Tips for Bible Beginners

Hi Everyone!

Sorry my Sunday post is late.  I had a very busy weekend.  I'm sure you can relate.   Anyhow, being new to the bible study thing, I found it difficult last week (while reading Genesis) to keep track of who is who, which is why I found this link to be helpful: http://www.d.umn.edu/~jbelote/bible2.html  Check it out.  It's a nice visual guide and I found it helpful since I tend to be a visual learner.


Upon completing my study of Genesis last week, I started to question what part of the bible I should move onto next.  After all, it wasn't exactly clear since the Bible isn't like any other book.  It's not necessarily meant to be read from beginning to end.  So, I decided to ask around & get some input on the matter.  Out of the three different sources I went to, all suggested that I start with the Gospels, specifically with John.  So, that's what I plan to do.

One of my sources was from a blog I follow, Women Living Well.  The author, Courtney, suggests that people start with the four Gospels and leave some of the other Books like Exodus until the end since they can be complex with all of the Jewish law that is covered.  See her post, Where Do I Start in the Bible?, for more info: http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-do-i-start-in-bible-are-your-kids.html

Another tip I found to be helpful is to invest in a study bible, which I intend to do soon.  I think a study bible may be especially helpful to those like myself who are novices.  I was at Barnes & Noble this past weekend and noticed that they have a huge selection of study bibles.  I plan to research which one would suit me best before making my purchase.

Also, you might want to consider joining a bible study group or even forming one.  I think it is both helpful, in terms of understanding bible concepts and also a great sense of support when it comes to staying motivated in your studies.  We can all become overwhelmed and may even want to quit if we go at it on our own, but with the support from a group, it is less likely.

Until next week, happy reading!