Where to start...

[lostintheconfusion]

Over the past week God's been trying to hard to get intouch with me and i've finally heard him. I'd like to start reading the bible everyday but im lost on where i should start.... in the past i tried to start reading matthew but i get lost in all the 'begots' and i can never make sense of it. I've started Genesis numerous times but it still doesn't work for me... i want to crave reading the bible but have no clue where to start... any suggestions???

 

[Rafael]

Get the New Living or Amplified paraphrase or a the NIV translation Bible, and start with the book of John (fouth from the start of the New testament). Later on you will find the geneologies do have significance, but a modern language tranlation will help. Indeed, today is the day to seek God with all your heart.​

John is a good starting place. The New Living can be read online at this site, along with the other translations: http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Jhn/Jhn001.html#top
NLT:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl?book=Jhn&chapter=1&version=nltp&Go.x=22&Go.y=13

Christ, the Eternal Word​

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4 Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5 The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
6 God sent John the Baptist 7 to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
10 But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. 11 Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-this rebirth comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.* And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
15 John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, `Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' "
16 We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us-one gracious blessing after another.* 17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God,* is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.

 

[rogsr]

Hello,
I agree with Raphe, John is a good place to begin. John is often called the spiritual Gospel and it approaches some of the more significant questions. After John, I would read Mark. Mark is the action Gospel, Jesus is always doing stuff in Mark. So, in John you get a good sense of who God is, who Jesus is, and who the Holy Spirit is, and their relationship with us. In Mark you get a really good sense of what Jesus is all about, the kinds of things He does.

Good luck, and I just prayed for you, so now you have nothing to worry about When God is for us nothing can stand against us. Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, for whom He corrects He loves, As a father the son in whom he charishes.

 

[clonenomore]

In addition to the New Living Translation, I would recommend the Holman Christian Standard Bible or the Message. I use all three. Another good website to use is biblegateway.com. There you can compare scripture from different translations at the same time.

 

[lostintheconfusion]

Thanks guys... i'll give John a try...

Its nice to know that theres other people here for me (you know, besides god) and that are willing to help me grow closer to christ.

 

[Blessed2003]

Also, make sure everytime you read pray and ask God to let His Spirit guide you and give you understanding. That is truly the only way anyone ever gets understanding of God's word.
God Bless you on your journey
B

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I use the NIV for studying the English, but if you speak, or even read, Latin, then I would try out the Vulgate. Very good translation I think. After you read John, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. The rest of the NT is good as well, but make sure you discern what was for those people (cultural and whatnot) and what is for everyone (the principles behind it). Avoid Revelation untill you are ready to get confused, lied to about it, etc.

 

[lostintheconfusion]

Save revelation for later... got it... thanks yall! Its helping alot

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Anytime! God bless!

 

[Thirsty4Him]

Read James. It really talks about true faith and things that can be applied in real life. It shows us how to love each other as well as how to love God.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Very good idea. Its a very good book to study as well!

 

[Servant991]

You have some good advice. If you want to get some different versions of your bible (for easier understanding) try getting the computer program called E-Sword. It is a free download, and you can get a bunch of free bible versions and other useful things for it also for free. Also, one book that I read with my bible is called What the Bible is All About, by Henrietta C. Mears. I would highly recommend it. It has lead me to a greater understanding of the bible than I could have ever hoped to accomplish on my own! Good luck, and God bless.