So, you’re curious about the Bible but feel lost about where to begin? Or maybe you’ve been around church for a while but haven’t truly explored the Bible on your own. Perhaps you’ve read bits and pieces, but it feels disconnected, or you’re a new believer eager to dive in and build a strong foundation.
If any of this resonates with you, you’re in the right place! After decades of guiding individuals to read, study, and enjoy the Bible, I firmly believe that what follows is the best Bible Reading Guide For Beginners (and anyone wanting to establish a lifelong habit of engaging with Scripture).
This guide introduces the “New Disciple Challenge.” It’s a plan I consistently recommend to pastors and youth leaders for those new to faith in Jesus. However, its brilliance lies in its universal applicability – perfect for anyone aiming to build a robust foundation for all their bible reading. I personally revisit this plan every few years.
Before we delve into the “New Disciple Challenge,” it’s crucial to address what many pastors typically suggest… and why I believe it’s a significant misstep! (I understand this might sound presumptuous, but I once gave the same advice, so please hear me out.)
The Typical “Beginner’s Plan” (Avoid This!)
- Choose one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John)
- Read one chapter daily
- Reflect on its meaning and application to your life
- Journal your thoughts
- Pray about it
- Continue with the next chapter the following day (You’ll finish in roughly 3-4 weeks.)
Sound familiar? Here’s why I consider this a less than ideal starting point…
While the Gospels are indeed an excellent place to commence (more on that shortly), I am convinced that advising someone to “read a chapter a day” is a surefire way to extinguish their enthusiasm for consistent bible reading!
Our brains aren’t wired to fully engage with reading in brief 3-4 minute intervals. (That’s the average time it takes to read a chapter in the Bible.) Imagine trying to enjoy a novel by reading just a page each day. Unlikely, right? Our minds begin to savor reading after about 10-15 minutes of immersion.
Furthermore, my life’s mission is to help people experience the Bible relationally, not merely informationally. Our time in God’s Word should be time spent with Him, not just accumulating knowledge about Him. When we embark on our bible reading journey feeling obligated to “decipher its meaning” and “find application points” daily, we risk treating the Bible like a textbook instead of a guide to a relationship.
Certainly, there will be days when God imparts specific lessons.
Undoubtedly, there will be days when He reveals areas for personal application.
And yes, there will be times when exploring background context enriches understanding.
But not every single day! Sometimes, God simply desires to spend time with you! After all, He is your Heavenly Father.
NOTE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD: If these paragraphs sparked your interest in a relational approach, I highly recommend exploring my video series – Relational Bible Study™.
Best Bible Reading Plan for Beginners – Image showcasing the title of the article and visual elements related to Bible reading.
The New Disciple Challenge: Your Bible Reading Plan for Beginners (Do This Instead!)
As previously mentioned, the Gospels are, in my view, the optimal starting point. However, I would include one additional book – Acts. (Easily located right after the four Gospels).
The New Disciple Challenge is designed to lay a lasting foundation for your bible reading journey. The Gospels offer four unique perspectives on the life of Jesus, penned by his early followers. Acts chronicles the events immediately following Jesus’ earthly ministry in the decades that ensued. In fact, Acts opens with Jesus’ final conversation with his disciples before his ascension.
Here are the three straightforward principles of the New Disciple Challenge:
Principle 1: Focus on Five Key Books
I’ve already named them, but here’s a brief overview of each book, adapted from my book How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible.:
- Matthew: Matthew, also known as Levi, a tax collector who became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, journeyed with Jesus throughout his approximately three-year earthly ministry. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah/King, highlighting how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies – both historical facts and predictions of future events. Understanding these connections is key for beginner bible study.
- Mark: Mark, or John Mark, was not among the original twelve disciples but accompanied the Apostle Paul on his first missionary journey. Mark’s Gospel focuses on Jesus’ humble servant heart – what He did, what He taught, and how He lived. This provides a practical and relatable view of Jesus for those new to bible reading.
- Luke: Luke, a physician and close companion of the Apostle Paul, stands out as the only known Gentile (non-Jewish) author in the New Testament. Luke is the “detail-oriented” writer, painting a vivid picture of Jesus as the perfect Son of Man. His gospel offers rich context and nuanced storytelling, excellent for deepening understanding in your bible reading plan.
- John: John, one of the twelve disciples (brother of James), refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.” His aim is to reveal Jesus not only as fully human but also fully God. Coming to know Jesus’ humanity and divinity through John’s gospel unveils that true, abundant, eternal life is found only through Him. This book is crucial for grasping the core message of the Bible for beginners.
- Acts: Luke also authored Acts. This book recounts the formation, growth, successes, and challenges of the early church. The initial chapters center on the ministry and teachings of Peter, one of the twelve disciples. The latter part focuses on the transformative conversion of the Apostle Paul (formerly a persecutor of Christians) and his three missionary journeys. Acts provides an exciting narrative of the early Christian movement, essential for a well-rounded beginner bible study.
Principle 2: Immerse Yourself in Each Book for Two Weeks
Dedicate a specific time each day. Ideally, aim for 30 minutes. If that’s not feasible, at least 15-20 minutes is necessary. Reading for only 5-10 minutes daily hinders narrative flow and makes it challenging to retain information from day to day. It’s akin to reading a novel just one or two pages at a time – unengaging!
Begin with Matthew and read it daily for two weeks. Considering a normal-paced reading of Matthew aloud takes approximately 2.5 hours, you’ll likely traverse the entire book 2-3 times within those two weeks. This repeated exposure is vital for grasping the narrative and details, especially for beginners to bible reading.
After Matthew, spend two weeks in Acts. Then two weeks in Mark. Next, revisit Acts for another two weeks. Continue with two weeks in Luke, followed by two weeks in Acts again. Then, two weeks in John. Conclude with a final two-week period in Acts. This structured approach makes the bible reading plan for beginners manageable and effective.
Over these 10 weeks, you will have read each Gospel 2-4 times (varying slightly due to book length) and the book of Acts 8-10 times. Your knowledge and comprehension of Jesus’ life and the early church’s initial decades will be firmly established. This repetition is a cornerstone of this bible reading guide for beginners, ensuring deeper understanding and retention.
Here’s an approximate breakdown of reading times for each of the five books (approximate):
- Matthew = 2 hours, 21 minutes
- Mark = 1 hour, 23 minutes
- Luke = 2 hours, 24 minutes
- John = 1 hour, 51 minutes
- Acts = 2 hours, 15 minutes
NOTE: These timings are sourced from this insightful blog post by Crossway.
Principle 3: Engage in Discussion
Our interest in any subject deepens when we discuss it. Think about your favorite hobby, sports, movies, or cooking. For any topic you love, you likely have friends you can converse with for hours.
The Bible is no different.
Talking about it fuels your engagement. Keeping it solely to yourself may lead to waning interest after a few weeks. This communal aspect is vital for a sustainable bible reading plan for beginners.
Ideally, forming a group of 2-3 friends to embark on the New Disciple Challenge together, perhaps meeting weekly at a café, is optimal. However, I’ve heard of people connecting daily via email or text for check-ins. Others discuss their bible reading through Zoom/Skype/Facetime, and some create private Facebook groups to share insights, learnings, questions, and applications. Finding a community is a key element in any effective bible reading guide for beginners.
Whatever method you choose, please find at least one other person to share this journey. You’re not meant to do this alone! This collaborative approach not only enhances understanding but also provides encouragement and accountability, making bible study for beginners a more enriching experience.
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