The Bible—the Holy Scriptures—is a book of books about God, what we have experienced of God over many centuries, what we have recorded about God’s activities and interactions with Israel and the ancient world.

To those who are unacquainted with the Scriptures, there may be a certain mystique about what the Bible is, what is says, and what it means. At the same time, God longs to be known, and the Bible is one of the means by which God is revealed to us. [Diana L. Hynson - De-Mystifying the Bible (at Least a Little Bit)]

Below you will find steps that may help as you grow in your faith through reading the Bible. If you are just beginning and aren't sure where to start, open the New Testament first. As Christians, we read the Bible through the lens of Jesus.

• Use the Daily Discipleship Journal that is available in the weekly bulletin and by download here.
• Read for knowledge and understanding.

• Begin to spend time each day reading the Bible.
• Use the Daily Discipleship Journal.
• Read for knowledge and understanding, and also how the Bible speaks to you and our world.

• Use the Daily Discipleship Journal or follow the daily Scripture readings and write your reflections in a journal.
• Establish a daily pattern of Bible reading.
• Read for knowledge, understanding, and life-application.
• Spend time reflecting on Scripture and letting God speak to you.
• Explore new ways to read, study, and reflect on the Bible.

• Daily Bible reading.
• Daily Bible reflection.
• Use the Daily Discipleship Journal or keep a journal using the daily Scripture readings.

Websites

• "How to Have a Daily Devotion Time" - The phrases "doing devotions" or "having devotions" may sound foreign or weird. These phrases are simply ways people describe spending time with God by reading the Bible (and other Christian literature) and praying........But because we are all different and because each of us has a unique relationship with God, no one devotional pattern will work for everyone. And no one way works for anyone all of the time. Experiment until you find the time of day, content, and length of time spent that helps you feel connected with God. Read more and practical steps on having a daily devotion time here.
  
  
• Upperroom Daily Devotional
  www.upperroom.org/devotional
  
  
• Upperroom Daily Reflections
  www.upperroom.org/daily

Books

• Upper Room devotional books available in our bookstore include: Daily Devotional Guide, Alive Now, Weavings, devozine (youth) and Pockets (children)

• “Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition,” by Steve Harper
• “Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation,” by Richard Foster
• “Shaped by the Word,” by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
• “Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide”
• “Glimpses of Glory,” by Carol Bechtel
• “Lord, Teach Us — The Lord's Prayer & the Christian Life,” by Will Willimon and Stanley Hauerwaus
• “By Way of the Desert,” by Bernard Bangley
• “The Living Book of Daily Prayer — Morning and Evening,” by Kim Martin Sadler
• “Strength and Courage for Caregivers — 30 Hope-Filled Morning and
  Evening Reflections,” by Terry Hargrave
• “Daily Devotions with William Barclay,” by William Barclay
• “Reading the Good Book Well,” by Jerry Camery-Hoggart
• “A Disciple's Journal,” by Steve Manskar
• “Living the Message,” by Eugene Peterson

• John Wesley on "How To Read The Scriptures"
  
  
• SOAPY
  • A. Find the Bible reading corresponding to today’s date from the Daily Scripture readings listed on your bookmark or online. Turn to the chapter in your Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Mark off each daily reading as you complete it to keep yourself accountable.
    
    B. Read the passages. As you are reading, take note of anything the Lord impresses on you as a personal word to be applied. When you read with an open heart, God will give you words of encouragement, direction, and correction (2 Tim. 3:16)
    
    C. When God has revealed a special lesson of life to you, record what God has just shown you in your journal.
    
    
  • Title the page in your journal. Number each daily page and record the date of the entry, then use the “SOAPY” method below.
    
    
  • Scripture:  Write down the verse you have chosen as a lesson for the day.
    
    Observation:  Write down what the lesson is for you for that day.
    
    Application:  Write how this lesson applies to your life.
    
    Prayer:  Write a prayer to God concerning this lesson and your life.
    
    Yield:  Write what you must yield in your life for this lesson to become alive in you.
    
    
  • Record the entry by date, scripture, topic, title and page in your Table of Contents page.
    
    
  • Conclude your daily devotional time by turning to the prayer list in your journal and spend some personal time with God in prayer.
    
    
• Paraphrase the Scripture
  • Choose a Scripture passage and then paraphrase the passage in your own words. As you write the paraphrase think about what the Scripture means for your own life.
    
    
• Illustrate the Scripture
  • Read a Bible passage and then paint or draw a picture that illustrates a key scene from the story. Another way to illustrate the story is to draw a picture as if the story were occurring in modern times.
    Instead of actually creating a picture of the scene, you could paint or draw a picture that reflects how the passage makes you feel. Modeling clay or other media can also be used.
    
    
• Pray the Scriptures
  • Quiet your body and mind and anticipate listening for God. Read a Scripture passage or listen as someone else reads a passage aloud. Sit quietly, opening yourself to God's presence.