Learning to Read the Bible: Full Guide

A guide written in 2025 when I first decided to share my faith more openly 🤍

I have been in my faith walk since 2013.

It was only in 2024 that I decided to read the Bible from cover to cover.

Otherwise, it has taken me a minute to get here. So I suggest anybody who is working through learning to read the Bible… give yourself some grace. Offer yourself some compassion. It is not always easy to make your way through. You might have to pray your way through this just the way that you may have to pray your way through some of the really hard things that you do in life.

But I will say this… it is never wasted time.

It’s you and the Word.

You and His Presence.

When you commit to reading Scripture in context, praying before you start, and letting the Spirit lead, something begins to shift inside you.

Recently, I was watching a YouTube sermon from Pastor Danny Ramirez with Anchor Church in McKinney. And he did a sermon on reading the Bible. It spoke to me.

It spoke to me because up until last year… and this year as I read it again for the third time… yes, third. I have come to realize that every single time you open it back up, you may receive new revelation. Certain things that didn’t make sense will make sense. But they need certain things from you in order for that to happen.

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Reading in Context

I never thought about context until I did a one year devotional through the Bible app. The one year devotional that I chose gave me insight to who Paul was writing to when he wrote this letter. What they were currently battling with. What were the customs of the time.

How does this all make sense in perspective of when it was written and who it was written to?

Before… I liked certain verses cause they were catchy.

They were like memes.

Strong little one liners.

A drop of honey. A morsel of bread.

But I never ever realized how wrong my interpretation of some of these different verses were until I read what was above and what was below it. Who was it to. What was it was it for.

Like love is patience and love is kind… great wedding verse, right? Sure if you’re trying to explain what the spiritual gifts like prophecy, and speaking tongues is powered by.

But seriously… if you have been there, like I was, take it slow and read what’s above and below.

Ask questions if you have somebody who is rooted in the Word. Lean on them. It’s our way through. We help each other. Lead each other along the way.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” — Matthew 18:20

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Reading Expectantly… for Formation, Not Just Information

When you read, read expecting to be formed, not just informed.

This is not just a book to read and not take something away from it to apply. It’s not a fantasy book or a sci-fi book. It’s not a personal development book.

It’s a book that is filled with the living word of God.

Filled with His love. Filled with His character. Filled with His justice and His sovereignty. Filled with His blessings and promises.

This book is meant to help you renew yourselves each and every day.

To act in love.

To refute an idolatrous heart.

If you’re not sure how to do this, ask for help.

Say a prayer beforehand. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Simply ask for the Lord to guide you. Open my eyes. Lead me, Lord.

“Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.” — Psalm 119:17–20

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Reading Slowly and Repeatedly

I decided to read the entire Bible in the year of 2024. I dedicated my mornings to it. I wanted to build a habit of spending time with the Lord first thing in the morning. It did not go well every single day. There were definitely days where I think I may have fallen asleep while the Bible app was reading the section to me. But I did the best that I could.

I constantly moved my mind back to what I was listening to and what I was following along with.

When I finished, I read through a few books separately and then decided come Easter to read it again. This time with open eyes… literally. And the amount of relation and wonder that I received from the understanding of the words that second time around was breathtaking.

I am currently reading it yet again. This time through a chronological Bible that takes all the different pieces and puts them on a timeline. And yet again… I am finding so many things. Things that it feels like I have never read before.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

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What Gets in the Way

When Busyness Gets in the Way

Life gets full. This was something that was very relevant to me for a very long time. I simply did not have time to sit down and read the Word. I didn’t have time to sit down and read anything for that matter. I have four children, four dogs and two cats… I barely have time to remember to wash my own face. But this was important.

This was not about things of this world. This world is simply a breath in time. What is given through the Bible is understanding and love and grace. The acceptance of the Lord that will last an eternity. It’s my choice to be in relationship with Him. To be in His presence. To put that above all else.

And how did I rationalize this with my mind?

I would pray when I was in the middle of reading and say, “Please, Lord, you are the god of time and space. Grant me the energy to move through everything that I need to for the rest of the day so that I may remain in this time with you”.

When It Feels Complex or Confusing

The Bible can be intimidating.

It’s okay to take it piece by piece.

Find guided resources or trusted teachers to help you understand.

Just like with any subject… we learn through study, mentors, and practice. The same is true for Scripture.

