New Testament Reading Plans: Life of Christ and the Early Church
By Bible Plan Generator Team
For many people, the New Testament is the gateway to the entire Bible. It’s where we meet Jesus face-to-face, witness the explosive birth of the early church, and find foundational instructions for the Christian life. Its 27 books are a powerful, accessible, and life-changing collection of Scripture.
Whether you are a new believer opening the Bible for the first time or a long-time Christian seeking to reconnect with the core of your faith, a New Testament reading plan can provide the structure and focus you need. A good plan transforms a simple reading into a systematic journey, helping you grasp the overarching story of redemption and its personal application for you today.
Why a New Testament Focus is So Powerful
Dedicating a season of reading exclusively to the New Testament can be one of the most spiritually enriching things you do. While the whole Bible is God’s Word, a focused NT plan offers unique benefits.
- It’s Achievable: Reading 27 books feels far less intimidating than tackling all 66. This makes it a perfect starting point for building a consistent reading habit.
- It Centers on Jesus: The New Testament opens with four distinct accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Immersing yourself in the Gospels is the best way to know and love Him more.
- It Explains the “Why” of Our Faith: The letters from apostles like Paul, Peter, and John explain the theological significance of Jesus’ work and provide practical guidance on how to live as his followers.
- It Connects Us to the Early Church: In the book of Acts and the Epistles, we see the struggles and triumphs of the first Christians. Their stories encourage us and show us that we are part of a long and faithful history.
Understanding the New Testament Landscape
To navigate the New Testament effectively, it helps to know the terrain. The books are not arranged chronologically but are grouped by their literary type.
- The Gospels (4 books): Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are four biographical accounts of Jesus Christ, each with a unique perspective and audience.
- History (1 book): Acts of the Apostles. This book picks up right after the Gospels, narrating the spread of the Christian message and the growth of the early church through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The Pauline Epistles (13 books): Romans through Philemon. These are letters written by the Apostle Paul to various churches and individuals, addressing specific issues, explaining Christian doctrine, and offering encouragement.
- The General Epistles (8 books): Hebrews through Jude. These letters were written by other early church leaders like James, Peter, John, and Jude to a broader Christian audience.
- Prophecy (1 book): Revelation. The final book of the Bible is an apocalyptic vision given to the Apostle John, revealing the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over evil.
Popular and Effective New Testament Reading Plans
There are many great ways to journey through the New Testament. The best plan for you depends on your goals and how you learn best.
The Canonical Plan (Straight-Through)
This is the most straightforward approach: you start with Matthew 1 and read straight through to Revelation 22. It’s simple to follow and helps you get familiar with the order of the books as they appear in your Bible.
The Chronological Plan
This is a fascinating and highly recommended approach. A chronological plan rearranges the readings to follow the historical timeline. For example, you’ll read Paul’s letters in the context of his missionary journeys as described in the book of Acts. This provides incredible insight into why the letters were written.
The Thematic Plan
You can also choose to focus on specific sections. For instance:
- The Gospels & Acts: A plan focused on these five books gives you a comprehensive look at the life of Christ and the birth of the church.
- Paul’s Letters: Reading all of Paul’s epistles together helps you grasp the main themes of his theology.
Choosing Your Pace
The beauty of an NT-only plan is its flexibility. You can set a pace that fits your season of life.
- 90 Days: This is a very popular option. Reading about 3 chapters a day (15-20 minutes) allows you to finish the entire New Testament in just three months.
- 6 Months: A more relaxed pace of 1-2 chapters per day gives you more time for reflection and study.
- 1 Year: A gentle, sustainable pace that involves reading just a few chapters per week, perfect for deep study or family reading.
How Bible Plan Generator Simplifies Your NT Journey
Whatever your goal, our free web app makes it incredibly easy to create the perfect New Testament reading plan.
- Ready-Made Plans: Our library of curated plans includes a “New Testament in 90 Days” plan. You can start this proven plan with a single click.
- Complete Customization: Use our custom plan generator to design your ideal experience.
- Scope: Select only the “New Testament” or get even more specific by choosing just the “Gospels.”
- Order: Easily switch between a canonical (standard order) or chronological plan.
- Duration: Set any timeframe you like, from an intensive 30-day challenge to a reflective one-year journey.
- Seamless Reading: Each day’s reading includes direct links to your passage in your preferred Bible app, including YouVersion, BibleGateway, and Blue Letter Bible.
- Stay Motivated: Our simple progress tracking shows you how far you’ve come, providing encouragement to keep going day after day.
A systematic journey through the New Testament is a powerful way to deepen your faith, understand the foundations of what you believe, and draw closer to Jesus.
Begin reading the New Testament systematically. Use our tools to find or create a plan that brings the story of Jesus and the early church to life.