If you are new to the idea of Bible Study, I expect you are feeling overwhelmed and a little unsure about how to begin. The Bible is such a big book, and so much of it can be hard to understand, especially if you are reading it for the first time. I’ve got some tips for you today that will help you over those hurdles. On this page, you will find advice that will help you get started in developing a Bible Study routine, as well as suggestions that will help you make sense of what you’re reading.

I have been a Christian since childhood, but I can sympathize with people who struggle to make a habit of studying the Bible.

I would go months reading my Bible consistently. Then I would stop entirely and not even glance at my Bible for a few months more. I would have seasons where I could read and understand what I studied easily, and other seasons where I just wasn’t connecting at all.

I’m 26 years old, I still haven’t read the whole thing!

Now, this might make you wonder just how qualified I am to be making suggestions on this subject. But I’m not here to tell you how to perfectly study your Bible-

I’m telling you how to start your Bible journey without fear of failure!

By the grace of God, I have been growing more consistent in my Bible Study habits, and I am currently reading through the book of Ezekiel, which means I am more than halfway there!

More than what has been achieved, though, I’ve finally got a system that seems to really work for me! All of my attempts in the past didn’t make it very far because I had set reading goals that were too high for me. When I missed a day, I fell ‘behind schedule’. It made me feel so dejected that I just stopped wanting to try.

Now, I’ve built a habit that is about the experience, not the achievement, and it has made such a difference. And now I want to share what I’ve learned with you! I hope that these tips and strategies can be useful to you!  

How to Study the Bible as a Beginner: 10 Tips to Help You

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Setting the Foundation

Before you start practicing your Bible Study routine, you need to figure out a game plan so that you can be consistent more easily. These first tips are going to help you do that:

Tip #1: Choose a good-fit Bible for you

Before you start your personal Bible Study journey, it is important to find a Bible that you love and that will work for your lifestyle. 

If you prefer reading things on an ebook or your phone, then you can get a Bible in that format. You can get a Bible app for your phone, or you can download the full Bible onto your ebook reader.

If you have a preference for certain types of writing styles, then it will be beneficial for you to take a close look at the version of the Bible that you want.

There truly is a Bible out there for everyone.

There are some versions that go old-style with all the “thee” and “thou”. If you’re not into the traditional language, you can grab yourself a Bible with modern language, or even language that addresses women more directly. Or you could go for one that focuses on the Hebrew language if you’re really into etymology. Yet another option is to get a Bible journaling bible for people who love to decorate the pages if you are particularly artsy. Seriously, there’s something out there for everyone! 

Depending on your needs, you could consider multiple Bibles. Depending on what you want to use your Bible for, you might be more comfortable having more than one.

For example, If you are really into comparing the differences in the wording of each Bible, it might be nice to have multiple versions. Other times, you might want one Bible that is just the bare-bones, and another that has annotations and study notes written for you.

Personally, I use two Bibles. My first Bible is a pocket-sized NIV Bible. I used this one for underlining verses I like and writing my own commentary. It is also the Bible I take with me when I travel, as I like to travel often. My second Bible is one that I try to keep in good shape. It is a Study Bible that gives me context and an explanation for difficult verses. I occasionally do some Bible journaling in it, but I otherwise just use it for reference. 

Related Post: 31 Unique Christian Journal Prompts To Strengthen Your Faith

This is the EXACT Study Bible I own:

And this is similar to the travel Bible I own, though not the exact same one:

As you can see, there are lots of options for you to choose from! Don’t let anyone else decide for you, though. When you go looking for yourself, the right option for you will feel right, because it will make you excited to use it! 

Tip #2: Find a good-fit location to study your Bible

Just like studying in school, you can’t study effectively if you can’t find the right environment for you. This is another circumstance in which you will need to know your preferences. Don’t go looking to other people for answers. Think of where you focus well and feel comfortable, and THAT is where you should go!

Maybe that is under a tree in the park, or a cozy rocking chair you love. It could even be the traditional office desk; there is no wrong answer! Whatever you find comfortable and good for study is a good option. My location changes seasonally. In the summer, I like sitting outside to study, but when the cold weather comes, I need a cozy rocking chair and a cup of coffee to focus well. 

Tip #3: Find a consistent time to study that works for you

Now that you have the material and the place set up, you need a time to meet with God every day that will be easy to achieve. If possible, you need to find a time in your day that you won’t put off for later. Make it a time that can fit into your schedule without you canceling the plans.

Is it a time that often gets interrupted by other people’s needs? You probably shouldn’t schedule it there. Is it a time where you will cancel it to sleep longer? Also not a good time. Try to find something that fits well into your schedule so that is it not an added stressor. 

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Tip #4: Set small, attainable goals

This was the thing that made the biggest difference in my Bible study habits. My one and only goal was to sit down and open my Bible at my decided time every day. With such a small goal, I was able to achieve it every day. Some days I would read for a long time, while other days I would just read a quick verse. But because I established the habit, I never felt overwhelmed or discouraged.

If you often feel overwhelmed by having to meet large goals you set for yourself, I would recommend this strategy. Instead of deciding how many chapters or verses you want to read each day, simply set a goal to open your Bible every day, and just read until you no longer feel like it. 

