Suggestions For Reading The Bible

[Angela53510]

I have always read the whole Bible through yearly. I accomplished this by reading three OT chapters and 1 NT chapter a day. In the last 15 years, I have added anywhere from 1 - 5 Psalms a day over and over, because they are so encouraging to me.

So yes, read the Bible more. Being systematic exposes you to EVERYTHING in the Bible. And one pastor told me, which is so true for me, that God will use that daily systematic reading to speak to you. Yesterday I was in Job, and read the new verses in my signature. God said, change the verse you have had there forever to this. It means we all can speak of the wonders of God, and we all should know the Bible well to do it!

Another way, which I really liked, and I am going to start in January is chronological. That means reading the Bible in the order it was written. It really brings things together, you can find the same issues, events and messages, which are written in more than one book and compare them.

Here is a link to this sort of read through.

Read the Bible for Life

There are many "Read through the Bible" apps on line. Pick one you think you can follow and do it! There are also plans that take 2 years to get through, or I have even heard of 90 day read through the whole Bible. I think that would be a marathon, and that you wouldn't retain much, although I know people who have been blessed by it.

Happy reading!

 

[Grace777x70]

I have always read the whole Bible through yearly. I accomplished this by reading three OT chapters and 1 NT chapter a day. In the last 15 years, I have added anywhere from 1 - 5 Psalms a day over and over, because they are so encouraging to me.

So yes, read the Bible more. Being systematic exposes you to EVERYTHING in the Bible. And one pastor told me, which is so true for me, that God will use that daily systematic reading to speak to you. Yesterday I was in Job, and read the new verses in my signature. God said, change the verse you have had there forever to this. It means we all can speak of the wonders of God, and we all should know the Bible well to do it!

Another way, which I really liked, and I am going to start in January is chronological. That means reading the Bible in the order it was written. It really brings things together, you can find the same issues, events and messages, which are written in more than one book and compare them.

Here is a link to this sort of read through.

Read the Bible for Life

There are many "Read through the Bible" apps on line. Pick one you think you can follow and do it! There are also plans that take 2 years to get through, or I have even heard of 90 day read through the whole Bible. I think that would be a marathon, and that you wouldn't retain much, although I know people who have been blessed by it.

Happy reading!

I agree...I am doing the chronological one now and it is very interesting to see how it all fits together time wise.

Do you know of any versions that you would recommend that are in chronologically?.I have the NLT one now which I would never use for studying but just for general reading it's ok but I really bought it for the chronological part.

Thanks

 

[Billyd]

I can sit down and read a book at a time and find my reading fruitless. I can sit down and read one or two verses and have the Lord speak to me for hours or days.

I taught adult and senior adult Bible Study classes for years, and I found that the best way to read my Bible daily is to prepare for my next Bible Study class. Our bible study lesson plans are on a four year cycle and cover the entire Bible every four years. It also includes a read the Bible in a year plan that starts each January.

There is no right or wrong way to read the Bible. God says his word will not return void. The easiest and best way to succeed is as part of a study group.

 

[Angela53510]

I agree...I am doing the chronological one now and it is very interesting to see how it all fits together time wise.

Do you know of any versions that you would recommend that are in chronologically?.I have the NLT one now which I would never use for studying but just for general reading it's ok but I really bought it for the chronological part.

Thanks

This is just a PDF you download and read your regular Bible version from KJV to the Message, if you are so inclined! Click on the link I posted above in post #21, and then on the "Chronological" read PDF.

I will say, a chronological Bible would be much easier, especially in the gospels! Because the Synoptics often have the same event in all three books, and some things John also writes about, that is a lot of bookmarks and flipping pages.

I just like my own Bible - complete with notes, underlining and all the verses God quickened to my heart on the back pages of the study Bible. Although I just changed from ESV to HCSB, just to get a different perspective and flow.

For the gospels, there is also a book called Synopsis of the Four Gospels, edited and arranged by Kurt Aland, which has side by side comparisons of every passages in Matt, Mark, Luke and John, from the RSV, I think! I might use that again for the gospels when I go chronological.


Finally, I think my husband has a chronological Bible, somewhere. I don't know which version. Anyway, have you searched on-line for a chronological read in your preferred translation. If that doesn't bring up some kind of hit, it probably doesn't exist!

 

[Angela53510]

I can sit down and read a book at a time and find my reading fruitless. I can sit down and read one or two verses and have the Lord speak to me for hours or days.

I taught adult and senior adult Bible Study classes for years, and I found that the best way to read my Bible daily is to prepare for my next Bible Study class. Our bible study lesson plans are on a four year cycle and cover the entire Bible every four years. It also includes a read the Bible in a year plan that starts each January.

There is no right or wrong way to read the Bible. God says his word will not return void. The easiest and best way to succeed is as part of a study group.

