I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
(Psalm 119:15–16; NKJV)

In my last post, I explained how reading the Bible is relevant today. But the Bible is a unique collection of books written by multiple authors, on multiple continents, spanning two millennia, and including several different styles of writings. How do you read a book like that? What approaches are helpful? Where do you start? Here are some suggestions.

One way to read the Bible is devotionally. I call it devotional because it comes from a heart devoted to knowing God. In my opinion, this is the most important way to read the Bible. Reading the Bible this way will make the general message of the Bible clear and will also attune our hearts and minds to God’s presence in our lives. This is why I think it is the most important way to read the Bible. Since the primary value of reading the Bible is knowing God, reading it devotionally positions us to know God by spending time with Him in His Word. (Ps 42:1; 119:14–16; John 15:1–11)

A second way to read the Bible is instructionally. God has revealed Himself to us for our own benefit, so we can know His plans and purposes for our lives. A lot of issues the world faces today come from humankind’s unwillingness to yield to God’s divine authority in our lives. From marriage and family, to career and finances, and civic duty and government, God’s Word speaks to every facet of human experience. Reading the Bible instructionally shows us how to enjoy life this side of heaven as God intended us to. (Deut 29:29; Matt 7:24–27; Gal 5:15–26)

A third way to read the Bible is theologically. God has also revealed Himself to us so we can know His mind and heart on creation, life, and the spiritual realm. Reading the Bible theologically differs from reading it instructionally because reading it instructionally is more about how God designed us to live while reading it theologically is more about answering the deep ‘why’ questions about life. Reading the Bible theologically glorifies God with our minds, helps us know God more, and prepares us for eternity. (Ps 139; Ecc 12:9–14; 1 Pet 1:22—2:3)

A fourth way to read the Bible is communally. God created us to live in community. In the Old Testament, God called Israel out from among the nations to live as a witness of His plans and purposes for creation and humankind. God has also purposed for Christ’s church to be a holy community that bears witness to the person, words, and works of Christ. Reading the Bible together strengthens our spiritual bond with one another and helps us look forward to fellowshipping with God and one another in eternity. (2 Tim 2:14; Eph 4:11–17; Col 3:1–17)

When we read the Bible, the focus is the overall message. Reading means covering a bit of material without getting bogged down in the details. We will have a lot of unanswered questions, which is why studying the Bible is also important (more on that in a later post). Since the Bible is a very large collection of books, following a plan is helpful to keep making progress and for tracking what we have already read.

For those just getting into reading the Bible, I recommend a 21-day to 30-day reading plan. Maybe start with one of the Gospels (which range from 16 to 28 chapters) and read about a chapter a day (some chapters are very long and might be better over two days). A couple other ideas for shorter reading plans would be First and Second Corinthians, Galatians through Philippians, and James through Jude.

I am a big fan of yearly Bible reading plans. These do require a bit more commitment and discipline, but there is no substitute for regularly spending time with God in His Word. There is also no substitute for reading the Bible for yourself. A good first year-long reading plan would be the whole New Testament, which requires reading 3 to 4 chapters a week. Other good year-long reading plans are Genesis through Deuteronomy or Job through Songs.

The Old Testament is longer than the New Testament and tends to be more challenging to read through. But it is just as valuable as the New Testament and Christians should be familiar with it, too. More advanced readers might try a year-long Old Testament reading plan. One way to do this is straight through. A lot of people like variety and break the Old Testament into sections, reading parts from each section daily or weekly.

Below are some year-long reading plans that can easily be adapted for different needs. There is a straight through plan for the whole Bible (my personal favorite). There is also an Old and New Testament plan that could easily be adapted to just the Old or New by reading only the Old or New Testament portion listed that week. And there is a sectional plan that has one reading from each major section of the Bible each week, which could also be used for a 4- or 5-year plan as well.

Reading the Bible is about spending time with God in His Word. By focusing on the overall message, we can get to know God through His Word and gain valuable insights for daily living and about the deep ‘why’ questions we wonder about. And reading it in community enhances our spiritual bond with those we read with. A plan is helpful, too. And however you read the Bible, remember to do it with a heart devoted to deepening your relationship with God.