How to Start Reading the Bible: Bible Reading for Beginners

You’ve downloaded three different Bible apps, bookmarked a dozen reading plans, and bought that beautiful journaling Bible you saw on Instagram.

You start strong on Monday, feel confused by Wednesday, and by Friday you’re wondering if everyone else got a manual you somehow missed.

If you’ve ever felt like Bible reading works for everyone except you—you’re not alone. The gap between wanting to read Scripture and actually understanding what you’re reading? It’s real.

It’s important to start small when beginning to read the Bible to avoid burnout. Today, I’m sharing the practical framework that actually works for real life.

Why Traditional Advice Doesn’t Always Work (And Why That’s Not Your Fault)

Most Bible reading advice assumes you already know things. It assumes you understand the difference between the Old and New Testament, that you know who Paul is, and that you can follow along when someone casually mentions “the Epistles.”

So when someone says, “Just start anywhere!” and you end up in Leviticus reading about skin diseases and animal sacrifices, you’re left thinking, Everyone else understands this. What’s wrong with me?

I remember reading Leviticus as a new believer. I was so confused and honestly a little horrified. I thought I was supposed to understand every word, feel deeply moved, and walk away with profound insights. Instead, I walked away with more questions than answers.

The Bible contains poetry, history, letters, prophecy, and wisdom literature. It was written across 1,500 years in cultures that look nothing like ours. We expect it to read like a modern self-help book—clear chapters, bullet points, immediate application. But it’s not that. It’s something far richer and more complex.

You’re not behind. You’re not missing something everyone else has. You’re exactly where you need to be: starting. And that’s enough.

Creating a Reading Habit

Building a Bible reading habit is one of the most powerful ways to grow in your Christian faith and gain a better understanding of God’s Word. Like any new routine, it helps to start simple and be intentional.

Pick a specific time and place—maybe it’s during your lunch break, right after you wake up, or before you go to bed. The key is consistency.

If you’re not sure where to begin, a Bible reading plan can be a great guide. Having a plan takes the guesswork out of what to read next and helps you see the bigger story of Scripture unfold.

As you read, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, and take a moment to pray about what you’ve read. Ask God to help you understand the biblical truths and apply them to your daily life. If you miss a day (or a few), don’t let it derail your journey. Just pick up where you left off.

No matter where you start, the most important thing is to begin. Let your Bible reading journey be about knowing Jesus Christ, growing in faith, and letting God’s Word shape your life. The journey may feel overwhelming at first, but with each chapter, you’ll discover more of God’s story—and your place in it.

The Three-Part Framework: Read, Respond, Remember

This three-part framework takes 10-15 minutes and works whether you’re reading before the chaos begins or in the carpool line. It’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about doing it consistently, even imperfectly.

Part One: Read (Simple, Short, Strategic)

Start with these books—not Genesis.

I know it feels logical to start at the beginning. But Genesis jumps into creation, genealogies, and complex narratives that can feel overwhelming without context. Instead, I recommend starting with these books:

• The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — These four books are a great starting point for beginners, as they tell the story of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection from different perspectives.
• The Gospel of John — This is the best first book for beginners. John wrote it specifically so readers would believe in Jesus (John 20:31). It shows you who Jesus is, why He came, and what that means for you.
• Psalms — These are prayers and songs written by real people experiencing real emotions. When you don’t have words, the Psalms give you language to pray.
• Proverbs — Practical wisdom for everyday life. There are 31 chapters—one for each day of the month.
• 1 John — Short, reassuring, and covers foundational truths about God’s love and our identity.

How much should you read?

Five to ten verses is enough. Really. One short chapter. One Psalm. That’s it.

Better to read five verses slowly than three chapters rushed. Quality over quantity. You’re building a relationship, not checking boxes.

When you don’t understand:

• Read it twice. The second time often clicks.
• Try a different translation. The New International Version (NIV) is suggested as a good translation for beginners, along with the NLT and ESV. Sometimes seeing the same verse in different words makes everything clearer.
• Keep reading anyway. Understanding comes with time.
• Mark it and move on. You can always come back.

Try this: Read the same passage in two translations side-by-side. Pull up the same verse in both the NLT and ESV. Often one will make the meaning clearer than the other.

