Every once in a while someone asks for advice: "How do I learn more about the Bible?" In church we act like the Bible is important, but few among us feel confident we understand it -- or even that we know what's in it. Here's my best shot at the question.
I'd encourage folks not to outthink themselves. Start simple. One might begin with one of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. John is most commonly recommended, but I think it's more important to just pick one and go with it. If you pick Matthew, don't let the opening genealogy get you down. The story really does pick up. And as you understand the Bible, Matthew's genealogy turns out to stand among the most interesting passages in the whole thing. In any case, each Gospel tells the Jesus story in its own distinctive way. It only takes a couple of hours to read one of the Gospels, and then you can compare them with one another if you really get interested.
Read Full Article »