Reading the Bible
New to the Bible?
How to start reading it (and not get lost)
The Bible is the most widely read book in history — but it can also be hard to know where to begin.
It’s long.
It’s ancient.
And it isn’t written like a normal book.
This guide will help you start reading the Bible for yourself, even if you’ve never opened one before.
What the Bible is (in one minute)
The Bible is a collection of books written over many centuries, but together they tell one connected story.
It’s about God, the world, and humanity — and why things aren’t the way they should be.
The Bible has two main parts:
Old Testament — the story of creation, the people of Israel, and the promise that God will one day put things right.
New Testament — the story of Jesus, his life, his teaching, his death, and what happened afterwards.
The whole Bible points towards Jesus. So the best place to start is with him.
Where should I start reading?
Don’t start at page one.
Start with one of the Gospels, the books that tell the story of Jesus.
Good places to begin:
- Mark — short, clear, and easy to follow
- John — helps you understand who Jesus is
- Luke — detailed and very readable
Read a small section at a time.
You don’t need to rush.
To help with this, we recommend a simple way of reading called Discovery Bible Study. We've also created a 30 day reading plan to help get you started.
A simple way to read the Bible
(Discovery Bible Study method)
This is a straightforward way to read the Bible that anyone can use — whether you believe in God or not.
You can do this on your own, or with others.
1. Read a short passage
Choose a small section (a few paragraphs).
Read it slowly.
If possible, read it twice.
2. Say what it says
In your own words, what happened?
Don’t explain it yet.
Just notice what’s actually there.
3. Ask a few simple questions
- What stands out to me?
- What do I learn about God?
- What do I learn about people?
- What surprises me?
- What don’t I understand?
You don’t need perfect answers.
4. Ask: what difference would this make?
If this is true…
- Is there something I should change?
- Is there something I should try?
- Is there something I should trust?
The Bible isn’t just meant to be read — it’s meant to be responded to.
5. Share it (if you can)
Many people find the Bible makes more sense when read with others.
You could ask:
- Who could I talk to about this?
- Who could read this with me?
Then read the next passage next time.
What if I find it confusing?
That’s normal. The Bible comes from a different time and culture, so some parts feel strange at first.
A few tips:
- Use a modern translation (NIV is a good one)
- Start with the New Testament
- Read small sections
- Ask questions
- Keep going
You don’t need to understand everything straight away.
What if I've got questions or want to go deeper?
Reading the bible will inevitably throw up questions. There are several different avenues we'd reccomend to explore more.
- Come along to BFPC on a Sunday Morning - details of services are here.
- Sign up to do an Alpha Course - an opportunity to explore faith with a group of others. You can sign up here.
- Make contact with church by filling out this form and ask to speak to someone about what you're reading.
