Spiritual Action

If you have started to read the Bible, you have begun a great thing. Unfortunately, it is easy to get frustrated or defeated while reading the Bible if you don't know where to get started. Logically, the beginning seems like the right place to start, but that would be a mistake. Today I will show you a plan to read and understand the Bible. If you think it is arbitrary in the beginning, keep on reading. I have found a plan to help you understand what you read, making sense of the flow and thought of the Bible as you read.

First, when you start, don't begin at the beginning. Find the contents page and make your way to the Gospel of John. John is located about two thirds of the way through your Bible, right after Luke but before Acts. Reading the Gospel of John first is important because it familiarizes you with the most important character in the Bible, Jesus. Additionally, John helps you understand the whole point of the Bible, which is why most people read it.

Now, I believe you should start at one chapter a day. Don't start out too fast. Take time to read and then reflect. You should write down your questions and thoughts as you read each day. The Gospel of John should take you about a month to read if you read five days each week.

Once you are done with the Gospel of John, proceed to the next book after John, the book of Acts. The book of Acts records the story of the apostle's lives after Jesus left the earth. This will allow you to understand the rest of the New Testament, most of which are short letters written by the Apostle Paul. Acts should also take you about a month to read.

Next, switch gears and go back to the beginning of the Old Testament and read Genesis, the first book in the Bible. Genesis records the beginning of the earth and the story of how God used certain people to affect human history. Genesis is a little longer, so it will take you about two months to read. In Genesis, you will get to know characters like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Joseph.

After Genesis, switch gears again and fast forward to the New Testament book of Romans. The book of Romans comes right after the book of Acts, so you will know where to find it. It was written by the Apostle Paul. In the book of Romans, Paul traces Biblical history from Genesis to Jesus. A lot of what you have read in Genesis will help you understand Romans. Romans is considered by many to be the height of Biblical teaching.

If you would like to read more than one chapter a day, I would recommend reading a Psalm or a Proverb. Psalms is right in the middle of your Bible. the Psalms were a collection of songs, poems and prayers to God. Most of them are not very long and are easy to read. Or, you can read a Proverb a day. Proverbs is right after Psalms. The Proverbs are a collection of wisdom writings that help teach general truths about life. They are great to read for leadership skills, common sense and growing in your knowledge about how life works.

So far you have already read about Jesus, the apostles and the beginning of the world. Now I think it is time for you to pick where you want to read in the Bible. Remember, there are lots of different types of literature in the Bible, so take time to understand what you are reading. The Bible contains poetry, history, prophecy and much more. I have written a book to help you make sense of them all. Most importantly though, pray and ask God to give you understanding as you read. If you ask, God will help you.