Where to Start Reading Your Bible
Have you ever stared at the Bible and wondered where to start?
It can be intimidating. 66 books. Over 35 authors. Thousands of pages. It’s a lot to take in, even for a seasoned Bible reader. After finishing one book (or subject – like the Sermon on the Mount or the Psalms of Ascent), all Christians can find themselves trying to figure out what to read next. Reading consistently can be challenging enough without wondering what’s next.
Some may tell you to start at the beginning, Genesis, and just get going. Others may suggest starting with the Gospels, Matthew-John. The Bible is not chronological. Even individual books have a less than seamless flow.
Now before I scare you even worse, I want to share a simple and practical 5-step approach to reading your Bible.
The Bible is a collection of Scriptures that record the relationship of God and humanity, particularly surrounding salvation found in Jesus Christ. So that’s where we should start, and there’s no better book to begin with than…
- JOHN – The fourth gospel is written by the apostle John, the one Jesus called “Beloved”. He gives a beautiful account of Jesus’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection. I feel this book covers so much of why Jesus came and how he saves us. Once you have a grasp on Jesus’s role, I would suggest you next try…
- ACTS – Acts is written by another gospel writer, Luke, a physician who served alongside the great church leader Paul. Acts covers the ascension of Jesus into heaven and the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s work on earth. You will already have been introduced to the Holy Spirit in John. Acts then continues by describing the earliest Christian converts, the work of the apostles, and an introduction to the early Christian church. To better understand “Christians” versus “Jews”, we need to go all the way back to the beginning to…
- GENESIS – The word Genesis means “beginning”. Here you will read everything we can know about the beginning of the world, mankind, sin, covenant, and the begininngs of God’s chosen people. You will read about how Israel was chosen, created, and placed where they are today. Genesis is a lengthy book, but it has so much GOOD material. You will be captivated by God and want to know him and serve him even more. This leads us to my fourth and fifth recommendations…
- PSALMS – Psalms includes beautiful songs and poetry that speak of praise, prayer, and prophecy. Don’t be fooled by the words songs or poetry. There’s no rhymes or rhythms, just lyrical lines of praise and lamentation. There is no chronological timeline in Psalms, except chapters 120 on (the Psalms of Ascent), so enjoy learning the different characteristics of our God. You can read a Psalm a day while also reading…
- PROVERBS – Proverbs are considered sayings of the wise. It is a great place to begin studying what are the best practices of Christianity. They are uplifting, but they will also slap you in the face if you are out of line. I like to read one Psalm and one Proverb a day along with my other Bible reading. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, perfect for 1 a day.
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I want you to know that there is no right or wrong way to read the Bible. I am no expert no matter how much I study the Scriptures. I simply love God’s Word and want to encourage other women in their quest to know God intimately through the Bible. There are many amazing reading plans out there to guide you through your studies. Find the right one for you. But the most important thing is that you spend time in the Word of God everyday.
