How to Read the Bible,
Brent Warkentin
Lead Pastor
If you’re relatively new to Christianity, or maybe you’re in a season where you’re looking to really grow and learn more about Jesus, a good next step for you would probably be to start reading the Bible. And in order for the ideas in this book to really take hold and benefit your life, it’d help if you read it not just once–but on some sort of regular basis.
If the practice or habit of reading the Bible is new to you, it’s likely intimidating. This is a big book. It’s an OLD book. You’ve probably heard of some of the main characters, but learning to read these ancient stories in a way that actually benefits your life today–that is admittedly difficult and takes some practice and intentionality. So two questions you might be asking: Is the Bible even WORTH reading, and how should you actually read it?
If the practice or habit of reading the Bible is new to you, it’s likely intimidating. This is a big book. It’s an OLD book. You’ve probably heard of some of the main characters, but learning to read these ancient stories in a way that actually benefits your life today–that is admittedly difficult and takes some practice and intentionality. So two questions you might be asking: Is the Bible even WORTH reading, and how should you actually read it?
Is it Worth the Effort?
Short answer: Yes. Wherever you’re currently at in your Jesus journey, knowing where our faith comes from is important. And the more you read the Bible, I think you’ll notice this thread: The teachings of God, from the Old Testament and the New–they’re honestly just the best way to live. If you follow the teachings of Jesus, you can have a full and meaningful and joyful life. God WANTS you to live with joy and purpose and meaning, and this book can help you get there.
To be clear, your life won’t necessarily be EASIER if you read the Bible–in fact, following Jesus is HARD. But some hard things are worth doing, and I think you’ll find that the Bible–as old and big as it is–provides a trustworthy guide for the human life. If you haven’t read it before, just try, and I think you’ll agree with me.
And maybe you have questions about the trustworthiness of the Bible, or where it came from, or how these books were selected and put together–those are all great questions. I can’t give a quick and easy and concise answer here, but it’s important for you you know there ARE good and reasonable answers to those questions, so if you get stuck on any of those points, shoot me a message, and I’ll happily share some of my thoughts with you about those things.
To be clear, your life won’t necessarily be EASIER if you read the Bible–in fact, following Jesus is HARD. But some hard things are worth doing, and I think you’ll find that the Bible–as old and big as it is–provides a trustworthy guide for the human life. If you haven’t read it before, just try, and I think you’ll agree with me.
And maybe you have questions about the trustworthiness of the Bible, or where it came from, or how these books were selected and put together–those are all great questions. I can’t give a quick and easy and concise answer here, but it’s important for you you know there ARE good and reasonable answers to those questions, so if you get stuck on any of those points, shoot me a message, and I’ll happily share some of my thoughts with you about those things.
Which Translation?
How should we read this thing? First, I recommend selecting a specific version or translation. The original Bible–Old and New Testaments–were written in Hebrew and Greek, so when people translate it to English, the editors and scholars and translators have to make decisions about the best English words to get the ideas across in modern language. Sometimes it can be hard to accurately describe an idea from thousands of years ago, and that’s why we have so many different translations of the Bible today. There are more than 900 of them, and–as silly as that is–most of them are good and serve a specific purpose for people who are trying to accurately describe and help us understand the ideas of the Bible.
So, if you’re on Amazon or some app on your phone or standing in a bookstore somewhere starting at dozens of translations of the Bible, I’d recommend that you start with either the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or the New Living Translation.
So, if you’re on Amazon or some app on your phone or standing in a bookstore somewhere starting at dozens of translations of the Bible, I’d recommend that you start with either the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or the New Living Translation.
- The ESV is the most accurate of these three. It’s written at a 10th grade reading level, it might feel more “academic,” and it sometimes uses old English that isn’t as common today, but if you want an accurate and thorough translation, that’s a good choice.
- The New Living–it’s written at a 6th grade reading level, and it’s one of the easiest translations to understand. The language is casual and modern and flows pretty well, but because of that, sometimes the more detailed and nuanced ideas aren’t always as thorough.
- If you want something kind of in the middle, I like the New International Version. It’s written at an 8th grade level, and it’s kind of the best of both worlds.
Where to Start?
Ok: So the Bible IS worth reading, you have a few suggestions to choose from about a translation, now where do we actually start? A couple options for you.
