The Bible is an enormous book, filled with thousands of chapters, hard-to-pronounce words, and strange genealogy that can seem overwhelming to someone who is trying to read the Bible for the first time. I’ve put together a list of tips to help you learn how to start reading the Bible.

How To Start Reading the Bible

1. Recommended Places To Start Reading the Bible for New Christians – Proverbs, Psalms, or The Gospels

As a beginner, I recommend starting with some of the books that are simple to read and relatively easy to comprehend. This will keep you from getting discouraged in your Bible-reading journey.

Proverbs

When I was a young girl, I can remember my grandfather saying that the best place for a beginner to start reading the Bible was to read Proverbs. I didn’t understand why at the time, but as I have got older and helped others study the Bible– I now realize just how helpful that was.

Proverbs is a book in the Bible that was (mostly) written by a man named King Solomon. There’s a story in the Old Testament where God asked Solomon for what he wanted. Instead of asking for riches, kingdoms, or gold, Solomon asked for wisdom. And wisdom he was given!

It was after this time that King Solomon began to write very wise sayings and advice–which is what we now know as the book of Proverbs.

I always learn something when I read Proverbs! Who couldn’t use more wisdom in their life? Proverbs is easy to read, simple to comprehend, and full of great practical life advice and wisdom.

Psalms

Psalms (Mostly written by a man named David. Psalms translates as “songs.” David was a musician and several of his writings are poetic, full of happiness and praise, and also full sorrows and struggles.) Check out my post on Psalms for New Moms.

The Gospels (Good News and Life of Jesus!)

Any of the Gospels (these include Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) These books talk about Jesus’ life on earth and they are each written by four different men –Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Most of these books have similar stories—just told through different accounts.

2. Read From a Physical Bible–not just Online or an App

There is something holy and sacred about holding the living Word of God in the palm of your hands. (I love having an aesthetically pleasing Bible!)

Here is one of my favorite Bibles! Green Study Bible

3. Pray When You Start Reading The Bible

When you read your bible, a great thing to do is to pray. Pray and ask God to speak to you through his Word and ask him to reveal to you what it means.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for giving us the Bible so that we could learn more about you and what it means to follow you. Holy Spirit, I ask that you would help me to understand these words.

4. Understand The Basics of the Bible Before You Read

Foundations of the Bible and Foundations of Christianity 

Christianity can be summed up from this verse in the Bible. 

For God so loved the world, he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

But why?  

Why did Jesus have to die?

Jesus died on the cross because of sin. We have all sinned, and the Bible says the cost of sin is death. Jesus paid the cost on the cross with his blood. 

We are no longer under the law of Moses where people had to sacrifice animals and other things to pay the cost of their sin. (more on that in a moment)

Jesus paid it all!

5. Bible Reading and Understanding is a Lifelong Process

Understanding the Bible, knowing the context of the passages, and apply the words and teaching to your life is a lifelong process. Give yourself grace as you study God’s Word. Be proud of yourself for even reading the Bible! Many people, and even many Christians do not read their Bible. There is no competition to see who can understand it the most, ect. 

It’s okay to not understand what you are reading. It’s okay to feel bored, accidentally fall asleep. Sometimes you just won’t FEEL like reading it.

In fact, most people feel this way–especially at first. I have found though, that the more I am in the Word, the more I want to be. The more time I spend in prayer, the more I desire to pray.

Once you realize how fulfilling and satisfying being in God’s presence and reading his Word is, the more you will desire to do so.

Remember, the enemy does not want you seeking God. He will try to distract you from spending that 10 minutes out of your day reading the Bible. (Steal, kill, and destroy is his life’s motto! John 10:10)

((PRO TIP– Don’t Try To Read the Bible from Beginning to End!))

When I was a preteen, I can remember wanting to read the ENTIRE Bible! I had a goal, and I would do whatever it took to reach that goal!

I proudly opened my bible and started at the very beginning–Genesis Chapter One Verse 1.

“In the beginning…”

…and you can imagine what happened after about 15 minutes.

It wasn’t long until I became confused and overwhelmed with all of the big words and lists of names. I didn’t understand what in the world was going on, and I was quickly discouraged. Fast forward to my adult years, and I did read the whole Bible—but not in chronological order.

The Bible is a giant book, and just looking at the thickness of the pages is overwhelming, even for me.

You don’t have to read the entire thing the first time you crack open the pages.

Start Reading The Bible Study Tools

Here are some great resources and practical tools to help you in your journey of reading the bible!

Bible Study Pad – A Notepad to help you take notes and reflect on what you read!

Bible Study Method : SOAPS – A step by step guide to help you deepen your study of the Bible

I pray you fall in love with God’s Holy Bible. I’m so thankful he left us his Word for us, so that we could have a guidebook for life, comfort when we need it, and knowledge of him.

Blessings