Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible? Tips

I can still see it clearly with a simple but big question: where is a good place to start reading the bible?. It was a cold Saturday morning. I had my favorite big mug of coffee and a warm blanket. My goal was simple: I was finally going to read the Bible. Not just look at it, but really read it. Taking a deep breath, I opened the big book to the very first page. I started with “In the beginning…” The first few chapters about the world being made were neat.

But then, things got hard. For instance, I hit the long, long lists of names. My eyes started to glaze over. I kept going, trying hard. While I read some fun stories in Exodus, I then hit the wall of Leviticus. It had old laws about sacrifices and skin problems. That was it. Consequently, I closed the book and put it back on my nightstand. I felt like I had failed. It just felt too hard and too confusing.

If that story sounds like you, I want to help you. First, you are not alone. In fact, many people have that same experience. Second, you are not a failure! You just started with a bad plan. And it’s not your fault. The Bible is not like a regular book that you read from page one to the end. Instead, think of it more like a big library with 66 different books inside.

These books were written over 1,500 years by about 40 different writers. Furthermore, the library contains history books, poems, songs, letters, and laws. It’s all mixed together. The order it’s in now is not the order it happened. So, starting at the beginning is like trying to learn about a country by reading a list of names. You’d get some facts, but you would miss the whole story.

The secret is not to force yourself through the hard parts. Instead, the secret is knowing where to start. This guide is meant to be a friendly chat. In other words, it is a set of simple tips from someone who has been there. We will forget the guilt and the feeling that you “should” know what to do. Instead, we will look at some good places to start. This will be based on what you are looking for in your life right now. Let’s find a path that feels less like a job and more like a fun trip.

Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible for a Beginner?

If you are new to the Bible, one answer is best: start with Jesus. He is the main person in the whole library. For instance, the Old Testament points to him, and the New Testament comes from him. His life story is told in the first four books of the New Testament. These are called the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each one is like a different story of his life. However, they all tell the same main story from a different view. Starting here is like starting a movie by meeting the main character. It helps you understand everything else.

Why Mark’s Gospel Is a Great Answer for “Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible”

If I could only give one starting point, it would be the Gospel of Mark. I always tell this to my friends who say, “I’m not a big reader.” Why? Because it is the shortest of the four Gospels. And it moves like an action movie. The writer, Mark, for instance, loves to use the word “right away.” The story, therefore, moves along at a fast pace.

You will not find long talks in Mark. What you will find, however, is Jesus in action. For example, you will see him heal sick people. He also has power over nature. He teaches in a way that surprised people. Reading Mark is like getting a highlight reel of Jesus’s life. It is exciting and simple. You can read the whole thing in an afternoon, and it will give you a strong base. In short, you will get a clear picture of who Jesus is and what he did. It is a great answer to the question of where is a good place to start reading the bible.

Reading John’s Gospel for Deeper Spiritual Meaning

After you read the action story in Mark, a great next step is to read the Gospel of John. If Mark’s book answers, “What did Jesus do?”, then John’s book answers, “Who is Jesus?” I have sometimes read a chapter of Mark and a chapter of John at the same time just to feel the difference.

John’s writing is more like a poem. He wants to be sure you know that Jesus is God. He starts his book, for example, by saying Jesus is “the Word,” who was with God at the start and is God. John also writes down some of Jesus’s deepest talks. Here you will find famous lines like, “I am the bread of life,” and “I am the good shepherd.” Reading John after Mark is like watching a fun movie. Then you watch a deep film that explains the meaning of the movie. This one-two punch of Mark and John gives you a very full picture of Jesus.

Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible for Your Life’s Needs?

The Bible is not just a history book. It is a living book meant to give comfort, wisdom, and hope for the real problems we face. The best starting place for you might change. Answering where is a good place to start reading the bible depends on the season of life you are in.

What to Read in the Bible for Comfort During Sadness or Anxiety

Life can be hard. There are days with worry, times of sadness, and moments where we feel all alone. For those times, the book of Psalms is a safe place for the soul. The Psalms are the songbook of the Bible. But they are more than just happy songs; in fact, they have all human feelings.

The writers cry out to God when they are angry. For instance, they ask, “My God, my God, why have you left me?” They also shout with joy and praise. They are very honest. Their honesty, therefore, lets us be honest with God, too. You do not have to act like you have it all together.

Here is a small tip for reading Psalms: do not try to read it like a regular book. Instead, just open it up and find a Psalm that fits how you feel.

• If you are worried, let the nice words of Psalm 23 calm you (“The Lord is my shepherd…”).
• If you feel unseen, read Psalm 139. It is a lovely reminder that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
• If you need to feel safe, read Psalm 91. It is a strong statement of God as our safe place.

I remember a particularly hard week a few years ago. I felt like I could not even pray. So, I just opened my Bible to the Psalms. I let its words become my own. It was a lifeline.

