Well done for the progress you are making. You are now starting June and by the end of this month’s readings you will be half way through reading the whole Bible. Be encouraged and keep going!

This month’s Old Testament readings trace the rise and legacy of King David, the preparation for the temple, the decline of Judah, and the long journey of return from exile. In 1 Chronicles, David’s reign points to a greater kingdom to come, culminating in detailed preparations for worship and temple-building. In 2 Chronicles, we begin to see the highs and lows of the kings who follow him. Ezra and Nehemiah then bring us into a new era — Israel’s return from exile and the rebuilding of temple and city, marked by prayer, repentance, and renewed covenant faithfulness.

Our New Testament readings move from the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry into the birth of the church. The second part of John’s gospel brings us to the cross and resurrection, after profound teaching on love, the Holy Spirit, and abiding in Christ. The book of Acts then begins: the risen Jesus ascends, the Spirit descends, and the gospel explodes into the world. Expect bold preaching, radical community, fierce opposition, and the unstoppable advance of God’s kingdom, beginning in Jerusalem and spreading out to other cities and nations.

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

Week 1: 4 – 10 June

OT – 1 Chronicles 9-27

After the tragic death of King Saul, David is anointed king. His reign, though imperfect, offers a glimpse of the coming Kingdom of God. These chapters introduce the mighty warriors who joined David with fierce loyalty, bound not only by a military cause but by covenant faithfulness. David’s first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem ends in disaster. But after seeking God’s instruction, he succeeds and brings the Ark with reverence and joy. David longs to build a temple for God, but this privilege is reserved for his son. Instead, God makes a covenant with David: he will establish David’s house —a royal dynasty and an everlasting kingdom. David’s reign is marked by great victories, but also by failure. His unauthorised census brings severe judgement upon the people. Yet even this moment of sin and sorrow becomes a turning point: the site of God’s mercy — the threshing floor where David builds an altar — will become the foundation of the future temple. It foreshadows the cross, where God’s judgement and mercy meet fully in Christ. Just as the temple is built in the place of the altar on the threshing floor, so it is upon the foundation of the crucified Christ that the church is built. In his final years, David devotes himself to preparing for the temple’s construction. Though he will not build it, he lays the groundwork for a legacy that points far beyond Solomon — to Jesus, the true Son of David, in whom God’s dwelling is made complete.

June 4: 1 Chron. 9-11; June 5: 1 Chron. 12-13; June 6: 1 Chron 14-16; June 7: 1 Chron 17-19; June 8: 1 Chron 20-22; June 9: 1 Chron 23-25; June 10: 1 Chron 26-27

NT – John 12-15

Jesus enters Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but on a donkey—fulfilling prophecy and revealing the nature of his kingship: humble, gentle, and yet full of authority. He speaks of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to bear much fruit, a veiled reference to his own approaching death, but also a call to all who would follow him. Discipleship means dying to self in order to truly live. Despite his many signs, most still do not believe, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about hardened hearts and blind eyes. Yet Jesus presses on, embodying his message with actions. He washes his disciples’ feet, taking the role of a servant, and calls them to do the same. He speaks openly of betrayal and denial: Judas will hand him over, Peter will disown him. Still, his focus remains on love and mercy. Jesus assures them he is going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. He declares his oneness with the Father, promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, and gives them a new command: to love one another as he has loved them. He leaves them his peace—not as the world gives, but a deep, enduring peace rooted in trust. Finally, he speaks of himself as the true vine, with his followers as branches utterly dependent on him for life and fruitfulness. The fruit he desires is love – costly, sacrificial love. The world will oppose them, just as it opposed him, but the Spirit will come to guide them into truth and bear witness to the One the world rejected.

June 4: John 12:1-36; June 5: John 12:37-13:17; June 6: John 13:18-38; June 7: John 14:1-14; June 8: John 14:15-31; June 9:John 15:1-17; June 10: John 15:18-27.

Week 2: 11 – 17 June

OT – 1 Chronicles 28-2 Chronicles 19

The importance of preparation for future generations is shown as David instructs and encourages Solomon and the leaders, relates the plans for the Temple that he has received from God, and gives generously towards it. As we move into 2 Chronicles, we see Solomon asking for wisdom as he becomes leader, and so God rewards him with wealth also. The Temple, that represents the dwelling of God among men, is built and furnished richly. The Ark, representing God’s presence and  covenant, is brought into the Temple with great sacrifices. The glory of God fills the Temple which is to be a place for prayer. God confirms his covenant with the descendants of David. The amazing wisdom, wealth and splendour of Solomon is spoken of again but, when he dies, there is rebellion in the land and the division of the nation into two tribes. What follows is focused mainly on the history of Judah and specifically on two good kings – Asa and Jehoshaphat. We find that one of the blessings God gives is rest from their enemies. Battling is able to give way to building. We see again the importance of prophets alongside the kings. Jehoshaphat also demonstrates the importance of teachers and ‘pastors’ as he ensures that the Law is taught and that good judges are established throughout the land.

June 11: 1 Chron 28-29; 2 Chron 1; June 12: 2 Chron 2-4; June 13: 2 Chron 5-6; June 14: 2 Chron 7-9; June 15: 2 Chron 10-12; June 16: 2 Chron 13-16; June 17: 2 Chron 17-19.

