The Beginners Guide to Making Disciples: Reading Scripture
This week I have guest bloggers giving tips on how to disciple new believers. These posts are also good for people new to Christianity who are trying to figure it all out. Today, Daniel from Desire Spiritual Growth helps us figure out where to start reading the Bible.
The Book of the Bible Every New Believer Should Read First
All Scripture is inspired and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But that doesn’t mean Leviticus is the best place to start someone who is new to the faith. Where should we advise new Christians to start reading? It’s hard to narrow things down to one book. And I don’t think we have to. So I’ll give three, and reasons for each. Pick the one that fits the need.
3 Potential Starter Books
1. The Gospel According to John
In John 20:30-31, the author let’s us know he wrote to persuade readers to believe. The book is a great place for the new believer to start for two reasons.
1. It recounts seven awe-inspiring miracles of Jesus to give the reader confidence that Jesus was God’s Son.
2. It explains the way of salvation so that believers may have hope and assurance.
2. The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 1:8 sums up the message of Acts: After the Holy Spirit came upon the believers, they were empowered to boldly proclaim the gospel. It’s the sequel to the four Gospel accounts, showing what happens when the gospel goes forth. The stories are breathtaking:
- Peter preaches, and three thousand come to Christ. Then five thousand more.
- Believers pray for boldness, and God responds by sending the Holy Spirit upon them and shaking the room.
- God strikes a man and his wife dead.
- The first martyr – Stephen – is killed as Saul approves.
- Saul ravages the church and then is saved, his name is changed to Paul, and he goes out as a chosen instrument of God on missionary journeys.
In Acts, the gospel went forth as a sweeping wave gathering momentum as thousands came to Christ in the face of persecution. Christians turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
3. The Letter of Paul to the Romans
This book is not an easy skim read. Why do I include it on this list? Because Romans is solid, glorious doctrine. John Piper aptly calls it “the greatest letter ever written.” Others have called it a comprehensive constitution of Christianity. Some new believers need that. I’m thinking of someone along the lines of a Martin Luther [rare, yes]. Someone who has already been wrestling with intricacies of the gospel and needs the doctrinal depth of Romans.
Regardless of Where You Start, Never End
Where ever you guide the new believer to start, urge them to continue reading. I don’t mean telling them, “Read your Bible every day if you really love God.” If they are anything like me, they are going to be imperfect enough to skip days of reading. They are going to go periods where they starve themselves of the Word and then tear into the book again in famished fashion. Don’t crush them with guilt, even though they do need to learn discipline. Encourage them and build their interest in continuing to read. How can you build their interest in the Word? Share insights from your reading. The excitement is contagious. Pray that the Holy Spirit grips the new believer’s heart with captivating stories and sanctifying truth in God’s Word.
-Daniel-
