5 Simple Steps
So you want to get started reading and learning the Bible? Just take these simple first steps, and you'll be on your way!
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Step 3
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Step 4
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Step 5
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Find the right Bible
We live in a fortunate time when it comes to reading the Bible!
The Bible student has a lot of choices when it comes time to sit down and read. And so, since you're going to be spending a lot of time with whatever Bible you choose for your 3x5 Club journey, you want to be sure to choose the best one for your needs.
Do you want hard cover, paperback, or digital? Do you want a study Bible, a devotional Bible, or just the basic text? Do you need a certain font size or prefer one layout over another? Do you like to have pictures, charts, and maps included in the text? Do you find introductions and footnotes helpful? Which translation or paraphrase would be best for you?
It's a big menu from which to choose! This guide to various translations might help you make your choice. And this site may also give you a sense for what you options are and help you make a great choice.
The Bible student has a lot of choices when it comes time to sit down and read. And so, since you're going to be spending a lot of time with whatever Bible you choose for your 3x5 Club journey, you want to be sure to choose the best one for your needs.
Do you want hard cover, paperback, or digital? Do you want a study Bible, a devotional Bible, or just the basic text? Do you need a certain font size or prefer one layout over another? Do you like to have pictures, charts, and maps included in the text? Do you find introductions and footnotes helpful? Which translation or paraphrase would be best for you?
It's a big menu from which to choose! This guide to various translations might help you make your choice. And this site may also give you a sense for what you options are and help you make a great choice.
"Some think that many different translations of the Scriptures make divisions in the faith and in the people of God. This is not true. The best possible thing for the people of God is for every church to have various translations of the Bible. From the earliest centuries there have been many translations in several tongues. The Church Fathers such as Ireneus, Cyprian, Tertullian, Jerome, Augustine, Hilary, and Ambrose did not read the text all alike."
(Miles Coverdale, a pioneer in publishing an English translation of the Bible in 1635)
(Miles Coverdale, a pioneer in publishing an English translation of the Bible in 1635)
Make time and space
You and I are physical creatures. We live in time and space. Everything we do happens at a particular time and in a particular space. And so, as Bible students, we would be wise to set aside both time and space to do our Bible reading.
It is not essential to read your Bible at the same time every day or in the same place every day. You will find it helpful if you do, though, for you are a creature of time and space. And it will be best if both the time and the space are protected from distractions.
As to time, consider first thing in the morning. If we want the things of God to be first in our lives, then we should make them first in our days. Bishop Ralph Cushman wrote a lovely poem that expresses that truth and its importance.
As to space, choose a place that is both easy and desirable for you to go to. Also, a place where you will not feel surrounded by things that distract you is best. Don't create a recipe for defeat by trying to do your Bible reading at a time or a place that will be difficult for you!
It is not essential to read your Bible at the same time every day or in the same place every day. You will find it helpful if you do, though, for you are a creature of time and space. And it will be best if both the time and the space are protected from distractions.
As to time, consider first thing in the morning. If we want the things of God to be first in our lives, then we should make them first in our days. Bishop Ralph Cushman wrote a lovely poem that expresses that truth and its importance.
As to space, choose a place that is both easy and desirable for you to go to. Also, a place where you will not feel surrounded by things that distract you is best. Don't create a recipe for defeat by trying to do your Bible reading at a time or a place that will be difficult for you!
Remove the obstacles
Any time you or I try to do something -- especially something that takes a long time to accomplish -- we encounter certain obstacles.
Some of them are universal experiences. We get tired or busy, hungry or distracted, frustrated or discouraged. Any of those experiences might hamper your Bible reading at a given moment or for an extended period of time.
And then some other obstacles are more individual.
One person, for example, gets bogged down with questions. If they don't understand something they're reading, they find it hard to go on until they get the insight or information they need. That can be a significant impediment in our Bible reading.
One individual can't concentrate when they hear other noises, and so they need a quiet time and space. A different person is more bothered by the quiet, and so they need some music in the background. Another gets slowed down because they chose the wrong Bible for themselves -- it's too heavy, or the print is too small, or there are too many extra notes and charts, and so the experience of reading becomes burdensome to them.
If you are going to try to read through the Bible cover-to-cover, you're going to encounter some obstacles. Try to identify what obstacles might be problems for you. Make an honest list. And then, make a realistic plan for how you're going to minimize or eliminate each of the obstacles to your Bible reading.
Some of them are universal experiences. We get tired or busy, hungry or distracted, frustrated or discouraged. Any of those experiences might hamper your Bible reading at a given moment or for an extended period of time.
And then some other obstacles are more individual.
One person, for example, gets bogged down with questions. If they don't understand something they're reading, they find it hard to go on until they get the insight or information they need. That can be a significant impediment in our Bible reading.
One individual can't concentrate when they hear other noises, and so they need a quiet time and space. A different person is more bothered by the quiet, and so they need some music in the background. Another gets slowed down because they chose the wrong Bible for themselves -- it's too heavy, or the print is too small, or there are too many extra notes and charts, and so the experience of reading becomes burdensome to them.
If you are going to try to read through the Bible cover-to-cover, you're going to encounter some obstacles. Try to identify what obstacles might be problems for you. Make an honest list. And then, make a realistic plan for how you're going to minimize or eliminate each of the obstacles to your Bible reading.
Print the bookmarks
The 3x5 Club is a systematic method of daily Bible reading.
If you read 3 chapters each day and 5 chapters on Sundays, you'll get through the entire Bible in just under one year. People who start reading Genesis 1 on January 1 will finish the Book of Revelation shortly after Christmas.
To help you track your daily Bible reading, we provide an up-to-date calendar on the web site.
In addition, we have created a PDF that you can print for yourself and cut into 12 individual monthly bookmarks. Keep each one in your Bible to keep you on track until you're ready to move on to the next month!
If you read 3 chapters each day and 5 chapters on Sundays, you'll get through the entire Bible in just under one year. People who start reading Genesis 1 on January 1 will finish the Book of Revelation shortly after Christmas.
To help you track your daily Bible reading, we provide an up-to-date calendar on the web site.
In addition, we have created a PDF that you can print for yourself and cut into 12 individual monthly bookmarks. Keep each one in your Bible to keep you on track until you're ready to move on to the next month!
Explore the site!
You're ready to begin!
The 3x5 Club is an online resource to help you in your Bible reading. Click on this link to go to the site that has been prepared for you. Bookmark the site in your browser. And then begin to explore!
The home page is arranged with several key elements for your navigation:
Also, be sure to check out our Facebook page, and stay connected to it for regular posts to keep you encouraged in your reading.
Enjoy!
The 3x5 Club is an online resource to help you in your Bible reading. Click on this link to go to the site that has been prepared for you. Bookmark the site in your browser. And then begin to explore!
The home page is arranged with several key elements for your navigation:
- a link to a reading calendar for the year
- links to the weekly resources for the entire year
- an introductory video about The 3x5 Club experience
- a collection of other helpful links for Bible students
Also, be sure to check out our Facebook page, and stay connected to it for regular posts to keep you encouraged in your reading.
Enjoy!
A Book Like No (Every) Other
Watch this video to see both why we need to and how we can learn the Bible.