I Finished Reading the Bible — Now What?
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If you’re reading this because you just finished reading the Bible and you’re wondering where to go next in your daily Bible reading, congratulations! You just did something powerful and important in your faith journey. It also puts you in the minority, as many Christians have never read the Bible in its entirety. Maybe they’ve read certain books or studied some parts alongside others, or maybe they think they get what they need from sermons at church or in church Bible studies or small groups. Maybe they’ve only read the New Testament, thinking anything before the birth of Christ isn’t nearly as important.
The Bible is organized into various parts. In the Old Testament we have the first five books, comprising what is known as the Pentateuch, that give us the creation story and all of God’s laws so His people can live well according to His design. Then we have the historical books (Joshua, Judges, all the way through Esther), then wisdom literature (psalms, proverbs, etc.). Then we have prophecies (Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.) about everything from the end times to Jesus Christ to the fall of Jerusalem.
In the New Testament we have the four Gospels detailing Jesus’s time among us on earth, and then the historical book of Acts about the growth of the church after Jesus’s resurrection. Next are the epistles, which are God-inspired letters from certain apostles (such as Paul, Peter, James, and John) to the early church explaining how we are to live and prepare as the body of Christ post-resurrection. Then we have the prophetic/apocalyptic book of Revelation at the end.
You might consider taking a section and reading it, perhaps comparing and contrasting it with other similar books of the Bible alongside it.
Consider gathering with other Christians and intentionally studying a particular book of the Bible together. Most studies dig in to the historical context and help people better understand the meaning and what was truly being said. It can help to have other people reading the same thing alongside you and then discussing the meaning and how it can apply today.
For instance, the apostle Paul didn’t say a word about social media when it comes to parenting teens — not only did social media not exist back then, but parenting looked very different back then, too. Yet studies can explore how certain aspects of what Paul said can and do apply to very modern situations.
Another suggestion is to sit down with the Lord, close your eyes, and ask God to steer you to what to read next. You might not have liked Revelation the first time, but maybe God wants you to read it again for a particular reason. Maybe Lamentations was a blur the first time but now God needs you to focus on certain aspects of that book.
Recently, I had a really hard time focusing on anything except the psalms. I didn’t particularly enjoy reading the psalms (I tend to like the stories best), but for some reason that was the only part of the Bible my mind and heart could truly digest for a good month or two. I’m convinced that’s because God was steering me to read that, and He made the other sections either unappealing or too difficult for me at that moment in my life.
With this in mind, pick up the Bible and start reading. If your mind is wandering, figure out where it is wandering to and what it can absorb. Then read that.
There are probably a number of other suggestions beyond these that can help. These are just a few to get you started. But the important thing to remember is not to stop. Reading the Bible is not a “one and done” experience but a constant journey.
Scripture tells us we are to meditate on the Lord’s word night and day (Psalm 1:2). That’s not just thinking about God and praying constantly, but genuinely reading and thinking about His words to us. We are told to read the Bible.
So figure out the way that seems right for you, and jump in.
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Photo credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden
