Reading the Bible as a New Believer

  • Welcome

    We are so happy you asked for a Bible! One way we grow as a believer in Christ to a follower of Christ is: we read the Bible. Below are a few tips to help you start reading and to enjoy your new Bible.

    The Bible is God’s word to us. But the Bible is not like a regular book. You don’t start at the beginning when you start reading the Bible. It might seem overwhelming, but this is a guide for you to begin your reading plan.

Fun Facts

The Bible is a Collection of 66 books.

The 39 books in the Old Testament are the story of God reaching out to man and the coming Messiah who is Jesus.

The 27 books of the New Testament pick up the story beginning with the birth of Jesus.

How to get started reading the Bible?

  1. The best place to start is with the book called John. It one of the 4 gospels. The Gospels are the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After John, read the other 3 Gospels.

  2. The idea is to pick one book and work through it, just one chapter a day, or even a few verses a day to get started.

  3. After reading the 4 Gospels, then read Philippians, then Ephesians, and then Colossians. These books offer practical instruction for living the Christian life. Work at it one book at a time.

  4. Pray before you begin and ask God to speak to you through what you read. Simply say to God; “Lord show me what you want me to hear and understand as I read.  Lord, help me to apply what I learn. Amen.”

  5. Take notes and write down any questions that come to your mind. Get a journal to keep with your Bible. And remember: it’s not only okay, but good to write in your Bible.

Next Steps

  1. Keep reading your Bible.  As you make it a daily habit, you may want more resources, different versions of Bibles, Bible studies, Bible apps, etc.  Reach out to Pastor Lora at lora@myeternitydm.com for more Bible reading tips.

  2. Register for the “Understanding the Bible” class at Eternity Church.  Eternity Church offers many studies throughout the year, that help us grow as a follower of Christ. Another great place to start is to take the Alpha Course at Eternity Church.  In Alpha you’ll learn more about who Jesus is, why he came to earth, and why we follow him as Christians. You can register for Eternity studies here.

Good Books of the Bible to Dig In To

What you will find is the Bible tells the good, the bad and the ugly. God used a lot of rough characters to accomplish His will. That gives us hope that He can use anyone, including you and me if we listen and are obedient. It takes time and effort to grow as a follower of Christ. Each time you read God’s Word, you will grow.  My prayer is that you fall in love with God’s word, that it inspires you and soon becomes your guide for life, for thoughts, for behaviors and for relationships.  Have fun!  Welcome to the Family.

  • Filled with essential doctrine

  • Explains how everything began.

  • Filled with heartfelt prayers.

  • A great story about a faithful woman.

Modified from The Beginner’s Guide to Reading the Bible by Donna Jones.