top of page
What To Read When You Don't Know Where To Start
Opening the Bible for the first time can feel overwhelming
With 66 books, thousands of pages, and stories spanning thousands of years, it's easy to wonder:
"Where am I supposed to start?"
The good news is that there isn't one "right" place to begin. The best place depends on what you're hoping to learn
Whether you want to understand who Jesus is, learn practical wisdom, or discover how the world began, here's a simple guide to help you know exactly where to start reading
Read Genesis if you want to understand the beginning
Genesis is where everything starts.
Here you'll discover:
Creation of the world
Adam and Eve
Noah and the Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
Genesis lays the foundation for the rest of the Bible. Many people and events mentioned later make much more sense after reading Genesis.
Perfect for you if you want to understand where everything began.
Read the Gospels if you want to learn about Jesus
Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
If you're brand new to the Bible, this is where many Christians recommend starting.
The Gospels tell the story of:
Jesus' birth
His miracles
His teachings
His death on the cross
His resurrection
You'll learn who Jesus is and why His life changed history forever.
If you're only going to read one book first, many people recommend starting with John because it focuses heavily on who Jesus is and why He came.
Read Acts if you want to know what happened next
What happened after Jesus returned to heaven?
That's exactly what Acts answers.
You'll read about:
The coming of the Holy Spirit
The beginning of the Church
Peter's ministry
Paul's missionary journeys
How Christianity spread throughout the world
Acts feels almost like reading the sequel to the Gospels.
Read Proverbs if you want practical wisdom
Looking for advice you can use today?
Read Proverbs.
It covers topics like:
Relationships
Money
Work
Parenting
Speech
Self-control
Wisdom versus foolishness
Many people enjoy reading one chapter of Proverbs each day because there are 31 chapters.
Read Romans if you want to understand the Gospel
Romans explains the heart of Christianity.
Paul answers questions like:
Why do we need salvation?
What is grace?
What does faith mean?
Why did Jesus have to die?
What does it mean to live as a Christian?
It's one of the richest books in the New Testament and gives a deeper understanding of God's plan of salvation.
Read James if you want to put your faith into action
James is one of the most practical books in the Bible.
It teaches believers how to live out their faith every day.
Topics include:
Handling trials
Controlling your tongue
Showing kindness
Avoiding favoritism
Living with wisdom
Faith and good works
If you want a book filled with practical Christian living, James is a great place to start.
bottom of page