The Ultimate List of Bible Stories to Start With!

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with stories written by those guided by the Holy Spirit to teach and guide believers on how to live their lives today and to understand God’s relationship with His people. From parables to long stories, it will be hard to say that you already know them all. All ages from toddlers to grown-ups can surely relate as these stories unfold. Here are some well-known Bible stories to read for your enjoyment!

#1 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: The Creation Story 

Genesis 1 – 3

A story which narrates how God’s work began is recorded in the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible.

Day 1 – The day when God created the light.

Day 2 – The day when God created an expanse to separate the waters above the earth and from the water of the earth, placing the sky between the two. He called the expanse “heaven”, which is later on called “sky”.

Day 3 – The day when God created the dry ground and gathered the waters, calling the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters “seas.” On day three, He also created vegetation (or in simple terms, plants and trees) which will be later on used as a source of food by the living creatures.

Day 4 – The day when God created the sun, moon, and the stars to give light to the earth. He separated the day and the night. These would also serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years.

Day 5 – The day when God created every living creature of the seas and every winged bird, blessing them to multiply and fill the waters and the sky with life.

Day 6 – The day when God created the animals to fill the earth. This is also the day when He planned to create man and woman (Adam and Eve) in His own image and likeness. He blessed them and gave them every creature and the whole earth to rule over, care for, and cultivate. 

Day 7 – The day when God finished His work of creation and rested.

What do you think about the story of creation? How does it match with your understanding of the natural world, of how the heavens and earth were formed? What about mankind’s formation? The story of creation in Genesis is quite fascinating, because there may be a lot more to unpack within it than you think. 

#2 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: Noah and the Ark 

Genesis 6 – 8

This story showed faith, perseverance and promise. Noah was a man who found great favor in God’s eyes. When God saw that the entire population has gone wicked and became purely evil, He decided to bring a flood that will destroy the whole Earth and wipe out everyone except Noah and his family. 

God instructed Noah to build an ark that can hold one male and female from every kind of animal and creature. Measurements are provided accurately and were made to perfectly hold its intended passengers. The task may look ridiculous for the other men but Noah still tried his best to warn the people of what was about to happen.

People did not believe until it was already too late, and the door of the ark was already closed. When it started raining, Noah along with his wife, three sons (Shem, Ham and Japheth) and their wives, are safely aboard in the ark with pairs of animals that are also in it. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. 

After coming to a rest on a Mt. Ararat, Noah sent out a dove to find dry land but unfortunately never returned. He sent another one after 7 day and it came back with an olive leaf which is a signal that it is now safe to go onto land. After this event, God promised to never destroy earth with a flood again and He placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his promise.

#3 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho 

Joshua 5 – 6

Israelite scouts crept into the walled city of Jericho and hid at the house of Rahab, who is known to be a prostitute woman. Rahab, despite her profession, had faith in God and knew that He prepared Jericho for the Israelites. She helped the scouts to hide from the king’s soldiers and leave out a window since the location of her house is next to the city wall. Rahab asked the spies to swear an oath as she agreed not to share their plans to others. They vowed to spare Rahab and her family when the battle of Jericho occurred and instructed her to fasten a scarlet rope in her window to be a symbol or protection.

God instructed Joshua with an unusual strategy for the battle of Jericho. It took some faith to follow God’s instruction for the army to march around the city once a day for 6 days while the soldiers played their trumpets and the priest carried the Ark of the Covenant around as they marched. They marched seven times on the seventh day and Jericho’s walls miraculously fell down as the men produced a powerful roar. Everyone in the city was slain according to God’s order, but as promised, Rahab’s family were spared. All items of silver, gold, bronze, and iron were designated to go into the Lord’s depository.

#4 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: David and Goliath 

1 Samuel 17

David, despite being the youngest of Jesse’s twelve sons, possessed great courage and strong faith in the Lord. When the nation of Israel was called to fight against the Philistine army, David’s brothers went to fight while the little boy stayed back. The two armies stand on the opposite sides of a deep valley. The soldiers are willing to fight but when a great Philistine giant named Goliath who stood at over nine feet tall came to the front of the Philistine battle line everyday for forty days, no one, including King Saul wanted to step out as they were all frightened and chose to do nothing. Goliath mocked the Israelites and their God.

David was one day sent by Jesse to visit the front lines and bring back battle news. It was his only mission, not until he heard Goliath mocking Israel and their God. He may be little but he was the only one who had the courage to volunteer and fight Goliath while the giant laughed at him. 