Part Two: Respond (Talk to God About What You Read)

Before you begin reading, start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart, give you understanding, and guide your thoughts. Prayer helps you focus, seek guidance, and prepare to receive what God wants to show you.

This is where Bible reading transforms from information into conversation. You’re not just collecting facts about God—you’re actually talking with Him.

Here are four simple questions to ask after you read:

1. What does this tell me about God? (His character, His heart, His ways)
2. What does this tell me about people or myself? (Our nature, our needs, our tendencies, and how we must recognize and resist sin as part of spiritual growth)
3. Is there a promise to hold onto? (Something God says He will do—God’s promises deposit hope in our hearts and remind us of His faithfulness)
4. What’s one thing I can do today because of this? (A simple, practical response—applying God’s Word impacts our daily lives and helps us live out our faith)

Let me show you what this looks like. Take John 1:12: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

• About God: He gives. He welcomes. He makes us His children—not employees or strangers.
• About me: I can receive. Believing isn’t just mental agreement; it’s receiving a gift.
• Promise: If I receive Jesus, I become God’s child. That’s my identity, and through Jesus Christ, I am promised eternal life.
• One thing today: When I feel like an outsider or imposter, I can remember: I’m His child.

As you reflect, remember that God’s Word is a light that guides us through difficult times, offering hope and direction.

That’s it. That’s the whole process.

Some days you’ll have profound insights. Other days you’ll think, “I have no idea what to write.” Both are okay. Just write: “God, I don’t understand this yet, but I’m here.” That’s enough.

Part Three: Remember (Take It With You)

After we read, we close the Bible, and within thirty seconds we’ve forgotten everything because life happens. Kids need breakfast. Emails demand attention. The moment passes.

That’s why we need a simple system for remembering.

Try these:

• Write one sentence in your phone notes
• Take a photo of the verse
• Set it as your lock screen for the day
• Text a friend what you read
• Put a Post-it note on your bathroom mirror
• Say the verse out loud while getting ready

You’re not trying to memorize (though that’s wonderful if you do). You’re training yourself to think about God’s Word throughout your day instead of only during your reading time. Remember, God’s Word is a foundational guide for spiritual growth and helps you apply biblical principles to everyday life.

The goal is simple: let what you read in the morning travel with you into the afternoon. The message of the Bible is relevant to people all over the world, offering encouragement and guidance no matter where you are.

What to Do When You Still Don’t Understand

Here’s what I wish someone had told me: Not understanding doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re human reading an ancient, Holy Spirit-inspired text. Even the confusion is part of the journey.

But here are practical strategies for when you feel lost:

Look for context. Read the chapter before and after your passage. Check if your Bible has a book introduction (most do). Ask yourself: Who wrote this? Who were they writing to? Why? Understanding that Paul wrote letters to specific churches with specific problems changes how you read his words.

Use free resources. The Bible Project on YouTube creates short animated videos explaining every book of the Bible. Bible apps like YouVersion often have commentary built in. Study Bibles have notes at the bottom explaining difficult passages. Don’t be afraid of help—even mature Christians use these tools.

Start a questions list. Keep a running list of what confuses you. Look up one question per week. Ask someone further along in their faith. Some questions won’t have perfect answers, and that’s okay. Faith doesn’t require complete understanding.

Give yourself permission to skip and return. If a passage makes no sense, mark it and move on. Come back in six months. Your understanding grows as you grow. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:2 about giving “milk, not solid food” to those who aren’t ready for it. You’re not meant to understand everything on day one.

What you don’t need:

• A seminary degree
• Hours of uninterrupted time
• Perfect understanding before you start
• To figure this out alone

This is why we need each other. The Bible was written to communities and meant to be understood in community. You’re not supposed to do this alone.

Start Where You Are

Friend, here’s your invitation: start this week. Open the Gospel of John. Read five verses. Ask the four questions. Write one sentence in your phone.

That’s it. That’s enough.

You don’t need the perfect morning routine. You don’t need to understand everything. You don’t need to feel spiritually enlightened every time you open Scripture.

You just need to show up—imperfectly, consistently, honestly.

God meets you in the confusion. He speaks through His Word even when you don’t fully grasp it. And every time you open Scripture, you’re saying, “I’m here. I want to know You.”

That simple act of showing up? It changes everything over time.

You’re not behind. You’re beginning. And that’s exactly where faith starts.