FOR BEGINNERS

If you have never read the Bible before, start with the book of John in the New Testament.
This book was written by one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ named John. He tells the story
of Jesus in a simple way which is easy to understand.

Read one chapter in John each day in the order in which they are found in your Bible. Use
the following chart to check off each chapter as you read it.



The Gospel Of John:
_____1 _____5 _____9 _____13 _____17
_____2 _____6 _____10 _____14 _____18
_____3 _____7 _____11 _____15 _____19
_____4 _____8 _____12 _____16 _____20

READ SYSTEMATICALLY:

Some people do not understand God's Word because they do not have a systematic plan for
reading. They read a chapter here and there and fail to understand how it all fits together.
This is like reading a few pages here and there in a text book on medicine and then trying to
set up a medical practice.

The Bible tells us to "search the scriptures" (John 5:39). This means to study them carefully.
The Bible is like a text book used in school. You must read it in an orderly way if you are
to understand its content. Select one of the following reading schedules and begin reading
your Bible daily.

READ PRAYERFULLY:

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord. (Ezra 7:10)

Before you start to read, pray to God and ask Him to help you understand the message He
has given you through His written Word. Let your prayer be as the Psalmist David prayed:

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
(Psalms 119:18)

READ SELECTIVELY:

Start by reading the "milk" of the word. These are the simple truths of the Word of God:

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow
thereby. (I Peter 2:2)

Later you will mature spiritually to where you can eat "meat" of the Word of God. This
means you will be able to understand more difficult teachings of the Bible:

For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he
is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason
of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(Hebrews 5:13-14)
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to
bear it . . . (I Corinthians 3:2)

SUCCESSFUL BIBLE READING

You will learn much in this course about how to understand and interpret the Bible. You will
also learn methods of creative Bible study. But the first step in understanding the Bible is to
begin to read it. To help you start reading God's Word we have outlined several different
reading plans. These include a plan for those just starting their study as well as a plan for
those who are more advanced in the study of God's Word.
First, here are four suggestions for successful Bible reading:

READ DAILY:
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day
and night. (Psalms 1:2)

God made your physical body so you must have food daily in order to remain healthy. In
a similar manner, your spirit must be fed daily with the food of the Word of God if you are
to be spiritually healthy:
. . . It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of
God. (Luke 4:4)

OLD TESTAMENT DIVISIONS

The books of the Old Testament are divided into four major groups: Law, history, poetry and
8
prophecy.



THE BOOKS OF THE LAW:
There are five books of law. The names of these books are:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
These books record the creation of man and the world by God and the early history of man.
They tell how God raised up the nation of Israel as a people through which He could reveal
Himself to the nations of the world.
These books record the laws of God. The best known parts are the Ten Commandments
(Exodus 20:3-17), the greatest of all commandments (Deuteronomy 6:5), and the second
greatest commandment (Leviticus 19:18).
Open your Bible and locate the books of Law in the Old Testament. Locate the three verses
mentioned in the preceding paragraph and read them. These are an example of the laws of
God recorded in these books.

"Basic Bible Survey"

"Basic Bible Survey" is a companion course of "Creative Bible Study Methods" which teaches
various ways to study the Bible. Both courses are designed to enrich your personal study of
God's Word.*

Can you find your Dreams

Can you find yourself in the Bible! can you study to find you or solve your problems with the word of God.
gurleydwight@bellsouth.net

Jesus explained how the Old 7 Testament centered on Him:

And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was
yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of
Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me.
(Luke 24:44)

is there unity in the Bible

THE BIBLE
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› ›
Old Testament New Testament

39 Books                      27 Book

MAJOR DIVISIONS

The Bible is divided into two major sections called the Old Testament and the New
Testament. The word "testament" means covenant. A covenant is an agreement. The Old
Testament records God's original covenant or agreement with man. The New Testament
records the new covenant made by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

What was the subject of these two agreements? They both concerned restoring sinful man
to right relationship with God. God made a law that sin can only be forgiven through the
shedding of blood:

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE

The Bible itself records its main purpose:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(II Timothy 3:16-17)

The Scriptures are to be used to teach doctrine, to reprove and correct from evil, and to teach
righteousness. They will help you live right and equip you to work for God.

Some of the writers wrote down exactly what God said:

Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken
unto thee against Israel . . . (Jeremiah 36:2)

Other writers wrote what they experienced or what God revealed concerning the future:

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things
which shall be hereafter. (Revelation 1:19)

All of the writers wrote under God's inspiration the words of His message for us.

Basic Bible Survey One Old Testament

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(II Timothy 3:16-17)

POSITIVE FEAR

The Bible has two connotations for the word “fear.” One is positive, reflecting a healthy
respect for God, and it is foundational to spiritual wisdom:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those
who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. (Psalms 111:10)
This positive fear of God results in blessings:
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His
commandments. (Psalms 112:1)
Those who fear God are protected from evil:
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
(Psalm 34:7)
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; he also will hear their cry and save them.
(Psalm 145:19)
In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of
refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
Those who fear God know no want:

REPLACE FEAR WITH FAITH

Fear Paralyzes
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast
throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Jehoshaphat received a bad report concerning a multitude of enemy forces and his first
response was fear. This is understandable for, as we learned in the last chapter, the coalition of
enemy forces aligned against him were quite formidable.
Centuries later our immediate response to difficult circumstances has not changed. When
we receive a bad report or face a multitude of problems--when we don’t know what to do--we
usually respond with fear. Impossible situations are never resolved by fear, however, so the first
thing we must do when we don’t know what to do is replace fear with faith.

A King who Walked God's Way

Jehoshaphat was the son of King Asa and a woman named Azubah. He was a young man
of 35 when he became king over Judah:
Jehoshaphat the son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king
of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned
twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing
what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away,
for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. (1 Kings 22:41-44)
Details of Jehoshaphat’s administration of the kingdom of Judah are recorded in 2
Chronicles chapters 17-19. Jehoshaphat immediately strengthened Judah’s military forces, sent
priests and Levites throughout the kingdom to teach God’s law, and established a righteous
judgment system. The Chronicles declare concerning him:
Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father
David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His
commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established
the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches
and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord;

A GREAT MULTITUDE

Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you
from beyond the seas, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar"...
(2 Chronicles 20:2)

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