A life
The Gospel of John
Meet the person the whole book is about. John tells the story of Jesus slowly and honestly — the clearest first look at what Christians believe and why it matters.
Read John 1Home / Studies / How to Read the Bible
Start HereHow to read the Bible
Never opened it on your own before? That’s completely normal. The Bible isn’t one book — it’s sixty-six, written across centuries. You don’t have to read all of it, and you definitely don’t have to start on page one. Here’s a way in that actually works.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”Psalm 119:105
New here? Breathe.
You’re in exactly the right place.
Think of the Bible less like a novel and more like a small library — history, poetry, letters, and true stories, all gathered into one book. That’s why starting at the front and reading straight through is how most people begin, and where most people quit around chapter twelve of Leviticus.
So we’ll do it differently. Pick a doorway, read a little each day, and let it open up. No pressure, no church background required, no test at the end. Just you and God’s Word.
First things first
Don’t start at page one. Start with a doorway.
Each of these is a different way into the heart of the Bible. Pick the one that sounds most like you — you can always come back for the others.
The beginning
Genesis
Creation, family, promises, and everything going wrong. Genesis sets up nearly every idea the rest of the Bible comes back to, told as vivid ancient story.
Read Genesis 1The prayers
The Psalms
A hundred and fifty poems for joy, grief, anger, anxiety, and wonder. Read one a day. Whatever you’re feeling right now, somebody already prayed it here.
Read Psalm 23
Reading the map
How to read a verse reference
Those little numbers — like John 3:16 — are just an address. Once you can read one, you can find anything in the Bible in about ten seconds. Here’s what each part means.
JohnBook
3Chapter
:
16Verse
Book
Which of the 66 books you’re in. Every Bible has a contents page up front, so you can flip straight to it.
Chapter
The large number on the page. Books are split into chapters so any passage is easy to find.
Verse
The small number inside the text. Usually one sentence or line — the exact spot the reference points to.
A gentle on-ramp
Seven days to find your footing
One short reading a day for a week. Ten minutes is plenty. Miss a day? Just pick up where you left off — this is a path, not a test.
Day1
The Word
Who is Jesus — and why does John reach all the way back to “the beginning” to introduce him?
John 1Read
Day2
The story, fast
Mark moves quickly. In one chapter you’ll see the shape of Jesus’s whole public life.
Mark 1Read
Day3
Origins
The creation of the world and the first people — the source of images the Bible uses everywhere after.
Genesis 1–2Read
Day4
Two prayers
A song of trust and a picture of a good life. Read them slowly — maybe more than once.
Psalm 23 & 1Read
Day5
Lost and found
Three of Jesus’s most loved stories, all about things that are lost and the joy of finding them.
Luke 15Read
Day6
A voice in the fire
Moses meets God at the burning bush — one of the great turning points of the Old Testament.
Exodus 3Read
Day7
The heart of it
Paul’s summary of hope and love — a good place to pause and think about everything you’ve read.
Romans 8Read
Finished the week? Go back to John and keep reading chapter by chapter — you’ve already found your footing.
Making it stick
Six habits worth keeping
None of these are rules. They’re just what tends to help the people who keep reading, keep reading.
i.
Read a little, often
A few verses most days beats a three-hour marathon once a month. Small and steady is how it becomes familiar.
ii.
Keep your questions
Being confused is normal — this is an ancient library. Write down what puzzles you instead of stopping cold.
iii.
Notice, don’t rush
Reread a line that catches you. Ask what it meant back then, and what it might mean for you now.
iv.
Say a short prayer
Lots of people pause first and just ask God to help them understand. One sentence is enough.
v.
Read with someone
A friend, a youth group, or a study guide will show you things you’d never spot on your own.
vi.
Give it time
You’re not supposed to understand everything at once. Let it unfold over weeks, not one sitting.
One more thing
Which translation should I read?
The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, so we read it in translation — and the wording makes a real difference. There’s no single “right” one. Open a few side by side, read the same psalm in each, and keep the one that speaks to you most plainly.
NIVClear, balanced modern English. A popular all-round starting point.
NLTWarm and easy to read — great if you want plain, everyday language.
ESVA little more formal and literal, while still very readable.
KJVThe classic, poetic English many people grew up hearing.
Tip: a free app or site like Bible Gateway lets you compare translations in seconds.
Your turn
The best way to start is to open it.
Faith. Fellowship. Fun. Forever.
Choose a doorway. Read one chapter. Come back tomorrow. That’s the whole practice — and it’s enough.