Sabbath Assembly Reading Schedule

I began creating this below reading schedule in 2017 not sure of how long the schedule would end up being, and finished creating the schedule approximately six years later in 2023. I was hoping for around a 7 year schedule so I took a guess at approximately how many verses to do for different sections of the Scriptures. When I got near the end of Genesis to Deuteronomy, I decided it was clear Genesis to Deuteronomy needed to be repeated a second time for the rest of the Scriptures to fit in the schedule. Once I figured out the number of weeks for Genesis to Deuteronomy, then, I multiplied that by two and that gave me the end point for the schedule. Then, I recalculated about how much to cover for the second half of the schedule and made estimates at how many weeks each remaining book should fill in based on the number of verses in each book and the time remaining. So you'll notice the first half of the schedule is structured a little differently than the second half, and that's why - because the calculations and ranges for number of verses to cover for various sections for the second half are different than the first half of this schedule (except for Genesis to Deuteronomy which has identical readings repeated in the second half). I also had to balance the need for readings to make sense in context as well. Parts of the first half of the reading schedule may be a little heavier on the reading side, but the parts with lighter reading in the first half, or second half, may have some difficult prophecy that could require more thinking and in-depth discussion, so I think overall it balances out with reading & discussion time combined. Difficult passages may require more discussion but take less time to read, so it sort of balances out.

This Schedule takes approximately 8 years 40 weeks to complete (8 x 52 = 416) (416 + 40 = 456) (456 weeks total). This schedule is structured into three sections:

1. Torah Given Through Mosheh - Genesis to Deuteronomy - This is the only section of the Schedule where readings are repeated twice. The middle point of the reading schedule is week 228 where you see Deuteronomy ends. Weeks 229 through 456 repeats the exact same reading as from Week 1 to 228 for the Genesis to Deuteronomy section. 228 x 2 = 456.
2. Prophets & Writings - Joshua to Malachi - Proverbs is from the time of Shelomoh, so I didn't want Proverbs to be too later on in the schedule too far after the life of Shelomoh was covered. Also, Proverbs only gives you a little bit each week because each verse could potentially be a sermon of its' own during the discussion time. Psalms is around the time of Dawiyd, so I didn't want that to be too late in the reading schedule after the Scriptures during the time of Dawiyd; but due to adding in the Proverbs & Psalms earlier on in the schedule, that made the reading section of Joshua to Malachi too heavy to immediately tie in Kings to Chronicles. For this reason, when the Schedule gets to Kings, Chronicles is not immediately tied in because that would have made the readings too heavy for a single week. Instead, Kings is read alone all the way through 2 Kings 15:26 in week 149. Then, we do some catch-up with Chronicles from week 150-176. Then, in week 177, Kings and Chronicles are re-united again through to both of their ends. Zechariah and Malachi are placed strategically near the end of the first-half of the reading schedule, from week 224-228, since 228 is the half-way point where Deuteronomy ends. Just as you finish the last words during the time of Mosheh in Deuteronomy, you finish off this section with the third verse from the end in Malachi 4:4 warning the assembly, "Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant, which I commanded him in Chorev for all Yisra'eyl - laws and right-rulings." This is done on purpose, as this is the end of the first-half of the reading schedule, which is a strategic time to warn the assembly so that they fear Yahweh and take Him seriously. Similarly, Daniel, an end-time prophecy book, is strategically matched at the very end of the reading schedule to overlap most of the book of Revelation and finish the reading schedule by teaching on the end of this world's kingdoms, what is to come, in these last minutes.
3. Living Torah & Post-Resurrection Prophets & Writings - Matthew to Revelation - Borrowing phrases I came up with for the Annual Reading Schedule, we repeat those titles for the sections of Scripture from Matthew to John (The Living Torah) and Acts to Revelation (Post-Resurrection Prophets & Writings) to combine these sections together into one for this reading schedule. John (even if you refer to it as the Book of El'azar/Lazarus) is a strategic place to start off Week 1, as it matches to Genesis 1 in a great way for teaching purposes. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts are sprinkled strategically throughout the schedule on purpose so that we re-center ourselves around Yahushua's life constantly throughout this Schedule. The first-half of the Schedule ends with James from weeks 224-228, so that just as Mosheh is warning the Israelites that they would go astray after his departure, Malachi warns you to not forget the Torah of Mosheh, and the book of James warning us that faith without works is dead (James 2). So James (or Ya'aqov) is a good end to the mid-point of the Schedule in week 228. The obvious place to end the entire Schedule in week 456 is Revelation, paired alongside the end of Deuteronomy and Daniel.

