Reading the Bible - Where Do I Start?


Because the Bible is such a big book, it is easy to get lost. You can read it however you like but this is my recommendation for you. 

  1. Read first the whole gospel of Mark. It was Peter’s memory of Jesus’ life and Peter was a man of action. His is a simple fast-paced story. It will be easy to read. 
  2. After that circle back to the gospel of Luke. Luke was a doctor who followed the apostle Paul and then returned to interview everyone alive at the time to find out what happened. Then he wrote about it in detail. 
  3. Then read Luke’s follow up book, the Acts of the Apostles, which is the book about the beginnings of the church and tells the story of what Jesus followers did after He returned to heaven. 
  4. Then return to the beginning and read Genesis. It reads like a modern novel. You won’t believe what these people did. 

Don't have a Bible? No problem! It's only a click away. try www.biblegateway.com. This website as many great features. 

If you are visual learner, try www.bibleproject.com.  


Favorite Scripture Stories in the Old Testament 

  1. God creates man and woman – Genesis 2:4-25 
  2. First sin of man – Genesis 3 
  3. Noah and the Flood – Genesis 6:1-9:17 
  4. Towel of Babel, Origin of multiple languages – Genesis 11:1-9 
  5. Story of Abraham – Genesis 11:27-25:11 
  6. Covenant of Abraham – Genesis 15 
  7. Promise of Abraham’s son – Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-8 
  8. Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:16-19:38 
  9. Abraham offers Isaac – Genesis 22:1-18 
  10. Story of Jacob and the origin of the 12 Tribes of Israel – Genesis 29:1-35:26 
  11. Courageous Women of Faith: Tamar – Genesis 38 
  12. Story of Joseph of the Coat of Many Colors – Genesis 39-50 
  13. Story of Moses as a baby and younger man – Exodus 1-2 
  14. Moses goes to Pharaoh – Exodus 3-7:13 
  15. Plagues of Egypt – Exodus 7:14-11:10 
  16. Passover – Exodus 12:1-50 
  17. Israel departs – Exodus 12:51-13:22 
  18. Israel walks through the Red Sea on Dry Ground – Exodus 14:1-31 
  19. Water and Bread of Heaven: Manna – Exodus 15:22-16:36 
  20. Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1-14 
  21. The sin of the Golden Calf – Exodus 32:1-35 
  22. Israel approaches the Promised Land and refused to enter - Numbers 13:1-14:45 
  23. The Blessings and the Curses – Deuteronomy 28 
  24. Courageous Women of Faith: Rahab the harlot and the victory at Jericho – Joshua 2 and 6
  25. Israel crossing the Jordan River on dry land – Joshua 3 and 4 
  26. Story of Gideon and the Fleece – Judges 6-8 
  27. Story of Samson and Delilah – Judges 13-16 
  28. What happens when everyone does as he pleases, or, The Worse Story Ever – Judges 19-21 
  29. King David anointed – 1 Samuel 16 
  30. David Defeats Goliath – 1 Samuel 17 
  31. Courageous Women of Faith: Abigail and David – 1 Samuel 25 
  32. David and Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11-12 
  33. Wisdom of King Solomon – 1 Kings 3 
  34. Downfall of King Solomon and Division of the Kingdom – 1 Kings 11-12 
  35. The Prophet Elijah’s showdown with the Priests of Baal – 1 Kings 18-19 
  36. The Prophet Elisha – 2 Kings 2:1-8:15 
  37. Love Story: Hosea and Gomer – Hosea 
  38. Jonah and the Big Fish – Jonah 
  39. Favorite Psalms: 1, 19, 23, 27, 37 
  40. The Capable Wife – Proverbs 31: 10-31 
  41. Why do bad things happen to good people? – The Book of Job 
  42. God’s Thoughts on Sex and Marriage – Song of Solomon 
  43. Courageous Women of Faith: Ruth the Moabite – The Book of Ruth 
  44. Courageous Women of Faith: Esther and the story of Purim – The Book of Esther 
  45. Daniel – Daniel 1-2 
  46. Fiery Furnace – Daniel 3 
  47. Daniel and the Handwriting on the Wall – Daniel 5 
  48. Daniel in the Lion’s Den – Daniel 6 
  49. Judah goes to Babylon Captivity – 2 Chronicles 36 
  50. Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem – The book of Nehemiah

 

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament 

Like a “Where’s Waldo” puzzle, Jesus can be found throughout the Old Testament. Jesus was borne of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David and linked to them all in the scriptures. Here are a few of the places where we can find Him. 

