PERSONAL BIBLE READING

By George Card

Before you can study the Bible you must have some basic knowledge of the Bible and that can only be gotten by reading the Bible. The question for those new to the Bible might be which Bible should they read? Well my answer is to read a Bible at your comprehension and knowledge level even if this means starting by reading a children’s Bible, (Yes I am serious). Other options are a condensed bible version, an overview, summary or synopsis of the Bible book. The most important thing is to get some basic understanding of what the Bible is about. There are different ways to read the Bible; I shall show you a few methods so that you can get started.

1. Straight forward reading: This means reading the Bible forward from the beginning all the way down to the end, which takes a long time. This is a good method, but I frown upon that method for new believers. I prefer if they start in the New Testament perhaps with the gospel of Mark because it is short and easy to read and can quickly give basic knowledge of the gospel.

2. Reading by books: This just means reading the Bible one book at time in no particular order, skipping the long or hard books for later on. This means reading many short books, but it is OK for this allows people to get the feel for the Bible.

3. Reading concurrently: This means reading a part of the Old Testament in concurrence with a part of the New Testament. This allows you to read some of both testaments each day.

4. Reading randomly: This means open the Bible and wherever it opens at, and then start reading there. This might not be very methodical but it is one way some people read it.

5. Read it with a purpose: This means reading the Bible with a topic or type of text in mind already. Like feeling sad and just going to the Psalms for some encouragement.

6. Read it by chapters: This means reading the Bible either one chapter at a time or by certain of the most popular chapters.

7. Read it as a project or homework: Think your Bible reading as a homework or project that will be graded. Keep a record or tally of your reading, maybe mark in your Bible your progress, that way you know your progress and keep on moving ahead by having established goals.

8. Read it in duplicate: This is a very long but highly effective way to read the Bible, you read one chapter or section one day, then the next day you read again the same part and the next one. Then the next day you read the prior part and then a new one, so every day you continue in such manner. You are actually reinforcing your prior reading.

9. Read it in reverse: This means start by reading at the end of the Bible, in revelation and then back book by book.

10. Read by different versions: Use a couple of different versions and read the same chapters in both versions, maybe using a parallel Bible. If you know another language, you could read the same chapters using a bilingual Bible.

11. Read it with markers: As you read use markers to highlight interesting parts. One color for this topic and another color for that other topic.

12. Read it chronologically: Get a Chronological Bible and read things in their proper timeline, as they happened.

13. Double read it: Read a passage in the morning and then read again the same passage in the evening.

14. Read it out loud: Hear the words of the Bible. Put some feelings into your voice, according to the mood of the passage. Read the part of a person and then read the other part of the other person with a different voice

15. Read it in playwright mode: Read the Bible as if you were visually seeing the characters speak and exchange those words. When God is speaking, switch yourself and think that he is saying those words to you.

Perhaps you want to read it in different ways, like one day you read it in one version and the next day in a different version. Try to be creative in your bible reading and mix the different ways to read it and you will never experience the sameness or boredom that happens when something becomes a tedious routine.

Make a habit of reading the Bible every day, even if it is only one verse, the point is to sustain the habit of daily reading no matter how little it may be. Once bible reading becomes a daily habit, it will be done every day without any struggle to find the time.