TYB Balance

BALANCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO BE IMMERSED IN THE BIBLICAL STORY!

This Bible plan reads the Bible books in a balanced program between Old and New testament texts. It gives you time to sit in each book and immerse yourself in the resources available on the site to go deeper into your study of each book. This is about being completely immersed in your Bible. This is a great plan for new Christians or those wanting to be go deeper into their Bible reading plan.

HOW DO I FOLLOW THIS PLAN:
The books you will be reading for this plan are listed in order below. Just start at the top.
Print the Weekly planner so you know what chapters you are reading with each book. Small books are read in 1 - 2 weeks, larger books 3 - 4 weeks. It may seem like a lot to read but it really is only 2 - 3 chapters a day.
Each week click on the book icon for the Snapshot videos, Dives and Deep Dives that will give you historical context, background and helpful resources to get the most out of your ‘trashing’ time.
Use the Bible Companion to give you ‘trashing tips’ to notice as you read each chapter.
Subscribe to our emails to stay up to date on our resources.

INTRODUCTION

Our TYB Schedule takes you through the Bible book-by-book, jumping in and out of the Old and New Testament to give you a solid foundation of each Testament. If you're just starting out, be sure to read the introduction!

the orderly account

Luke-Acts are two books but one volume, and these orderly accounts satisfy any logical systematic thinker. Luke, having investigated everything from the beginning, presents his gospel of what Jesus did and said. 

THE BOOK OF POWER

Luke-Acts are two books but one volume. Luke continues in Acts presenting an account what the disciples did and said.

IN THE BEGINNING

Get to know Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – the fathers of our faith, and build a strong, solid foundation of knowledge on who we are and where we came from.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

From Egypt and out again; this book takes the people of God from slavery in Egypt to the other side of the Red Sea.

joy in adversity

This book will restore your joy – not a lying-on-a-beach-in-the-Bahamas joy, but a joy in the midst of adversity. Paul writes this letter while in prison and teaches us how to be content in all circumstances.

identity before warfare

Need some power and help to understand your identity? Ephesians is all about knowing who you are in Him. Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and he wants them to know who they are in Christ, compared to the strongholds and temples that stand in their city.

loyalty and love

This beautiful book is set in the time of the Judges, when everyone was doing as they saw fit. In the midst of this, we have this beautiful story of a woman who chose loyalty and faithfulness over self preservation to become part of the lineage of David and Jesus.

this is how we think, the doctrinal letter

Paul wrote this letter-essay to present some of the most important doctrinal thoughts in Christianity. If you need to know what to think about salvation, justification, all Jesus did for us and how that impacts our life, than this book is for you.

OPEN AND HONEST WORSHIP

Psalms is not a book that you read cover to cover. If you need a break from the book you are reading, jump into Psalms. Come and worship, pray and sing with these incredible hymns.

the book of law

This book is a list of laws that the people of the Old testament had to live by. Read this book and see what it would have been like if God didn’t send Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.  

BEFORE TAKING THE LAND

This book has it all! It begins with a census (it is called Numbers after all), and it contains the first attempt to enter the promised land, and then the beginnings of the wanderings of the wilderness for 40 years.

the book of signs

The most creative writer, John, presents the gospel. Not in chronological order, but by showing us the signs that point to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic promises.

the RUNAWAY prophet

Jonah is not running away because he doesn't want to prophesy – he is running away because he doesn't want God to forgive and save his enemies!  You are going to love this book as you journey through the frustration of Jonah into the whale to see God save the people Jonah hates.

our powerful god

Have you ever wondered if God has seen the bad things that have happened to you? This short book, the shortest in the Old Testament, will show you that God sees everything.

lIFE LESSONS FROM MOSES

The continuation and final part of the five-part series called the Torah, or Pentateuch. Read Moses' final speeches to his people before he dies and they enter the promised land!

know WHO YOU ARE

These books are John on fire; he is passionate, strong and very black and white. These short letters will take you to another level in your maturity in Christ, giving us the tests of Christian living and the things we should 'know'.

a prophetic call

Are you battling with the timing or plans of God? Habukkuk is prophesying to the people of Judah, calling them to remain faithful no matter what happens in the future.

faith needs actions

Written by the brother of Jesus, James presents his passionate plea that faith needs actions. We are called to be people who don’t just talk the talk but walk the walk – be encouraged with passion as you read the book of James.

THE FINAL HOPE

This apocalyptic letter is a book of hope. You are not supposed to focus on the beast but on the beauty, worship and power of God in this book. This is about God restoring everything back to its original intention; this is about the future of our world, our future and the incredible hope and choice that await us.

the book of instructions

The first book of the New Testament, Matthew is the door between the Old and New. Full of the teachings of Christ and Old Testament scripture, this Jewish natured book guides us through all that Jesus fulfilled as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.

the promised fulfilled

It’s finally time to take the promised land and this book details how they did it. Joshua is a book about courage and strength, so if you need some historical might, you are going to love this book.

