Bible 101 - How does God speak to me?

Has anyone ever written you a letter? Like an actual paper and ink letter?

If you have received a written letter, you know that whoever took the time to write it cared that you would read it. The Bible is a letter (a very long letter) from God to us. Sometimes it sounds like a story, a history book, a letter, a poem, a rant, or even a factual essay, but it’s all from God and is for us as believers.

In Climb 2, we go more into the history of the Bible and its authenticity. For today, you should know that many people may have physically written the words in the Bible, but the Bible itself is the Truth and is from God.

Shelby gave a brief explanation on the physical structure of the Bible (name of the book, followed by the chapter number, then the verse number), which is important as you learn to navigate the Bible. At first, the Bible might feel foreign – the words sound funny, the language is old, the names are sometimes ridiculous…, but if you’re new to the faith, that’s completely normal! The Bible was intended to be read and utilized by believers, so as you walk with God, He will give you insight into the Bible that you would not have before saying yes to Him. You may read the same verse a couple times over a couple days before it clicks, and if you need to ask for help, that’s okay! We all need help understanding the Bible at some point.

You have to start somewhere! Even if you don’t have a paper Bible, you can find electronic versions free here through YouVersion’s Bible App. Some easy to read translations for students and new believers are the NLT (New Living Translation), NIV (New International Version), ESV (English Standard Version), and the MSG (The Message).

TRY THIS: Take the scriptures provided below, and read them in the 4 different translations provided above. You can change the translation by clicking the 3-4 letters next to the Bible reference at the top of your Bible App header. When you're reading different versions of the scriptures, see which one makes the most sense to you, and explore which version helps you understand it more.

PRAY THIS: Jesus, help your word come to life for me today. Help me to understand it more so that I can grow closer to you. Amen.