This guide covers 21 essential stories in the order they appear in the Bible. Each entry includes the Bible reference, a recommended age, a one-sentence summary, and the main themes, so families and Sunday school teachers can plan a reading sequence that builds context story by story.
What order do Bible stories go in for kids?
Read Bible stories in the order they happen in Scripture, starting in the Old Testament and ending with the life of Jesus in the New Testament. A simple 21-story sequence for children is:
- Creation (Genesis 1–2)
- Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6–9)
- Abraham’s Promise (Genesis 12–22)
- Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29–35)
- Baby Moses (Exodus 1–2)
- David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
- David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18–20)
- Daniel and the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6)
- Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1–4)
- The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2)
- Jesus Feeds 5,000 (John 6)
- The Lost Sheep (Luke 15)
- Martha and Mary (Luke 10)
- Jesus Heals Ten Lepers (Luke 17)
- Palm Sunday (Matthew 21)
- Easter: Death and Resurrection (Matthew 27–28)
For very young children (ages 3–4), you can begin with Creation, Noah’s Ark, Baby Moses, the Birth of Jesus, and the Lost Sheep, then add the others as they grow.
Bible Stories in Order from Genesis to Revelation for Kids: Seven Eras
The Bible is one big story told across many books. When children can picture the whole arc, from the very beginning in Genesis to God making everything new in Revelation, each individual story has a place to belong. These seven eras are a simple map of that journey.
1. Beginnings
Genesis 1–11Creation, the first family, and Noah's Ark. God makes a good world and stays faithful even when people turn away.
Stories in this guide: Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark
2. The Family of Promise
Genesis 12–50God calls Abraham and keeps His promise through the generations of one family: Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Stories in this guide: Abraham, Rachel and Leah, Joseph
3. Rescue and the Law
Exodus – DeuteronomyGod rescues His people from Egypt through Moses and teaches them how to live as His own.
Stories in this guide: Baby Moses, Crossing the Red Sea
4. The Kingdom
Joshua – 2 ChroniclesGod's people settle the promised land and are led by judges and kings like David, the shepherd who trusted God.
Stories in this guide: David and Goliath, David and Jonathan
5. Exile and Return
Ezra – MalachiGod's people are carried far from home, yet brave believers like Daniel keep praying and God keeps watching over them.
Stories in this guide: Daniel, Jonah
6. Jesus
Matthew – JohnGod becomes one of us. Jesus is born, teaches with parables, performs miracles, dies, and rises again at Easter.
Stories in this guide: Birth of Jesus, Feeds 5,000, Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Easter
7. The Church and the Promise
Acts – RevelationJesus' followers carry the good news to the whole world, and Revelation ends the Bible with God's promise to make everything new.
Stories in this guide: (read together as children grow)
21-week Bible reading plan for kids
Print a simple one-page checklist of all 21 stories in order, with a box to color in after each one. It turns this guide into a five-month family or Sunday school reading routine your child can follow and feel proud of.
Download the reading plan (SVG) →
Looking for more? See all our free Bible printables and coloring pages.
Old Testament stories.
Creation
Genesis 1–2Ages 3+God creates the world in six days: light, sky, land, creatures, and finally people made in His image. Everything is good.
Adam and Eve
Genesis 2–3Ages 4+God places the first man and woman in a beautiful garden. One sad choice changes everything, but God's love and care for them never stops.
Noah's Ark
Genesis 6–9Ages 3+God asks Noah to build a massive ark and fill it with animals before a great flood. A rainbow seals God's promise to care for His creation.
Abraham and the Promise
Genesis 12–22Ages 5+God calls Abraham to leave everything and follow Him, promising to make him the father of a great nation. Abraham trusts God even when it is hard.
Rachel and Leah
Genesis 29–35Ages 6+Jacob loves Rachel deeply and works seven years to marry her. Leah, her older sister, feels overlooked, but God sees both of them.
Joseph and His Brothers
Genesis 37–45Ages 4+Joseph's brothers sell him away out of jealousy, but God stays with him in Egypt and turns the worst day into a rescue for the whole family.
Baby Moses
Exodus 1–2Ages 3+A Hebrew mother places her baby in a basket on the river to protect him. God watches over Moses and begins preparing him for a larger purpose.
Crossing the Red Sea
Exodus 13–15Ages 3+Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, God's people watch Him open a dry path straight through the water.
David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17Ages 4+A young shepherd boy faces a terrifying giant and wins, not through size or weapons, but through faith in God.
David and Jonathan
1 Samuel 18–20Ages 6+Jonathan, the king's son, gives up his own interests to protect his friend David. One of Scripture's greatest pictures of loyal friendship.
Daniel and the Lions' Den
Daniel 6Ages 4+Daniel refuses to stop praying even when a new law says it is forbidden. God protects him through a night in a lions' den.
