How to Read the Bible for Beginners

How to Read the Bible for Beginners

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12 and Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

I lovingly nicknamed my sister Jennifer my Bible Buddy. Before I ever committed to a deep dive into Bible reading, Jennifer modeled the journey for me. She set out to read the Bible from cover to cover and shared how she made time each day—either by waking up early or staying up late—to read. As I watched her commitment and witnessed her growing knowledge, I felt inspired to follow a similar path.

About seven years ago, I made the decision to read the Bible in its entirety. Knowing that I’m an auditory learner, I chose to listen to it the first time through. Since I enjoy audiobooks, I figured this would be a great way to start. I found a YouTube channel with a narrator whose voice I liked (yes, the voice does matter!), and I began my journey.

Each morning before work, while I put on makeup and straightened my hair, I listened. And as I listened, something incredible happened.

I became hungry for more. The more I listened, the deeper my desire grew to keep diving into God’s Word. I couldn’t wait to hear how each story unfolded. Some of the stories were completely new to me—even though I was raised in the church.

I was in awe of how deeply God loves His people. He never gave up on them. He always provided. He always made a way through every situation. And best of all, He still loves His children today just as much as He did then.

• God will never give up on us.

• God will always provide for us.

• God will always make a way for us.

  
  

I was changing. I began to experience firsthand how God’s Word is truly alive and active. I found myself wanting to live more like Christ. I talked more about God and His Word. I was growing closer to Jesus.

I realized that this is a lifelong journey. It took me about eighteen months to finish listening to the entire Bible—and I’m not stopping. Reading the Bible is something I want to devote my life to. Every time I read and reread a chapter, I discover something new—an insight I hadn’t noticed before.

I’m thankful for my Bible Buddies. I’m blessed to be surrounded not only by my original Bible Buddy, Jen, but now also by my husband! He’s started his own journey of reading the Bible from beginning to end. He inspires me every day to keep reading, learning, and growing.

Dear reader, I don’t know where you are on your Bible reading journey. Maybe you’re curious and don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve begun and are full of questions. Maybe you’ve read it cover to cover and are ready to begin again.

No matter where you are, know this: your Heavenly Father is delighted that you're seeking Him. He wants to reveal His love, His message, and His heart to you.

Helpful Tips:

#1: Find a Bible Buddy: Find someone to read Scripture with and discuss what you discover in the Word. Ideally, this person should share similar values and beliefs and be open and honest with you. You can help keep each other accountable and stay on track with your Bible reading.

#2: Invest in a Good Study Bible: Visit a brick-and-mortar bookstore and browse several study Bibles to find one that fits your needs. For example, I use a large-print ESV Women’s Study Bible that I love! It includes quotes from well-known Christian women and commentary that helps clarify stories that might be difficult to understand.

#3: Follow Up with YouTube: Resources such as The Bible Recap and The Bible Project are excellent for providing historical, geographical, and theological insights. These channels feature content from well-educated experts and can deepen your understanding of Scripture.

God's Living and Active Word