What You Need:
1. A Bible-Try reading several different translations. You can test them out on bible.gateway.com. Choose one that you can easily understand. I recommend either the English Standard Version (ESV), New International Verson (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), or in some cases The Message. (If you click on the link you will be able to see a the variations of each translation of the well-known verse, John 3:16.)
2. A Notebook- I know journeling is not for everyone, but you don't have to write pages and pages of notes, maybe jot down a thought or a question, what is weighing heavy on your heart, your prayers...but you will be amazed to see how God really does move through His Word, and writing it down will help you see...and remember!
3. A Bible Reading Plan- Some days you will just want to pour over the Psalms, or devor a certain book, but if you have a reading plan it will help you stay disciplined in your devotion time and ward of feelings of being overwhelmed and temptations to just give up.
4. A Bible Study or Study Aid-There are some great devotionals out there if you prefer a devotional on a certain subject/theme (like Freedom, parenting God’s-way, building your marriage, etc).
I would love to know if I can help you further, or if you need a Bible. Do not hesitate to ask--it would be a true joy to be able to send you a Study-Bible totally free!
Here is a 6-month reading plan, broken up into 2-week sections, that should help you get started if you have never really explored the Bible on your own. These writings, stories and chapters are relatively easy to read and understand, which will help you gain confidence that the Bible was written for YOU! These are passages that are often referenced in sermons, or commonly quoted, and will help you understand the context regarding these popular verses and stories.
The Life and Teachings of Jesus:
Day 1, Luke 1: Preparing for Jesus' arrival
Day 2, Luke 2: The story of Jesus' birth
Day 3, Mark 1: The beginning of Jesus' ministry
Day 4, Mark 9: A day in the life of Jesus
Day 5, Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount
Day 6, Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount
Day 7, Luke 15: Parables of Jesus
Day 8, John 3: A conversation with Jesus
Day 9, John 14: Jesus' final instructions
Day 10, John 17: Jesus' prayer for his disciples
Day 11, Matthew 26: Betrayal and arrest
Day 12, Matthew 27: Jesus' execution on a cross
Day 13, John 20: Resurrection
Day 14, Luke 24: Jesus' appearance after resurrection
Life and Teachings of Paul
Day 1, Acts 9: The conversion of Saul
Day 2, Acts 16: Paul's Macedonian call and a jailbreak
Day 3, Acts 17: Scenes from Paul's missionary journey
Day 4, Acts 26: Paul tells his life story to a king
Day 5, Acts 27: Shipwreck on the way to Rome
Day 6, Acts 28: Paul's arrival in Rome
Day 7, Romans 3: Paul's theology in a nutshell
Day 8, Romans 7: Struggle with sin
Day 9, Romans 8: Life in the Spirit
Day 10, 1 Corinthians 13: Paul's description of love
Day 11, 1 Corinthians 15: Thoughts on the afterlife
Day 12, Galatians 5: Freedom in Christ
Day 13, Ephesians 3: Paul's summary of his mission
Day 14, Philippians 2: Imitating Christ
Overview of the Old Testament
Day 1, Genesis 1: The story of creation
Day 2, Genesis 3: The origin of sin
Day 3, Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac
Day 4, Exodus 3: Moses' encounter with God
Day 5, Exodus 20: The gift of the Ten Commandments
Day 6, 1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath
Day 7, 2 Samuel 11: David and Bathsheba
Day 8, 2 Samuel 12: Nathan's rebuke of the king
Day 9, 1 Kings 18: Elijah and the prophets of Baal
Day 10, Job 38: God's answer to Job
Day 11, Psalm 51: A classic confession
Day 12, Isaiah 40: Words of comfort from God
Day 13, Daniel 6: Daniel and the lions
Day 14, Amos 4: A prophet's stern warning
Understanding the Meaning of Your Faith
Day 1, Genesis 3: The first sin creates a need
Day 2, Isaiah 52: Salvation prophesied
Day 3, Isaiah 53: The role of the suffering servant
Day 4, Luke 15: Three stories about God's love
Day 5, John 3: Jesus explains "born again"
Day 6, John 10: The good shepherd
Day 7, Acts 8: Conversions spread outside the Jews
Day 8, Acts 26: Paul testifies of his conversion before a king
Day 9, Romans 3: God's provision for sin
Day 10, Romans 5: Peace with God
Day 11, Galatians 3: Salvation unavailable by obeying the law
Day 12, Ephesians 2: New life in Christ
Day 13, 1 Peter 1: Future rewards of salvation
Day 14, 2 Peter 1: Making your salvation sure
Prayers of the Bible
Day 1, Genesis 18: Abraham's plea for Sodom
