Where should I start reading?

[BettieB]

I am a new Christian and have recently start reading the bible. I tend to just skim about, but I want to start a routine and was wondering if anyone had suggestions of what book of the Bible I should start with. I want to read at least a chapter in the morning and a chapter before bed. Suggestions please and Thank you ^_^

 

[richie_2uk]

Try reading from Matthew onwards. What you can do is read 3 chapters a day, with prayer and thanks giving. if you do this daily, you will soon see blessings from God. Pray for understanding Before you start to read. and Let God speak to you as you read his word. God bless

 

[error]

Read NT or psalms.

May God bless you in your spiritual journey!

 

[crossnote]

Read first Genesis, then Luke and John, then Romans and Galatians

 

[Bookends]

I think it might server you better to block off a period of time in the am and pm for your reading, since some chapters are longer then others. Also, there are several ways in which to read the bible, a quick overview style, or an in depth study, a much slower process. For a new Christian I would suggest the overview first, and put question marks by the things you don't quite understand. Once you have an overview of scripture, a basic understanding, then I'd go back and do it again but a more in depth study and try search God's word for it's meaning and understanding, asking the Holy Spirit for help in both styles of coarse.

My advice is start with Genesis and Mathew, and through in the Psalms and Proverbs if you can.

 

[RedTent]

Reading bible is about meeting and understanding God, how God created us and our world, and how the spiritual part of it is operated. In the gospel of John, it gives an all over picture of this along with telling of Christ and how Christ completed God's work for us by living and dying in the flesh.

Because the forgiveness of our sins is such a major part of God, you will find that Christ is also talked of in Genesis, and by reading John, first, you will better recognize that. Genesis gives a good idea of who we are as humans, and the principles that God operates this world with.

I would warn you to keep your mind open to God with prayer as you read. This book is true, literally, but it uses the literal truth to explain spiritual principles. God leaves out some of literal history if it doesn't seem important for getting the spiritual meaning across to us. Sometimes it helps to know something about what archeology tells us went on literally, the events that God uses to explain God with.

 

[Outsider]

Start from Genesis.

If you're serious about the bible, just move on from there, one page at a time.

 

[teuful_hunden]

I like the gospel of John. It focus's a lot on the divinity of Jesus and his last moments

 

[Grey]

I finished it in about a year and a half reading ten pages every week starting at Genesis.

 

[gert]

oh i say read from page one and keep going all the way through


dont forget to question and explore all you learn

question everything only the false will fear questions


and if you make it to the other side and dont see any flaws then you will be a christian

 

[ladylynn]

Hello New Sister BettieB! Our Father has given us His Word and promises to guide us as we read the Bible. "As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word." Have you noticed how much you want to learn about God just like a new born baby who is constantly drinking milk?

You might have noticed the One Year Bible in the stores. I really enjoyed having one of those Bibles. It has a combination of the OT and NT with Psalms and Proverbs for each day. It gives a good guide to reading and it also helps so you're not going all over the place sort of feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Getting in a good Bible preaching teaching church and meeting other Christians who will encourage you as you walk with Jesus is also important. Getting in regular Bible studies and classes. Some good books to read "Knowing God" by J. I. Packer Some good teachers like "Ravi Zackariahs" you can find on line he speaks at colleges all over the world. Some good basic teachings will help you very much. If you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me too. I'd be happy to help you.

A habit that you will be glad you started is taking time each day in a certain place to pray and read The Bible. I like having morning coffee in a special cup on my cozy chair before the day begins. I've been saved over 33yrs and it's one of the few things in my life that has stayed the same. People change, houses change, relationships change but God and His Word never change.

 

[ladylynn]

P.S. Remember, God's word NEVER contradicts itself. God has somehow kept His word through all these years. And of course He can because He is God. The more you learn the more you will see the Lord help you "rightly divide the Word of truth" like the Bible says. It is God's book left to us so we will learn the truth about Him, us, life and how to live it and think about it. You will also want what is called a Bible Concordance. That is a book that you can find verses in when you forget or want to look up a Bible verse. Happy and blessed joyfilled reading!!

 

[Hungry]

Not that you need another opinion but here's one anyway. A mentor I had suggested I read one chapter of proverbs a day. There is 31 so read the chapter as it corresponds to the day. I started reading Revelations. That scared me enough to read the entire Bible through. Then I began reading Genesis but it slows down once you get into Numbers so I jumped to Matthew. I always began for the day in Old Testament and if it got boring I jumped to where I left off in the New. By the time I had finished reading the Old Testament through, I probably read proverbs at least a dozen times and was through the New a couple.

 

[Abiding]

good lighting really helps.
read whatever you like for awhile.

Its all good for you.

 

[crossnote]

REVELATION!!!.......jest kiddin

 

[danschance]

IMHO, the first book a new Christian should read if the Gospel of John. It was written to greeks and and ehsews matters of judaism. You could read John in the evening and Psalms in the morning.

 

[RedTent]

The problem isn't just how to read the bible, it is how to receive spiritual understanding when we read it. Lots of people know what it says intellectually, and haven't a clue who God is. These people usually say something like "it is only........" They get excited about one aspect of God, or use one bible verse with the idea that if that is true then these other things about God isn't true. So as you read, don't limit God. Or they read through some man's eyes and think a person or a denomination has all the answers. None of us do. All of us see darkly, as scripture explains it. God tells us "let and blind lead the blind". We can trust scripture as truth, but we can't trust man as truth.

I have spent a lifetime in prayerful reading, and it seems to me that even 20 years ago I knew nothing and finally, I am getting a glimmer of our creator. And then, again, I have met little kids who I am humble before, their knowledge seems so profound.

There is one kind of extra reading that really helps. In the bible, God often uses the physical happenings in the world of the time God was talking about to explain spiritual truths. Many of these happenings are so long ago it is hard for our minds to comprehend them because all we know is today's world. The more you know about the world of the happenings it talks of the better you can understand what God is teaching in the spiritual realm that is the same, today. Time is getting us farther and farther away from those worlds. God is giving us archeology, now, that helps us understand the world of the bible, and through that we can better understand God's messages to us for today's world.

 

[nathan3]

Just start reading. The beginning is a start. Also keeping a schedule to read/study works too.

 

[BettieB]

Ariel started a thread here on the forum where she is posting scripture each day to read over Im going to take part in that, but I have also decided that I am going to start with the Book of John on my own time.

I remember once as a young girl, that my mother told me that if someone starts reading the Bible to start with the Book of John. My mom died when I was 16 and for someone reason her words are stuck in my head about that. She said the Book of John is about the love of God, and I think that would definitely be a good place for me to start,.

 

[Bookreader]

There are 66 'books' in a fixed order.
It is not in a fixed chronological order but it is in order.

If you start reading a series of novels, you try to start with the first one and work through them in order.
It is very important to read them in order (don't worry too much about Numbers, Deuteronomy or the two Chronicles) because the NT books make most sense if you see scripture as those alive at the time of Jesus saw scripture. It is an important (vital in my opinion) background.

Those who say start with the NT will usually be the types of people who will also insist you are educated (by themselves or some other person) as to how you should understand the Bible. That is knowledge by the tradition of men, not by the word of God.

The Bible, if read in order, makes perfect sense without the interpretation of others.

So, read from the beginning to the end and, once you've done that, only then talk to others about it. I expect you will have your own opinion on many issues that might not agree with those who have been 'taught' by others.

I wish you all the best in the task and will pray that God's word fills you with understanding.