How to get started Bible Study?

[Called2Grace]

Hi,

I am a new Christian, and I'm not sure where/how to start or what to do when reading the bible. I bought The Message bible, but not sure how to study that, I also have a NIV study bible, which I think I will start with.

What steps do you take when you read your bible?

Should I pray first, then read, then make notes, pray then read again?

I'm not sure what order or how much to study each time....so any bible study programs that can be recommended would be greatly apreciated!

I want to know Christ, and I think knowing His word is the best way to do that, so I would love any tips you have!

[tel0004]

I would start by reading the four gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke John. I originally bought the message also, since I assumed the bible would be difficult to understand, and I started at the begining, Genesis. I then bought Todays NIV around the book of Kings, and I find that much more enjoyable. Maybe tonight read philipans or 1John in both books, and figgure out which one you like more. (its only about 4 pages). If you do read the NIV, have the message handy if you dont understand something. One of the things that I wish I had done more when I was reading it was study the parables more. I just read the parables, and said, thats a nice story about. . . If you dont understand what they truely mean, get on this forum, and make a post. There are several websites such as bible gateway and others that have bible reading plans, but I dont think its necessary, just start with the new testiment, and when you finish at revelation, go to Genessis.

[chrislife]

I agree about starting with the Gospels. Personally, I would read those four, and then Acts, partly because you get it "in order" of the books themselves, but mostly because you will then have a pretty good picture of the teachings of Jesus and the early Church.

I don't know that you need to do note taking or anything formal your first time through. I would pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and then just read for familiarity. God will help you to notice what He wants you to notice, I think. Later, when you already have familiarity, you can go back and study more specific topics, etc. But I think you might not get as much of the "flow" of the Gospels if you read with a study guide or note taking, the first time through.

---Christina

[Adstar]

Hi,

I am a new Christian, and I'm not sure where/how to start or what to do when reading the bible. I bought The Message bible, but not sure how to study that, I also have a NIV study bible, which I think I will start with.

What steps do you take when you read your bible?

Should I pray first, then read, then make notes, pray then read again?

I'm not sure what order or how much to study each time....so any bible study programs that can be recommended would be greatly apreciated!

I want to know Christ, and I think knowing His word is the best way to do that, so I would love any tips you have!

I came to accept Jesus when a friend gave me the New King James Bible NKJV to read. The modern English made it easy to understand. :)

Also if i was going to start again to read the bible as a new Christian i would start at the Book of Matthew the first gospel and continue onward to the end of the bible. It is very important for a new Christian to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and the wisdom of salvation first.

After you have read the New Testament then you can go back and start at the beginning of the Bible and read the Old testament.

Some people advise new Christians to read one gospel first but it is important to read the 4 gospels and then the Act's of the apostles and the letters. they contain much insight into the Words of Jesus.

The Best "study guide" one can have is the Holy Spirit. So it is very very important to ask for the Help of the Holy Spirit in prayer before one reads the scriptures.


Happy reading :)


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Called2Grace]

Thanks so much for your help, I had started in John, but I think that I will start at the beginning of the NT, and work my way through from there. I think that I will just read first then when I have finished I will start to concentrate on particular things.


Thanks again.

[Linnis]

I love starting off a Bible study with one of those devotional booklets, like Our Daily Bread or Wesley. I find it easy to take time everyday to read the one page story and look up the suggested Bible passage to read. If I d not have much time, that's about 10 minutes well spent, if I do have more time it can be a jumping point to reading the whole chapter for context or getting on biblegateway.com to see if the meaning changes for me if it's in a different translation.

I think using such booklets at the beginning can be really helpful. See what one person thinks from one passage of scripture and see if you take it the same or a whole new way. You do not have to keep notes but I like to, so I can come back and add things or change them as I learn.

Good luck!

[twistedsketch]

Don't rely on the notes in your Bible too much. Yes, they are there for a reason and they are helpful, but see what you can get out of just the passages at first. Remember, the holy text is not the notes, but the actual Bible verses.

[Called2Grace]

I have just finished half of Matthew, I found it to be really good, lots of instruction from Jesus. I had to use the notes thought becuase there were terms that I wasn't quite sure of - Magi for example. I guessed what it meant, only based on what I already knew.

I am having a lot of trouble with judging people at the moment, and it really brought that home to me reading Matthew. So I had a lot to pray about last night, and I will continue to pray until I get rid of this horrible sin from my heart. It certainly isn't the only sin, but this is where I am going to start.