You’re making amazing progress—now about to move into May’s readings! In the Old Testament, from 2 Samuel, across 1 and 2 Kings and into 1 Chronicles, we will journey with David, Solomon, great prophets like Elijah and Elisha. With them we will witness their triumphs and disasters, but also God’s unfailing faithfulness. In the New Testament, we finish Luke with the cross and resurrection, and begin John’s Gospel, where Jesus is introduced as the Word made flesh, the Light of the world, and the Lamb of God. We also see him as a compassionate Miracle Maker who both attracts some and offends others.

If you prefer using your physical Bible for your daily readings, you can print off this printable PDF copy of the reading plan for May and tuck it inside your Bible.

week 1: 30 april – 6 may

OT – 2 Samuel 3-21

In the middle of bloodshed and political intrigue, David’s great kingdom take shape. Prefiguring Jesus, David is a conquering king and establishes a great kingdom that foreshadows God’s coming Kingdom. He conquers Jerusalem and establishes it as his capital – Zion – the city that points ahead to the church as God’s dwelling place. One of his first acts is to bring the Ark of the Covenant there, expressing his desire for God’s presence at the heart of his rule. Though David plans to build a house for God, God promises instead to build a house for David—a dynasty that looks ahead to Christ and the church as a temple built of living stones. Even in battle, David makes frequent expressions of grace and kindness, including towards his enemies. Yet his flaws are also exposed. His great sin brings lasting tragedy into his own family, from the death of a child to the heart-breaking rebellion of his son Absalom. Though David’s kingdom grows strong, his reign is marked by sorrow, conflict, and the constant presence of enemies.

Apr. 30: 2 Sam 3-5; May 1: 2 Sam 6-8; May 2: 2 Sam 10-11; May 3: 2 Sam 12-13; May 4: 2 Sam 14-16; May 5: 2 Sam 17-18; May 6: 2 Sam 19-21

NT – Luke 20:41-22:71

As Jesus hints at his own divinity, he also warns people not to follow blind religious leaders. He then prophesies about the future, speaking first about the fall of Jerusalem but also of the ongoing persecution and hardship that his disciples will face. But he promises to be with them, helping them endure, and giving them hope that all such suffering will one day give way to his return and their final salvation. The events that lead to the cross – that secures our salvation – now begin to unfold. At the Last Supper, Jesus speaks of his coming Kingdom. The disciples, however, show their continuing misunderstanding as they argue about who will be greatest in that Kingdom. Before the Sanhedrin, Jesus admits to being the Son of God. Before Pilate, he accepts the title “King of the Jews”, though Pilate cannot see that Jesus is not just king of the Jews but of the whole world. And that his kingdom is different to any kingdom that Pilate could ever imagine.

Apr. 30: Luke 20:41-21:4; May 1: Luke 21:5-19; May 2: Luke 21:20-38; May 3: Luke 22:1-23; May 4: Luke 22:24-38 May 5: Luke 22:39-53; May 6: Luke 22:54-71

week 2: 7 – 13 May

OT – 2 Samuel 22-1 Kings 9:9

David’s song of praise celebrates the greatness of God – his power in salvation, his strength in battle and his gift of victory over our enemies. Empowered by God’s Spirit, David reigns—and we too are invited to reign in life through that same Spirit. David’s mighty men are noted for their loyalty, faith and courage. Yet even David falters, taking a census without consulting the Lord, and judgement comes. The plague is halted only when David builds an altar on the threshing floor—pointing ahead to the greater sacrifice of Christ. Solomon becomes king and there is both grace and judgement in David’s last words to him. The young king asks for wisdom to rule and receives it, along with wealth and honour. His reign begins well, marked by wise judgements and growing fame and prosperity. He turns to his great task: building the temple with excellence and reverence. The Ark is brought to the temple and the glory of God fills the place. Solomon’s prayer of dedication makes it clear that the temple is primarily to be a place of prayer. God’s promise to him is clear – if Solomon walks in his ways, he will establish Solomon’s descendants as a royal dynasty. But if not, ruin will come, and even the temple will stand as a sign of what was lost.

May 7: 2 Sam 22:1-23:7; May 8: 2 Sam 23:8-24:25; May 9: 1 Kings 1:1-2:12; May 10: 1 Kings 2:13-3:28; May 11: 1 Kings 4-5; May 12: 1 Kings 6-7; May 13: 1 Kings 8:1-9:9.

See here for an introduction to 1 Kings.

