For first time readers of the Bible we recommend starting with the New Testament, especially beginning with reading through the book of Mark. Then, read the books of Matthew, Luke and John. Christianity is Christ. It’s about a relationship with Him. Therefore, get to know Jesus well through reading His life and teachings. Continue reading through the New Testament from Acts through Revelation. After reading the New Testament, then you can start reading the Old Testament.

All of our “Joyful Walk Bible Studies” are free to download. Follow the links on this page to access the downloads. Or, sign up to receive a password for quick access to all of the studies in one place in our “Library.” Scroll down to the bottom of this Free Bible Studies page to other websites offering free Bible studies.

If you can’t be part of an established group, you certainly can study the Bible on your own at home. Ask the Lord to help you choose a Bible Study guide that focuses on a book of the Bible. We recommend you start with any of the “Graceful Beginning Series” of Bible study books on our website that are short and easy to do. Once you have the book, set aside some time to work through the lesson. Most of our studies have related podcasts to enhance our own study so listen to those.

Ask the Lord to lead you to the book of the Bible you should study. We recommend starting in the New Testament. After you choose the book of the Bible you want to study, research the ABC’s of that book: the Author, the Background setting for the story (i.e., past, present, future), and where the book fits into a series (that’s the Context). Get a journal to record your notes. Ask the Lord Jesus to teach you through His word. As you begin reading the first chapter of the book, observe what the text says including what is happening, truths declared, and anything else that grabs your attention. Look up words you don’t understand in a dictionary. Then, consider how you can apply what you learned. Respond to God in prayer and trust. Check out our Mark study to see what this process looks like.

They were everyday women like women today are. They cooked meals, did laundry, and raised children. They had responsibilities inside and outside of their homes, including home businesses. They experienced hormone fluctuations and menopause. They laughed with their friends, differed with their mates, and cried when a loved one died. They wrote songs and played musical instruments. Their hair needed to be combed and fixed, and it turned grey as they aged. They faced fear from invading enemies, sick family members, and empty pantries. They faced creditors and surprise houseguests. They even had “bad” days when things didn’t go right, sometimes due to their own choices. Their stories—snippets of their biographies—are preserved for us to get to know them, and to know their God who is also our God—an ever-faithful God whose character never changes. We get to see how much our God loves us as women today. Check out “Everyday Women, Ever-Faithful God” (11 lessons) and the shorter version, “The Walk from Fear to Faith” (6 lessons). To study New Testament women, we recommend “Live Out His Love” (11 lessons) and the shorter version “Satisfied by His Love” (6 lessons).