Completely Lost! need help!

Tinydancer19 · May 4, 2004

I'm brand new to this. I don't know where to start sometimes so I just start reading. I understand what I read but at times its hard to put things together.

I get lost at whose who! I also get confused at what gods words are really trying to say in certain situations. How do I break things down so I understand them better?

Ceris · May 4, 2004

Often I find it best for people just starting to read the bible to start with the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). You also might want to consider getting a study bible. I found my study bible to really help me when I started getting more into reading the Bible. Are there any specific passages that you are having trouble understanding? I would be more than willing to help.

sarahbug · May 4, 2004

Ceris had great suggestions for you. I would also suggest the study guide The Bible: God's Word for the Biblically Inept. That was the guide I used when I first started studying the Bible, and it really helped. Their website is helpful too biblicallyinept.com. They have a free Bible study of the day feature, and also offer other guides on particular topics, such as health and nutrition, and on individual books of the Bible.

Also, I think some churches (not sure if you are established in a church yet) have new Christian Bible studies.

Rafael · May 5, 2004

I found lots of answers for myself by asking the people at Church, but now that the internet is here, finding help for questions is easy. There was no internet when I first became a Christian. Sometimes answered prayer for understanding comes with a friend that is older in the Lord's faith, and there are plenty here, too, including me. I'd be happy to help.
The New Living Bible is very easy to understand. Sometimes reading a passage in it is an easy way to get understanding for a verse, as it is paraphrased. The amplified Bible is good for this too, and was my first Bible. After a while the King James Bible is easier to understand and is very beautiful and poetic, but difficult for a starter Bible. Here's a comparison of two scriptures for you - which is easier for you to understand? They have a site witha verse finder, and there are also parallel Bibles with more than one translation. I have a parallel KJV - LB which I really like a lot.
http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/default2.asp
God bless.

Galatians 5:17 (LIV) For we naturally love to do evil things that the Holy Spirit tells us not to do; and the good things we want to do when the Holy Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.

Galatians 5:17 (KJV) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Galatians 5:17 (AMP) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

Endure2 · May 5, 2004

just keep at it, keep praying for wisdom and for God to speak to you and wait patiently for a reply.
(sometimes you have to wait in silence listening to your heart for a few seconds, before God replies to what you asked.)

dont be discouraged, keep at it, it will get easier.
it has for us all.

but like raphe said
untill you learn to feed yourself better, let other people feed you.
get in bible studies at church, attend every service, and let God use your pastors to feed you, teach you and give you understanding, thats what their there for, you arent burdening them by asking them lots of questions, attend any kind safe bible study that you can. children have to be led and carried before they learn how to walk on their own. some people are too proud to realise that, but we have to.
read books people have written, etc. get everything you can from people who have gone before you.
but keep steadily praying by yourself to, and you will learn how to hear God better.

Godbless you.

Tappanga · May 6, 2004

Can I also suggest Hally's Bible Handbook? It's helped me SOOOOOOOOO MUCH! And it's rather inexpensive (I think I paid $10 for mine).

Mr.Cheese · May 6, 2004

The NIV Study Bible is about the best study bible on the planet for the information it contains. Also the Life Application Bible is useful regarding it's purpose claimed in its title.
Along with Halley's, Zondervan also has a nice handbook.
Dig around and you can find any of these for a good price.

There are lots of characters. It can be overwhelming.

matty c · May 6, 2004

a study bible does help, if you would like bible soft i still have it so just ask and ill lend it to you. try having a notebook or something along while your reading and maybe try to read a section at a time instead of a full chapter. it main take longer but youll retain more.

joculi · May 6, 2004

I found the "Life Application Study Bible" helped me trememdously. I recommend the NIV translation.

I also found C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" to be an incredibly enlightening book. It makes many difficult concepts easy to understand. I can't recommend it highly enough. You can find both of these on amazon.com or at your local Christian bookstore.

rainbowprism · May 10, 2004

I have to agree with Joculi...Mere Christianity is a fabulous book; it helped bring about my conversion. Also, does your church sponsor any bible study groups...going to a bible study can be great becuase sometimes people will bring about points or ways of looking at something that you wouldn't have picked up on. Also by being surrounded by mature Christians you will invariably be influenced, and that is what you need to do most as a new Christian is to spend as much time as possible around mature (meaning 'developed') Christians!

desi · May 11, 2004

Start with proverbs and read the chapter which matches the day of the month each day. You can delve into the new testament however you want after reading your daily proverb chapter but I'd advise against jumping to revelations too soon unless you have a knack for prophesy.

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · May 11, 2004

Indeed. Revelation is a book best left to those who are veterans of scripture. Even most people that read it today dont understand it (probably 90-95% dont). So, Id avoid that.

About what to read, start with the Gospels, reading into Acts, and then through the New Testament. It really isnt that long.

After you have a firm base in the NT and some time under your belt, move to the OT. It will be harder to understand, but it is VITAL to know, as Jesus and all the apostles, etc had only these books.

God be with you in your studies! Keep posting if you have questions!

Bartimaeus · May 14, 2004

Wow!

You've gotten some very sound advice here.

About the only thing I can add to it is that you have these forums to ask questions, too. I, personally, want to offer you the freedom to PM me if you come across something that confuses or puzzles you.

Bain_Adaneth · May 18, 2004

Tinydancer,

Since you're lost, I don't recommend you listening to what others are saying. Check it out yourself in the Bible. You have to know the truth, and the Bible is where to find it.

GodSaves · May 22, 2004

I suggest starting with the book I John. It really helps reaffirm what our faith gives us. And emphasizes the importance of love. I personally suggest getting this book, "How to study the Bible" by Tim Lahaye. It really is awesome and has some great ideas in how to get started with reading and studying the Bible.

Deana · Jun 7, 2004

You can also get a translation of the Bible in the Form of a "New Believer's Bible". This has been an invaluable resource for me and has helped me know where and what to look for. Pray for guidance, the Lord will reveal things to you as you grow. You don't have to know it all at once

kitkat60 · Jun 7, 2004

There is a post somewhere in here that talks about what order would be helpful to read your bible in, as a new believer. I believe it is roughly as follows:

John
Romans
Then start the NT over and read the whole thing.
Then start the OT on a systematic basis.

Don't try to go through huge passages at a time. This isn't a race. Remember context is all important. Take notes. Ask yourself questions. If you have a bible with cross-references, after you have read through your passages, then look up the cross references.

There are alot of different ways to study the bible, don't get too hung up at first on whether you are doing it "correctly" or not. If you read John and Romans first, you will get a good overview of what Christianity is all about.

pamincincy · Jun 22, 2004

As someone of Christ less than a month, I find that sometimes trying to understand leads to no understanding.

Mr. Good Faith · Jul 1, 2004

Tinydancer19 said:
I'm brand new to this. I don't know where to start sometimes so I just start reading. I understand what I read but at times its hard to put things together.

I get lost at whose who! I also get confused at what gods words are really trying to say in certain situations. How do I break things down so I understand them better?

This is why you are having a difficult time....
2 Peter 1:20 Understanding this first: That no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation.

This mean that we need properly educated and instructed teachers to help us understand it.

Mr. G

Sketcher · Jul 6, 2004

If you have difficulty with a verse or verses, read a few verses before and after it to get the big picture of what God's talking about.

Actually, 2 Peter 1:19-21 mean that the prophets of the OT did not think up what they spoke, but God spoke directly through them. But that's a debate for a different forum.

Completely Lost! need help!

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