A PROPHET FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

This powerful book shows the heart of God against pride, arrogance and corruption in His own people, and the heart of the prophet that changed God’s mind.

god’s deliverers

This incredible book is written to remind the people of Israel how faithful God was when He was their King. Learn from their mistakes as you read Judges and see God rescue them over and over again.

the new people of god

These two letters are from Peter, the disciple who never gives up. He was a part of Jesus' inner circle. He saw the miracles, he saw the resurrection, he was at the Day of Pentecost, he met Paul and now he shares his wisdom with us in two short letters that will change your life.

Changed people change a community

Another spiritual ‘son’ of Paul, Titus, is leading a church in Crete, one of the worst cities of the 1st Century. The question Paul answers in his letter is 'how do I live in Crete and remain a Christian'?

THE FRUSTRATED PROPHET

Prophesying just before and into the exile of the people of Judah, Jeremiah is a book of lament, honesty and frustration. This prophet was called by God to a very annoying people that wouldn’t listen to him, put him in prison, beat him up and called him a traitor but he keeps going!

freedom verses boundaries

How do the Corinthians balance their freedom in Christ with having boundaries in the Church? Find out in these incredible letters from Paul, where he is passionate and strong in 1 Corinthians, loving and pastoral in 2 Corinthians.

the final judge and the first king

Meet Samuel, the final Judge of Israel, Saul, the first King, and King David as he fights for his throne. Intrigue, adultery, murder, incest, sons killing sons, betrayal – television will look boring to you after you read these books.

MENTORING SESSIONs WITH PAUL

Would you like to be mentored by Paul? You can be coached by him as you read 1 & 2 Timothy. These incredible letters to one of his ‘sons’ in the faith is like a mentoring and pastoral session with Paul himself.

THE KINGS AND THE KINGDOM

We've survived the intrigue of the books of 1 & 2 Samuel but don't worry, it doesn’t stop there. Keep going as we venture into the third and fourth books of this series. This is our history, the good and the bad. As you get involved and adventure through, you will be inspired and warned in your life today.

GET EXCITED: HE IS COMING BACK!

Sometimes we need a wake-up call that one day Jesus is coming back and when the final trumpet sounds, it is all over. If you need that stirring again, 1 & 2 Thessalonians are for you. They are full of End Times teaching about the Second Coming of Christ and the Antichrist, but don’t be scared off!

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE AFTER EXILE

The last verses in 2 Chronicles are the first verses in Ezra, so continue the journey of the People of God as they come out of exile and rebuild the Temple and the Walls in Jerusalem. We begin the story with the people of Israel in exile and the Temple in Jerusalem destroyed. But now, as prophesied by Jeremiah, it’s time to come back.

rebuilding THE WALLS after exile

Continue the journey of the People of God as they come out of exile and rebuild the Temple and the Walls in Jerusalem. Follow Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah as they overcome the enemies to re-establish God’s Temple again.

the holy prophet

With some of the most inspiring and imagery-dense prophetic words in the Bible, you are going to love the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah prophesies to the kings of Israel, warning them of the coming exile if they continue in their rebellion. Did they listen? No they did not!

THE GOSPEL OF ACTION

This action-packed gospel, written first of all the gospels, is like a modern day, fast-paced movie. Using the word ‘immediately’ forty-two times, Marks pulls the reader through the life and actions of Christ is such a way that you will feel exhausted by all Jesus accomplished in His three years of ministry.

thAT’S A BAD DAY

Ever had one of those days where everything is going wrong, and you agree with Chicken Little that the sky is, in fact, falling in? The author of Ecclesiastes is having one of those days – everything is meaningless, life is over, and he is feeling discouraged.

KNOWING OVER KNOWLEDGE

The letter of Colossians is another letter Paul wrote whilst in prison and like the others, this one packs a punch. Targeting some false teachers that had led the Colossian church astray, Paul is passionate about establishing our faith in Christ alone – not in a ‘higher knowledge’ that these people said they possessed. It was causing division and a wisdom hierarchy in the church, so Paul doesn’t hold back.

JESUS IS BETTER

We don’t know who wrote this letter. Some say Paul, possibly Apollos, maybe Barnabas, but whoever it was, they were very smart, well versed in the scripture and incredible at showing how Jesus is far superior to anything found in the Old Testament. With some key chapters, including the pinnacle of faith, Hebrews 11, the author systematically shows how Jesus is ‘better’ than anything else.

JEREMIAH’S ‘I TOLD YOU SO’ SIGN

Imagine being Jeremiah and watching the very thing you said come to pass in the destruction of the city you love. How would you feel? Well, you are going to find out how Jeremiah felt at that time as Lamentations are the writings of grief and sorrow that Jeremiah felt when the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Need a romantic break? Song of Songs is for you! Get lost in the beautiful imagery, metaphors and romance as the author takes us on a journey of his heart towards his beloved. Fall in love with Jesus, fall in love with this incredible book as it stirs the heart of love and passion in you again.