NT – John 16:1-20:10

Jesus prepares his disciples for persecution in the world. He promises to send the Spirit, who will convict the world and teach the disciples about the truth. They will be sad when he leaves them but, as with women in childbirth, their pain will turn to joy. They are to learn to pray to the Father in his name. They will have trouble in the world but Jesus prays for them – for protection in the world that will oppose them, for purity that comes from the truth, and for unity, for them to be one as he and the Father are one. This is how the world will know they are his disciples. Jesus is arrested and tried. He tells Pilate that his Kingdom is not of this world, it is a kingdom from a different place, and the crowds demand Pilate crucify him. He is crucified with the mocking title King of the Jews written over him. He is buried in a tomb in a garden and we end this week’s readings with Mary discovering the empty tomb.

June 11: John 16:1-15; June 12: John 16:16-33; June 13: John 17; June 14: John 18:1-24; June 15: John 18:25-40; June 16: John 19:1-27; June 17: John 19:28-20:10

Week 3: 18 – 24 June

OT – 2 Chronicles 20-Ezra 4

We start our OT readings this week with a good king, Jehoshaphat, who seeks God when threatened by an enemy. He is directed to put the musicians and singers at the front of his army and is given a great victory. This shows us the priority of worship. There follows further accounts of the kings of Judah, some wicked and some good. Even the good kings don’t always follow God wholeheartedly and so falter. Kings as great and as godly as Hezekiah and Josiah make mistakes. What is clear is that when there are revivals and reforms under good kings, the restoration of the Temple worship is at the heart of it. We also find that generous giving is a key factor and that God’s law and covenant are also central. The centrality of worship to restoration is shown when we move into the book of Ezra, when the exiles move back to their land. The first thing they do is to get the priests, Levites and temple servants in place, build an altar, and lay the foundations, and this again underlines the importance of worship. We find that there is opposition to this.

June 18: 2 Chron 20-22; June 19: 2 Chron 23-25; June 20: 2 Chron 26-28; June 21: 2 Chron 29-31; June 22: 2 Chron 32-34; June 23: 2 Chron 35-36; June 24: Ezra 1-4

There is an introduction to Ezra here.

NT – John 20:11-Acts 4:12

The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, bestowing his peace, imparting the Holy Spirit in new birth, and granting them authority. John states that the miraculous signs were recorded to help people believe. Jesus’s glorified, resurrected body is different so that they do not always recognise him and yet he appears to them in very commonplace ways. He prepares his disciples for the future ministry, mission and martyrdom. In the book of Acts we find that, before his ascension, Jesus discourages his disciples from speculating about his return. Instead, he encourages them to wait for the power of the Spirit so they could be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit is poured out and each disciple experiences a personal baptism in the Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the prophetic promise of the Spirit in the OT prophets. As Peter explains what is happening, he tells how the death of Jesus was part of the purpose of God, and that his resurrection demonstrates his lordship. Many people repented and are added to the church which we see beginning to function together as a committed community. The church continues to do the works of Christ, healing and preaching, and they also begin to experience the same opposition and persecution.

June 18: John 20:11-31; June 19: John 21; June 20: Acts 1:1-11; June 21: Acts 1:12-2:13; June 22: Acts 2:14-41; June 23: Acts 2:42-3:11; June 24: Acts 3:12-4:12

There is an introduction to the Book of Acts here.

Week 4: 25 June – 1 July

OT – Ezra 5-Nehemiah 12

After opposition stops the building of the temple for a number of years, the prophets come along and challenge the leaders to re-build. The prophets stay alongside the leaders to help them. We see here perhaps a hint at the pattern of apostolic and prophetic foundations for church building. There is more opposition, but this time it is used by God to further his purpose. The pagan king – representing the authorities of this world – acts in favour of the builders. As well as apostles and prophets, the church needs teachers and such is Ezra the priest. He studies, obeys and then teaches the Word of God. He is radical in calling for obedience and holiness, represented by his dealing with the issues of intermarriage. Nehemiah is another great example of leadership as he returns, a number of years later, to rebuild the walls and gates. He also suffers great opposition but is not deflected from the work and is also helped by prophets and by the teacher, Ezra. The teaching of the Word of God and the recounting of their pilgrimage so far occurs amidst both joyful celebration and great seriousness as they renew their covenant to be faithful in obeying the Lord.

June 25: Ezra 5-7; June 26: Ezra 8-10; June 27: Neh. 1-3; June 28: Neh. 4-6; June 29: Neh. 7-8; June 30: Neh. 9-10; July 1: Neh. 11-12.

There is an introduction to Nehemiah here.

NT – Acts 4:13-7:60

Peter and John are released from prison and join the others for prayer. All are filled again with the Spirit. The infant church continues to experience both external opposition and internal challenges, along with the great miracles and blessing. The seriousness of what God is doing in establishing his Church as a witness to his kingdom is shown by the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. There is more opposition from the religious leaders but internal troubles also. The dispute over the feeding of the widows could have led to division but the apostles arranged for men to administrate it so that they could release the apostolic leaders to the primary ministry of Word and prayer. These administrators were men of faith, wisdom and the Holy Spirit. One such was Stephen, the first to be martyred. He recounts the history of the Old Testament people of God to the religious leaders to show that it was the church, and not they, who were in the true line of the pilgrims of faith. He is stoned to death just as Saul, who is to become the great apostle Paul, stands by watching.

June 25: Acts 4:13-31; June 26: Acts 4:32-5:16; June 27: Acts 5:17-42; June 28: Acts 6:1-15; June 29: Acts 7:1-19; June 30: Acts 7:20-43; July 1: Acts 7:44-60.

Look out for the new introduction to July’s readings but if you prefer to just carry on with the daily readings, you can turn straight to the July Readings and carry on from the 2nd July. Keep going and let God speak to you as you read!