You want to read the Bible. You open it, land somewhere in the middle of Leviticus or the end of Revelation, and quietly close it again. That is not a failure of faith. It is a problem of not having a starting point.
Most people are handed a Bible and told to begin at the beginning. Genesis works for a few pages. Then the genealogies come, and the momentum goes with them. So here is a simpler way in.
Start with one Gospel, not the whole book
If you have never read the Bible for yourself, do not start a read-the-whole-Bible-in-a-year plan. Start with the Gospel of John.
John is written so that a person can meet Jesus clearly and decide what they think about him. It is twenty-one short chapters. At a chapter a day, you finish in three weeks. Mark is the other good option if you want the fast, action-forward version of Jesus' life.
Read the chapter. Don't stop to chase every question. If something lands, underline it. If something confuses you, mark it and keep going. Understanding usually comes on the second pass, not the first.
Read for fifteen minutes, at the same time each day
A short, repeatable habit beats a long, occasional one. Fifteen minutes is enough. Morning tends to work better than evening, because the day has not yet made its demands on you.
Pick a time, pick a place, and put the Bible there. If your phone is the reason your attention is short, read on paper or in airplane mode. The point is not to perform. The point is to show up.
Ask three questions after every chapter
You do not need a seminary degree to read well. You need three questions:
- What does this tell me about God?
- What does this tell me about people?
- What is one thing I can do or believe differently because of it?
Write the answers down, even badly, even in a note on your phone. Writing slows you down enough to actually think.
When you hit something you don't understand
You will. Everyone does. A few honest rules:
- Check the context first. Most confusing verses make sense once you read the paragraph before and after.
- Use a trustworthy study Bible or a plain-English translation. The New Living Translation and the Christian Standard Bible are both readable without dumbing anything down.
- Ask someone further along. A pastor, a small group leader, a friend who has read it longer than you have. Asking is not a lack of faith.
- Let some things stay open. The Bible is deep enough to hold questions. You are not required to have it all resolved in week one.
Read with other people
Reading alone is good. Reading with others is better. A small group, a Sunday class, or even one friend reading the same chapter on the same day will keep you steady when your own motivation dips.
If you are still working out where you stand with God, start with What Does It Mean to Be Saved? and then How Can I Know I'm Saved?. They answer the questions people are usually too polite to ask out loud.
A simple first week
- Day 1: John 1
- Day 2: John 2
- Day 3: John 3
- Day 4: John 4
- Day 5: John 5
- Day 6: Psalm 23 and Psalm 27
- Day 7: Rest, or catch up
That is it. Seven days, six chapters, two psalms. At the end of the week you will have read more of the Bible than most people read in a year, and you will have a habit you can keep.
The point is not finishing
The goal of Bible reading is not to get through the book. It is to know the One the book is about. Some days will be dry. Some days a single sentence will stop you in your tracks. Both are normal, and both count.
You are not behind. Start with John, tomorrow morning, for fifteen minutes. That is enough to begin.
Free printable
Seven days. One paragraph a day.
A one-page reading plan for getting into Scripture without a study Bible or a plan you will abandon. Read a paragraph twice, answer one question, tick the box. Print it, keep it in your Bible, and hand a copy to someone starting with you.
Get Foundations free. Free. Always.
The twelve essentials of the Christian life, in order and in plain words. No spam, no cost, unsubscribe anytime.
Got a question you're afraid to ask out loud? Tell us in our three-minute survey. It's anonymous, and your question may become a future post.