Well done! You’ve now reached the halfway point in reading the Bible in a year! This is a significant milestone. So far, you’ve journeyed through the entire Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), travelled through Israel’s history, and this week you’ll complete the final historical books before beginning the rich and reflective Poetry and Wisdom writings. In the New Testament, you’ve already read all four Gospels and are well into the book of Acts, tracing the birth and spread of the early Church. That’s a huge achievement so be encouraged to keep going! Keep moving forward steadily over the next few weeks and by the end of July, you’ll have completed the book of Job, made good progress through Psalms, and be nearing the end of Acts. Keep going! God’s Word will continue to unfold the great story of salvation, and give you hope.

The next four weeks of readings cover the period from July 2nd to July 29th.

Find the daily readings and weekly introductions here: July Readings.

If you prefer reading from your physical Bible, you can download and print the July readings, to keep with your Bible, here: Printable PDF for July Readings.

In the Old Testament, we move from the final chapter of Nehemiah into the rich and honest world of Job and the opening psalms. We witness Nehemiah’s final efforts to call God’s people back to covenant faithfulness, then step into the poetic drama of Job’s suffering, questions, and worship. From there, we begin Psalms, a book full of raw emotion, deep faith, and rich theology. These songs and prayers remind us that God meets us in every season of life—joyful or sorrowful, confident or confused.

In the New Testament, we journey with the early church through the middle chapters of Acts. The gospel spreads from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and beyond, fuelled by the power of the Holy Spirit. We follow Paul’s dramatic conversion, the growing inclusion of Gentile believers, and the challenges, miracles, and breakthroughs of his missionary journeys. Amid opposition and hardship, the gospel continues to advance.

As you read this month, may you be encouraged by the faithfulness of God in both poetry and history, and inspired by the courage of early believers to live and speak the good news of Jesus.

Why not take a moment to explore some of the other resources at differentkingdom.com. You’ll find a thoughtful article on the value of a Quiet Faith. There’s a helpful resource for new Christians on How To Meditate on the Bible and some book reviews. These are part of a growing collection of recommended Christian resources to help you think, grow, and follow Jesus more thoughtfully.