The Narrative Shred

A 10-Week Plan to Understand the Bible’s Narrative

I developed the "Narrative Shred" as a 10-week Bible reading plan to assist Christians in gaining a thorough understanding of the Bible’s central narrative. Too often, the broader storyline is obscured by intricate details, causing readers to lose focus. This plan concentrates solely on the narrative, spanning Genesis to Acts, allowing for an uninterrupted reading experience. Structured over 70 days with 4-6 chapters daily, it is concise enough to sustain engagement while comprehensive enough to convey the essential story. Furthermore, by repeating this plan five times within a year, believers can internalize the narrative deeply and permanently.

The books selected—Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings—form the foundational narrative: creation, the patriarchs, the exodus, the conquest, the judges, and the monarchy. I incorporated unique sections from 1 and 2 Chronicles, such as David’s mighty men in 1 Chronicles 11-12 and Manasseh’s repentance in 2 Chronicles 33, to preserve significant accounts not duplicated in Kings. Key prophetic narratives, including Jonah, Daniel 1-6, and the ministries of Elijah and Elisha from 1 and 2 Kings, were included for their critical contributions to the storyline. In the New Testament, Luke and Acts provide a complete narrative of Christ’s life and the establishment of the early church.

I excluded genealogies, legal codes, and redundant material—such as portions of Chronicles that mirror Kings—to maintain momentum and clarity. This is not an attempt to avoid challenging content but a deliberate choice to emphasize the narrative framework, revealing God’s overarching plan. By committing to this plan five times annually—approximately every 10 weeks with brief intervals between—readers will cover nearly 50 weeks, reinforcing the story through repetition. This plan is intended for Christians who seek a profound and lasting grasp of the Bible’s narrative, beyond mere fragments.

The Narrative Shred

Week 1: Genesis (Creation to Jacob)

• Day 1: Genesis 1-5 (Creation, Fall, Cain and Abel) — 5 chapters

• Day 2: Genesis 6-10 (Noah’s Ark, Flood) — 5 chapters

• Day 3: Genesis 11-15 (Babel, Abram’s call) — 5 chapters

• Day 4: Genesis 16-20 (Hagar, Sodom) — 5 chapters

• Day 5: Genesis 21-25 (Isaac’s birth) — 5 chapters

• Day 6: Genesis 26-30 (Jacob’s family) — 5 chapters

• Day 7: Genesis 31-35 (Jacob’s return) — 5 chapters
  Weekly Total: 35 chapters

Week 2: Genesis (Joseph) and Exodus (Narrative Portions)

• Day 8: Genesis 36-40 (Joseph sold) — 5 chapters

• Day 9: Genesis 41-45 (Joseph’s rise) — 5 chapters

• Day 10: Genesis 46-50 (Jacob in Egypt) — 5 chapters

• Day 11: Exodus 1-5 (Oppression, Moses’ call) — 5 chapters

• Day 12: Exodus 6-10 (Plagues begin) — 5 chapters

• Day 13: Exodus 11-15 (Red Sea escape) — 5 chapters

• Day 14: Exodus 16-18, 32-34 (Wilderness, Golden Calf) — 6 chapters
  Weekly Total: 36 chapters

Week 3: Numbers and Joshua

• Day 15: Numbers 10-14 (Spies’ rebellion) — 5 chapters

• Day 16: Numbers 20-23 (Water, Balaam begins) — 4 chapters

• Day 17: Numbers 24-25 (Balaam ends) — 2 chapters

• Day 18: Joshua 1-5 (Jordan, Jericho) — 5 chapters

• Day 19: Joshua 6-10 (Jericho falls, Ai) — 5 chapters

• Day 20: Joshua 11-15 (Conquests) — 5 chapters

• Day 21: Joshua 16-20 (Land division) — 5 chapters
  Weekly Total: 31 chapters

Week 4: Joshua (Continued) and Judges

• Day 22: Joshua 21-24 (Farewell) — 4 chapters

• Day 23: Judges 1-5 (Deborah) — 5 chapters

• Day 24: Judges 6-10 (Gideon) — 5 chapters

• Day 25: Judges 11-15 (Jephthah, Samson begins) — 5 chapters

• Day 26: Judges 16-18 (Samson ends) — 3 chapters

• Day 27: Judges 19-21 (Chaos in Israel) — 3 chapters

• Day 28: 1 Samuel 1-5 (Samuel, ark captured) — 5 chapters
  Weekly Total: 30 chapters