Which just goes to show, that being consistent is the most important thing! You know your Bible well, so God is using your plan to encourage, teach and help you live, in the same way any plan that requires consistency demands.

Good points to ponder!

 

[followjesus]

​Okay, so I need all you guys' and girls' help. Every time I read the bible, which isn't very often but I'm trying to work on that, I never know where to start reading.. Do you have any suggestions where I should read first, or a favorite book, chapter or verse(s)? I need all the help I can get.

prayer is powerful. whatever you read, always ask God to give understanding, to plant good seed in you and make it fruitful and He will always answer

 

[Grace777x70]

This is just a PDF you download and read your regular Bible version from KJV to the Message, if you are so inclined! Click on the link I posted above in post #21, and then on the "Chronological" read PDF.

I will say, a chronological Bible would be much easier, especially in the gospels! Because the Synoptics often have the same event in all three books, and some things John also writes about, that is a lot of bookmarks and flipping pages.

I just like my own Bible - complete with notes, underlining and all the verses God quickened to my heart on the back pages of the study Bible. Although I just changed from ESV to HCSB, just to get a different perspective and flow.

For the gospels, there is also a book called Synopsis of the Four Gospels, edited and arranged by Kurt Aland, which has side by side comparisons of every passages in Matt, Mark, Luke and John, from the RSV, I think! I might use that again for the gospels when I go chronological.


Finally, I think my husband has a chronological Bible, somewhere. I don't know which version. Anyway, have you searched on-line for a chronological read in your preferred translation. If that doesn't bring up some kind of hit, it probably doesn't exist!

Thanks..I will check it out. Thank you for your opinions and recommendations.

 

[Connock]

I would recommend starting with the book of Luke. It's the most historical gospel and makes the others easier to read. I would then read John because its the most spiritual gospel and breathes life into the rest. But let the spirit lead you!

 

[Grace777x70]

I find the book of John to be the most spiritual too and it is completely different then the other gospels. John seemed to have a better understanding of the purpose of Christ coming to the earth as the other ones are more like eye witnesses accounts of what was said.

John seems to come at things from a different perspective and purpose. For example - not one time is the word repentance used in John's gospel and yet we repent constantly when we read the truths that are revealed that show us the beauty of our Lord's work on our behalf to bring us in union with the Father through Himself.

I think we could read just one chapter of John for the rest of our lives and still not plum the depths of the beauty of our Lord that is portrayed in there.

 

[Sac49]

I find it so encouraging that when you asked this question many of the responses mention prayer. Many people forget that prayer is a huge part of our lives and in reading Gods Word. I have seen so many people flippant about reading the Bible "its something i have to do". For a true Christian the response should be "i want to read and learn from Gods Word!" "I look foreard to reading the Bible" "I am excited to read the Bible" "I enjoy reading the Bible" "I am excited to see what the Holy Soirit has to teach me today"

Lets keep that fire in each others hearts by encouraging each other to get into and read Gods Word!

 

[Tintin]

Genesis
Exodus
Then the Gospels and Acts
Back to the OT (Leviticus onwards)
Then onto the rest of the NT (Romans onwards)

 

[disciplemike]

Genesis is a good place to start, in the beginning.

contrary to what people might say, you cannot fully understand the New Testament without a working knowledge of the Old Testament.

 

[blue_ladybug]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. This has given me quite a few choices to start reading at..

 

[Grace777x70]

Genesis is a good place to start, in the beginning.

contrary to what people might say, you cannot fully understand the New Testament without a working knowledge of the Old Testament.

That's not totally accurate. It is that we cannot understand the old until we see Christ. Paul talks about this mystery of Christ which no one knew in those days and still today when men read Moses they have a veil over their eyes until they see the Lord Jesus in the Old.

Colossians 1:25-28 (NASB)
[SUP]25 [/SUP] Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

[SUP]26 [/SUP] that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,

[SUP]27 [/SUP] to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

[SUP]28 [/SUP] We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

The Old Testament was Christ "concealed" but the New Testament is Christ "revealed". The whole bible is about Jesus. Jesus didn't save us to bring us back to the Law. We have died to the Law SO THAT we could be joined to Another - Christ Himself.

What we end up doing is reading the Old Covenant as if it is still in effect today and we end up creating a man-made religion from it instead of relying on Christ's life inside of us.

 

[Grace777x70]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. This has given me quite a few choices to start reading at..

When you ask the Lord what you should read to see Him in the scriptures - He will bring it to your heart what to do. He is in your heart and He leads us from our heart and not our heads. It could be any one of the suggestions given or maybe something totally different.

I heard of one guy the Lord told him to read a certain Psalm and meditate on that one Psalm alone for a number of months.

He knows exactly what you need for this time in your life. It's going to be exciting to see how He shows you things about Himself and His great love and grace towards you.