📚 How to Start Reading the Bible (When You Don’t Know Where to Begin)
- Deb | KineticVibe
- Aug 20
- 7 min read
You bought a Bible.
You opened it.
And then you thought...
“Okay...where do I start?”
If that sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone.
The Bible is unlike any other book you've ever picked up. It's made up of 66 books written by different human authors across different periods of history, yet together they tell one incredible story—God's relationship with humanity and His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.
But when you're new to reading the Bible, more than 1,000 pages of names, places, laws, poetry, history, prophecy, letters, and teachings can feel overwhelming.
You may wonder:
Should I start on page one?
What if I don't understand what I'm reading?
How much am I supposed to read every day?
What Bible translation should I use?
And what in the world am I supposed to do when I reach all those names I can't pronounce? 😊
Here's the good news:
You don't have to understand the entire Bible before you can begin benefiting from God's Word.
You simply have to start.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105
A lamp doesn't necessarily show you the entire journey at once.
It gives you enough light to take the next step.
So let's take that next step together.
First: Don't Feel Like You Have to Start With Genesis
This surprises some new Christians.
Genesis is a wonderful book, and eventually you absolutely should read it.
But if your primary goal right now is to understand your new faith and get to know Jesus, you don't necessarily have to begin on page one and read straight through to Revelation.
That's where many well-intentioned Bible-reading plans get difficult.
You start Genesis.
The stories are fascinating.
You make it through Exodus.
Then somewhere around Leviticus...
things get a little harder. 😊
Suddenly you're reading detailed laws and instructions that can be difficult to understand without knowing their historical and biblical context.
You become discouraged.
You miss a few days.
And before long, the Bible ends up sitting unopened on the nightstand.
There's a better way for a beginner.
1. Start With Jesus: Read the Gospel of John ❤️
If you're new to Christianity, I recommend beginning with the Gospel of John.
Why?
Because before you try to understand everything about Christianity, you need to understand the One Christianity is centered around:
Jesus Christ.
John tells us exactly why his Gospel was written:
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...” — John 20:31
As you read John, you'll encounter Jesus healing people, teaching His followers, interacting with ordinary people, performing miracles, confronting religious hypocrisy, demonstrating compassion, going to the cross, and rising again.
Don't rush through it.
You aren't trying to finish an assignment.
You're getting to know Jesus.
Try This
Read one chapter of John each day.
After each chapter, ask yourself three questions:
What did I learn about Jesus?
What stood out to me?
How can I apply something I read to my life?
Write down your answers.
You'd be surprised how much you'll begin noticing.
2. Next, Read Mark: See Jesus in Action
After John, try the Gospel of Mark.
Mark moves quickly and gives a straightforward account of Jesus' ministry.
You'll see His miracles, His authority, His compassion, His teaching, His death, and His resurrection.
Reading another Gospel also teaches you something important about Bible study:
Sometimes reading about the same event from another biblical writer helps you understand it more clearly.
Don't think:
"Didn't I already read about Jesus?"
Think:
"What am I learning about Jesus that I didn't notice before?"
3. Then Read Acts: See What Happened Next 🔥
Have you ever finished a movie and immediately wondered:
“Okay...but what happened afterward?”
That's Acts.
Jesus has risen.
His followers have received their mission.
And now the early Church begins.
In Acts, you'll read about Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowering believers, Peter preaching, Paul's conversion, persecution, miracles, missionary journeys, and the Gospel spreading throughout the ancient world.
Acts helps answer an important question for new Christians:
How did Christianity grow from a small group of Jesus' followers into a worldwide faith?
4. Read Romans: Understand What Christians Believe
Once you've spent some time learning about Jesus and the early Church, move into Romans.
Romans goes deeper.
It helps explain:
Sin
Grace
Salvation
Faith
Righteousness
Life in Christ
The Holy Spirit
Christian living
Don't worry if you don't understand every verse the first time.
Romans contains deep theological truths that Christians can study for years and continue learning from.
Read slowly.
When something confuses you, make a note of it.
You don't have to solve every question immediately.
5. Visit Psalms When You Need Words for Your Heart 🙏
Psalms is one of the most beautiful places to go when you're experiencing strong emotions.
Happy?
There's a Psalm.
Afraid?
There's a Psalm.
Grieving?
There's a Psalm.
Thankful?
There's a Psalm.
Confused?
There's probably a Psalm for that too.
The writers of Psalms were remarkably honest with God.
They praised Him.
They questioned.
They cried.
They celebrated.
They asked for help.
And sometimes they simply poured out their hearts.
Psalms can teach a new Christian something incredibly important:
You can be honest with God.
Try reading one Psalm in the morning or before bed.
6. Read Proverbs When You Need Everyday Wisdom 💡
Proverbs is wonderfully practical.
It addresses things like:
Your words
Anger
Money
Relationships
Work
Pride
Friendship
Self-control
Decision-making
Wisdom
There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, which makes it easy to read the chapter corresponding with the day of the month.
On August 10, for example, read Proverbs 10.
