I have tried the systematic approach, where you read the books in order, and got fed up when I finished leviticus, Ive tried reading a new testament book every day, but felt they were becoming too familiar. and Ive tried reading a random chapter. that seemed disjointed.
whats a good way to decide what to read that will ensure enjoyment of reading?
I made a chronological reading schedule. There is debate on chronology and I made some mistakes, but it will give you a general sense of biblical narrative as it unfolded during time. Hope this is helpful.
For a simplified reading of just the history of the Bible story one can read just these books in this order:
Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1st Samuel, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings, 2nd Kings,
Ezra, and Nehemiah.
The Gospels, and the Acts.
Reading Schedule of the Bible in Chronological Order
The books of the Bible are listed in order of occurrence first, with time of writing second.
Old Testament
BC 4,000 - 2,054 Genesis 1-12 up to Abraham
2,054 Job
2,054 - 1,542 Genesis 12-50 up to Joseph's death
1,542 - 1,422 Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy
Pentateuch written 1,500 BC
1,422 - 1,372 Joshua
1,372 - 1,127 Judges 1-12 up to Jephthah
1,127 Ruth
1,172 - 1,076 Judges 12-21 up to the massacre of Benjamin
1,076 - 1,046 1 Samuel 1-8 on Samuel
The United Kingdom
1,046 - 1,018 1 Samuel 8-16 on Saul
1,018 - 985 1 Samuel 16-31 on David's youth
2 Samuel 1-24 on David's kingdom
1 Chronicles 10-29 David's kingdom
Psalms (David & servants)
985 - 945 1 Kings 1-12 on Solomon
2 Chronicles 1-10 Solomon
945- 931 Proverbs by Solomon
Ecclesiastes by Solomon
Song of Solomon
The Divided Kingdom & Prophets
931- 853 1 Kings 13-22 up to Ahaziah of Israel
2 Chronicles 10-21 Ahaziah of Israel
889 Elijah
868 Elisha
862 Jonah
853 - 727 2 Kings 1-17 Israel conquered by Assyria
2 Chronicles 21-32 Assyria faces Judah
800 Joel
787 Amos
785 Hosea
760 Isaiah
750 Micah
727- 586 2 Kings 17-25 up to Babylonian captivity
2 Chronicles 32-36 Babylonian captivity
713 Nahum
640 Zephaniah
629 Jeremiah
626 Habakkuk
607 Daniel
595 Ezekiel
588 Lamentations
587 Obadiah
The Return & 2nd Temple
586 - 538 Ezra
538 - 520 Haggai
520 Zechariah
520 - 480 Esther
480 - 446 Nehemiah
446 - 397 Malachi
Inter- Testamental Period
397 - 4 Apocrypha & Pseudopigrapha
New Testament
B C 4 - 29 AD Matthew life of Christ
Mark life of Christ
Luke life of Christ
26 - 29 John ministry of Christ
29 - 66 Acts
45 - 48 James written
49 Galatians written
51 1 & 2 Thessalonians written
sometime in 50's Mark written
55 - 56 1 & 2 Corinthians written
58 Romans written
60 Luke written
61 Acts written
Matthew written
Ephesians written
Philippians written
Colossians written
Philemon written sometime in 60's
66 - 70 Jude written
85 - 90 John written
90 1-3 John written
95 Revelation written