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Getting Started With The Bible

Written September 26, 2025

I wrote this letter for my friend Michael after he asked how to get started reading the Bible. While this is personal to Michael, it's for anyone beginning their journey with Scripture.

Dear Michael,

Thanks for asking about getting into the Bible. Let me reframe your question slightly—you're not just looking to read an ancient book. You're asking how to understand reality as God designed it, who you are as His image-bearer, and how to live according to what's actually true.

The Bible isn't God, but it's the most compressed truth ever written—a seed kernel for understanding this infinitely complex life. Think of it as divine documentation of true mythology (and I mean mythology in its proper sense—not fiction, but the deepest mapping of how reality works).

Where to Start​

Begin with the Gospel of John. It was written specifically to help people believe in Jesus, and it speaks in simple, clear language about who Christ is. John shows you the Logos—the divine Word through whom everything makes sense.

After John, read Mark (the shortest, most action-packed Gospel) then Matthew and Luke to get the complete picture of Jesus from different angles. Then Acts to see how the early church began.

For translation, I personally use The Message because Eugene Peterson makes Scripture feel immediate and alive—like God is speaking directly to me in contemporary language. Yes, it's a paraphrase, not word-for-word, but it makes the Bible come alive. If you want something more literal, try the NIV (New International Version) for good balance between accuracy and readability. See: Choose Bible Translations That Speak To You for understanding how different translations serve different purposes.

If the Bible Feels Intimidating​

Before diving into Scripture directly, consider reading "The Bible Simplified" by Zach Windahl. This book is incredible for building foundational understanding of the Bible's overarching narrative. Windahl breaks down the entire biblical storyline in 40 short, digestible chapters, showing how all the books connect and lead to Jesus.

What makes this book so valuable:

  • It removes the intimidation factor by explaining unfamiliar customs, genres, and cultural backgrounds in clear, modern language
  • You get the historical arc and big picture before getting into the nitty-gritty where individual verses really matter
  • Each chapter includes timelines, cultural insights, and practical takeaways
  • Windahl's conversational writing style makes complex themes accessible

This isn't sufficient by itself—you absolutely need to read Scripture directly because individual verses have power and precision that no summary can capture. But "The Bible Simplified" gives you a solid foundation that makes your actual Bible reading far more meaningful. Think of it as getting the map before exploring the territory.

It's the perfect bridge between feeling lost and gaining confidence to dive into Scripture itself. It won't cover everything, but it's so good at helping you understand how the whole story fits together.

Practical Approach​

Read one chapter per day. Don't try to devour huge sections. Better to digest one chapter deeply than skim ten superficially. At this pace, you'll finish John in three weeks.

Start with prayer: "God, open my eyes to see what You want me to see." Then read with a pen in hand. Circle what strikes you, write questions in the margins, underline verses that resonate. Prayer isn't just for Bible reading—it's meant to become your constant communion with God. See: Make God Your Best Friend for building this deeper relationship.

Don't worry about understanding everything. When you hit confusing passages, mark them and keep moving. The Bible is meant to be understood over a lifetime, not mastered in a month.

Helpful Visual Resources​

I've heard great things about BibleProject on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@bibleproject). They create beautifully animated videos that make Scripture's themes and structure incredibly approachable and visual. Their overviews of each book help you understand the big picture before diving into the details.

Also consider watching The Chosen—a series that dramatizes the Gospels. While I haven't watched much yet, many say it helps humanize the biblical characters and makes the stories feel more real and relatable. Just remember it's an interpretation, not Scripture itself.

A Reality Check About Your Journey​

Let me be honest with you—you're going to stumble. A lot. You'll listen to YouTubers and teachers who contradict each other about what the Bible means and how to live as a Christian. You'll follow some false teachers without realizing it. You'll commit to practices or beliefs that you'll later realize don't make sense.

This is normal. There's no clean path where you avoid all the wrong voices. You develop discernment through lived experience—through making mistakes, through what God reveals to you over time, through seeing the fruit (or lack thereof) of different teachings. See: Study Wise Spiritual Elders for examples of teachers who've shaped my understanding, though you'll need to find your own.

The key is to keep returning to Scripture itself, keep praying for wisdom, and test everything against what you're learning about God's character. Your discernment will sharpen. You'll start recognizing false teaching faster. But give yourself grace in the stumbling—it's part of how God teaches us.

Building Your Ontology​

As you read, you're not just collecting religious information—you're forming an ontology (your understanding of reality's fundamental nature). The Bible reveals:

  • You're an image-bearer of God with divine purpose
  • Reality operates on spiritual laws, not just physical ones
  • There's one Way (Jesus), not many valid paths
  • Everything conflicting with biblical truth likely stems from human error, not divine error

Check out my Christian Ontology Executive Summary for how I've mapped these truths using modern language. Use it as scaffolding while you build your own understanding. For a deeper dive into my complete worldview and practice, browse my Faith Walk OS which documents principles, perspectives, and patterns for following Christ.

The Journey Ahead​

After the Gospels and Acts, consider:

  • Romans for foundational doctrine
  • Genesis for the beginning of the story
  • Psalms for prayer and worship
  • Proverbs for practical wisdom

Again, if you haven't started anywhere yet, just start with John. One chapter today. Let the living Word speak to you, through a translation that suits you. And not as ancient text but as your Father explaining how He designed everything to work—including you.

This isn't about studying one of many valid religions. This is about discovering Truth itself. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." The Bible is your map to understanding what that actually means for how you wake up and live each day.

Welcome to the journey toward Truth, brother. It's the most important journey you'll ever take.

With love,

Gary

"These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." — John 20:31