Many of us have started reading the Bible with the best of intentions. Genesis goes well. Exodus is gripping. Then somewhere in the laws of Leviticus, or the long lists of names, the bookmark stops moving.
If that’s been your experience, you’re in good company, and there’s a better way to begin. The Bible isn’t a book to get through. It’s God’s Word, given so we can know Him and live His way. Here’s where to start, a simple way to read, and how to let what you read make a difference.
Why Read the Bible?
Paul told Timothy what Scripture is for:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT
The Bible teaches, corrects and equips. It’s also how God renews the way we think. As I put it in my book, Renewing Your Mind: Living Life Intentionally:
“…we take the task of reading the Bible seriously. It is an integral aspect required in renewing your mind.”
Where to Start Reading the Bible
The Bible is a library of 66 books, written over many centuries, and it isn’t arranged in reading order. Starting at page one works for some people, but most do better with a path like this:
1. Start with Jesus. Read one of the Gospels first. Mark is the shortest and moves quickly; John was written so that readers would believe in Jesus (John 20:31). Everything else in the Bible makes more sense once you know Him.
2. Then read Acts. It tells how the first followers of Jesus carried His message into the world.
3. Add a short letter. Philippians, Ephesians or James show how to live as a follower of Jesus.
4. Keep a Psalm or a Proverb alongside. The Psalms teach you to pray; Proverbs gives practical wisdom for everyday life.
5. Then go back to the beginning. With Jesus in view, Genesis and the story of God’s people read differently. After His resurrection, Jesus Himself showed His disciples how the whole of Scripture pointed to Him (Luke 24:27).
A Simple Way to Read Each Day
1. Choose a time and a place. A regular time makes reading a habit rather than an afterthought. In the book I describe my own:
“Pray, read your Bible, and meditate on the Word of God. Personally, I choose to do that first thing in the morning when things are still and quiet around me.”
Morning works for many people, but the best time is the one you’ll keep.
2. Pray first. Ask God to speak to you through what you read. A short prayer from the Psalms is a good place to begin:
“Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.”
Psalm 119:18 NLT
3. Read a manageable portion. A chapter, a story or a paragraph is enough. It’s better to read a little and take it in than to read a lot and remember none of it.
4. Read it in its setting. Notice who is speaking, who they’re speaking to, and what’s happening around the passage. A verse understood in its setting is a verse you can trust yourself to apply.
5. Ask three questions.
- What does this show me about God?
- What does it show me about people, and about me?
- What will I do about it?
6. Write one thing down. A sentence in a notebook, or on your phone, helps you remember what God showed you, and over time it becomes a record of His faithfulness.
7. Live it. This is where reading becomes more than reading.
Reading That Leads to Living
James puts it plainly:
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
James 1:22 NLT
He goes on to describe a person who looks in a mirror and then walks away and forgets what they saw (James 1:23–25). Reading without responding is like that. The goal isn’t to finish a chapter. It’s to let God’s Word shape what you do next.
Most of us know more of the Bible than we live. That distance between knowing truth and living it consistently in real life has a name in our ministry: we call it The Gap (opens in a new tab).
As I wrote in the book:
“In my life, I found that just working harder at being a better person didn’t really work so well. However, I found that the smarter I worked (the more I pressed into God, submitted to Him and His principles), the more I experienced His blessings.”
Reading His Word with a willingness to obey is one of the clearest ways to press into God.
Choosing a Bible Translation
Any faithful translation will do, but some are easier to start with:
- The New Living Translation (NLT) is written in clear, modern English. It’s an excellent first Bible, and it’s the translation used most in my book.
- The New King James Version (NKJV) keeps closer to the wording of the original text, in a more traditional style.
- The Amplified Bible (AMP) adds explanatory words in brackets, which can help when a passage is hard to grasp.
Many people read one translation day to day and compare another when a verse is unclear.
When the Bible Is Hard to Understand
Some passages will puzzle you. That’s normal, even for people who’ve read the Bible for decades. A few things help:
- Ask the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples that the Spirit would teach them and remind them of His words (John 14:26). The Spirit still helps believers understand God’s Word.
- Read with others. A small group, a friend or your church can help you see what you might miss alone.
- Keep going. Mark the question and move on. Understanding often comes later, as you read more of the story.
When you’re ready to dig deeper into a passage, see How to Study the Bible (opens in a new tab). And when a verse speaks to you, keep it close: How to Memorize Scripture (opens in a new tab) shows a simple way.
From Reading to a Renewed Mind
Reading the Bible is how God’s truth gets in. Renewal happens as that truth reshapes how we think and live, day after day. At Renewing Your Mind Discipleship Ministry, we teach a simple way to engage God’s Word so it changes how you live, in four parts. We call it The Process.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