A STRANGE REQUEST

This one is an unusual letter, but you are going to love getting to know the people in it. Paul is writing to Philemon to save one of Paul’s ‘sons’, Onesimus, and his cheeky request comes with everything that makes Paul amazing. The question you are going to ask yourself at the end of this letter is, ‘Did Philemon obey Paul?’

THE SCATTERED PROPHET

As the prophet who doesn’t care much about chronological order or structure, Micah is a book of prophecies he wrote, in no particular order. But don’t be fooled by the randomness of this book. Restore your heart as we hear that God is faithful and loves His people and will restore them.

god vs nineveh - round two

This small prophetic book packs a punch. The seventh book of the twelve minor prophets, Nahum shows us how God feels about the enemies of his people, and again, it’s Nineveh. Twenty years after Jonah prophesied over them, they are in trouble again.

the king’s prophet

Zephaniah was a relative of King Hezekiah and most likely King Josiah. Prophesying to his relatives, he calls them to a place of repentance for the corruption in the nation. Focusing primarily on the day of the Lord, this strong book will show you the heart of God towards sin, justice and righteousness.

where were you?

Who needs enemies when you have friends like these? Job is a book that so many people have wrestled with. But don’t be discouraged, in this incredible book, you’ll learn all about the supremacy of God in our lives. Listen to Job’s friends as they give him misguided information about the error of his ways, and hear the heart of God as he speaks and puts all their meaningless talk into his perspective.

favour in the enemy’s camp

Born for such a time as this; if you need some encouragement and a little princess moment, this book is for you. Esther is set in the time of exile when the Israelites were living in the land of their enemies. Like Daniel, this book shows how Esther and Mordecai stayed faithful to God and how God uses them to save his people. Be enthralled in the culture and beauty of this book as you journey with Esther from exile to the palace.

THE SYMBOLIC PROPHET

I won’t lie to you, this prophet is incredibly strange but wow, what a commitment to the symbolic and prophetic message that God gave him! Hosea outworks his prophetic message through his life and demonstrates the message of forgiveness in his marriage and his family as a symbol of God’s forgiveness to Israel.

CREATION TO EZRA RECAP

These books are not to be missed. They are not just a repeat of the stories we have in Kings, the author of Chronicles shows us the faithfulness of God from creation to the time of the book of Ezra, and how he keeps his covenant promise to David.

THE WEIRD AND THE AMAZING

Ezekiel is prophesying from exile with accuracy that scares even the most passionate skeptics. This book is full of visions that will inspire and challenge you. Prophesying over specific nations, Ezekiel takes you on a geographical journey of prophecy.

THE ENCOURAGING PROPHET

The book of Haggai is set in the time after the Israelites had been in exile, and Zerubbabel is called back to Jerusalem to build the temple. Because of their enemies, the building stopped for seventeen years, until Haggai steps in and stirs them again to begin to rebuild.

THE LEVITICAL PROPHET

Prophesying just after Haggai, Zechariah picks up where Haggai left off. While Haggai encouraged the people to rebuild the temple, Zechariah is concerned about the spiritual worship that will be offered in that temple. This apocalyptic text has angels, chariots and visions that are beyond this world.

THE GOSPEL IS ENOUGH

This book will change the way you live out your Christian life. Are you striving for salvation? Are you striving to be good enough? Galatians will show you that in Christ, by grace and through faith, you have the freedom to live in victory and with the fruit of the Spirit.

thrive no matter where you find yourself

How did the people that were sent into exile in Kings feel? How did they feel being uprooted from their homes, put into new jobs, given new names, under a new king, under a new government and forced into a different way of living? How did they follow God in the enemies’ land? Read Daniel to find out.

IN THE LAST DAYS

Not to be missed, this prophetic book contains everything. Focusing on the Day of the LORD, the book of Joel shows the power of our God and contains some of the best scriptures that point toward our future. Surrounded by a call for mourning and repentance, this book will stir in you a fresh call to prayer and intercession.

THE OTHER BROTHER SPEAKS

Jude was another brother of Jesus, and his letter, though only one chapter long, is power-packed. Jude is addressing some false teachers that have come into the church, and he does not hold back. Explaining what will happen to those that teach false doctrine, using incredible imagery to convey his message.

31 chapters in 31 days: life in the wisdom of god

The first nine chapters of Proverbs are great to read in one hit, as it sets you up in the character of Wisdom and Folly. The rest can be taken in small doses – meditate on each scripture, like ointment it will change your thinking and give you wisdom that you need. Proverbs gives you practical wisdom for your everyday life in short easy to remember verses.

THE LAST WORD

Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, casts the vision for the New Testament and the coming of the Messiah: Jesus! He prophesies after the completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem to a post-exilic nation of Israel that have let the same corruptions and sin into their nation all over again.