The Beginner's Guide to Reading the
Bible
I rounded the corner
and saw her. She stood frozen, open-mouthed in front of the rows of Bibles in
the religion section at Barnes and Noble. She wanted to read the Bible; she hadn’t known there would be so many
options.
Her facial expression
said it all: I have no idea where to start.
Scores of people feel
overwhelmed when it comes to reading the Bible. Maybe, even now, you’re shaking
your head in agreement, thinking, Yes. That’s me.
My new friend looked
visibly relieved when I asked if she’d like help choosing a Bible. She looked
even more relieved when I showed her where and how to start reading.
May I reach across the
computer screen and help you, too?
These are my top
suggestions for beginners to the Bible:
1. Choose a Bible version that’s
understandable and easy to read.
Here’s the flat out
truth: If we don’t understand it, we won’t read it.
The Bible was
originally written in Hebrew and Greek. One of the earliest translations to
English was the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, but today we have a
variety of versions to choose from. Some translations focus on being more
precise and are best for Bible study, while others focus on readability and are
great for devotions.
If you’re a beginner,
I recommend the New Living Translation (NLT), or a study Bible in the English
Standard Version (ESV) or New International Version (NIV). The NLT version of
the Bible is most readable while still being literal in its translation; the
Study Bibles contain footnotes that explain difficult to understand passages of
Scripture.
You can also download
a Bible app or read the Bible at biblestudytools.com. These are great tools for beginners and veterans alike.
2. You don’t have to start at the
beginning.
The Bible contains 66
separate books compiled into one book. The 39 books of the Old Testament are
the story of God and his people before the coming of the Messiah—Jesus. The 27
books of the New Testament pick up the story beginning with the birth of Jesus.
If you’re new to the
Bible, the best place to start is the Gospel of John. This book (the fourth
book in the New Testament) is John’s eyewitness account of the life of Jesus.
As one of Jesus’ closest disciples, John’s account is both riveting and
informative.
John’s purpose in
writing is to help us believe, making it the ideal place to start. “These things were
written to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that
by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
3. Pick a book of the Bible and work
your way through it.
If you’re anything
like me, you need a Bible reading plan or you’ll 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, (which will take no more than 5-10 minutes) you’ll 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 you’ll never find yourself fumbling for where to read
again.
4. Read a little every day.
Getting God’s Word
into your life doesn’t have to take long. Start small—five or 10 minutes is
better than none. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means
you’ll actually remember more.
Chose a time and place
that’s 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 aren’t your thing, don’t sweat it. That you read God’s Word is more important
than when you
read God’s 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.
5. Pray before you begin.
Pause before you open
your Bible and ask God to speak to you. Remember, the Bible is God’s Word; it
is God’s love letter written to His people, which includes you.
Ask God to help you
understand His Word. Ask God use His Word to teach you, to direct you and even
to re-direct you, when necessary. Ask Him to use His Word to help you know Him
and love Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find Me, if you seek Me
with all your heart.”God loves to reveal
himself to those who seek Him.
6. Write it down.
As you read the
Bible ask two questions:
·
What does this teach
me about God?
·
What does this teach
me about how I should live?
No doubt, as you read
you’ll find one or two verses that seem to leap off the page. Maybe they speak
to an issue you’ve been grappling with; maybe they answer a long held question;
maybe they give you comfort or encouragement; maybe they provide an example to
follow or avoid.
When a verse resonates
with you, stop and write it down, word for word. Pause to let the message sink
in because these words are God’s words to you.
This practice has
cemented God’s Word into my thoughts in countless ways. Sometimes I keep the
verse with me throughout the day. Sometimes I ask God to help me remember it
when I need it. Sometimes I memorize it. Be intentional about getting God’s
Word into your thoughts and you’ll soon see your relationship with God thrive
and your life change.
The Bible was never
meant to merely inform us; the Bible was meant to transform us.
It’s been years since
I encountered the gal at Barnes and Noble but when I think of her, I smile. Her
story is our story. We all begin somewhere in our relationship with God.
And we all need
someone to show us how.
