A Beginner’s Guide to
Reading the Bible
WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by different writers who were inspired by God.
It is in two main parts –
The Old Testament stories the life of the Jewish nation of Israel, whereas the New Testament is about Jesus and the start of Christian faith and the church. Each book is split into chapters (big numbers) and verses (little numbers).
WHY READ THE BIBLE?
Reading the Bible is life changing. It contains revelation on who God is, why He created us, and how He’s shown His love for us. Along with prayer, it’s the most common way God speaks to people today.
WHERE TO READ IT
There are Bibles you can have for free in Holy Trinity Church, or you can read it online or using an app on your phone.
Modern translations are easier to understand - we recommend New Living, Good News or New International versions. You can read it anywhere and anytime but choosing a comfortable, quiet place and a time when you’ll be uninterrupted is beneficial.
HOW TO BEGIN
It may seem sensible to start at the beginning of the bible but that is not usually the best way. We think starting with a book about Jesus is the best place to start. We would recommend the book of Mark (second book in the New Testament). This is the shortest book about Jesus and will explain who He was, how He died and rose again, and what it means for us.
Another great book about Jesus is the book of John (fourth book in New Testament). Once you have read either (or both), we think reading the book of Acts (directly after John) is a good way to understand how the life of Jesus started the Christian faith and the church.
CREATING A RHYTHM
Reading the Bible when you are least likely to be interrupted and most awake is always best. For some this may be early in the morning, for others it might be in the evening.
Like reading a novel, reading for at least 15 mins a day will give you a better grasp of the storyline. Don’t worry if you miss a day, just pick up where you left off. It can be useful to pause at the end of each chapter and reflect on what you’ve read.
SOME KEY VERSES FROM THE BIBLE
“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.”
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of the glory of God. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. ”
“I am the way, the truth and the life...
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
PRAYING AND READING YOUR BIBLE
These two habits go well together and often a word or phrase from your reading will encourage you to pray. Whether you read first or pray first is up to you and of course you can pray before and after reading.
There are a couple of apps we like that can enhance your own prayer and reading;
Lectio 365 and The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, both of which can be read and listened to.
FIND OUT MORE
If you would like to understand more about the Christian faith, we recommend looking for an Alpha course in your local area at Alpha.org.
We run the Alpha course in spring and autumn each year. If you would like any help, contact us at: admin@staustellparish.uk