Can someone please tell me how to read the bible?

Question

I have been a Christian for many years and have tried my best to read my bible every night. But I struggle because I never know what to read, and when I do I do not know the background behind what is going on. For example, when my pastor uses a scripture in his sermon he might say, "This is before Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt" but it doesn't say that anywhere around the scripture. Anyway, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

pray about it for starters. God will give you what you need to read. you could also try just starting at the begining.

Answer 2

You are to be commended for your diligence. To get the very best from reading the Bible it is best to start at the beginning. Book one Chapter one Verse one. Genesis 1:1 "In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Think about that for just a moment. That statement is the single most awe inspiring one in the Bible. Look around us Look into the sky at night. Look into a microscope and see all the creatures in just a drop of water. All of God creation is magnificent.

Read about 3-4 chapters per week. Within a year and a half you will have read the whole Bible first verse to last. This is not a fast pace. It allows you to meditate on what you have read and if necessary, and many times it is, research about what you have read.

Along with reading the Bible a teacher to understand what is being read will be helpful, so that what you are reading makes sense. Jehovah's Witnesses offer free Bible Studies as well as provide an excellent website to answer many of the questions people are asking about today's world conditions.

Answer 3

as a way to climb the stairway to heaven possibly you're able to swallow your delight and walk for the time of the flaw first. i do not realize this be conscious suitable bible idea that some human beings communicate about it does no longer make any experience to me actually or contextually. The bible is quite a number of sixty six books; made up of poetry, love songs, historic previous, own anecdotes etc, that persons have got here across functional in comprehend-how God. i don't think of you're lacking the point. i imagine they are lacking the point and for this reason they get indignant and shout. do not forget concerning the flaw, yet do not get stuck on it both. possibly sometime you'd be able to assist your acquaintances understand the bible better. Rabbits chew their pooh, bats fly, insects walk. The observations were no longer made by utilizing a scientist therefore a clinical rfile does no longer be envisioned besides the undeniable fact that the words are close adequate to get the which potential. What does it actually say? What does it advise? what's the context? Who became speaking? Who became listening? Is the which potential : the introduction is an excellent position? The bible is clean about that one. Who needs to get stuck on the first question even as there are such a great number of extra exciting questions that stick with.

Answer 4

Have you ever just picked up your Bible and said a prayer and thenopen it and read whatever it opened up to. I have it is quite interesting and usually you find you can understand it more than you thought. i would also suggest that you ask your minister if he has a daily scripture reading list, most do and it can be very helpful. On the subject of Moses leading the Isrealites out of Egypt, have you tried using the cocordance to look up key words and then find the Scripture, Like Moses, then check for the one that might say lead Isrealites from Egypt. The key words can help alot to find tha actual scripture. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

You are to be commended for seeking to understand the Bible! Even with God's direction this can be difficult to achieve, but Always well worth the effort!

If you're looking for help to understand the Bible, I know of several publications that can help you. If you aren't very familiar with your Bible, you may wish to start with more simple explanations that give general background, like:

My Book of Bible Stories; &
The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived.

In each of the above books, The information is presented in Chronological Order whenever possible, and the Scriptures each chapter is based on are listed at its end, so you can look them up & read them right after reading the chapter. Near the Scripture references are also questions to use in reviewing the chapter.
The "Greatest Man" book also contains a map that you can check, to help you visualize where Christ was during each experience! These 2 publications have really helped me to organize the historical order of the Scriptures in my mind.

Then there are several others (which go into more depth) that help one find the various Scriptures in the Bible on topics it covers, such as:

What Does the Bible REALLY Teach?

and many others. The three listed above (along with a few others) can be seen at:
http://www.watchtower.org/publications/publications_available.htm

For information on-line:
Go to the Web site listed below,
Click on "Index" to see the articles available on-line,
or do a search on the site for specific subjects.

Very little of the 'archives' are so far on-line compared to what exist in print. But, you can ask for copies of printed information at a local Kingdom Hall. ... Hundreds of Bible-based articles Are on-line here!

You might wonder how I feel about the Bible, & Bible study ... Well, I'm in total agreement with the 'sentiments' in:

True Teachings That Please God
--Where Can You Find Them?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/7/15/article_01.htm

I encourage you to check out Everything you are taught about the Bible & it's teachings, because there are Many ideas, but only One truth.

Sincerely,
"Make Sure of All things; Hold Fast to what is Fine!" 1 Th 5:21

Answer 6

Do you have a Bible with headings? I used to have the same problem as you, so I got myself an 'The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible' and an 'Living Word Study Bible'. They have been such a help. The first thing that I did was read from Gen1:1 to Rev 22:21. I know it is a lot of reading but it gave me a familiarity with the scriptures. Then I began to study my Bible by subject. I have never liked to just let someone tell me what the Bible says or means, I like to know for myself. I even found a passage that tells me to study for myself (2Tim 2:15). I have been doing it for years, and I know quite a bit and I do not let the preacher get away with using scripture in a wrong way. Like taking a part of a verse and putting a false meaning to it. It can get quite lively in church at times when I make him explain himself. He does not have to do that very often anymore. I made him study too.

Answer 7

Why not just read it cover-to-cover, like you would any other book? If the pastor says something in a sermon and the context of the scripture doesn't say what he says it said, why can't you ask him about it after the service? If he doesn't give an adequate answer, then research it for yourself. Doesn't your Bible say to prove ALL things?

If you haven't got this site bookmarked already, do it now: http://www.biblegateway.com/ You can cross-check many scriptures at once by chapter-and-verse, subject matter, or key words.

Answer 8

I struggled myself with that until I made a commitment to read the chronological Bible. It has given me a better understanding of how we must Obey the Gospel in the New Testament, because all along the Old Testament was preparing the way for the Gospel. How we need to follow exactly what the Bible says. Revelation 22:18, 19, 2 Timothy 3:16

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD39ZY/sr=8-1/qid=1151516117/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2177167-1513752?ie=UTF8

Answer 9

It doesn’t matter when, or in what order these things happened. Read the New Testament if you are a Christian. If you are a Jew read the Old Testament. The new Testament is about the life of Jesus, Christians are followers of the word of Jesus. Pay special attention to the part about Jesus advising you to love your neighbor. Notice that there is no except for in that comment. That is, he is asking you to love everyone equally. If you try to do this you will find peace. I you don’t or can’t do it you will not find the happiness you have been seeking. Its that simple. So simple in fact that most people read right over it and miss the most important verse in the whole bible. Love and blessings to you and yours.

Answer 10

How much time do you wish to devote?

There are 31 chapters in Proverbs... I try to read a chapter based on the corresponding day. Today is the 28th so I would read Proverbs 28 in the morning when I wake up. I also read one chapter from the Old Testament, one from the Pauline letters, and one from the Gospels.

I meditate Scripture as well. I devote one chapter a week to intense study. Verse by verse... word by word in Greek or Hebrew... I use concordances and archaeology to bring out the text in greatest detail and keep notes of my discoveries.

I also try to memorize 2 verses a week... so that my mind is constantly in prayer and I am focused on the Lord.

Answer 11

Hey, I used to have the same problem. A good way to study and read is to find a good devotional book at a Christian bookstore (one that you have to fill in the blanks) and use that. Also, set aside a time every day, that no matter what, you will read. (Like a date that can't be broken!) The book of John is a good place to start without any study helps at all. God Bless you for wanting to! If you ask Him for understanding, you will always get something out of your Bible reading.