Who Am I? I Am A Hungry For More.

Photo credit:
http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/whom-shall-he-make-to-understand-doctrine/

When I read the bible it is difficult to understand?  

Where do I begin? 

 How do I get more out of reading the Bible?

How do I study the Bible? 

These are a few primary questions I hear from new Christians starting to read the Bible.

First, may want to purchase or download a Bible you can use at home and at church. This may be a digital version on your iPad, tablet, or phone.  Or, it may be a printed bible to carry with you.  Ask your pastor or a friend from your local church which version is most often used in the services.  It will help you to easily follow along in the services.  



Where to begin?  The book of John is a great place to start reading the bible as a new Christian.  Some prefer to begin with the book of Mark, because it is often said to be the easiest of the gospels to read and understand while learning about the life of Jesus.  

As a new believer begins to read a selection of scriptures each day, it is important to read each selection within its context of the surrounding verses, chapter and book it is written.  God's Word does not contradict itself, it always agrees.  If you do not understand something, write it down.  As you read further, you may realize the context it is in, and begin to understand it.  If not, then ask your pastor or close friend from the church to help explain the scripture to you.  

Note:  The Bible is not a crystal ball!  Closing your eyes while letting it fall open to a place and letting your finger fall onto a scripture brings lack of understanding, confusion, and error.  Those who use this method for daily bible reading tend to take the verse or verses out of context, and can very well interpret it to mean something the author did not intend.  

Most churches offer Sunday School or Bible Study classes weekly.  If these are available in your local church, begin to attend them regularly.  Shorter than a regular service, they generally focus on teaching, rather than preaching, from the Bible.  This is where you will begin to learn the foundations of God's Word.  If your church does not offer these, ask the pastor to recommend a Bible Study for you to attend during the week, regularly.  

You will begin to grow in the Word of God as it becomes easier to read.  And, you begin to hunger more and more for it as it administers Life to you.   You will get to know who God is, you will come to understand who you are in Christ.