The Bible is the world’s bestselling book for a reason!
Here are some tips to help you getting going with reading it
Introducing the Bible
The Bible is the world’s bestselling book, and like all great works of literature, it’s been enjoyed by people down through the ages and right across the world. It’s a big book and complex in places, but it’s also full of wisdom to help you get to know God and make sense of life.
The Bible is a library
The best way to think of the Bible is as a library, containing a diverse collection of writings in different genres, which speak to every season of life. But unlike a normal library, all the books are interconnected. Through their diverse perspectives, they tell a unified story about God and his interaction with this world.
Roughly speaking, the Bible falls into two halves. The first part, often known as the Old Testament, tells the story of the Jewish people up to around 400 BC. The New Testament picks up a few centuries later with the story of Jesus and his early followers. Whereas you would normally start reading a book from the first page, if you’re reading the Bible for the first time, we recommend beginning at the New Testament.
Open a Bible to about three quarters of the way through and you’ll find the Gospels. The word ‘gospel’ means good news, and these four biographies tell the good news about the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. Each of the gospels has a different style, but you could start with any of them. Mark is the shortest of the four, and Luke is a two-parter, with Acts picking up the story of Jesus’ early followers.
Here are a few tips to get you going:
Pace yourself
Don’t rush or expect to read a book a day. Maybe set yourself 5-10 minutes to read part of it. Find a quiet place by yourself where you won’t be distracted. And before you read, take a moment to pray and ask God to speak to you through the passage you read.
Ask questions
As you read, ask some simple questions. Such as:
What’s going on in this passage?
What does it tell me about God?
What does this tell me about people?
If this is true, what difference should it make to my life?
As you read there will be bits you find tricky or hard to get your head around. Note down the questions you have, but don’t let them get in the way of your reading.
I think of reading the Bible like completing a crossword. If you get stuck on one question, you don’t throw the whole thing out and give up. Instead, you move on to another question that you can answer. And when you return later to the first question, you’ll have filled in some letters that help you work out the answer. The Bible’s often like that. If you find part of it confusing, note it and move on, and maybe something you read later will fill in the gaps to help you understand other parts more clearly.
Read with others
Reading the Bible by yourself is a really helpful practice, and many Christians try to read a small section each day as part of their morning routine. But there’s so much to be gained by reading it with others, as people share perspectives and insights you would never have found on your own. And you will do the same for them!
Our Community Groups are great places to explore the Bible with others. Check out our available groups, and find one near you where you can learn more about the Bible.
Recommended Resources
There are many great resources to help you get to grips with the Bible. Here are a few suggested places to start.
The Bible: A Story that Makes Sense of Life by Andrew Ollerton
This accessible introduction explores why the Bible remains the world’s bestseller and how to read it well, as well as taking you through the storyline unpacking many of the key themes along the way.
The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account, by Bear Grylls
If starting with the Bible itself is too big a thing, then why not begin here. This retelling of the story of Jesus will bring the gospels to life in a fresh and compelling way, and give you a first step into the story.
Why Trust the Bible? by Amy Orr-Ewing
How was the Bible put together? Are the manuscripts reliable? Hasn’t it been changed down the years? If you’re wrestling with questions like these, then this book will be really helpful for you.
The Bible Project: Video resources to help you understand the Bible
If you’d rather learn through videos and podcasts, the Bible Project is a brilliant resource, with animated videos introducing each book of the Bible and conversations about many of the Bible’s themes.
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