“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24.44-45)
One of the greatest comforts of being a preacher is that I will never run out of material. Some scriptures are easy to understand and some, less so. But, hey- I’m a preacher. That’s not everyone’s position in life. Also, I had to sit and learn what I do know from people who knew more than I! It would be an inconceivably ridiculous lie to say I knew what every word in the Bible was there for; I’m still learning.
But maybe you are new to the Word of God- that’s what the Bible claims to be (and is)- the Word of God (2 Timothy 3.16). How do you start understanding the Bible?
To understand the Bible the first step does not even include the Bible. James 1.5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” So, pray. Ask God to help you understand His Word. (This is appropriate for anyone of any level of learning when working with the Word) Also, note the humility involved in this request. This prayer indicates that I lack something (wisdom) and I trust God to supply it.
The next step, for a newcomer, would be (in my opinion) to start with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). The Old Testament helps us better understand who Jesus is, and why He is the sacrifice for our sins. In the words of my grandfather, WimpyJoe, “The first five books of the New Testament tell you how to get saved. The rest of them tell you how to stay saved”. Someone with deeper knowledge may help you figure out which Gospel to start with, but all of them are appropriate to study.
Next, get some help. Jesus’ followers often asked Him to explain things. You already prayed, so ask someone to explain where you may have questions. Blessed are those who seek Him.