Running the Race

Bible Reading Plans Life – and exercise – move at different paces for different people. Some enjoy leisurely walks, strolls or rolls, while others speed-walk, jog or even sprint. Some people have a 26.2 sticker on their vehicle, indicating they’ve run a marathon, while others boast of running a half-marathon (13.1) or even no marathon (0.0).

Thankfully, you don’t have to be an athlete of any kind to run the Christian race.  
The Bible uses running metaphors, however, to encourage followers of Jesus to train, focus, persevere and attain the heavenly prize. 
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At the bottom of this page are Bible Reading Plans based on the theme Running the Race. Use them to travel through Scripture this summer and to challenge yourself spiritually as you run the good race in your daily life.  

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Summer Bible Reading Plan for Children 
​We’ve selected Bible verses from both the Old Testament and New Testament books, including Bible verses from Deuteronomy, Psalm, Proverbs, John, Acts and Hebrews. These Scripture verses are simple and easy to read, and they take kids on a journey through the Bible while revealing the great big-picture story of Running the Race as a Christian. Children can use this Summer Reading Plan to build spiritual strength by growing closer to Jesus, God’s Son.

The children’s Bible Reading Plan 
consists of 27 different reading squares. Each square lists a small section of Scripture to read and then provides a question, activity or prayer that corresponds with that Bible verse or passage. 

To get started, download the plan (below), and choose your reading pace with your child or children. Younger kids may need a slower pace than older kids, so be sure to pick a pace that works best for your family’s specific needs. Kids can complete one square each day or every other day (or even once a week, if you wish to spread out the Bible Reading Plan further than just over the summer).  

Next, choose which Bible version you wish to read from. We recommend NIV (New International Version) or ESV (English Standard Version) for children, which is a slightly easier Bible translation for readers of all ages to understand in plain English. 
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Finally, after deciding on your pace and Bible version, set aside a consistent time to complete your run through these Scriptures each day or week. Set an alarm on your phone or even schedule regular “appointments” with God in your calendar.  

Summer Bible Reading Plan for Adults 
​In this reading plan, you will journey through significant chunks of several New Testament Epistle books this summer. 
After reading the suggested Scripture
passage that is listed on each square, you can complete the question, activity or prayer that is also provided. This combination of themed resources will help you faithfully train in your run as a follower of Jesus. 

First, set your individual pace. You may choose to complete one square each day or every other day. Just keep in mind your other plans for the summer and consider what is reasonable to achieve. 

Once you’ve set your pace, next choose which Bible translation to read from. Our personal favorites are ESV (English Standard Version) and NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) because both are more literal translations yet easy to read and understand. You might even want to challenge yourself to go through this Bible Reading Plan three times this summer, each time using a different Bible translation.
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After choosing your pace and Bible version, next set a dedicated time in your day to do your reading and “running.” This may be early each morning with a cup of coffee or tea before the busy day begins. Or evenings may work better for you, as you unwind your mind and refresh your soul before heading to bed. To create a good, lasting habit, it is always best to choose a certain time, schedule it in your calendar and then remind yourself to stick with it.