How To Read The Bible

Don't let those sixty-six books scare you.

It's easy to look at that thick book and ask yourself "Where should I start?" Any large book can make you feel that way but then when you think about the Bible you may think that it is full of "thee's" and "thou's" and that it will be too much for you to handle.

It doesn't have to be so intimidating, here are some helpful tips to get you on your way to a new perspective on the Bible:

Choose a translation that is easy to understand.

The original language that the Bible was written in has been translated accurately from the original text so that it is easy to understand in modern English.

Ask God to help you understand.

Before you get started it is a good practice to spend some time in prayer. Talk to God and ask him to help you understand what you are reading and how it can apply to your life.

Find a place to start that is easy to understand.

There are some places that are better to start at than others, one of the most recommended places to start is the book John, it will tell you the story of Jesus life in a way that is easy to understand. There is a "21 Day Challenge" here at the Pocket Testament League that will send you a daily email to read through the book of John.

Reading tips:

Read the Bible passage slowly and carefully.
You may want to read the passage more than once.
It may be helpful to read the preceding or following passages to get the context.
Keep a pencil or highlighter handy so you can make notes, or underline key phrases or verses.

Reflect on what you just read and ask:

What’s the main point?
What is revealed about God or about me?
Which person is most like me? Why?
Which person is least like me? Why?

Did the passage contain an example to follow, a warning to heed, a promise to claim?
How can these verses apply to my life today at home, work, school or church?

Pray again.

Ask God to help you live out and apply what you have learned. Ask him to transform you. Pray about the discoveries that you found in his word and pray for your own needs and the needs of others.

Check out the discipleship tools to get help in your Bible study time.

It is good to keep a journal of what you learn during your Bible study.