Week 5: 1 Samuel

• Day 29: 1 Samuel 6-10 (Saul anointed) — 5 chapters

• Day 30: 1 Samuel 11-15 (Saul’s failures) — 5 chapters

• Day 31: 1 Samuel 16-20 (David rises) — 5 chapters

• Day 32: 1 Samuel 21-25 (David flees) — 5 chapters

• Day 33: 1 Samuel 26-31 (Saul’s death) — 6 chapters

• Day 34: 2 Samuel 1-5 (David king) — 5 chapters

• Day 35: 2 Samuel 6-10 (Ark, victories) — 5 chapters
  Weekly Total: 36 chapters

Week 6: 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles

• Day 36: 2 Samuel 11-15 (Bathsheba, Absalom begins) — 5 chapters

• Day 37: 2 Samuel 16-20 (Absalom ends) — 5 chapters

• Day 38: 2 Samuel 21-24 (Census) — 4 chapters

• Day 39: 1 Chronicles 11-15 (David’s mighty men, ark begins) — 5 chapters

• Day 40: 1 Chronicles 16, 22-25 (Ark, temple prep) — 5 chapters

• Day 41: 1 Kings 1-5 (Solomon rises) — 5 chapters

• Day 42: 1 Kings 6-10 (Temple built) — 5 chapters
  Weekly Total: 34 chapters

Week 7: 1 Kings

• Day 43: 1 Kings 11-14 (Kingdom splits) — 4 chapters

• Day 44: 1 Kings 15-18 (Elijah begins) — 4 chapters

• Day 45: 1 Kings 19-22 (Elijah, Ahab’s end) — 4 chapters

• Day 46: 2 Kings 1-4 (Elijah ascends, Elisha) — 4 chapters

• Day 47: 2 Kings 5-8 (Elisha’s miracles) — 4 chapters

• Day 48: 2 Kings 9-12 (Jehu, Joash) — 4 chapters

• Day 49: 2 Kings 13-16 (Later kings) — 4 chapters
  Weekly Total: 28 chapters

Week 8: 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles

• Day 50: 2 Kings 17-20 (Israel falls, Hezekiah) — 4 chapters

• Day 51: 2 Kings 21-23, 2 Chronicles 33 (Manasseh repents) — 4 chapters

• Day 52: 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36 (Judah falls) — 3 chapters

• Day 53: Jonah 1-4 (Jonah’s mission) — 4 chapters

• Day 54: Daniel 1-6 (Daniel’s adventures) — 6 chapters

• Day 55: Luke 1-4 (Jesus’ birth, ministry begins) — 4 chapters

• Day 56: Luke 5-8 (Miracles, teachings) — 4 chapters
  Weekly Total: 29 chapters

Week 9: Luke

• Day 57: Luke 9-12 (Disciples sent, parables) — 4 chapters

• Day 58: Luke 13-16 (More parables) — 4 chapters

• Day 59: Luke 17-20 (Jerusalem entry) — 4 chapters

• Day 60: Luke 21-24 (Passion, resurrection) — 4 chapters

• Day 61: Acts 1-3 (Pentecost) — 3 chapters

• Day 62: Acts 4-6 (Church grows) — 3 chapters

• Day 63: Acts 7-9 (Stephen, Saul converts) — 3 chapters
  Weekly Total: 25 chapters

Week 10: Acts

• Day 64: Acts 10-12 (Gentiles included) — 3 chapters

• Day 65: Acts 13-15 (Paul’s first journey, Council) — 3 chapters

• Day 66: Acts 16-18 (Second journey) — 3 chapters

• Day 67: Acts 19-21 (Third journey, arrest) — 3 chapters

• Day 68: Acts 22-24 (Paul’s defense) — 3 chapters

• Day 69: Acts 25-26 (Trials continue) — 2 chapters

• Day 70: Acts 27-28 (Rome journey) — 2 chapters
  Weekly Total: 19 chapters