On August 21, read Proverbs 21.
It's a simple habit that can keep God's wisdom in front of you throughout the month.
7. Don't Try to Read Too Much at Once
This is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make.
You get excited and decide:
“I'm going to read the Bible for an hour every single morning!”
Day one goes great.
Day two...pretty good.
Day three...you're running late.
Day four...
Well, you know. 😊
Instead of creating a Bible-reading routine that's impressive but impossible to maintain, start with something sustainable.
Try:
10–15 minutes a day.
Or even:
One chapter a day.
Consistency matters more than speed.
You aren't racing anybody through Scripture.
8. Ask God to Help You Understand Before You Read 🙏
Before opening your Bible, take a moment to pray.
It doesn't have to be long or complicated.
You can simply pray:
“Lord, help me understand Your Word. Show me what You want me to learn today, and help me apply it to my life. Amen.”
Then read.
Bible reading isn't merely gathering information.
You're seeking to know God better.
9. Keep a Notebook Beside Your Bible ✍️
You don't need an elaborate Bible-study system.
A simple notebook works beautifully.
As you read, write down:
A verse that stood out.
Something you learned about God.
Something you learned about yourself.
A question you have.
Something you want to pray about.
Over time, that notebook becomes a record of your spiritual growth.
Months later, you may look back and realize:
"Wow. God really has been teaching me."
🛒 Helpful Resource: A Beginner-Friendly Study Bible
If you're constantly stopping because you don't understand the historical context, unfamiliar terms, or meaning of a passage, a good study Bible can be extremely helpful.
Study Bibles include explanatory notes, introductions to each book, maps, timelines, cross-references, and other tools that help you understand what you're reading.
For someone just beginning to study Scripture, that extra guidance can make the Bible feel much less intimidating.
[INSERT AMAZON BEGINNER-FRIENDLY STUDY BIBLE AFFILIATE LINK]
🛒 Helpful Resource: Bible Tabs
Here's another simple tool beginners sometimes appreciate:
Bible tabs.
If someone says, “Turn to Philippians,” and you're quietly thinking...
"Is that near the front or the back?" 😄
You're not alone.
Bible tabs help you quickly locate each book while you're becoming familiar with where everything is.
Eventually, you'll start finding books without them.
Until then, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a little help.
10. Don't Quit Because You Don't Understand Something
You will encounter passages you don't understand.
Every Christian does.
Sometimes the answer becomes clearer when you continue reading.
Sometimes you'll need to look at the surrounding verses.
Sometimes a study Bible will help.
Sometimes you'll ask your pastor, Bible teacher, or another mature Christian.
And sometimes you'll simply write:
“I don't understand this yet.”
That's okay.
The key word is yet.
Don't let one difficult chapter convince you that the entire Bible is beyond your understanding.
Keep going.
A Simple Beginner Bible Reading Plan 📅
If you're wondering exactly what to read first, here's a straightforward path:
Step 1 — John
Get to know Jesus.
Step 2 — Mark
Watch Jesus' ministry and teachings in action.
Step 3 — Acts
Discover how the early Church began and spread.
Step 4 — Romans
Begin understanding salvation, grace, faith, and Christian living.
Step 5 — Psalms
Learn to worship, pray, trust, and talk honestly with God.
Step 6 — Proverbs
Learn practical wisdom for everyday life.
After that, begin exploring the rest of Scripture.
Go back to Genesis.
Learn the story of creation, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Continue into Exodus and discover how God delivered Israel.
As your understanding grows, the pieces begin connecting.
And that's when Bible reading becomes especially exciting.
You begin recognizing:
“I've seen this before!”
“Now I understand why that happened!”
“This points to Jesus!”
You're no longer seeing 66 unrelated books.
You're beginning to see one story.
What If I Miss a Day?
Read this carefully:
Don't quit.
That's it.
Don't turn missing Tuesday into missing the next three months.
You don't have to punish yourself by reading seven chapters Wednesday because you missed Monday.
Just open your Bible again.
Your relationship with God isn't a reading streak on an app.
Grace applies here too.
Come back.
You Don't Have to Know Everything to Begin ❤️
Maybe you've been looking at Christians who have studied the Bible for decades and thinking:
“I'll never know Scripture like they do.”
Remember:
They had a first day too.
They once had to learn where Genesis was.
They once had to discover the difference between Matthew and Malachi.
They once encountered words and passages they didn't understand.
Spiritual growth happens over time.
The goal isn't to become someone who can impress people with Bible knowledge.
The goal is to become someone who knows God, knows His Word, and increasingly lives according to it.
So open your Bible.
Start with John.
Read one chapter.
Ask God to speak to your heart through His Word.
And tomorrow...
come back and read another.
One chapter.
One truth.
One day at a time.
That's how you begin. 📖❤️
Keep Growing 🌱
As you continue building your relationship with God, you may also enjoy:
Each small step matters.
Keep reading. Keep praying. Keep learning.
And most importantly—
keep growing in Christ.
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