Our Method

This resource uses a devotional style of reading the Bible that we’ve dubbed the “Principle Approach.” The idea for this method came from the Principle Approach to education developed by Rosalie Slater and Verna Hall. We’ve modified it slightly in that we are looking for Biblical Principles that we can apply to our personal lives instead of academic subjects. 

In our model, we have read the chapter from the Bible in the New Living Translation and developed a summary of what is in the chapter. Then, we pulled out principles that occurred to us as we’ve read the chapter. Additionally, we have linked to the graphical video summaries developed by the Bible Project.  

To be clear, this is one person’s summary and the principles that have occurred to that person at the time. It is not a perfect nor exhaustive coverage. In your own reading, you may notice additional aspects of the text that were not summarized in our summary. You may also find (read that “should find”) different principles that occur to you as you read. As we read back through the text of the Bible, we will likely add new principles that occur to us from our readings.  

Also, this is a work in progress. So you will see that some items are simply incomplete. Keep checking back for updates.

To use this model on your own, do the following:

  1. Select your favorite Bible version to read. We find modern-day translations a bit easier to use (like the New Living Translation).
  2. Select a book from the Bible to read.
  3. Pray. Ask God to help you understand what you will be reading and for Him to help you apply what you learn in your daily walk. You may wish to spend more time in prayer  before reading so you will be more attuned to what the Holy Spirit has to say to you while you’re reading.  
  4. Read a chapter from the book of the Bible.
  5. Summarize what the chapter is about in a journal or some sort of electronic document.
  6. Think of the ideas that the chapter covered that can be summarized into a statement that could be applied to daily life.  
  7. Keep the document going so that you can refer back to it the next time you read the book and chapter (the Bible is not a read it once and you’re done book). You can also add additional principles that stand out to you the next time you read the chapter.  

For a more granular study or meditation on Bible verses, see this article here called, Meditate on These Things.


The Bible

The Bible is the recognized holy text of those that are followers of Christ. It also contains the holy text of Jews contained in the Old Testament. For some good background, see the following resources from the Bible Project:

How to Read the Bible  

What is the Bible?

The Story of the Bible

As you will see in the links above, there is a full series on How to Read the Bible from the Bible Project.  

Old Testament

Here is an overview of the Old Testament by the Bible Project:  Old Testament Summary

Genesis

Genesis is the traditional first book of the Bible and Old Testament. You can see a set of summaries from the Bible Project on Genesis here along with our Principle Approach Summary: 

Genesis: Part 1 

Genesis: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Exodus

Exodus is the second book of the Bible and part of the Torah. You can see a set of summaries from the Bible Project o n Exodus here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Exodus: Part 1

Exodus: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Leviticus

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Leviticus here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Leviticus

Principle Approach Summary

Numbers

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Numbers here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Numbers

Principle Approach Summary

Deuteronomy

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Deuteronomy here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Deuteronomy

Principle Approach Summary

Joshua

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Joshua here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Joshua

Principle Approach Summary

Judges

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Judges here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Judges

Principle Approach Summary

Ruth

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on Ruth here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ruth

Principle Approach Summary

I Samuel

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on I Samuel here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I Samuel

Principle Approach Summary

II Samuel

You can see a summary from the Bible Project on II Samuel here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

II Samuel

Principle Approach Summary

I Kings

For I & II Kings, the Bible Project has a joint overview of both books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project o n Kings here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I & II Kings

Principle Approach Summary

II Kings

For I & II Kings, the Bible Project has a joint overview of both books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project o n Kings here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I & II Kings

Principle Approach Summary

I Chronicles

For I & II Chronicles, the Bible Project has a joint overview of both books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project o n Chronicles here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I & II Chronicles

Principle Approach Summary

II Chronicles

For I & II Chronicles, the Bible Project has a joint overview of both books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project o n Chronicles here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I & II Chronicles

Principle Approach Summary

Ezra

The Bible Project presents one video summary for Ezra and Nehemiah. You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ezra & Nehemiah

Principle Approach Summary

Nehemiah

The Bible Project presents one video summary for Ezra and Nehemiah. You can see a summary from the Bible Project  here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ezra & Nehemiah

Principle Approach Summary

Esther

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Esther

Principle Approach Summary

Job

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Job

Principle Approach Summary


Psalms

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Psalms

Principle Approach Summary

Proverbs

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Proverbs

Principle Approach Summary

Ecclesiastes

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ecclesiastes

Principle Approach Summary

Song of Songs/Song of Solomon

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Song of Songs/Song of Solomon

Principle Approach Summary

Isaiah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Isaiah: Part 1

Isaiah: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Jeremiah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Jeremiah

Principle Approach Summary

Lamentations

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Lamentations

Principle Approach Summary

Ezekiel

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ezekiel: Part 1

Ezekiel: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Daniel

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Daniel

Principle Approach Summary

Hosea

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Hosea

Principle Approach Summary

Joel

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Joel

Principle Approach Summary

Amos

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Amos

Principle Approach Summary

Obadiah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Obadiah

Principle Approach Summary

Jonah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Jonah

Principle Approach Summary

Micah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Micah

Principle Approach Summary

Nahum

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Nahum

Principle Approach Summary

Habakkuk

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Habakkuk

Principle Approach Summary

Zephaniah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Zephaniah

Principle Approach Summary

Haggai

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Haggai

Principle Approach Summary

Zechariah

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Zechariah

Principle Approach Summary

Malachi

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Malachi

Principle Approach Summary

New Testament

Here is an overview of the New Testament by the Bible Project:  New Testament Summary

Matthew

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Matthew: Part 1

Matthew: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Mark

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Mark

Principle Approach Summary

Luke

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Luke: Part 1

Luke: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

John

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

John: Part 1

John: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Acts

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Acts: Part 1

Acts: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

Romans

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Romans: Part 1

Romans: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary

I Corinthians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I Corinthians

Principle Approach Summary

II Corinthians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

II Corinthians

Principle Approach Summary

Galatians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Galatians

Principle Approach Summary

Ephesians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Ephesians

Principle Approach Summary

Philippians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Philippians

Principle Approach Summary

Colossians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Colossians

Principle Approach Summary

I Thessalonians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I Thessalonians

Principle Approach Summary

II Thessalonians

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

II Thessalonians

Principle Approach Summary

I Timothy

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I Timothy

Principle Approach Summary

II Timothy

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

II Timothy

Principle Approach Summary

Titus

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Titus

Principle Approach Summary

Philemon

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Philemon

Principle Approach Summary

Hebrews

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Hebrews

Principle Approach Summary

James

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

James

Principle Approach Summary

I Peter

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I Peter

Principle Approach Summary

II Peter

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

II Peter

Principle Approach Summary

I John

For I, II, and III John, the Bible Project has a joint overview of all three books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project  here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I, II, & III John

Principle Approach Summary

II John

For I, II, and III John, the Bible Project has a joint overview of all three books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project  here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I, II, & III John

Principle Approach Summary

III John

For I, II, and III John, the Bible Project has a joint overview of all three books in one video. You can see a summary from the Bible Project  here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

I, II, & III John

Principle Approach Summary

Jude

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Jude

Principle Approach Summary

Revelation

You can see a summary from the Bible Project here along with our Principle Approach Summary:

Revelation: Part 1

Revelation: Part 2

Principle Approach Summary