The Bible can seem too big. You may wonder, “Where do I start?” A number of passages have stuck out to me as being essential both in regard to what makes Christianity what it is, and how to live it.
I have listed 24 Bible passages that have been essential to me in understanding Christianity, and beginning to live as a Christian. Important topics like sin, peace, joy, righteousness, life, spirit, victory, love, freedom, trials, listening, doing, faith, restraint of tongue and pen, surrender, prayer, witness, grace, and resurrection are covered. With this reading plan, you can get the Biblical basics in less than a month.
How to use this list:
1. Which Bible? I agree with others that the best translation is the one you’ll actually read.
a. Probably the easiest to start with is The Message, by Eugene Peterson, a very popular modern language translation.
b. Second easiest for me is the New International Version (NIV).
c. The translation most non-Christians think of is the King James Version (KJV). Some Christians still love it, and I say the Lord’s prayer in that style, but overall I think the KJV is too hard for most people to understand.
d. Later, if you get really deep into Bible study, you may want a Keyword Bible that underlines key words in the text, and includes a Hebrew and Greek dictionary in the back.
e. There are many formats of Bibles (besides the translation); Men’s Bibles, Study Bibles, Life Application Bibles, Keyword Bibles, Recovery Bibles- so far, I’ve found the study bible to be the best format, because when I have questions or need related verses, it’s got the answers.
f. If ever you don’t have a Bible around, but do have the internet, you can read your passages in almost any translation on the Bible Gateway at http://bible.gospelcom.net.
2. Read one passage per day.
a. If you do it in the morning, you’ll have the rest of the day to ponder the passage in the context of your daily activities.
b. If you read it at night, you may be able to reflect in relation to what has happened and what you’ve done that day.
c. It’s more important that you read, than what time of day you choose.
d. Some passages are longer than others, so this may determine in #3 below which ones you read on which days. Whole chapters take the longest.
3. You can read them in any order. The order below is only a suggestion, and may not be best for you. The passage or topic that interests you that day is probably the best one to read. Pray to God that his Holy Spirit will guide you both in choosing a passage, and understanding that passage.
4. Write the verses in your journal or notebook as you read. This will help you get the words into your brain. It may also help you see which words or phrases you don’t actually understand. If you don’t write them down, you may just skim over things without understanding it, and not realize you’ve done so. An additional aid is to read the passage aloud. This also helps you get into it, understand it, and develop questions about it. Plus, later when you feel uninspired or unsure about your progress, you can look back and see how you have searched God’s word – this will encourage you. You may be amazed at the spiritual insights you’ve had.
5. Think and reflect about the passage in writing. This is where you bring the passage into your mental and emotional life.
a. Did any words or phrases leap out at you?
b. Did any of them convict you (activate your conscience, and make you see how you haven’t quite measured up)?
c. What parts of your life does the passage speak to?
d. Does it give you different ideas about how to live?
e. Does it suggest a prayer you might say to God?
f. Is there anything you don’t understand?
g. You can pray for more understanding, and also take your questions to others who study the Bible.
h. On the other hand, sometimes the passage is crystal clear, and nothing comes to mind to write. That’s fine, as long as it’s not the norm for you. If you aren’t having any responses, pray that God show you what the passage means in your life.
i. FYI, I’ve tried doing this with typing and writing with a pen, and I find that writing with a pen is more personal, and somehow gets deeper into me than typing does (and I’m very comfortable with computers and writing on them!).
6. Thank God both for giving us his Word, and for helping you to understand it. Write or pray anything else that comes to you. Then you’re done! Check your day’s passage off on the list, and before you know it, you’ll be done with all twenty four.
7. Related verses. Many Bibles refer to other passages from ones that you read. If you want to go deeper in understanding and getting more context, you can follow these references. Be forewarned, this can take a lot of time! It’s quite valuable, and I do it often, especially when I’m doing a topical study on something like humility or love – but remember that your major goal here is to begin to read essential passages, so if this makes you run out of steam to finish your day’s passage, save it for later. If it really excites you, however, then go for it!
The List of Essential Beginning Bible Passages
Passage Topic Author
1. Romans 1:18-2:16 God he don’t like that Sin no-how no-way Paul
2. Romans 3 : 9-26 Is anyone righteous? Paul
3. Romans 5 (whole chapter) Peace and Joy, Life through Christ Paul
4. Romans 8 (whole chapter) Life through the Spirit, Conquering everything Paul
5. Romans 12 (whole chapter) A Life of Love Paul
6. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 What is Love? Paul
7. Matthew 5 Sermon on the Mount Matthew
8. Galatians 5 Freedom in Christ, Life by the Spirit, Fruits of the flesh vs. fruits of the spirit Paul
9. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 About the Bible Paul
10. 1 John 1:5-2:17 (not the book of “John” near the beginning of the New Testament, but “1 John” near the end of the New Testament) Light and Dark, Good and Evil John
12. The rest of 1 John Love John
13. James 1:1-18 The Value of Trials in Life James
14. James 1:19-26 Listening and Doing James
15. James 2:14-26 Faith Without Works is Dead James
16. James 3:1-12 Taming the Tongue, Restraint James
17. James 4:1-12 Surrender James
18. James 5:13-20 Faith, Prayer, Witness James
19. John 3:1-21 (now this is the John at the beginning of the New Testament) Nicodemus and Jesus, “For God so love the world…” John
20. John 20 (whole chapter) The Resurrection of Jesus John
21. Luke 24 (whole chapter) The Resurrection of Jesus Luke
22. Mark 16 (whole chapter) The Resurrection of Jesus Mark
23. Matthew 28(whole chapter) The Resurrection of Jesus Matthew
24. Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer Matthew
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
