How to Start Reading the Bible

The Bible, commonly referred to as God’s Word or Scripture, is our guidebook as Christ followers and is a key component to help us walk closer with Jesus. While it doesn’t answer all of our questions, it does provide direction to us about who God is, how to be in relationship with others, how to live with purpose, and how to receive eternal life.

One of the most daunting things we can be told is that we should read it more. But we can learn some powerful truths about the Bible, and that will encourage us to make it a part of our daily routine.

How to Start Reading the Bible – YouTube

How to Start Reading the Bible – Bible Plan

I just got Verse of the Day. Now what?

Person using Verse of the Day on phone

God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16

Many of us at YouVersion approach our daily devotional time with the Bible in three simple steps:

1. Receive.

Prepare your mind to understand what God wants for you, and open your heart to welcome His instruction. Try praying something like this:

Father, thank you for your Word. Please help me hear what your Spirit wants to say to me through it. And please show me where I can apply it in my life. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

2. Reflect.

Don’t just skim over the passage and move on. Really read it, carefully. Need help understanding? Just tap the verse to open it in the Bible App, where you’ll be able to:

Compare this verse in different Bible versions.

Read it in the context of its full chapter.

Listen to it in audio.

Even share it with others and get their thoughts.

3. Respond.

Once you’ve really listened to God’s Word, next let it speak to you. Think about what it means to your life. What should you do differently? Is there something you should stop? Maybe there’s something you could start. This is where life transformation happens.

Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it. If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave.

JAMES 1:22-24


4. Bonus! Start a Plan.

Verse of the Day is a terrific way to connect with God’s word. For your next step, consider a Bible Plan.

Plans give you a manageable portion of Scripture to read each day, along with devotional content that helps you reflect on what it means in your everyday life. We have Plans for almost every season of life, on almost any topic you might be interested in.

Discover Plans