6 perspectives · Updated · 3 min read
The usual plan is to open at Genesis and read straight through to Revelation. Most of the pastors and authors here suggest starting somewhere else.
Three of them start people in a Gospel: John K Coar and Justin R. Lester in Mark, Rick Osborne in Luke. Steven Furtick and Hope Carpenter focus on pace, one chapter a day. Tim Pratt Jr. focuses on how to read, asking what a passage meant to its first readers before asking what it means for you.
Their answers cover where to begin, how much to read each day, and how to read what's in front of you.
Don't start at Genesis and try to read straight through. Half of them start people in a Gospel, Mark or Luke, then read a little every day, often a single chapter, and ask what it meant to its first readers before what it means for you.
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Six voices: the founder of Elevation Church, two pastors who are also professors, a pastor and author, an associate pastor, and a Christian author with over 10 million books sold. Listen for the starting point that sounds most like yours.
John K Coar · Pastor, professor, and Army officer
Listen for: Why meeting Jesus in Mark comes before the harder books.
Justin R. Lester · Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, professor
Listen for: Pairing a Gospel with one of Paul's short letters.
Rick Osborne · Christian author with over 10 million books sold
Listen for: Starting with Luke, and reading it as history before theology.
Steven Furtick · Founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church
Listen for: Reading slowly, one chapter a day, with your family.
Hope Carpenter · Pastor of Redemption Church and author
Listen for: A chapter a day, without forcing it.
Tim Pratt Jr. · Associate pastor, agile coach, and podcast host
Listen for: Asking what a passage meant to the people it was written for.
Pastor, professor, and Army officer
Why themBrings biblical scholarship, pastoral leadership, and social justice together, and translates complex theology for everyday life.
John’s advice: Start with the Gospels, not Genesis; read Mark first.
I tell people to start with the Gospels, not Genesis, because you need to meet Jesus before you wrestle with Leviticus. Read Mark first if you want the story plain and fast, then let the questions come.
Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, professor
Why themLeads Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo and helps people work through faith, technology, and real life.
Justin’s advice: Start in Mark, then pair it with a short letter of Paul's like Galatians or Philippians.
I tell people to start in the Gospel of Mark because it moves fast and gets you face to face with Jesus quickly. Then pair it with one of Paul's shorter letters, Galatians or Philippians, so you see both the story and how to live it.
Christian author with over 10 million books sold
Why themChristian author whose books have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
Rick’s advice: Don't read it like a novel; begin with one Gospel, usually Luke.
I don't start by reading it like a novel from Genesis to Revelation; that confuses most people fast. I ask Jesus to be my Teacher, then I begin with one Gospel, usually Luke, because it gives the fullest picture of Jesus, and I read it as history before I treat it as theology.
Founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church
Why themFounded and leads Elevation Church, and writes and produces GRAMMY Award-winning music.
Steven’s advice: Start small, one chapter a day, so one verse can land.
I don't start by trying to read the whole Bible in a year. I start small enough that the Bible has room to read me. One chapter a day with my family turned into a four-year club, and the point isn't speed, it's letting one verse actually land.
Pastor of Redemption Church and author
Why themPastors Redemption Church with her husband, Ron, and wrote The Little Pink Book.
Hope’s advice: A chapter a day, and let the Word do the work.
I tell people to start with a chapter a day and let the Word do the work, because Romans 12 says we’re transformed by the renewing of our mind, not by forcing it.
Associate pastor, agile coach, and podcast host
Why themAssociate pastor and senior agile coach who hosts the Student of Life Podcast.
Tim’s advice: Ask what it meant to its first readers before asking what it means for you.
I’d tell you to stop trying to read it like a self-help book and start by letting it be what it actually is: real people, in real places, facing real situations. That means before I ask what it means for me, I ask what it meant to them.
| Who | Their advice |
|---|---|
| John K CoarPastor, professor, and Army officer | Start with the Gospels, not Genesis; read Mark first. |
| Justin R. LesterPastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, professor | Start in Mark, then pair it with a short letter of Paul's like Galatians or Philippians. |
| Rick OsborneChristian author with over 10 million books sold | Don't read it like a novel; begin with one Gospel, usually Luke. |
| Steven FurtickFounder and lead pastor of Elevation Church | Start small, one chapter a day, so one verse can land. |
| Hope CarpenterPastor of Redemption Church and author | A chapter a day, and let the Word do the work. |
| Tim Pratt Jr.Associate pastor, agile coach, and podcast host | Ask what it meant to its first readers before asking what it means for you. |
Skip the cover-to-cover plan. Rick Osborne says reading it like a novel from Genesis to Revelation confuses most people fast. Steven Furtick doesn't start by trying to read the whole Bible in a year.
Begin with a Gospel. John K Coar and Justin R. Lester start people in Mark because it moves fast. Rick Osborne starts with Luke because it gives the fullest picture of Jesus.
Add a short letter. Justin R. Lester pairs Mark with Galatians or Philippians, so you see both the story and how to live it.
Read one chapter a day. Hope Carpenter and Steven Furtick both start with a chapter a day. Steven read that way with his family, and it turned into a four-year club.
Ask what it meant to its first readers. Tim Pratt Jr. reads about real people in real places, and asks what a passage meant to them before asking what it means for him.
They agree on starting small and differ on which book. John K Coar and Justin R. Lester say Mark, because it moves fast. Rick Osborne says Luke, because it gives the fullest picture of Jesus. Steven Furtick and Hope Carpenter don't name a book and focus on reading one chapter a day.
Most of the people here suggest not starting that way. Rick Osborne says reading it like a novel from Genesis to Revelation confuses most people fast, and John K Coar says to meet Jesus in the Gospels before you wrestle with Leviticus.
Mark is the most common answer here, from John K Coar and Justin R. Lester. Rick Osborne recommends Luke.
Steven Furtick and Hope Carpenter both suggest one chapter a day. Steven says the goal is letting one verse land, and speed doesn't matter.
Tim Pratt Jr. asks what a passage meant to its first readers before asking what it means for him. Rick Osborne reads a Gospel as history before he treats it as theology.
Pick one Gospel and read a chapter a day. When a passage raises a question, ask the person whose approach fits you.
We asked this question to pastors on Delphi. Each quote is that person's Delphi answering in their own words, built from their own writing, talks and interviews, and shown as given. Delphi wrote the introduction, the summary, and the steps from their answers. Last checked .
Ask John K Coar about start with the gospels, not genesis; read mark first
Ask Justin R. Lester about start in mark, then pair it with a short letter of paul's li
Ask Rick Osborne about don't read it like a novel; begin with one gospel, usually l
Ask Steven Furtick about start small, one chapter a day, so one verse can land.