How to approach reading the Bible?

How to Approach Reading the Bible for New Believers

Hello, my name is Michael Grant, pastor of Moores Corner Church. I just wanted to take a few minutes and discuss the best way to approach reading the Bible. I think the average advice someone would give to a new believer, or to someone who is just interested in learning more about the Christian faith, most Christians would say, hey, start reading with the Gospel of John.

And that's good advice. The Gospel of John itself says it was written so that men might believe. However, if you look at the Gospel of John, or know anything about it, it is deeply theological. It's a deep book.

So, someone who has no frame of reference, starting in John chapter 1, it's going to be difficult for them to understand. The message of believing Jesus is easy to pick up on, but the book is deep. It's very theological.

Why Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John May Be a Better Starting Point

Perhaps, it is better to recommend, start with Matthew, and then read Mark, Luke, and then John. And if you recommend that, they read through all four Gospels. That's very doable, and they'll get kind of the big picture.

So, I think that would be my advice to a new believer, or to someone who's just interested in learning more about Christianity, and the Church, and the Bible. Start with Matthew, then Mark, then Luke, and then John.

Why New Testament Reading Should Come Before the Old Testament

Now, as far as giving advice to a Christian, maybe you've been a believer for five years, ten years, but you've never read through the Bible cover to cover. The average Bible reading plan says, start in Genesis, and then read through the entire Scripture.

The problem with that is people get to Leviticus, and it all falls apart. Or maybe they get through Leviticus, and then they get to Numbers, or Deuteronomy, and then they quit. My advice would be, start with the New Testament.

Listen, reading the Old Testament is ten times harder than reading the New Testament. Twenty times more difficult, maybe. So, if you've never read cover to cover through the Bible, start with reading the entire New Testament, and then go back.

Genesis 1 Through 3 as the Problem and Matthew as the Solution

Or maybe read, and this advice could be given to the new believer, the person seeking, so to speak, or the Christian who just wants to read cover to cover. I think this would be my advice. Start with Genesis chapters one through three.

You get the creation account. You get the story of the fall, which is the problem. So, read Genesis chapters one through three. Then go to Matthew, where you get the solution, which is the Gospel. So, Genesis one through three.

Go to Matthew, and then just read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read through the New Testament, and then once you have read through the New Testament, then go back, and then read through the Old Testament.

The Goal Is to Get People Into the Word of God

So, that would be my advice. And again, this is my advice. It's my opinion. What's important is that people get into the Word of God. But we want to do what we can so that they are successful. Again, I'm Michael Grant, pastor of Moores Square Church.

Thanks for watching. Have a great day.