How To Read The Bible: Read A Little Every Day
Getting Gods Word into your life doesnt have to take long. Start smallfive or 10 minutes is better than none. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means youll actually remember more.
Chose a time and place thats convenient for you. Many people read their Bible first thing in the morning, choosing to spend time with God before daily distractions get in the way. But if mornings arent your thing, dont sweat it. That you read Gods Word is more important than when you read Gods Word. Personally, I love to read my Bible at a local coffee shop, but I once read through the entire Bible while waiting in carpool lines.
Start Reading The Bible In Proverbs
When I was a young girl, I can remember my grandfather saying that the best place for a beginner to start reading the Bible was to read Proverbs.
I didnt understand why at the time, but as I have got older and helped others study the Bible I now realize just how helpful that was.
My best advice for how to start reading the Bible is to start reading in the book of Proverbs.
A second tip for reading the Bible is to attempt to understand the context of what you are reading.
Or at least that always helps me when I read.
Here is some basic background info on some simple books of the Bible.
Proverbs is a book in the Bible that was written by a man named King Solomon. Theres a story in the Old Testament where God asked Solomon for what he wanted. Instead of asking for riches, kingdoms, or gold, Solomon asked for wisdom. And wisdom he was given!
It was after this time that King Solomon began to write very wise sayings and advicewhich is what we now know as the book of Proverbs.
I always learn something when I read Proverbs!
Who couldnt use more wisdom in their life?
Proverbs is easy to ready, simple to comprehend, and full of great practical life advice and wisdom.
Some Books Have Multiple Genres
Theres definitely some genre-hopping going on throughout the books of the Bible. Daniel is both historical narrative and apocalyptic literature, and Acts works as both history and Gospel. Proverbs is a wisdom book that includes poetic elements. But the point is that learning to see these books through the lens of genre can help make Scripture reading a lot easier.
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Study A Verse By Looking For The Great Ideas Revealed In It
Let us look again at John 3:16 as our example. We might title this verse, The greatest verse in the Bible. The following ideas are found in it:
Godthe greatest Personso lovedthe greatest devotionthe worldthe greatest numberHe gavethe greatest actHis only begotten Sonthe greatest giftthat whoever believesthe greatest conditionshould not perishthe greatest mercyhave everlasting lifethe greatest result
Sometimes a combination of these various ideas applied to a verse will bring the richest results.
ThereforeThis verse depends on 4:25. Our justification is based on and is guaranteed by Jesus resurrection.justifiedmade righteous.by faithmethod of our justification .havenot future, but present tensewe have this now.peace with GodWe were enemies, but now there is peace between us and God because of what Christ has done. through our Lord Jesus Christthe way to peace with God is only through Jesus Christ.
List Of Easy To Read Books In The Bible
As a beginner, I recommend starting with some of the books that are simple to read and relatively easy to comprehend.
Its important that you do not get discouraged in your journey to learning how to read the Bible.
Recommended Books of the Bible For Beginners
- Psalms Check out my post on Psalms for New Moms.
- Any of the Gospels These books talk about Jesus life on Earth and they are each written 4 men Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Most of these books have similar storiesjust told through the different accounts.
- Proverbs
- Thessalonians, Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, Romans, Ephesians
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Top 11 Best Bible Reading Plans
Want to pick a Bible reading plan that you wont regret committing to for the next season? We have done all the work for you digging deep to find the top 11 ways to read the Bible. We dont only have your traditional 1 year read plans but have plans created from the early 1800s all the way to the present time. Each reading plan has a description that will help you identify what kind of commitment it will take and its pros and cons. The plans vary widely, and you will likely be surprised by all the different approaches people have to help you read the Bible.
Key Features: OT Chronological, Cross-Referenced NT Readings, Daily Questions, Maps, Videos, Built-in Prayer App, Private Group Social Network IntegrationDuration: One or Two YearFormat: App, PDF Journal, Booklet, Online, and
Where Is The Best Way To Start Reading The Bible
You can also follow a chronological order of reading. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who.
Professor Grant Horners Bible Reading System Bible Reading Plan Read Bible Bible Plan
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Why To Start Reading The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God, and just like we get to know people by their words, so we can get to know God by His Word.
The gospel of John says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God .
When we look into His Word, we are looking into God His heart and His desires.
Not only is the Bible about God, but it is also about who we are, and who were created to be. It is about a relationship between God and man, and what God did to restore that relationship. .
Heres a list of scriptures that show the importance of the Word.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
How can a young man cleanse his way?By taking heed according to Your word .
But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. .
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. .
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart .
Make Bible Reading A Habit
It might be tough at first. You might doze off, but you have to strengthen your muscles because your devotional muscles are weak now. However, the more you devote yourself to Christ and His Word the easier it gets. Reading Scripture and prayer will become more enjoyable.
Satan knows how to distract you and he is going to try to distract you. It might be with TV, a phone call, a hobby, friends, Instagram, etc.
You are going to have to put your foot down and say, No! I want something better than this. I want Christ. You have to make a habit of turning down other things for Him. Once again, it might be rocky at first. However, dont get discouraged. Keep on going! Sometimes you have to separate from your groups so you can spend uninterrupted alone time with Christ.
Joshua 1:8-9 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Have accountability partners
Im starting to be more accountable with my Christian friends. I have a group of men who keep me accountable in my personal Bible study. Every day I check in with a text and allow them to know what God has been telling me through His Word the night before. This keeps me accountable and it allows us to motivate each other.
Start now
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Closing Thoughts On Where To Start Reading The Bible
This post focuses on where to start reading the Bible, but its not the sum total of what you should do when read in the Bible. The above will give you a good foundational understanding of the Bible to launch from. But dont stop there.
