How do you know which bible book to read next?

[YosefHayim]

I don't know what book to read next. I was doing well, I read the NT and 14 books from the OT, and now I'm in a block. I keep trying to read forward, and then get into a block or I just lose the motivation. And then I fall back and don't read. I tried to skim through other pages, but I just end up slowly reading a few psalms more.

Is there a way to tell if God wants you to read a certain book, or if he wants you to reread a passage or book, or what?

 

[Slider]

It seems to me that if your Pastor has been (or lets you know he's going to) preaching from a certain book, that's a good indication. It'll prepare you for what he's going to be talking about. Another thing to try is look at what's been going on in your life lately (your successes, your delemnas, etc.) and check your subject index in your Bible, if it has one. A third thing is if you've had a burning Bible question that you haven't been able to understand or fully grasp, then stay on that topic. If God wants you to study a particular book in the Bible, I reckon he will let you know in one of these three ways.

Other than that.... I suppose it's open to your taste at the moment. Have you tried reading the Bible not by book, but by subject? For example, if you want to study the ressurrection, you wouldn't focus just on one whole book and read the whole book, but you'd look at all 4 gospels and compare them. You'd also look at the epistles and see what the Apostles had to say about it.

 

[ravindran_eee]

One of things you can do is, start a bible reading plan.. Along with that you can take another book of your interest and study that deeply as well.. That's what works out best for me! So I have my proper discipline of reading bible verses and also study separate books depending on the topics I wanted to meditate more.. Right now I am not going through any Bible reading plan.. I am reading one OT chapter and one NT chapter.. We also have Bible study in our Church.. So another book is discussed there.. Then I do Bible study with my wife everyday.. We take a separate book there.. Then a few guys in our Church do Bible study every week.. Another book is taken there.. It works out good for me,

 

[RachelKeeth]

I don't know what book to read next. I was doing well, I read the NT and 14 books from the OT, and now I'm in a block. I keep trying to read forward, and then get into a block or I just lose the motivation. And then I fall back and don't read. I tried to skim through other pages, but I just end up slowly reading a few psalms more.

Is there a way to tell if God wants you to read a certain book, or if he wants you to reread a passage or book, or what?

I find this to be a great Bible reading system along with a small study on a certain book I have been wanting to read through. I usually decide what book of the Bible to do a study on depending on what I have been thinking about or hearing about more lately, often it if influenced by the pastor's sermon. Last Sunday our pastor referred to a lot of different books but something about Galatians stuck out to me so I studied that.

 

[sourberry]

I don't know what book to read next. I was doing well, I read the NT and 14 books from the OT, and now I'm in a block. I keep trying to read forward, and then get into a block or I just lose the motivation. And then I fall back and don't read. I tried to skim through other pages, but I just end up slowly reading a few psalms more.

Is there a way to tell if God wants you to read a certain book, or if he wants you to reread a passage or book, or what?

I would recommend you to read all books. Keep trying. At least you will know what's there. Do not expect to understand them.

 

[farouk]

I find this to be a great Bible reading system along with a small study on a certain book I have been wanting to read through. I usually decide what book of the Bible to do a study on depending on what I have been thinking about or hearing about more lately, often it if influenced by the pastor's sermon. Last Sunday our pastor referred to a lot of different books but something about Galatians stuck out to me so I studied that.

Rachel: Outlines can be very helpful of books of the Bible. I have one book with a brief outline of every book of the Bible, together with some quotable quuotes.

Blessings.

 

[Matthew G]

I would recommend you to read all books. Keep trying. At least you will know what's there. Do not expect to understand them.

That's not true. We can fully expect to understand them, as promised by Jesus Christ.

"<sup class="versenum"> </sup>But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:26 KJV

I would say if you can't make up your mind, remain in prayer and see what starts to stand out. You said you've gone through 14 books of the OT, but if you're a bit of a history nerd like myself, perhaps you could try a chronological bible reading. In the OT, things are roughly in the same order as they are laid out, until you get into 1 Samuel. Maybe you can give that a shot. Here's a link --> Chronological Bible Reading Plan

 

[farouk]

It's good to maintain a balance in reading from both the Old and the New Testaments. Like this, one builds up a whole panorama of the Lord's revelation.

 

[YosefHayim]

It's good to maintain a balance in reading from both the Old and the New Testaments. Like this, one builds up a whole panorama of the Lord's revelation.

I plan on finishing the OT, and when I go back to reread everything I plan on doing that.

I find this to be a great Bible reading system along with a small study on a certain book I have been wanting to read through. I usually decide what book of the Bible to do a study on depending on what I have been thinking about or hearing about more lately, often it if influenced by the pastor's sermon. Last Sunday our pastor referred to a lot of different books but something about Galatians stuck out to me so I studied that.

Thank you. I think I'm going to attempt Daniel next.

I would recommend you to read all books. Keep trying. At least you will know what's there. Do not expect to understand them.