But also… fact check for yourself.

That would be my one caution that I would put out there. We are asked to discern. We are asked to think. Do not allow yourself to be distracted and overwhelmed.

Pray for clarity. Pray for discernment.

The Lord will help you make it through the Word. He wants you to be in the Word. To be in relationship with Him. To understand Him and His character.

When You’re Digitally Distracted

And in this last one… oh how I have fallen into this one.

It is so easy, especially when you have the Bible app open and other notifications are popping up to get sidetracked.

As I was writing this, I quite literally looked up to the Google alert that popped up in top right of my screen. And I just looked down at my phone.

We live in a quick-fix world.

And I’m sure you probably have looked at the Bible like I have and said that this is not going to give me the quick fix that I need. But think about that for a second.

He gives us rest. He offers us a place to surrender our anxiety and our fear. He is willing to take those for us.

Let’s be real… You make time for what matters.

Ask yourself: What leaves me feeling refreshed and hopeful, and what doesn’t?

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For Those Who’ve Been Spiritually Hurt

I had to add this one in. This was something that was in a Bible lab study group. I decided to join the study group for fellowship on the basics. And it is heartbreaking to hear how many people have been spiritually hurt by different churches.

And I am one of these people. I am a woman who has been divorced twice. I am a woman who has felt the burn of that.

I am also the daughter of a woman who has felt the burn from a church that would not offer a baptism to her child before a surgery. They had rules and regulations in place and they would not help. They would not love. They would not follow The Way. They were too busy following their way.

And I might receive some issues for this, but let’s think about it… what did the Pharisees get Jesus on? He healed somebody on this Sabbath. He was going against the rules to heal somebody. To calm them. To take away their pain. And we are asked to walk like Jesus.

Many people have been hurt by religion or seen Scripture twisted for manipulation. Jesus confronted that same kind of distortion in His day… from Pharisees and teachers of the law who used religion as a weapon.

If you’ve been wounded by misuse of Scripture, I encourage you to go back to the Word Himself.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” — John 1:1–3, 14

Jesus is the Word. When you seek Him through Scripture, you find healing and truth.

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Understanding the Gospels

I wanted to leave you with one other thing here.

Where to start.

I think, by nature, we want to automatically open up to Genesis and just see how we make it through. Let me tell you… I have read Genesis a lot more times than I have read any other part of the Bible because I continually tried to say that I was going to read through the whole thing and only made it to Noah’s Ark.

What I suggest doing instead… start with the gospels. But pick one.

Each of the different gospels is written in a different way.

It was written for a different group of people.

The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) each give us a unique lens on Jesus’ life and ministry:

Matthew — presents Jesus as the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. This was mainly written for the Jewish people.

Mark — fast-paced and written for a Roman audience.

Luke — detailed and historical, providing a comprehensive narrative. Luke was a doctor. This is why he has written this in such a way. If this is something that you need, this is where you should start.

John — poetic and symbolic, emphasizing the divinity and mystery of Christ. John starts from the very beginning… as you have seen above. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” — John 1:1–3, 14

Beyond the Gospels, we meet writers like Paul, Peter, James, and Jude, each inspired to write letters of instruction, encouragement, and correction for the early church and for us today.

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Teaching the Word to Children

Finally… kiddos. We are creating their foundation.

First, they will catch more than their taught. They are watching what you do. They will probably pick up some of the things that you do. Watching the way that you interact. Listening to the things that you say and how you say it. It all matters.

Second, start them early. Give them a foundation that they can rest upon. Give them something that allows them to find peace. Allows them to find joy.

Let your children see and hear the Word in everyday life.

Here are a few ideas

• Watch VeggieTales or other Bible-based media together.
• Read from children’s Bibles that make Scripture approachable.
• Use Sunday School resources at home.
• Let them see you in your Bible.
• Let them hear worship music.
• Let them see you praise.

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Final Thoughts on Reading Scripture

Reading the Bible started as a thing that I needed to check the box for.

But along the way… I have learned that it is my time with Him.

He changes me for the better with each morning.

The hard ones.

The good ones.

The fast ones.

The slow ones.

Every single one. Whether I realize it or not. I am changing.

I am letting the living Word shape my heart, challenge my thoughts, and anchor my life.

So… start where you are. Go slow. Pray.

Ask God to lead and guide you.

He will. He always does.

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