NT – Luke 23:1-John 1:51

Once again we are reading of the event that is central to our salvation – the death of Christ on the cross. Luke’s account includes the promise of paradise for the repentant thief on the cross. After the resurrection, his conversation with two of his disciples shows him opening the Scriptures to them. He also opens their eyes so that they can understand how he is the fulfilment of all that is spoken of in the Scriptures. He stresses the importance of them staying in the city until the Holy Spirit clothes them with power. The gospel of John begins and Jesus is introduced as the eternal Word of God, one with God, who has been made flesh and come into the world. He is the light of the world and there is life in him. He brings spiritual new birth. John the Baptist is the witness to the light and points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Jesus calls his first disciples and prepares them for amazing things, seeing heaven come to earth.

May 7: Luke 23:1-25; May 8: Luke 23:26-56; May 9: Luke 24:1-24; May 10: Luke 24:25-53; May 11: John 1:1-18; May 12: John 1:19-34; May 13: John 1:35-51

See here for an introduction to John’s Gospel

Week 3: 14 – 20 may

OT – 1 Kings 9:10-2 Kings 1

As this week’s readings begin, we witness the sad decline of Solomon’s reign. Though he began well, his heart is slowly led astray. He becomes proud in his wealth and achievements, takes many foreign wives, and amasses horses and chariots, which are symbols of trust in military power rather than in God. In response, God’s judgement falls, and the once-united kingdom is torn in two. From here, the story of Israel and Judah is marked by a tragic pattern: most kings fail to follow God’s ways. A few are better than others, but even the good ones are not wholehearted like David. Many are deeply corrupt, leading the people into idolatry and injustice. Yet in this decline, God raises up prophets who confront the kings, speak God’s word of judgement, and call the nation back to covenant faithfulness. These prophets are not perfect, but they are faithful. Chief among them is Elijah, who boldly challenges King Ahab, one of Israel’s most evil rulers. We see Elijah work mighty miracles and stand firm on Mount Carmel, but we also see his weakness. He gives way to fear and despair, until God gently restores him. In the final chapters, Elijah continues to confront ungodly leaders and passes the baton on to his spiritual son, Elisha. In a breath-taking moment, Elisha watches as Elijah is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire—God’s seal on the life of a flawed but faithful prophet.

May 14: 1 Kings 9:10-10:29; May 15: 1 Kings 11-12; May 16: 1 Kings 13:1-15:8; May 17: 1 Kings 15:9-17:24:; May 18: 1 Kings 18-19; May 19: 1 Kings 20-21; May 20: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1

See here for an introduction to 2 Kings.

NT – John 2:1-6:15

In these chapters of John’s Gospel, we see a series of miraculous signs that point to who Jesus truly is. The first is at a wedding, where he turns water into wine—a quiet but powerful act that reveals his glory. As Jesus continues his ministry, he challenges the religious leaders of the day but also takes time to explain spiritual truth to individuals like Nicodemus, a Pharisee who was genuinely seeking understanding. Jesus speaks of the Kingdom as something deeply spiritual—something we can only enter by being born of the Spirit. John the Baptist exalts Jesus as the bridegroom, and Jesus reaches out to ordinary people, even those considered outsiders. To the Samaritan woman at the well, he offers living water and speaks of true worship that goes beyond place and tradition. As Jesus heals on the Sabbath, the religious leaders grow increasingly hostile. He confronts their hardened hearts and points to the many ways his identity is confirmed—by the Scriptures, by John the Baptist, and by his own works. He claims to be the Son of God, one with the Father, yet fully obedient to and dependent on him.

May 14: John 2; May 15: John 3:1-21; May 16: John 3:22-36; May 17: John 4:1-30; May 18: John 4:31-54; May 19: John 5:1-30; May 20: John 5:31-6:15

week 4: 21 – 27 may

OT – 2 Kings 2-18

This week’s readings begin with Elisha, the prophet who follows in Elijah’s footsteps. Elisha carries a powerful anointing—raising the dead, healing the sick, and performing miracles that echo and even surpass those of his predecessor. He brings a young boy back to life, heals Naaman of leprosy, and even in death, his bones raise a man to life. A prophet—often called a seer—is someone who sees what others cannot. Elisha opens his servant’s eyes to the heavenly army surrounding them and sees with sorrow the future suffering of Israel. After Elisha, we trace a grim sequence of kings in both Judah and Israel. Most do evil in God’s sight, and judgment follows. Jehu stands out with his radical zeal against compromise—a reminder of the cost of divided loyalty. Yet even the “better” kings fail to remove the idols completely, and the slow unravelling continues: assassinations, invasions, and eventually, exile. The northern kingdom of Israel falls first, its people carried away for breaking covenant with God. Judah’s story holds a flicker of hope, especially in the reign of the good king Hezekiah—but even that hope is fragile.