That's my goal: to read all the books.

 

[Mike S]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Bible, but, at whatever stage of understanding you are, I recommend finding a good study group. Reading the Bible by yourself can be a frustrating experience, and understanding comes much more quickly when you study - as well as worship - in community.

This study Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study http://www.cokesbury.com/images/disciple/downloads/DiscipleisampleLessons.pdf I've found to be extraordinarly good for learning the Bible and developing a passion for it. The thing about it I find so useful for beginners is this first element of the study, which is a 33 week program (about 4 hours of independent study and a 2 hour group study each week) where members of the small group get a good quick overview of the entire Bible, learing to understand it as a whole, rather than as separate disjointed scriptures. This is where one learns about the recurring themes in the Bible and the connections between them. There are four such 33 week programs in the study, with in depth study of specific books in the follow on three 33 week programs.

This study will transform you and your church.

 

[Fembot]

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Bible, but, at whatever stage of understanding you are, I recommend finding a good study group. Reading the Bible by yourself can be a frustrating experience, and understanding comes much more quickly when you study - as well as worship - in community.

This study Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study http://www.cokesbury.com/images/disciple/downloads/DiscipleisampleLessons.pdf I've found to be extraordinarly good for learning the Bible and developing a passion for it. The thing about it I find so useful for beginners is this first element of the study, which is a 33 week program (about 4 hours of independent study and a 2 hour group study each week) where members of the small group get a good quick overview of the entire Bible, learing to understand it as a whole, rather than as separate disjointed scriptures. This is where one learns about the recurring themes in the Bible and the connections between them. There are four such 33 week programs in the study, with in depth study of specific books in the follow on three 33 week programs.

This study will transform you and your church.

Thanks for that! Do you happen to know what denomination the developer/writer is?

 

[Mike S]

Thanks for that! Do you happen to know what denomination the developer/writer is?

I'm pretty sure it was developed for the United Methodist Church, the materials are produced by Abingdon Press. But, this program can be used by any church.

 

[Heb11:6]

YosefHayim,

Here is what I recommend - be led! (I'll explain)

I have encountered quite a few Christians through the years (epecially new ones) who are struggling with reading the Bible. One common complaint is that they "don't get it". Another thing that happens is that they feel exhausted by the process and they end up not wanting to read at all. What I believe is the biggest problem is that they approach the issue "technically". One person tells them to start in the Gospel of John, another tells them to follow a one year plan, and the list of ideas goes on. Then there's the books on "how to understand your Bible" which detail all the scholastic rules of interpretation you "must know" in order to understand what your reading. It's so unfortunate that 99% of believers for almost 2000 years in all the remote corners of the world didn't have these "must have rules" - poor world has been void of understanding until these books came out (mild sarcasm intended).

Mr. Matthew G above deserves a thumbs up because he mentioned what is usually left out of the subject - The Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, no amount of study is going to give you understanding and revelation into what the Bible contains. (Think about what is being said in these verses 1 Corinthians 1:21 & 2:14, Matthew 11:25 & 16:17)

Now here's how all this connects to your original question, the same Spirit that enables you to understand the Bible can give you direction of where to read. If you and a friend were meeting to get coffee everyday would you be confused over what you were going to talk about? No - you would fellowship and let things flow. You can have a similar relationship with God. Currently, I'm taking my time reading through the Old Testament (Why? Because I feel as I should). I'm also studying Luke for a Bible study (Why? Because I felt this is where I was supposed to be). In addition to these readings I also sit in my chair quietly in the mornings and ask, "Where do you want me to read Lord?" and I thumb through my Bible until something get's my attention and I just enjoy time in the Word and let it go wherever He leads. Everything I just described are things I believe the Lord has me doing for the point I am at. When I was a new believer my goal was just to make sure I read the Word everyday but it was never really a "regiment" and hence I never felt dried up.

Pray and ask God where He wants you to read and see what happens.

Finally, there is one last recommendation I have for you with regards to your study of the Word that I feel will bless you and others who read this. This recommendation is that you pray for yourself what Paul prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:15-20. You'll see in these verses that Paul wanted these Christians to have a deeper understanding and revelation concerning their calling and inheritance and he expected them to be able to receive this from God - we have not because we ask not. Pray also that you'll have eyes to see and ears to hear (Matthew 13:16, Mark 4:23). Everything in the Word is there for you to understand - we don't get it all at once but it is progressive. Relax and enjoy the Word.

God Bless!

 

[farouk]

A systematic approach to reading can also be very good, in building up a whole panorama of God's revelation in the Scriptures.

 

[farouk]

Very true. Exactly why I began a reading plan.

My wife and I do find that reading through books systematically does give a good overview and we often notice things that we hadn't remembered.

Blessings.

 

[Stone-yarder]

I ask the Living God, and follow the Holy Ghosts guidence. Pray!