Day 2, Exodus 15: Moses' song to the Lord
Day 3, Exodus 33: Moses meets with God
Day 4, 2 Samuel 7: David's response to God's promises
Day 5, 1 Kings 8: Solomon's dedication of the temple
Day 6, 2 Chronicles 20: Jehoshaphat prays for victory
Day 7, Ezra 9: Ezra's prayer for the people's sins
Day 8, Psalm 22: A cry to God for help
Day 9, Psalm 104: A prayer of praise
Day 10, Daniel 9: Daniel's prayer for the salvation of Jerusalem
Day 11, Habakkuk 3: A prophet's prayer of acceptance
Day 12, Matthew 6: The Lord's prayer
Day 13, John 17: Jesus' prayer for his disciples
Day 14, Colossians 1: Paul's prayer of thanksgiving
The Holy Spirit
Day 1, Judges 14: The Spirit gives Samson strength
Day 2, 1 Samuel 10: King Saul's experience
Day 3, Matthew 3:1–4:10: Role in Jesus' baptism and temptation
Day 4, John 14: Jesus promises the Spirit
Day 5, John 16: The work of the Spirit
Day 6, Acts 2: The Spirit comes at Pentecost
Day 7, Acts 10: The Spirit guides Peter to accept Gentiles
Day 8, Romans 8: Christians' victory in the Spirit
Day 9, 1 Corinthians 2: Wisdom from the Spirit
Day 10, 1 Corinthians 12: Gifts of the Spirit
Day 11, 1 Corinthians 14: Gifts of tongues and prophecy
Day 12, Galatians 5: Life in the Spirit
Day 13, Ephesians 4: Unity and gifts
Day 14, 1 John 4: Signs of the Spirit
Women of the Bible
Day 1, Genesis 2: Eve, the first woman
Day 2, Genesis 18: Sarah laughs at God's promise
Day 3, Genesis 24: Rebekah's marriage to Isaac
Day 4, Genesis 27: Rebekah, the manipulative mother
Day 5, Judges 4: Deborah's leadership frees her people
Day 6, Ruth 1: Ruth and Naomi's deep friendship
Day 7, 1 Samuel 1: Hannah prays for a son
Day 8, 1 Kings 17: A poor widow and the prophet Elijah
Day 9, 1 Kings 21: Jezebel, an emblem of wickedness
Day 10, Esther 2: Esther is chosen as queen
Day 11, Esther 4: Esther's courage at the risk of death
Day 12, Luke 1: Mary and Elizabeth receive great news
Day 13, Luke 2: Mary gives birth to Jesus
Day 14, John 11: Mary and Martha and their brother's death
Men of the Old Testament
Day 1, Judges 6: God calls Gideon to rescue his people
Day 2, Judges 7: Gideon conquers his fears—and his enemies
Day 3, 1 Samuel 3: God calls young Samuel
Day 4, 1 Kings 3: Solomon is given wisdom
Day 5, 1 Kings 19: Elijah runs for his life
Day 6, 2 Kings 5: Elisha heals a powerful foreign general
Day 7, Isaiah 6: God calls the prophet Isaiah
Day 8, 2 Kings 18: King Hezekiah under military siege
Day 9, 2 Kings 19: Isaiah speaks God's word to King Hezekiah
Day 10, 2 Chronicles 34: Josiah sets his nation back on course
Day 11, Nehemiah 2: Nehemiah courageously begins rebuilding a wall
Day 12, Jeremiah 38: Jeremiah, in prison, refuses to change his message
Day 13, Daniel 1: Daniel risks his life in captivity
Day 14, Daniel 5: Daniel's word to a royal orgy
Social Justice
Day 1, Exodus 3: God hears the cries of the slaves
Day 2, Leviticus 25: The year of jubilee, a time of economic revolution
Day 3, Ruth 2: A poor woman finds help
Day 4, 1 Kings 21: Elijah speaks to a land-grabbing, murderous king
Day 5, Nehemiah 5: Nehemiah demands justice for the poor
Day 6, Isaiah 5: Warning to fun-loving materialists
Day 7, Isaiah 58: Worship that God appreciates
Day 8, Jeremiah 34: Freedom for slaves
Day 9, Amos 2: Sins against God by his own people
Day 10, Amos 6: Warning to the complacent
Day 11, Micah 6: What the Lord requires
Day 12, Luke 3: John the Baptist tells how to prepare for Jesus
Day 13, Matthew 6: Jesus speaks on material things
Day 14, James 2: How to treat the rich and the poor
God and Nature
Day 1, Genesis 1: God creates the earth
Day 2, Genesis 2: God creates human beings
Day 3, Proverbs 8: Wisdom's view of creation
Day 4, Genesis 7: God preserves the species
Day 5, Job 38: The greatness of nature
Day 6, Job 39: The wildness of nature
Day 7, Job 40: God's mastery of nature
Day 8, Psalm 8: Praise for the Creator
Day 9, Psalm 98: Nature joins in the praise
Day 10, Psalm 104: God sustains the earth
Day 11, Isaiah 40: The ruler of all creation
Day 12, Romans 8: The "groanings" of our present state
Day 13, Isaiah 65: Preview of a restored earth
Day 14, Revelation 22: The end of history
Two weeks on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33
Two weeks on Moses and the exodus:
Exodus 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14, 16, 19, 32; Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1, 2, 4, 31
Two Weeks on David:
1 Samuel 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24; 2 Samuel 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18
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