First, start by selecting one book of the Bible. There are 66 smaller books within this big book. We believe the whole Bible is good and worth reading and given to us by God, but it’s also true that certain parts are easier to understand and apply to our lives today. So, here are some suggestions:
If you want to try something different–not just one whole book–check out YouVersion. This is a free app available on any mobile device, or you can also access it at bible.com. This app has hundreds of translations of the Bible, but it also has dozens and dozens of what they call reading plans. So you can choose to read verses about dating, or grief, or money, or parenting. The app will give you specific verses to read and a calendar to keep you organized. Some of these plans will take two or three days, while others take you through the whole Bible in a year or two. A lot of them also include videos or discussion questions or tools for further study. It’s a great tool, so look around and find a reading plan that looks interesting to you.
First, start by selecting one book of the Bible. There are 66 smaller books within this big book. We believe the whole Bible is good and worth reading and given to us by God, but it’s also true that certain parts are easier to understand and apply to our lives today. So, here are some suggestions:
- Mark: This is a short and engaging book telling stories from the life of Jesus.
- Proverbs: This is a collection of wise sayings. Most of them are super applicable and you’ve likely heard some of them before.
- Philippians: A good chunk of the New Testament was written by a pastor and church planter named Paul. He wrote this book, and it’s a short letter that is encouraging and easy to understand.
- Genesis: This is the very first book of the Bible, and it tells amazing and interesting stories of some of the foundational characters of our faith.
If you want to try something different–not just one whole book–check out YouVersion. This is a free app available on any mobile device, or you can also access it at bible.com. This app has hundreds of translations of the Bible, but it also has dozens and dozens of what they call reading plans. So you can choose to read verses about dating, or grief, or money, or parenting. The app will give you specific verses to read and a calendar to keep you organized. Some of these plans will take two or three days, while others take you through the whole Bible in a year or two. A lot of them also include videos or discussion questions or tools for further study. It’s a great tool, so look around and find a reading plan that looks interesting to you.
Stick With It
Now I admit that it can be challenging to stay committed to this. Your life will get busy, and any new habit takes a while to cement into your routine. If you’re serious about this, here are two pieces of advice to help make this stick.
First, choose a time and place and stick with it. Read at the same time every day, and make it a time that is realistic for you to actually maintain over time. For you maybe it’s first thing in the morning, maybe it’s right before bed, or maybe you leave work early and read in your car for 15 minutes. Choose a time, choose a location or a specific chair, and stick with it.
Second, here’s the quote: Read for transformation more than information. A lot of the Bible is actually pretty easy to understand, but parts of it aren’t. There’s no apology for that. Some of this stuff is hard to understand–just like chemistry or economics or even history. That’s ok. As you read, ask God to help you understand, and aim for application. Find one or two things that stick out to you, and focus on those things instead of getting lost in the details. This kind of reading isn’t necessarily about memorizing facts. Learn about Jesus. Let these stories teach you. It’s probably best to read a short passage (maybe just one chapter). Read it slowly, maybe read it two or three times. Let it sink in, and ask God to use these words to help you grow into the person He wants you to become.
There’s a famous verse from the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16 that says that all of the Bible is from the very breath of God, and it is useful to teach us new things, rebuke us when we need it, and correct and train us to live honorably.
It will take discipline, but it’s also worth it to read the Bible.
First, choose a time and place and stick with it. Read at the same time every day, and make it a time that is realistic for you to actually maintain over time. For you maybe it’s first thing in the morning, maybe it’s right before bed, or maybe you leave work early and read in your car for 15 minutes. Choose a time, choose a location or a specific chair, and stick with it.
Second, here’s the quote: Read for transformation more than information. A lot of the Bible is actually pretty easy to understand, but parts of it aren’t. There’s no apology for that. Some of this stuff is hard to understand–just like chemistry or economics or even history. That’s ok. As you read, ask God to help you understand, and aim for application. Find one or two things that stick out to you, and focus on those things instead of getting lost in the details. This kind of reading isn’t necessarily about memorizing facts. Learn about Jesus. Let these stories teach you. It’s probably best to read a short passage (maybe just one chapter). Read it slowly, maybe read it two or three times. Let it sink in, and ask God to use these words to help you grow into the person He wants you to become.
There’s a famous verse from the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16 that says that all of the Bible is from the very breath of God, and it is useful to teach us new things, rebuke us when we need it, and correct and train us to live honorably.
It will take discipline, but it’s also worth it to read the Bible.