Structuring your Bible Study

Now that you’ve got the foundation of your study time figured out, you can go ahead and begin! Below you will find some tips on how to structure your study time to get the most out of it. 

Tip #5: Start with some thankfulness and confession

This first thing you need to do even before opening your Bible is to get yourself in the right mindset. The best way to do that is to recognize how you already fall short of God’s expectations and to be thankful for the ways he shows love to you in spite of that.

So before opening up your Bible, go to God with your apologies and thank him for all the things he has been doing in your life. Try to think of as many specifics as possible. 

Tip #6 Ask God to help you understand what you are about to read

The Bible is often referred to as “The Living Word”, and for good reason. It is called this because, unlike other books that become irrelevant as time goes on, the Bible stays applicable forever.

Not only that, but when the Holy Spirit is with us, the Bible becomes even more alive. All of a sudden, we are able to engage with what we read on a deeper level.

But this won’t happen without God’s help. So be sure to talk to him and ask him to show you what he wants you to learn today.

Related Post: How To Talk To God: 9 Creative Approaches To Prayer

Tip #7: Treat the Bible like a collection of books

The Bible can seem like a daunting book if you look at it as a whole, but when you understand that it is actually a collection of different books, you can start to treat it a little differently.

For example, you can choose to read all of the books in order, or you can just pick a random one and read that!

When you are more aware that each book is written in a different style and with a different author, it starts to feel more like you’re just trying out a bunch of different books while you read through it.

If you get to a slow book, you don’t have to assume that the rest of the Bible will be slow. Instead, you can feel encouraged that it’s just that author that you are not a big fan of.

For me, for example, I love the books written by Solomon, but I’m not a huge fan of the book of Luke. One is more philosophical, while the other prefers facts and figures. It can be freeing to read the Bible this way!

Tip #8: Start with the New Testament

Just as the Bible is made up of a bunch of different books, it is also separated into two testaments. The Old Testament is all the stuff leading up to Jesus, and the New Testament covers Jesus’ mission and how he changed the world.

If you are a beginner, the New Testament is definitely a better place to start. It is exciting and directly related to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

For this reason, it is also more easily applicable to your life. The New Testament is also significantly shorter than the Old Testament, so you will feel a lot more motivated as you move through the books faster. 

Tip #9: Don’t stop reading if you find something that offends you. Let it challenge your thinking.

My church pastor always talks about the importance of letting yourself clash with what you read in the Bible.

Jesus made a movement for a counter-culture that challenges everything we know about life- it’s supposed to make you uncomfortable. When you come across those things, don’t let it lead you to renounce the entire Bible and give up your journey.

Instead, wrestle with it. Read more about it and really try to understand what is being said. Sometimes, we get offended  by something we read in the Bible, but it actually turns out we just misunderstood the context. Give it time and thought, and you will eventually figure it out for yourself! And if you don’t right away? That’s completely fine! 

Tip #10: Approach your Bible Study your Way

Everyone prefers to study things differently. Some people like guides to follow, while others like to follow how they’re feeling that day. Other people like to read big chapters at a time, while others still prefer smaller portions. Don’t try to conform to someone else’s style of reading the Bible. Experiment a few different ways, and then decide which one works best for YOU! 

Now that you have 10 tips to help you get started, I want to share with you how I personally study the Bible so you can see one way that works well for me. 

How I Study the Bible (and  How You Can, Too!)

Every time I start a new book, I do a bit of research into the context first.

This helps me better understand why the book was written and what the author and his life was like at the time. I usually use YouTube for this. I like to refer to videos from “The Bible Project”. They are extremely knowledgeable, and their videos are quick and easy to understand. I just search whatever book I want to know about and watch the video. Here is a link to their channel.

After I learn the context, I jump right in and read it like a chapter book.

I read a different amount each day, but I prefer to read until the whole theme is concluded. For example, if I’m reading about the Garden of Eden, I would want to have a session that’s just about the creation of the world, then a session about the creation of man, then a session about the fall of man, and so on. I don’t usually like to end a session before I have a sense of closure.

Once I finish reading, I take out a notebook and write a reflection about it.

My reflection is guided by four different sections: Summary, Verse, Reflection, and Application.

In my Summary, I write down the literal explanation of everything that happened in the book. I don’t consider anything about its meaning- I only write about what actually happened.

In the Verse section, I write down my favourite verse from that what I read. It can be short or long.

The Reflection section is where I start to really think about what I read. I consider why this particular thing happened and what it reflects about God’s character. I also write about how it reflects human character.

Finally, the Application is the most relevant section. This is where I write what I feel about what I read. What did I get from the passage? Does this section push me to change anything in my life? How can it change me?

Once I’ve written that out, I’m done!

I hope that some of these suggestions can help you feel less overwhelmed in your journey. The most important takeaway is that you need to see this as a relationship and a journey, not a task. You don’t need goals or a timeline, and you certainly don’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. This is your journey, and if you can learn to be ok with the setbacks, you will be able to stick with it a lot longer!

What do you do to keep your daily Bible Study habit strong?

Comment below! I’d love to hear from you!

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