  1. As God creates man, He said: “Let Us make man…” foreshadowing the Trinity of God. – Genesis 1:26 
  2. With the first sin of man came the first revelation of the Savior, striking the head of the serpent – Genesis 3:15 
  3. The Lord tells Abram (who later becomes Abraham) all the families of the earth will be blessed because of him. This is fulfilled through Jesus, Abraham’s descendant, who reconciles all nations to God through believing in Him and His sacrifice on our behalf. – Genesis 12:1-3 
  4. After Abraham’s demonstration of his great faith by his willingness to sacrifice his only son Isaac, the Lord repeats the blessing to him, that all nations will be blessed through him. This also foreshadows the sacrifice God makes of His only Son, Jesus. – Genesis 22:15-18 
  5. The Lord makes the same promise to Isaac, Abraham’s son, that through his descendants all nations would be blessed – Genesis 26:2-4 
  6. The Lord makes this same promise to Jacob, Isaac’s son, that through his descendants all nations would be blessed – Genesis 28:13-15  
  7. King David, Israel’s greatest king, desired to build a house for the Lord, but instead God gave him a greater promise, that his kingship would be established forever in his lineage and that the temple of the Lord will be built by his son, who would be King Solomon. This is why the Jesus is referred to as “Son of David,” it was the title of the Messiah. – 2 Samuel 7:11-16 
  8. Isaiah the prophet predicts the Messiah in several places. In Isaiah 77:10-14, he speaks of a virgin (here translated young woman) who gives birth to a son called Immanuel meaning “God with us” 
  9. Again Isaiah predicts a child born who will be God and king, linking Him to David’s throne – Isaiah 9:1-1-6 
  10. The Messiah will be a light to all nations so salvation can reach to the ends of the earth – Isaiah 49:5-6 
  11. Isaiah predicts the suffering of the Messiah, although sinless, He submits to afflictions for our sin, to make us whole – Isaiah 53:1-12 
  12. Messiah will be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:1-2 
  13. Messiah will come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey colt, to come and rule all nations, as Jesus did on Palm Sunday – Zechariah 9:9-10 
  14. “You are My son” talks of the Messiah who God anointed and made ruler of all nations – Psalm 2:1-8 
  15. The suffering and crucifixion of Christ is described here in great detail – Psalm 22:1-19 16. The prophet Daniel has a vision of the Messiah, who is human, yet given glory and dominion over all nations forever. The Messiah would not be a king over only Israel, but over all the families of the earth, linking Him again to the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David – Daniel 7:13-14

 

Here are some other ideas.

  • Feel unattractive? ... Psalms 139:14 
  • Feel hopeless? ... Jeremiah 29:11 
  • Feel weak? ... Philippians 4:13 
  • Feel lost? ... Psalm 119:105 
  • Upset? … John 14 
  • Weak? ... Psalm 18:1-29 
  • Lonely? ... Psalm 23 
  • Sinned? ... Psalm 51 
  • Worried? ... Matthew 8:19-31 
  • Anxious? ... Phil 4:4-9 
  • Unhappy? ... Colossians 3:12-17 
  • In danger? ... Psalm 91 
  • Depressed? ... Psalm 27 
  • Lack of Faith? ... Exodus 14 
  • Others unkind? ... John 15 
  • Need courage? ... Joshua 1 
  • Need Direction? ... Psalm 73:21-26 
  • Seeking Peace? ... Matthew 11:25-30 
  • Leaving on a trip? ... Psalm 121 
  • Labeled an Outcast? ... Romans 8:31-39 
  • Struggling with loss? ... Luke 15 
  • Struggling Financially? ... Psalm 37 
  • Discouraged with work? ... Psalm 126 
  • Lonely? … Deuteronomy 31:6 
  • Angry? … Romans 12:19 
  • Sad? … Romans 16:17-18 
  • Tempted? … 1 Peter 4:12 

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