“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16–17)
One question I am often asked is “How do I read the Bible?” This is an honest question asked by those who want to know more of their faith, but are often confused by the contents of the Bible or intimidated by the sheer size of it (66 unique books by ~40 authors).
There are two helpful steps for getting started reading the Scriptures.
You need a plan and a people.
You Need a Plan
It would be unwise to try and run the New York City Marathon without a training plan. 26.2 miles is far too long to wing it and hope for the best. Similarly, the Bible is a large book––it’s actually a library of 66 unique books by ~40 authors. It’s far too big to wing it and hope for the best. You need a plan.
There are many helpful plans out there that can guide you in reading the Scriptures.
I recommend YouVersion Bible App. On this app, there is a wide selection of reading plans ranging from reading the entire Bible in one year to week-long plans on various topics. Download the app, pick a plan, and stick to it.
For what it’s worth, if you’re new to reading the Bible, you probably shouldn’t go for the Bible-in-a-year plans. Start small. I recommend that you start with the four Gospels. From there, you can continue to the rest of the New Testament and then onto the Psalms, Proverbs, and the rest of the Old Testament.
Our women’s ministry has also created a summer plan that will start on June 26. This plan will go through the New Testament letters in 8 weeks. This is a great opportunity to get started.
You Need a People
We were never meant to read the Scriptures alone. In fact, no one did until 580 years ago when the printing press was invented. Before that, people would read the Bible aloud in groups.
While I am grateful for the printing press and smart phones that allow us to be able to read the Scriptures on our own. It is still crucial that we read the Scriptures with others.
You need other people for at least two reasons:
First, you need people to whom you can ask questions.
The Bible can be very confusing at times. You will not understand everything you read. You will certainly have a lot of questions and doubts. Don’t let this confusion derail you. Lean on others to help you understand.
This is what pastors are for! Some of my favorite emails are questions about the Scripture. Email me anytime with your Bible questions.
Second, you need people to give you a fresh perspective.
I read a story of a group of American pastors who read the Bible with a group of Russian pastors. They were studying Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son. When they had finished reading the parable, the group was asked what they noticed. Not a single American noticed that the motivator for the prodigal son returning home was a famine. It seemed like a small detail to the Americans. But to the Russians, this is was the primary detail. The Russians knew the devastation a famine could bring into someone’s life. Without the Russians, the Americans would not have been able to fully understand the parable.
Similarly, a friend was recently telling me that she was reading the Bible with her friend who was a clinical psychologist. They were studying John 20 when Mary Magdalene is weeping at Jesus’ empty tomb. When Jesus saw Mary crying he asked her a series of questions: “Why are you weeping?;” “Whom are you seeking?” The psychotherapist said, “Jesus is asking the same questions I would ask! He is helping her locate and name her grief!” She then proclaimed, “Jesus was an excellent trauma counselor!”
These are the sort of insights you can gain when you read the Bible with others.
This is why we offer Growth Groups at Crossroads. These are groups where you can have relationships with other Christians as you read the Scriptures together. Join one of these groups and you will be amazed at what insights your friends can provide!
In addition, the previously mentioned Women’s reading plan will also include several Zoom calls where the women of Crossroads will be discussing what they learn as they read through the New Testament.
Getting Started
A plan. A people. These are two steps that will help you get started. There are certainly other things that will help along the journey such as a process for interpreting and applying what you are reading. But the first step is to simply get started. A plan and a people will get you started. What are you waiting for?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Will