May 21: 2 Kings 2:1-4:7; May 22: 2 Kings 4:8-7:2; May 23: 2 Kings 7:3-9:37; May 24: 2 Kings 10-11; May 25: 2 Kings 12-14; May 26: 2 Kings 15-16; May 27: 2 Kings 17-18

NT – John 6:15-8:30

Jesus calls himself the bread of life, come down from heaven. He challenges the motives of the crowds who follow him—not all are seeking truth. When he speaks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, many are offended and walk away. Yet beneath the shock lies a deep truth: Jesus is the true source of life. His words are spirit and life, and his disciples remain because they sense this power, even if they don’t fully understand. The crowds are divided. So are the religious leaders. Some are drawn, others resist. Again, Jesus speaks of living water—a picture of the Holy Spirit offered to those who will believe. In the story of the woman caught in adultery, we see the contrast between law and grace. The law condemns, Jesus saves. He is the light of the world, shining truth into darkness, bearing witness to himself with the Father’s testimony. But he warns: unless they believe in him, they will die in their sins.

May 21: John 6:16-40; May 22: John 6:41-59; May 23: John 6:60-71; May 24: John 7:1-24; May 25: John 7:25-53; May 26: John 8:1-20; May 27: John 8:21-30

week 5: 28 may – 3 june

oT – 2 Kings 19-1 Chronicles 8

Judah experiences a season of hope under King Hezekiah, as spiritual renewal takes root. But the revival is short-lived. His son Manasseh becomes one of the most corrupt kings in Judah’s history, leading the nation back into deep rebellion. A string of mostly unfaithful kings follows, with one bright exception: Josiah. Under his reign, there is another revival, marked, like Hezekiah’s, by the repairing of the Temple and the rediscovery of the Book of the Law. These two signs — the restoration of God’s house and the return to God’s Word — signal a people being called back to covenant. But despite Josiah’s reforms, the momentum is not enough to stop the decline. Judah, like Israel before it, is eventually conquered and carried into exile. As 2 Kings closes, 1 Chronicles begins—retelling Israel’s story not from a political perspective but a spiritual one. Written for those returning from exile, it opens with sweeping genealogies, tracing God’s faithful hand from Adam through to the post-exilic community. These records aren’t just historical. They’re theological, showing that God’s purposes continue, and that the line leading to Christ is still intact. Amid the names, don’t miss the brief but beautiful prayer of Jabez in chapter 4 — a quiet moment of faith and longing in a long list of names.

May 28: 2 Kings 19-20; May 29: 2 Kings 21-23; May 30: 2 Kings 24-25; 1 Chron 1:1-16; May 31: 1 Chron 1:17-2:55; June 1: 1 Chron 3-4; June 2: 1 Chron 5:1-6:53; June 3: 1 Chron 6:54-8

See here for an introduction to the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles.

NT – John 8:31-11:57

In this section of John’s Gospel, the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders escalates. Jesus teaches that a person’s ability to accept the truth hinges on who their true father is. Though the leaders claim Abraham as their father, Jesus exposes a deeper reality, saying their actions reveal a different lineage, one rooted in lies and opposition to God. He continues to provoke their outrage by healing a blind man on the Sabbath, but turns the moment into a powerful sign: physical sight restored as a picture of spiritual sight regained. Jesus declares himself the Good Shepherd, one who knows his sheep, lays down his life for them, and leads them into fullness of life. His words and works stir controversy, especially as he claims equality with God. The hostility deepens until, in a final climactic sign, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It is a stunning display of his authority over life and death and a clear pointer to his identity as the Messiah. Some believe. But for the religious leaders, it is the last straw. From this moment on, the plot to kill him takes full shape.

May 28: John 8:31-59; May 29: John 9:1-23; May 30: John 9:24-41; May 31: John 10:1-21; June 1: John 10:22-42; June 2: John 11:1-29; June 3: John 11:30-57

Look out for the new introduction to June’s readings but if you prefer to just carry on with the daily readings, you can turn straight to the June Readings and carry on from the 4th June. Keep going and God speak to you as you read!