does anyone know...

Ok, first off, I do not know of any good websites with that information, but it would be nice sometimes, it is easy to get all that stuff confused.

The best thing to do is pray before you start reading that God would open your heart up to His Word and that He would give you wisdom and discernment as you read.

As far as which book you should read through first, you could ask 66 people and get 66 answers. Many people will say John. I will say James or Romans if you want something that gives you a good blueprint on how to live. Also might want to check out Joshua or Genesis, Job, Micah, Habbakuk. I am personally a very Old Testament based person in my reading. Any of the gospels would be a good place to start. But I would say Romans actually, then go back and read a few Old Testament books and then John. But it depends on who you ask, everyone will give you different answers, all the books are good, more depends on what you want to get out of the Bible where you should start.

I did a quick google and came up with a few sites: http://www.bibleplaces.com/ and http://www.newchristian.org.uk/biblebackground.html . It takes time before you get used to all the names and places, don't be discouraged if you don't remember/recognize everything at once. There's a lot of names and places in the Bible!

I agree with pugby, be sure to pray a lot while reading the Bible. God gives us understanding. When I read the Bible for the first time, I started from the beginning, but I've seen a lot of people recommend starting with thew New Testament. I think that's a good idea.

Hi Jess,

I would say one of the most important things to understand as a beleiver is the saving work of Jesus Christ, why he came, what he did, and where you stand now afer salvation, these are the real core doctrines and understanding all that was involved at the moment of salvation will help build solid foundations to your walk with Christ.

Also it is important to understand the filling of the spirit, I always name and cite before any study as in;

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This ensures the filling of the spirit so we can understand Gods word.

The four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John are a good place to start as these give details of their walk with Christ and have many parables Christ used to teach people.

When it comes to reading some of the parables it is important to really try and dwell on what he was trying to get accross, Christ uses a lot of analogies and metaphors, especially in the natural realm, such as fruits, reaping, water, light, when Christ uses these it is kind of analogist to how things effect us in the spiritual realm compared to the natural.

for example;

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.
Joh 15:9 Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.

What Christ is talking about here is that when we are born again we are in him and he is in us, he is the vine, us bearing fruit is talking about the fruits of the spirit, when we grow in Gods grace and knowledge we are said to bear fruit, and also in this scripture he talks about God removing branches that do not bear fruit, this can be things that get in our way that stop us from growing in Gods grace and knowledge.
Abide in him means that you need to be filled with the spirit to bear fruit, in Gods plan for your life, this also crosses over to the scriptures that talk about walk by means of the spirit.

Proverbs and Psalms in the old testament are also good to read and dwell on sometimes, Proverbs is a great book of wisdom.

A good study tool is http://www.e-sword.net/downloads.html

The KJV version marks out all of Christs messages in red.

there are many different bibles you can download and nearly all are free.
http://www.e-sword.net/bibles.html

there is also a graphics section you can download with maps etc which may help with your studies, can download this here;
http://www.e-sword.net/graphics.html


Hope ive given you enough food for thought to get started in undestanding Gods word and plan for your life.


God Bless,
Mark777

"For the natural man seeks not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, not can he know for they are spiritually discerned" - 1Cor 1.14.

"But even to this day (AD 57), when Moses is read a veil lies on their (Jews') heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away - 2Cor 3.15-16.

"Therefore, He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens" - Rom 8.18.

1) Only the "saved" can understand the Bible.
2) God does not want everyone to be saved.
3) If you are earnesly seeking God, where do you go?
ANSWER: No where! God sends His witnesses to those seeking Him, while performing works of righteousness to his felllow man.

Axiom: The lost are saved by witnesses, and not by reading the Bible for themselves.

God has "periods of enliightenment"; such as the Millennium (AD 1859-1959), and "Revival 2015."

But you need not wait to 2015, for I am one of the witnesses.

wmssid

I suggest picking up a Bible study guide. The NavPress LifeChange series or IVPress LifeGuides are both excellent. They help break down a Bible book into manageable passages and instead of telling you what to believe, they ask leading questions to help you dig into the passage and help you apply it to your real life.

I also suggest starting with the New Testament, namely the gospels. They're easier to read through than some of the other more "meaty" books. The book of Mark is the shortest of the gospel, and is an excellent book to start with.