlier promises?
The inductive approach, which encourages us to observe what we are reading, mark key words and note patterns, trains us to slow down and study Scripture carefully while still following the reading plan. It’s especially helpful for building discernment and biblical literacy during the middle and high school years.
Used together, these Bibles allow your family to read the same passages while engaging at different depths—one of the great strengths of a well-organised family plan. Most importantly, this approach keeps each day’s Bible reading consistent but flexible.
If you miss a day’s Bible reading, simply pick up again the next day where you left off. I have only scheduled the readings for weekdays so that if you have a busy week and fall behind, you still have the weekend to catch up. If discussion runs long, that’s not failure—that’s fruit. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s faithfulness over time.
By the end of 2026, your family will have walked through the first 3,000 years of God’s story together—seeing how all of God’s word points to Jesus and the birth of the church of the New Testament.
Bookmark the Storyschooling Bible Library for frequent updates and to discover New Testament connections to your Old Testament readings.
A 16-year journey through the whole Bible, Christian History and Literature for the whole family.
YEAR 1: Old Testament, Part 1: Genesis-2 Samuel
- Launching January 2026!
YEAR 2: Old Testament, Part 2: 1 Kings-Malachi
- Launching late 2026!
YEAR 3: New Testament: Acts-Revelation
YEAR 4: Christian History: Deeper Bible studies
