YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
How Can the Bible Help Me?—Part 1: Exploring Your Bible
“I’ve tried to read the Bible, but I get intimidated by how long it is!”—Briana, 15.
Do you feel that way? This article can help you!
Why read the Bible?
Does the idea of reading the Bible sound less than appealing? If so, it’s understandable. You may think of the Bible as a book with more than a thousand pages of small type and no pictures—not much competition for TV and videos!
But think of it this way: If you came across a huge ancient treasure chest, wouldn’t you be curious about what’s inside?
The Bible is just such a treasure chest. It contains many gems of wisdom that will help you to
Make good decisions
Get along with your parents
Find the best kind of friends
Cope with stress
How can such an ancient book be so practical for our day? It’s because “all Scripture is inspired of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) That means the advice in the Bible comes from the best Source possible.
The Bible is a treasure chest that contains priceless gems of wisdom
How should I read the Bible?
One way is to read the Bible from cover to cover. That will give you an overview of the Bible’s message. There are many ways to read the Bible. Consider two examples:
You could read the 66 Bible books in the order in which they appear, from Genesis to Revelation.
You could read the Bible chronologically—that is, in the order in which the events related actually occurred.
Tip: My book of Bible Stories gives a chronological list of main Bible events.
A second way to read the Bible is to select an account that relates to a challenge you are facing. For example:
Would you like to find trustworthy friends? Read the story of Jonathan and David. (1 Samuel, chapters 18-20) And learn practical lessons from the account.
Would you like to strengthen your ability to resist temptation? Watch Genesis chapter 39 and “Jehovah Kept Showing Loyal Love” to see how Joseph resisted temptation and look for practical lessons from the account.
Would you like to learn how prayer can help you? Watch Nehemiah chapter 2 and Nehemiah:“The Joy of Jehovah Is Your Stronghold”—Part I and Part II. Look for evidence of the power of Nehemiah’s prayers.
Tip: When you read the Bible, make sure your surroundings are quiet so that you can concentrate.
A third way to read the Bible is to pick an account or a psalm, read it, and then consider how it applies to you. After reading, ask yourself questions such as these:
Why did Jehovah include this in the Bible?
What does it reveal about Jehovah’s personality or way of doing things?
How can I apply this information in my life?
Tip: Set the goal of reading the Bible daily. You could start by reading a daily text and its practical application on wol.jw.org.