- What's going on here? (Who are the main characters in this passage? What events take place? What does Jesus say or do?)
- What does this tell me about Jesus? (How does Jesus show up here — his power, love, authority, humility...? What message do his words and actions carry? How do people react to him?)
- What does this mean for me? (Is there a challenge for my life in this story? What could I do differently if I took it seriously? How should I respond to Jesus' call to faith?)
- How can I live by this? (How does this story affect my everyday decisions? What should I change in my actions, thinking, or attitudes? How can I share this truth with others?)
Where and how do you start? The Bible is a whole library, and anyone can get lost in it on the first (or second, or third) read…
A library like that isn't exactly easy to read from A to Z (or from Α to Ω) — that is, from the first book, Genesis, all the way to the last book, Revelation. If you want to get into the Bible without drowning in it, here's a clear plan for how to do it!
The Bible in a nutshell 🎲
From the very start, the Old Testament tells us that we've gotten lost somewhere in our life stories. But it promises that God will find a solution. Even though the Old Testament stories are full of human loss, God doesn't give up on people. And in the end, he puts together a brilliant plan.
The New Testament brings the solution: it describes Jesus' life, death, and his work after death. People finally find the way back to God that they'd once lost… all the way to today!
Spiritual preparation 🙏
For the Bible to speak freshly into our lives and bridge the gap in time and culture between when it was written and the 21st century, we can't do without prayer. When we open the Bible, we turn to God to guide us as we read. You could pray something like this:
Dear God, I'm opening a book of stories about how you've met people throughout history. Please meet me too on its pages. Open my heart and my mind. Give me patience as I search for answers, and joy when I experience that the Bible's story is your letter to me for whatever I'm going through right now. Amen.
Like Star Wars: Start in the middle 📚
The Bible is a two-part volume — the Old and New Testaments — hiding an entire library inside it. The whole Bible culminates in the New Testament story of Jesus. That's why it's absolutely essential to get to know Jesus and his story first.
That's why I recommend starting in the New Testament with the Gospels: from the shortest, Mark, through Matthew, then John (with a side trip to John's first letter), to Luke, which continues the "after Christ" stories in the book of Acts. The different Gospel accounts help us see Jesus not just from one angle, but almost in 3D, always shaped by each author's particular purpose.
Let's get to it: The Gospel of Mark
Jesus' story as told by Mark is the oldest and the shortest. It's Jesus' ancient "biography," in which Mark sets out to present Jesus as the "Son of God" — someone who represents God on earth to such a degree that he is God himself. Mark's Gospel is fast-paced, concise, and full of action — try reading it in a way that lets you get pulled into the story and really think about what it means to follow Jesus. When you hit passages you don't understand yet, keep going and follow the main storyline. There'll be plenty of time for deeper study later.
When we read a biblical narrative, we ask four main questions:
Again, but different: The Gospel of Matthew
Why read the same story again, just differently? Because Jesus' story holds the key to who God really is, and by getting to know the Gospels, we'll understand God's actions in the rest of the Bible that much better.
Matthew's version of the Gospel brings a new perspective on Jesus and his Jewish roots: Jesus is the promised "messiah" — the one set apart for a special mission. Matthew writes for Jewish readers, so he refers to the Old Testament a lot. When you see "so that the Scripture would be fulfilled," stop and try to understand how Jesus fulfills God's promises. Spend time with his teaching, especially during the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7), where Jesus shows us how we're meant to live. What does it mean to be Jesus' disciple?
John the Mystic
The third Gospel version I'd recommend reading is the one recorded by John. John presents a fresh view of Jesus from God's perspective. John's Gospel is often considered the most beautiful and the most profound. As you read this Gospel, keep asking yourself: how would this change my outlook on life if it were actually true?
A quick detour to 1 John
Now's the time for a little detour. Turn to 1 John. It's not a narrative — it's a letter to Christians, full of practical Christianity. The stories of the Bible come together here in John's motto: "God is love." God is constantly caring for people. Our relationship with him shows itself in the fact that we, too, care for others with love. This letter is the heart of the biblical letters.
The fourth and final Gospel: Luke
Luke presents Jesus' story to his fellow Gentiles across two books: in this Gospel he focuses on Jesus' ministry, with a particular emphasis on people at the margins of society. Luke was a doctor and a historian who took great care to accurately record Jesus' life based on eyewitness testimony. Pay attention to the details Luke includes, and to his emphasis on compassion and joy.
To be continued: Acts of the Apostles
What happened after Jesus? Luke, as an ancient historian, continues his story by describing the history of the early church "after Christ." He's not just focused on the historical record — above all, he's tracking God's work through the Holy Spirit. We're living in that same "after Christ" era too. Notice how God acts, what he invites his followers into, and ask yourself whether he might be inviting you into that shared work too.
In the beginning: Genesis
Once we skip past the more complex letters still waiting for us in the New Testament, we'll dive straight into the beginning of the Old Testament. They say that in the 1st book of Moses, the book of Genesis, we find all the big themes for our lives: where we come from and where we're headed, or how to find forgiveness and meaning in connection with God. Keep in mind that these stories are older than the ones about Jesus. Some parts will be tougher and more complicated. Try looking at them through the lens of what you've already learned about Jesus. After all, the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament.
Set me free: Exodus (chapters 1–20)
The stories of God's kindness continue in the famous story of Moses. People are worn down by labor, enslaved to the system, until God leads them out into freedom. Stop at Mount Sinai, listen closely to the Ten Commandments, and then keep reading whatever books strike your fancy!
Worth checking out are the five-part book of Psalms, full of personal prayers, or the New Testament letter to the Romans on faith. You'll find more stories in Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Esther, or Daniel.
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