The essential 100 challenge

Here’s a systematic approach to start or restart reading the Bible. The challenge is to read 100 key Bible passages – 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament. The passages are usually one to two chapters in length and can easily be read in 10 minutes or less. They include the Historical books, Poetry and Wisdom Literature, the Prophets, the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles (Letters) and Revelation. This gives a big picture of the Bible. And it’s designed to develop a daily Bible reading habit. It works because it’s simple, flexible, and achievable.

The Challenge, which is published by Scripture Union, is available on the the E100 Challenge app and the YouVersion app. A version has also been developed for children, which is called “The Big Bible Challenge”.

After completing the challenge, you can try to “Read the Bible in one year”, where two passages are given for each day, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.

Old Testament

In the Beginning
1. Creation. Genesis 1:1-2:25
2. The Fall. Genesis 3:1-24
3. The Flood. Genesis 6:5-7:24
4. God’s Covenant with Noah. Genesis 8:1-9:17
5. Tower of Babel. Genesis 11:1-9

Abraham, Issac and Jacob
6. The Call of Abram. Genesis 12:1-20
7. God’s Covenant with Abram. Genesis 15:1-21
8. Issac’s Birth and Sacrifice. Genesis 21:1-22:19
9. Jacob and Esau Conflict. Genesis 27:1-28:22
10. Jacob and Esau Reconcile. Genesis 32:1-33:20

The Story of Joseph
11. Joseph Sold Into Slavery. Genesis 37:1-36
12. Prison and a Promotion. Genesis 39:1-41:57
13. Ten Brothers Go to Egypt. Genesis 42:1-38
14. The Brothers Return. Genesis 43:1-44:34
15. Joseph Reveals His Identity. Genesis 45:1-46:7

Moses and the Exodus
16. Birth of Moses. Exodus 1:1-2:25
17. Moses and the Burning Bush. Exodus 3:1-22
18. The Ten Plagues. Exodus 6:28-11:10
19. Passover and Exodus. Exodus 12:1-42
20. Crossing the Red Sea. Exodus 13:17-14:31

The Law and the Land
21. The Ten Commandments. Exodus 19:1-20:21
22. The Golden Calf. Exodus 32:1-34:35
23. Joshua Succeeds Moses. Joshua 1:1-18
24. Crossing the Jordan. Joshua 3:1-4:24
25. The Fall of Jericho. Joshua 5:13-6:27

The Judges
26. Israel’s Disobedience. Judges 2:6-3:6
27. Deborah Leads Israel. Judges 4:1-5:31
28. Gideon Defeats Midianites. Judges 6:1-7:25
29. Samson Defeats the Philistines. Judges 13:1-16:31
30. The Story of Ruth. Ruth 1:1-4:22

The Rise of Israel
31. Samuel Listens to God. 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
32. King Saul. 1 Samuel 8:1-10:27
33. David and Goliath. 1 Samuel 16:1-18:16
34. David vs. Saul. 1 Samuel 23:7-24:22
35. King David. 2 Samuel 5:1-7:29

The Fall of Israel
36. David and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:1-12:31
37. King Solomon. 1 Kings 2:1-3:28
38. Solomon’s Temple. 1 Kings 6:1-8:21
39. Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 16:29-19:18
40. The Fall of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 25:1-30

The Psalms and Proverbs
41. The Lord is My Shepherd. Psalm 23
42. Have Mercy on Me. Psalm 51
43. Praise the Lord. Psalm 103
44. Godly Wisdom. Proverbs 1:1-4:27
45. The Proverbs of Solomon. Proverbs 16:1-18:24

The Prophets
46. The Suffering Servant. Isaiah 51:1-53:12
47. Jeremiah’s Call and Message. Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
48. Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Daniel 6:1-28
49. The Story of Jonah. Jonah 1:1-4:11
50. The Day of Judgement. Malachi 2:10-4:6

New Testament

The Living Word
51. The Word Became Flesh. John 1:1-18
52. Gabriel’s Message. Luke 1:1-80
53. The Birth of Jesus. Luke 2:1-40
54. John the Baptist. Luke 3:1-20
55. The Temptation of Jesus. Matthew 4:1-17

The Teachings of Jesus
56. Sermon on the Mount – Part 1. Matthew 5:1-6:4
57. Sermon on the Mount – Part 2. Matthew 6:5-7:29
58. The Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 13:1-58
59. The Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37
60. The Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32

The Miracles of Jesus
61. Feeding the Five Thousand. Luke 9:1-17
62. Walking on Water. Matthew 14:22-36
63. Healing a Blind Man. John 9:1-41
64. Healing a Demon-Possessed Man. Mark 5:1-20
65. Raising Lazarus from the Dead. John 11:1-44

The Cross of Christ
66. The Last Supper. Luke 22:1-46
67. Arrest and Trial. John 18:1-40
68. The Crucifixion. John 19:1-42
69. The Resurrection. John 20:1-21:25
70. The Ascension. Acts 1:1-11

The Church is Born
71. The Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-47
72. Growth and Persecution. Acts 3:1-4:37
73. The First Martyr. Acts 6:8-8:8
74. Sharing the Word. Acts 8:26-40
75. Good News for All. Acts 10:1-11:18

The Travels of Paul
76. The Road to Damascus. Acts 9:1-31
77. The First Missionary Journey. Acts 13:1-14:28
78. The Council at Jerusalem. Acts 15:1-35
79. More Missionary Journeys. Acts 16:6-20:38
80. The Trip to Rome. Acts 25:23-28:31

Paul to the Churches
81. More Than Conquerors. Romans 8:1-39
82. The Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:1-26
83. The Armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-20
84. Rejoice in the Lord. Philippians 4:4-9
85. The Supremacy of Christ. Colossians 1:15-23

Paul to the Leaders
86. Elders and Deacons. 1 Timothy 3:1-16
87. The Love of Money. 1 Timothy 6:3-21
88. Good Soldiers of Christ. 2 Timothy 2:1-26
89. All Scripture is God-breathed. 2 Timothy 3:10-4:8
90. The Coming of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

The Apostles’ Teaching
91. The Most Excellent Way. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
92. A New Creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6:2
93. Be Holy. 1 Peter 1:13-2:12
94. Faith and Works. James 1:1-2:26
95. Love One Another. 1 John 3:11-4:21

The Revelation
96. A Voice and a Vision. Revelation 1:1-20
97. Messages to the Churches. Revelation 2:1-3:22
98. The Throne of Heaven. Revelation 4:1-7:17
99. Hallelujah!. Revelation 19:1-20:15
100. The New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:1-22:21

© Scripture Union 2010

Posted, October 2017