Finding Practical, Everyday Advice by Reading Proverbs

Sometimes we are not looking for deep comfort. We are just looking for a little wisdom. For example, how do I handle my money? How can I be a better friend? How do I deal with a hard coworker? For this kind of real-world wisdom, the book of Proverbs is the best place to turn.

Proverbs is a list of short, wise sayings. Reading it is like sitting down with a loving, wise grandparent. They have seen it all and want to share what they have learned. It is not about hard ideas. Instead, it is about living with skill in the real world.

A fun way to read Proverbs is to read one chapter a day for a month. Since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, this plan fits the days in most months. You will be shocked at how much a 3,000-year-old book can help you in your life today.

A Reading Plan to Understand the Bible’s Overall Narrative

After you read a few of Bible books, you might get curious. You might wonder how it all connects. The Bible has one single, big story. Once you see the main story, all the other parts start to make more sense. This is a simple, 10-step reading plan. It will walk you through the main plot points of the Bible.

Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible – The Old Testament Story Arc

1. The Beginning (Genesis 1-3): This is where it all starts. You see God make a perfect world. Then you see how the choice to not obey (sin) broke that world and our link with God. This sets up the problem that the rest of the Bible will solve.
2. The Promise (Genesis 12, 15): God does not give up on people. Instead, He chooses one man, Abraham. He makes a huge promise to him that He will make a great nation through him that will one day bless the whole world. This promise is the thread that pulls the whole story together.
3. The Rescue (Exodus 1-3, 12-14): Jump ahead a few hundred years. Abraham’s children, the Israelites, are slaves in Egypt. This part tells the fun story of the Passover. It tells how God, through Moses, saved His people in a miracle.
4. The Nation (Joshua 1-6): After years of walking in the desert, the Israelites finally enter the land God had promised them. This is the story of them becoming a real nation in a real place.
5. The Kings (1 Samuel 8-10, 16-17; 2 Samuel 7): The people ask for a human king. This part shows you Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. The story of David and Goliath is here. It also has another key promise God makes to David about a future, forever king.
6. The Downfall (1 Kings 8; 2 Kings 25): This part of the story is sad. Although God is faithful, the people and their kings repeatedly turn away from Him. This leads to the ruin of their main city, Jerusalem. They are carried off to other lands. It is the lowest point in their story.
7. The Hope (Daniel 1-6): Even in other lands, there are stories of hope and faith. The book of Daniel shows people trusting God even in a mean culture. It has famous stories like Daniel in the lions’ den.
8. The Return (Ezra 1-3; Nehemiah 1-2): After many years, God lets some of His people go back to their land. They rebuild their ruined city and temple. It is a story of starting over.

Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible – The New Testament Story Arc

9. The Savior (Luke 1-2; Mark): Now for the main event! After 400 years of silence, Jesus is born. Reading the birth story in Luke and then all of the Gospel of Mark gives you the full story of his life, his lessons, his death, and his return to life.
10. The Church and the Future (Acts 1-4; Revelation 21-22): This is the “what’s next.” Acts tells the story of how the first church began after Jesus went back to heaven. And last, skip to the last two chapters of the whole Bible, Revelation 21-22. See the lovely, hopeful picture of the end of the story. It is a new heaven and a new earth where God lives with his people forever.

Helpful Resources and Tools for Your Bible Reading Journey

Starting this trip is much easier when you have a few good tools. Indeed, you do not have to do this alone!

• Find a Bible Version You Understand: This is very important. Reading the Bible should not feel like reading another language. For a beginner, I highly suggest the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (NLT). They are both good versions that are written in modern, easy-to-read English. A great tip is to use a free Bible app. The You Version Bible App is great, for instance. It lets you switch between different versions with a single tap to see which one you like.
• Do Not Be Afraid to Look Things Up: You will have questions. That is a good thing! It means you are thinking about what you are reading. When you do not understand something, look it up. Websites like Got Questions are a great resource. For instance, they have clear, Bible-based answers to many thousands of common questions.
• Use Pictures and Videos to Help You Learn: Do you learn by seeing? If so, you will love The Bible Project. It is a group that makes short, animated videos. They explain the plan, themes, and message of every single book of the Bible. I try to watch their video on a book before I start reading it. It is like getting a map before you start a trip. It is a great, free resource.

Final Encouragement for Starting Your Bible Reading Journey

We have covered a lot of ground. For example, we have talked about where to start if you are new. We also talked about where to turn when you are sad and how to understand the big picture. It might still feel like a lot. So, let me leave you with this one last, simple thought: just start.

Do not let the fear of “doing it wrong” keep you from doing anything. Finding where is a good place to start reading the bible is less about a perfect formula and more about taking that first step. There is no perfect, one-size-fits-all starting place. So, pick one book from this guide that sounded good to you. Just one. Tonight, open it and read one chapter.

That’s it. Then see if you can do it again tomorrow. The goal is not to be a Bible expert overnight. Instead, the goal is to spend a few moments getting to know the Author of the book. He already knows and loves you completely. Indeed, He is waiting to meet you in its pages.

FAQ – Where Is a Good Place to Start Reading the Bible