It should be noted that the asterisk * used with bold font within the first half of the reading schedule indicates to either read faster - or - be prepared to allow for more time to complete the reading. Specifically, in the case of Song of Songs, the intention of the asterisk there is that the men in the assembly would read that part twice as fast so as to not linger too long on things that are not normally read in an assembly all that often, and to not encourage single people who have struggles being single to linger on those thoughts too long in the assembly. However, all Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation are inspired, and there are spiritual significances in Song of Songs, so it shouldn't be skipped as it is inspired Scriptures; but it is purposefully stuffed into fewer weeks on purpose to encourage that it is covered quickly in the assembly and not lingered on week after week after week after week to ponder on for too long, but just get to the point of the spiritual lessons we can learn from it while reading in the assembly context. In other cases, the asterisk * may be intended to benefit prison assemblies of inmates in prison who are on a limited clock due to prison regulations and must know in advance which readings are more lengthy to read faster because of limited time. In cases like Psalms 18, for example, I chose to keep what I viewed as pushing the "Joshua to Malachi section" of the schedule beyond a "longer than normal reading" as a whole all in one sitting, because I wanted the whole Psalm finished in one week and for the purpose of context; so the asterisk * was added there and in some other cases simply so that people in prison or other "limited time situations" would know, "Hey, we better read this one part a little quicker since this reading may take longer to do, or discussion might go longer also." Hope that makes sense to you all. People in prison don't have the luxury of unlimited time or countless hours when gathered like we do.

The below Sabbath Assembly Reading Schedule is flexible for longer or shorter gatherings, depending on how much discussion and teaching is done by brothers related to the reading. Sometimes teachings related to the readings can get off into side-topics that are very interesting and important, but take up more time. We usually spend between 3-5 hours for reading and discussion time using this reading schedule because we go into depth on many different topics during discussion, use multiple translations, lexicons, and dictionaries to study and explain things, dig into the original languages, etc.; and the reading from this schedule is the focus of our Sabbath gatherings. For us, the readings from this schedule are not just a "side thing", they are the central focus of the main Shabbat gatherings because I believe the Miqra Qodesh commanded for Sabbaths (like in Leviticus 23:2-3) is a Qodesh (Holy/Set-Apart) "Reading", as Miqra is translated "reading" in Nehemiah 8:8.

Since Miqra means "Reading" (as translated in Nehemiah 8:8), why do people translate it as "convocation" or "gathering"? Because, in the past, people did not have their own Biblical Scrolls sitting around at home and if you did not gather together as an assembly on Shabbat, you may not have an opportunity to even hear and learn the Word. The command to have a "reading" inherently implies that you "gather to hear the reading" from an ancient context in which gathering was necessary. The Gathering aspect is expected, therefore, as part of the reading, and the reading is commanded to be done, from the ancient perspective, collectively as a group, not off by yourself. So the actual command is to have a "Set-Apart Reading" but the gathering aspect is implied by that reading intended to be done as a group "together" while "gathered".

Circling back to the discussion of "Miqra" meaning "Reading": We see the example of a Miqra Qodesh in Acts 13:15 and Acts 15:21, showing how the reading while together is commanded and intended to be the main focal point of the Sabbath gathering. Skipping the group reading is essentially skipping a major, critical part of Shabbat. "Messages", from my perspective, are a "side thing" that will naturally sprout from readings and related discussions, such as when we see in Acts 13:15 they asked if any brothers had any word to speak; but I do not plan "messages" in advance of Sabbath, generally speaking, because it's not necessary. There is plenty in these readings to discuss, so preparing a "message" is not necessary, as the "messages" spurred from the readings will be led by the Set-Apart Spirit on the spot, usually. I believe Yahweh can and does work through the "message format" most assemblies use for their Sabbath services - however, I do not believe the "message format" we currently see most assemblies using today is the normal Biblical commanded format for regular assembly gatherings on Sabbaths. One of the purposes of this reading schedule is to encourage assemblies to switch from the "message format" of their gatherings to the "Reading & Discussion Format" of the Ancient Miqra Qodesh Sabbath gatherings we see in Scriptures. Rather than having the "message" someone gives being the focus, the "Qodesh Reading" (the Miqra Qodesh) should be the focus. Any "messages" which happen to occur would just be incidental, and could be given by any man sporadically in the assembly as Acts 13:15 shows. That points out another part that - technically - any man in the assembly should be able to speak in front of the assembly to give a message during the discussion time following the reading. That's what we see in Scriptures.

