How to Start Reading the Bible: Part 1
Recently, several of my friends have expressed a serious interest in committing to read and glean from the Bible. We know we’re commanded to seal it in our hearts, and the idea of truly digging in feels like an exciting opportunity. But how do we actually do start reading the Bible? Whether you’re new to it all or you’re coming out of a dry season, most Christians find themselves asking this question every so often.
I get it. The Bible can seem overwhelming at worst, and seemingly disconnected or irrelevant at best. What do we do with all these books, and translations, and divisions, and commentaries? It can feel like a lot.
But I believe that's really the enemy's plan: to keep you more overwhelmed by the Bible that you wouldn’t crack it open and give it a look. He’d hate for you to come to realize that the Word can comfort a broken heart, teach you wisdom for your relationships, and use it to send him running.
There are a million and a half ways to approach this Word, but I've listed a few square ones to help you get started.
1. Remember the Bible is living truth, not a checkbox
The best way to stick with reading the Bible is this: remember what it is. It's not a chore, or a task. It's God's literal breath on the page. Every word was divinely inspired. And it's His gift to us, like a locket from a father to his daughter with a tiny picture inside reminding her who He is until they can be together again. It's something we get to have, not a checklist item we can “get wrong.”
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2. Starting is better than sitting
I really believe where you start is less important than committing to starting. Every story in that book is that, a story. A story with historical contexts, people with personalities and woes, and *spoiler* most of them tie into other ones. If you do your research you could simply read the bible in order of reference to other books, following it like a trail to majesty. So choose a book. Don't put a timeline on it, research it's background so you know what's going on, and read it verse by verse, little by little.
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness
3. Count the costs
Have you ever done anything almost every day for a year? I don't mean brushing your teeth. I mean something constructive, something non-hygienic or physical. Well, I hadn't, until 2018. From the summer of 2018 to the summer of 2019 I began almost every day with stillness and scripture I committed to meeting with my heavenly father in complete isolation every day.
The point wasn't that moment. The point was what it birthed inside me. It changed who I am. And as a generation who rarely commits to anything daily beyond physical things, I think we have a hard time believing that things we can't see exist. At least at the gym we can see the muscles. And even those can come in a matter of months. But spiritual disciplines are more real and more impactful on our lives than we will ever realize. It's just that many of us haven't committed long enough to see those muscles grow.
The thing about commitment is that we always think about what it costs us to commit, but rarely do we think about what it is costing us not to. For me, the cost is just too high to not have Truth on my side. To not feel like I know the God claim to have given my life to. To not have something to prop me up when life is too heavy. The costs workout to me.
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
4. Bring in some people
While Bible studies or the like can't wholly satisfy your time in the Word, it sure helps when someone's hitting you up asking what you've been reading. I only have a few of those friends, but just knowing them, knowing they care enough to ask, knowing they expect to see me live out what I'm consuming-this keeps me on it. Get in a group, formal or not. Go through a book together, or simply start adding "What are you reading?" to your regular check-up with friends. You will all level up for it.
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
5. Read the Bible even when you sin
It's really easy for humans to let their shame destroy their loyalty. We see it in relationships all the time. Someone will cheat or give up on becoming who they want to be because of what they’ve done and a relationship that stood a chance is over. Sin crushes our belief for better. But hear me out: God is not surprised by your life. You’re not too dirty or lost to go to His Word. There’s no red tape around it waiting to send you away.
Even when you don’t want to, read it anyway. Hear me. Do. It. Anyway. Drudge yourself to that book anyway. Odds are you'll meet someone there who just wants to let you melt in His arms, and who wants to tell you He still loves you. He's still proud of you.
And it's from that place where you'll begin to see the value of actually building a foundation on the foundation we were given. It's then when you'll learn the words to sing over your broken heart because He gave them to us. It's there you'll be parented into wiser decision-making, not shamed for what you've done.
Ephesians 1:4 NLT
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. . . .”
So let's go
Pray this scripture over yourself:
Psalm 51:1-17
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
You just read the bible-woo! Want more guidance? Next on the blog: A list of bible studies to help you get started. Have a favorite bible study? Leave it in the comments for me to add to the list.
