Most newly converted believers, when they pick up the thick Bible, have a bewildered look on their faces, not knowing where to start reading. They wonder to themselves, should they start from the beginning? And when will they ever finish reading it? Of course, there are also those who have believed in the Lord for several years, have heard many truths from the Bible, and want to make reading the Bible a part of their daily lives. However, they are unsure about how to read the Bible systematically and with a plan, and how to gain a deep understanding of the truths within it. Many people desire to grasp the secrets of reading the Bible, to be able to read it quickly and efficiently. Below, we would like to share some tips on reading the Bible, to help you achieve more with less effort using effective methods.

Quick Navigation

1. Reading the Bible in Order

2. Record Important Scriptures, Read and Ponder More

3. Watch movies, videos, and websites that explore Bible scriptures.

1. Reading the Bible in Order

(1) The Old Testament, Genesis chapters 1 to 4. These chapters tell us about the origin of the universe, the origin of humanity, why humans commit sins, and why there is life, aging, sickness, and death. If you are someone who knows nothing about the Bible or faith, you should start by reading these four chapters.

(2) The Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This Gospel chronicles the birth, ministry, work, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a chronological order, providing us with a comprehensive understanding of His work.

(3) The Gospel of John in the New Testament. This book focuses on recognizing the divine essence of Jesus Christ, enabling us to have a deeper understanding of Him. Additionally, compared to the other three Gospels, the Gospel of John contains more truths about how to obtain life, which greatly helps individuals in accepting the words of Jesus as life.

The above are the essential chapters that believers should read first. After reading these, you can proceed to read the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke, the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation. If you have completed reading these chapters, congratulations! You have gained a detailed understanding of the work of Jesus Christ and can be considered a “seasoned believer.” From here on, you can either start reading the Bible from the beginning in detail or choose to read specific portions based on your needs.

2. Record Important Scriptures, Read and Ponder More

(1) Record scriptures related to salvation and entering the kingdom of heaven, and read and ponder them extensively. Entering the kingdom of heaven is the greatest promise from Jesus to humanity and the greatest desire of those who believe in Him. Whether one truly understands the truths about salvation and entering heaven directly determines the success or failure of one’s faith in the Lord. Therefore, these scriptures must be read and pondered upon until understanding God’s will accurately. For example: “Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). “Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). “Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the son stays ever” (John 8:34–35). “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:4–5). “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

After reading these scriptures, we can ponder: All of us who believe in Jesus desire to enter the kingdom of heaven, so who will be able to enter? Pastors and elders often preach that we are forgiven of sins and saved by faith in Jesus, and that when the Lord comes back, we will enter the kingdom of heaven. However, Jesus did not say that believing alone would guarantee entry into the kingdom of heaven; He said that only those who do God’s will, who are honest, who have turned away from sin and are cleansed, can enter. Consider this: God is righteous and holy, and His kingdom is holy. How could God allow people who frequently commit sins to enter? Therefore, we can be certain that only those who have turned away from sin, become cleansed, and live according to God’s will can enter the kingdom of heaven. Realizing this, and comparing it with our current situation, even though we are forgiven of sins by believing in Jesus, many of us still frequently get angry, lie, and continue to sin, failing to live by the teachings of the Lord, and remain stuck in a vicious cycle of sin and repentance without truly breaking free from the bondage of sin and becoming people who follow God’s will. Hence, it is clear that we are not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven directly at this moment. Reflecting on this, many who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven might wonder: How can we be cleansed of sin and stop sinning? If you seek to understand this truth, the following video might be helpful. Please click to watch.

(2) Read the scriptures about how the Lord instructs people to comport themselves and believe in God; these verses should be read and pondered upon extensively. By practicing the Lord’s teachings in our lives and following God’s requirements, we can become people who abide by God’s will and eventually enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, when reading these scriptures, it’s important to take notes, read them multiple times, ponder upon them deeply, and put them into practice. For instance, “But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil” (Matthew 5:37). “Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).

These scriptures require us to live our lives without lying or deception, to be straightforward and genuine, to refrain from judging others, and to practice tolerance and patience towards others. As believers, we must constantly seek the truth and understanding of God’s intentions, thirst for righteousness, pray with honesty, and strive to love God wholeheartedly. The greatest pursuit in believing in God should be to love God wholeheartedly and earnestly satisfy God’s will.