So one main purpose of this reading schedule is to encourage that assemblies switch to a "Reading & Discussion Format" instead of a "Message Format". A second purpose is to provide a standardized schedule which the entire body of Messiah could all get on to all be on the same schedule worldwide, ideally. The other schedules in existence use traditional partitions that people created without taking the New Testament into proper consideration and are not balanced in the number of verses or context throughout Genesis to Revelation to provide a balanced reading with sufficient scriptures to discuss from the entire Bible while still providing time for thorough discussion.

Another motivation behind creating this schedule is related to yet an additional reason why I believe it is a mistake for ministries and assemblies to use the "message format" instead of focusing on a "Reading & Discussion format". I believe that all assemblies should be teaching on every single verse from Genesis to Revelation in their assemblies, not skipping a single verse, and explaining the whole Bible to the entire congregation. While "messages" can expedite the learning process on specific topics, "messages on specific topics" can be recorded and posted to websites for people to watch on their own time instead of being something we have to focus on during the main Shabbat gatherings. I believe the time on Sabbath should cover, as an assembly, reading, teaching, and discussion from Genesis to Revelation and that this is part of being a responsible minister/pastor/shepherd of the sheep. (Side Note: 'As an assembly' means the men only doing the speaking during the reading and discussion, but all in the assembly present to listen - men, women, and children.)

Notice Acts 20:27 says he declared to them "all the counsel of Elohiym" - not some, not part, - "all". Genesis to Revelation is "all" of what we have today which is known for certain to definitely be inspired Scriptures, and I believe firmly "all" must/should be declared in the actual Assembly gatherings for all to hear together as an assembly (including children). Everybody needs to learn all of the Scriptures. I believe we should all be reading individually on our own, as well as together as an assembly to permit reading and discussion. The discussion aspect is very clearly only something where brothers speak during the reading and discussion portion of the Miqra Qodesh on a Set-Apart (Holy) Day (Acts 13:15, 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35), but all should be in attendance for hearing and learning (including women and children). For individual reading outside of the Sabbath gathering time, I recommend you use the Annual Reading Schedule which is intended for an individual to cover the whole Bible on their own, whereas this Sabbath Assembly Reading Schedule is for an Assembly on Sabbath as a group.

Although we spend about 3-5 hours on reading and discussion time using this schedule, this reading schedule could probably also work for an assembly who has less than two hours together to read and discuss on Sabbath, but who desire to go through Genesis to Revelation together on the Sabbath. One example could be prison assemblies which are limited on time due to limited volunteers at the prison. This schedule might also be useful for home fellowship groups who prefer shorter times in normal Scriptures readings and choose to watch videos of lessons from various ministries or study other edifying things in the Scriptures during Sabbath besides regular readings. However, I would encourage you who have home groups to switch to a "Reading & Discussion format" also. Videos can be watched on any day of the week, but the Miqra Qodesh is only on Set-Apart (Holy) Days.

Learn More: How Do I Enforce 1 Timothy 2:11-14 & 1 Corinthians 14:34-35? Click Here To Challenge Yourself.

We encourage every assembly using this schedule that we all be on the same reading during the same weeks, so that's the purpose in posting what week we are currently in above this paragraph. Please watch this page closely before, during, and after the feasts for updates on what week we are in, because when I can't record during a feast due to the location I'll be in, I wait until the Sabbath after the feast I can record to resume the reading schedule at the next week where I was before the feast. Once all the weeks are recorded for the benefit of helping new people learn, then I may discontinue this practice of skipping weeks during certain feast times and expect others would maintain the same reading throughout the whole year on an on-going basis. If you have any questions, please contact me. Yahweh bless you, and shalom.

Please contact me if anything you find on this site is in error. I hope you are blessed by this schedule and the linked video recordings!