A friend, also new to the Bible, asked where to start with it. Here’s what I wrote for her….
The most real PRAYER is a heart that is truly engaged with the asking or the seeking… your question is a prayer and the fact you ask it means you KNOW God is real and you’re wanting to know Him… that in itself means you’ve heard HIS voice calling to you… the recognition of His absence can be the very first sign of His presence… of His heart calling to yours…
Simply tell God (prayer isn’t formal though we might think of it being so) – it’s just a heart engaged chat – just tell Him you need Him and ask Him to make himself real to you… and ask Him to teach you about Himself in the Bible.
I love love LOVE teaching people about the Bible – it is His love letter to us – it’s not written like a soppy love poem but it’s how we get to know of His heart, His love, His character and His actions on our behalf.
I don’t know how much you already know of the Bible so forgive me if you know most of this – it is divided into 2 sections. The Old Testament is wonderful but can be a confusing place to start. It was completely compiled before Jesus came at the first Christmas. The New Testament was written by eyewitnesses of all that took place during His 3 year public life and the changes that took place in the world for the next 50 years or so. Each of those sections is divided into small books. In total 66 books by 44 (ish) different authors – all with a cohesive message.
All that is just to explain the place I would start at is the New Testament book of John – it is the 4th in the New Testament.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all contain lots of the same stuff but because they are written by 4 different people they contain different details and perspectives.
So find the Index… look for John (later on there are 3 more smaller books also called John – confusing right – so open to the one that is after Matthew Mark and Luke.
Just ask Him to help you see – and then start reading.
It’s not a long read – maybe an hour or two – much less than a novel – but it gives a great overview of who Jesus was and is. And the way to God the Father is through Jesus the son… as you’ll read in John.
I’ll be praying for you… you’re about to embark on what can be the uncovering of the greatest treasure and life giving change – ever.
Please feel free to ask me anything – to shout, scream, cry or declare what you don’t understand. I’m quite certain I’ll have thought or felt it all at different points in my journey.
He is awesome… you are greatly loved… and are being called.