If you wish to learn more about how Christians should live and believe in God, we recommend that you watch the video below.

(3) Regarding the scriptures on how to welcome the Lord’s return, it is important to read them extensively and contemplate them deeply. The greatest hope for believers is to welcome the Lord during their lifetime. Only by welcoming the Lord’s second coming can we have the opportunity to be taken into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, it is necessary to read and contemplate the relevant scriptures extensively. We should also remain watchful and ready to welcome the Lord according to His requirements, so as not to become foolish virgins who are abandoned by the Lord when He comes back. These verses include: “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27), “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Furthermore, the Book of Revelation mentions 7 times, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation chapters 2 and 3). After reading these scriptures, we can ponder how we should welcome the Lord. Is it enough to simply read the Bible every day, attend gatherings and pray on time? Can we welcome the Lord by persisting in such practices? Here, the Lord says that His sheep listen to His voice and follow Him. When the Lord returns in the end times, He will speak to the churches, knocking on the doors of people’s hearts with His words. If we can hear God’s voice and recognize it, we should open the door and welcome the Lord, thus joining Him at the feast. From the Lord’s words, we can see that the only way to welcome the Lord’s return is by listening to God’s voice. When we hear someone cry out, “Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him”—that is, when we hear the testimony that the Lord has returned and is speaking to the churches—we should, like wise virgins, go out and seek, investigate, and listen to the words of the returned Lord. Once we hear God’s voice, we should accept and obey it. That is how we can welcome the Lord and join Him at the feast. Reflecting on the examples of Peter, John, Nathanael, and the Samaritan woman who followed the Lord, they recognized God’s voice through listening to Jesus’ preaching. They were convinced that Jesus was the coming Messiah and then followed Him, receiving salvation from Him. Today, in order to welcome the Lord, we should also focus on listening to God’s voice. Wherever there is testimony that the Lord has returned and is speaking, we should go out and seek, investigate, and listen to God’s voice. Only then can we have the opportunity to welcome the Lord. At this point, some may ask, “How can we recognize God’s voice?” If you are interested in delving deeper into this, the video below will be helpful to you. Please click to watch.

3. Watch movies, videos, and websites that explore Bible scriptures.

(1) Watch movies and videos related to Bible scriptures. For example, there is a choral documentary called “The One Who Holds Sovereignty Over Everything," which extensively quotes the original scriptures of the Bible. Through the combination of visuals and commentary, it helps people understand the Bible. Since its production in 2018, it has won awards at multiple film festivals in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. From 27 to 50 minutes, this documentary narrates the major events in the Old Testament, such as God’s creation of the world, God’s destruction of the world with a flood., the eradication of Sodom and Gomorrah, the exodus of the Israelites, the proclamation of the law, and the promises given to the Israelites. This allows us to quickly grasp the primary works of God in the Old Testament. From 50 to 56 minutes, the documentary provides a brief overview of the birth of Jesus, His background, His main works, and the effects of His ministry. This film is particularly helpful for those who are just starting to read the Bible. As those familiar with the Bible know, both the Old and New Testaments contain hundreds of thousands of words and hundreds of chapters. It is not easy to quickly understand the main content of the Old and New Testaments. However, for new believers who are not familiar with the main content of the Old Testament, directly reading the New Testament may lead to confusion about God‘s works. This documentary, in just 30 minutes, can give us a general understanding and a rough outline of God's major works recorded in the Bible, providing a solid foundation for our future Bible reading. If you are interested in this documentary, please click to watch!

(2) Regularly visit websites and read articles that provide authentic interpretations of Bible scriptures. It is difficult to truly understand the truths and the heart of God in the Bible solely based on our own understanding. Throughout history, many spiritual figures have written works based on the understanding of previous generations. Considering the needs of those who have a passion for the Bible and a thirst for the truth, our website has established a section called “Studying the Bible”, which includes themes like “Scripture Sharing,” “Daily Bible Reading,” “Verses by Topic,” “Bible Stories,” and “Bible Quotes.” In these sections, a vast number of scriptures are explored, enabling us to delve deeper into the truths embedded within them and gain insight into God’s intentions. Not only will this enhance our understanding, but it will also provide spiritual nourishment for our daily devotions and address any perplexities we may have regarding certain passages.

At last, may you swiftly comprehend the truths within the Bible and gain the truth from the Lord as life. May God bless you abundantly!