Jonah and the Whale
Jonah 1–4Ages 3+God asks Jonah to go deliver a message. Jonah runs the other direction, ends up inside a great fish, and learns that God's patience leads to second chances.
New Testament stories.
The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2 / Matthew 1–2Ages 3+God becomes a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. Shepherds hear the news first. Wise men travel a great distance to find the child.
Jesus Feeds 5,000 People
John 6 / Matthew 14Ages 3+A boy shares his small lunch with Jesus (five loaves and two fish) and Jesus multiplies it to feed thousands with baskets left over.
The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3–7Ages 3+A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to search for the one that went missing. He finds it and celebrates. It is a picture of how God pursues every person.
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25–37Ages 3+A hurt traveler is passed by twice, until an unexpected stranger stops, bandages his wounds, and pays for his care.
Martha and Mary
Luke 10:38–42Ages 6+Martha works hard to serve Jesus while Mary sits and listens. Jesus gently tells Martha that being present with Him is the most important thing.
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32Ages 4+A son takes his inheritance and leaves home, then learns that his father has been watching the road, ready to run to him, all along.
Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
Luke 17:11–19Ages 5+Ten people are healed of a terrible skin disease. Only one comes back to thank Jesus, and Jesus notices.
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21 / Luke 19Ages 4+Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds wave palm branches and shout 'Hosanna!', welcoming their king in a way they do not yet fully understand.
Easter: Death and Resurrection
Matthew 27–28 / Luke 24Ages 4+Jesus is crucified and buried, and three days later He rises from the dead. The most important event in all of human history.
How to use this sequence with children.
One story per week
Reading one story per week gives children time to absorb each account before moving on. At 21 stories, that is a full five-month family Bible reading plan.
Ask one question after each story
A single question, such as 'What did you notice?' or 'What does this tell us about God?', is more memorable than a long discussion. Young children especially benefit from simplicity.
Revisit favorites
Bible stories are meant to be returned to. Many families find that children understand something new in a familiar story each time they revisit it at a different age.
Common questions.
What order should I read Bible stories to my child?
A simple approach is to follow the Bible's own order: start with Creation in Genesis, then move through the Old Testament (Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Jonah) before introducing the New Testament stories of Jesus. Most children's Bible storybooks follow this sequence naturally.
How many Bible stories are there for kids?
There is no fixed list, but most children's Bibles retell between 50 and 200 stories depending on depth. A manageable starting point for young children is 10 to 15 key stories, enough to build a solid foundation without overwhelming the reading routine.
Should I read the Old Testament or New Testament first with my child?
Most families start with the Old Testament because it provides context for the New Testament. However, starting with the life of Jesus and working backward is also common, especially for very young children who may connect more immediately with the Gospels.
What is the first Bible story for kids?
The first Bible story for most children is the Creation story from Genesis 1 and 2. It introduces God as creator, establishes that everything is good, and is accessible for very young children. Many first Bible board books begin here.
What Bible stories should a kindergartener know?
A solid kindergarten Bible foundation includes Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lions' Den, the birth of Jesus, and the parable of the Lost Sheep. These five stories cover key themes of trust, bravery, prayer, incarnation, and God's love for every person.
What are the Bible stories in order from Genesis to Revelation for kids?
From Genesis to Revelation, a kid-friendly order is: Creation and Noah's Ark (Genesis), Abraham and Baby Moses (Genesis–Exodus), David and Goliath and Daniel (the kingdom and exile), then into the New Testament with the birth of Jesus, His parables and miracles, Easter, and finally the promise of God making everything new in Revelation. The 21-story list on this page follows that same Genesis-to-Revelation flow, grouped into seven simple eras so children can see how the whole Bible fits together.
Is 'Bible stories in order' the same as chronological order?
Almost, but not exactly. 'In order' usually means the order the books appear in the Bible, which for the main story events is very close to chronological. A few books are placed by type rather than by date. For example, Job is grouped with the poetry books but the events likely happened during the time of Abraham. For children, following the Bible's own book order works well and avoids confusion; the small differences matter more for older students and adults.
Prefer to hold the whole story in your hands?
A single storybook Bible follows this same Genesis-to-Revelation flow in one sitting-friendly volume. These are the two we point families to most: one for the earliest years, one that ties every story back to Jesus.
Ages 4-8 yearsThe Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
A beautifully illustrated Bible storybook that presents every story as part of God's great rescue plan. Perfect for bedtime with its gentle, lyrical storytelling.
Ages 2-6 yearsThe Beginner's Bible: Timeless Children's Stories
by Zondervan
Classic Bible stories retold in simple language with bright, engaging illustrations. Short stories perfect for winding down before sleep.
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Ready to start reading?
Begin with Noah's Ark or David and Goliath, then work your way through the list at whatever pace fits your family.