He persuaded King Saul to let him fight and decided to not wear any of King Saul’s armor, but only brought a sling and gathered 5 smooth stones. He may seem like a weak young boy to the giant but he came in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, and believed that nothing is impossible with God. 

With a strong faith, he swung his sling and one of the rocks hit Goliath’s head. He then used Goliath’s sword to cut off the giant’s head and the Philistines retreated after they saw that their giant was killed.

#5 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: The Fiery Furnace: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Daniel 3

This is a story of three Jewish boys who refused to bow down to the King of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. They grew as wise and respected high appointed officials in Babylon. Other Babylonian officials are jealous of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. So the other officials tried to use their faith as weakness when they convinced King Nebuchadnezzar to command that all people bow down to a golden statue. 

As men of faith, they refused to bow down and worship the idol which left the king no choice but to throw them into a fiery furnace which was heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego had faith that God would save them. It shocked the King Nebuchadnezzar when he saw the men walking around in the furnace unharmed when he tried to look. 

The king immediately brought the young men out of the flames, promoted them to a higher office and sent out a decree that the God of Israel must be worshipped.

This also occurred in Daniel’s story when he refused to worship and pray unto King Darius. He steadfast in prayer and continued to praise the Lord even though he knew it was against the new law. He prayed three times a day with his windows open which was used as evidence and caused him to be thrown in the den of hungry lions. 

Like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, God protected Daniel by keeping the lion’s mouths shut and kept him safe from harm. King Darius, who favored Daniel was greatly pleased that Daniel stayed alive.

#6 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: Joseph the Dreamer 

Genesis 37

Joseph’s story has been one of the longest in the Bible. Beginning from the conflict between his dad’s two wives, Leah and Rachel. Up to his childhood where he experienced the mistreatment of his brothers who sold him to slavery because they were jealous of his prophetic abilities to analyze dreams and for being their fathers’ favorite. Little did they know that Joseph’s story was just beginning to flourish. 

Though his life wasn’t easy as he became a slave to Potiphar, the Pharaoh’s chief steward, and even been put to jail, God used his life and made him a leader who created a large impact in Egypt. Later on, Joseph realized that the events in his life, both good and bad, were part of God’s plan for the saving of many lives. 

#7 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: The Exodus

Exodus 14:1 – 31

Exodus itself means a mass departure of people. This is why it contains the story of how the Hebrews are delivered from slavery in Egypt. After the change in pharaoh, Egypt’s rule changed compared to when Joseph is still alive and was able to lead. As Moses was anointed by the Lord to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, they still faced struggles even after crossing the parted Red Sea. As the Hebrews tried to make their way to Sinai, they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. This is also where Moses met with God to receive the Ten Commandments. The road to the “promised land” of Canaan has been a tough journey filled with ups and downs.

#8 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: The Ten Plagues

Exodus 7:6 – 11:10

The deliverance of the Hebrews from the bondage of Egypt wasn’t an easy one . The ten plagues are the disasters that God sent to the Egyptians when Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go free. The plagues, which are recorded in the book of Exodus, demonstrated God’s power not only over Pharaoh but also against the many gods of Egypt. The plagues are: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of firstborn children is said in list of biblical stories.

#9 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: Jonah’s Disobedience

Jonah 1 – 4

This story begins with Jonah running away after refusing God’s instruction to go to Nineveh, which is known for its people’s great wickedness. When sailors realized that Jonah’s disobedience was the one that caused the storm, they threw him overboard in an attempt to save their ship. Jonah is then swallowed by a huge fish and spent three days and three nights in its belly. While in the great fish, Jonah prays to God in his affliction and commits to giving thanks and to pay what he has vowed. The fish vomits him onto land and Jonah finally decides to go to Nineveh and continue his mission.

#10 on Our Ultimate List of Bible Stories: The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25 – 37

This parable told by Jesus in the gospel of Luke, is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. A priest and a Levite passed through him but chose to avoid the man. Until a Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews, willingly came to the rescue. He helped clean and bandage his wounds with oil and wine. 

Why didn’t the priest and Levite help the man? Why did they walk away from him? 

And one last one! Jesus & His Ministry

Matthew, Luke, Mark, John

Although it doesn’t count as a single story, the ministry and life of Jesus that we find in the Four Gospels are so powerful that they cannot be left off of any list of Biblical stories. Three of the Gospels are synoptic gospels, meaning that they go alongside each other to give us a full picture of the events at that time. The Book of John, however, focuses on the events that happen to Jesus in Jerusalem. If you only have time for a couple pages a day, try reading through Matthew to learn about Jesus’ ministry.