Ive written many blog posts about how to read the Bible. These posts are what you should do once you know where to start reading the Bible. You can find more under the category:How To Read The Bible
Here are some of the top posts:
Level Five & Six: The Letters & A Prophetic Book
The next section contains epistles, or letters, written by early church leaders to various congregations or individuals. They struggled with and celebrated the same things we do today.
The final section of the New Testament is also prophecy. Its primarily about Jesus second coming, and how to live in the interval between His two appearances.
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Best Bible Recommendations For Beginners
There are the bible translations that I recommend for beginners based on their accuracy level. Ive also included a sample of the same scripture from each translation.
Word for Word Translation
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12
Where Biblical Knowledge Comes From
The most important element when reading the Bible is to not be in a hurry. Stop and meditate on the words. And pray for the Holy Spirit to open up the meanings and understanding of the Bible It is the Father that reveals spiritual knowledge through the Holy Spirit and He reveals these truths to those whom He calls. If you are wanting to read the Bible, believer or not, this may be strong evidence that God the Father is calling you . Spiritual truths are not actually acquired by human thought alone but as Jesus told Peter, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven . The point is that biblical knowledge is not gained by rote memorization or from academic head knowledge but by God the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said in John 16:13, But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
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Pick A Book Of The Bible And Work Your Way Through It
If youre anything like me, you need a Bible reading plan or youll waste precious minutes thumbing through the Bible, never quite landing. So pick one book of the Bible and read a little each day, one chapter, perhaps.
If you read one chapter of John a day, youll read John in its entirety in 21 days.
After reading John, move on to the other gospels Matthew, Mark or Luke. Next read Philippians, Ephesians and Colossians, which provide practical encouragement and instruction for living the Christian life. Romans is jam-packed with essential doctrine. Genesis explains how everything began. Psalms is filled with heartfelt prayers that offer encouragement for every season of life.
Work your way through one book at a time, and youll never find yourself fumbling for where to read again.
Whats So Important About Reading The Bible
Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of the Creator God .
It is common to hear Christians say, God said, and you might wonder how?
While God is not one to be boxed in and limited by our understanding of His ways, one channel that God speaks to us is through His word, which is described by the writer of Hebrews as alive .
It is common to hear Christians say, God said , and you might wonder: How?
In the book of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul tells his disciple, Timothy, that all Scripture is God-breathed. One translation translates it more simply as inspired by God .
The purpose of the Bible? To prepare and equip His people to do every good work.
No one enters into a new relationship without communication as a child of God, our relationship with God is no different.
God desires to speak to us and He often does it through what He has already revealed in the Bible, the word of God .
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A Guide For New Or Non
When believers and non-believers ask me where to begin to read the Bible, my recommendation is my own personal preference. Others may give you other books to start with in reading the Bible. I would recommend that they do not start in the book of Revelation or in Genesis and start reading it through from start to finish. For a seasoned Christian, reading through the Bible is an excellent learning tool but for a new believer, it can be cumbersome and confusing. Revelation is difficult to understand, so for a beginner to start out in that book is asking for confusion and mistranslation of the verses since much of it is written in symbolic language. Here is a preferred order for a new believer or a non-Christian who wants to start to read and understand the Bible:
John emphasises the love of God as found in Jesus Christ
The Gospel of John
Psalms
Proverbs
Now where you go from there is wherever you like. I suggest that you repeat the four gospels at this point because you can never go wrong with the very teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. And the book of Mark, written by John Mark, is actually what can be termed as the gospel of Peter since most theologians agree that the Gospel of Mark is actually the work of Peter. The words represent Peters eyewitness accounts as transcribed by John Mark. Remember that John Mark was not an apostle and was never a witness to the living Christ while on earth or the resurrected Christ and that by definition is what makes one an apostle.
Why You Shouldnt Start From The Beginning
Conventional wisdom tells us when we pick up a book to start at the beginning. Its how you read a book, from front to back. But the Bible is different. And I think its best to NOT start in the beginning.
Now, Im not saying you shouldnt read the beginning of the Bible. You should. In fact, I think you should eventually read the whole Bible. Just not at first.
Why?
Well for starters, the Bible isnt a single book. Its a collection of 66 books written over sixteen centuries by over forty authors. It is a diverse collection with different styles, unique voices, different purposes, and incredible stories.
Because the Bible is a compilation of books I think its best to start with some of the most central books in this collection. That way you can get a proper framework to engage with the rest of scripture.
So, where to start reading the Bible? Lets take a look.
Again, if you dont have a good basis of what the Bible is and how to read it check out some of the blog posts Ive written on it. You can find more under the category How To Read The Bible
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Consider A Devotional Or Bible Study For Beginners
One great thing about learning how to read the Bible for the first time is that there are SO many great resources available to help you as a beginning Bible reader. You definitely dont have to reinvent the wheel or figure everything out for yourself.
For instance, Bible devotionals typically contain a very short passage of Scripture along with the authors thoughts and ideas on the passage and how it relates to your life, all broken up into short, daily segments. You can find devotionals on pretty much any topic imaginable , and theyre a very accessible for beginners.
Basically, Bible devotionals do all the heavy lifting for you, telling you what the author thinks the passage is about or what you should get out of it. These are perfect for learning how to read the Bible for beginners.
Bible Studies, on the other hand, are the next step up. With a good Bible study, the author will have you read a Bible passage yourself, and then answer questions about the passage so you can uncover what it means or how it applies to you today.
Similar to devotionals, you can find Bible studies on just about any Bible passage or topic.
There are tons of womens Bible studies out there to help you as youre learning how to read the Bible you can find them on just about any topic or for any book of the Bible. Just choose a book or topic that looks good to you, read the Amazon reviews for a good one, or ask a friend or womens ministry leader for a good recommendation.