To get the full gist of the whole Bible without reading all of them at once, you can try this excellent method as suggested by Betsy de Cruz of Crosswalk.com.

Start with 10 of the Books. Here is a short synopsis of each one: GENESIS: Stories of how God created the world and chose a people for Himself to help us understand the rest of the Bible.

JOHN: We get to know Jesus in its beautiful insuring language and tells of the relationship we can have with Him. John gives us the most convincing argument in favor of the supernatural identity of Jesus as the Son of God.

ROMANS: This Book explains God by showing us what He is like, how He saves us, and how He wants us to live. Paul wrote this Book and presents a convincing argument of why we need a Savior.

Often quoted verses are: ‘God demonstrates His own love for us in this: ‘While we were still sinners Christ died for us (Chapter 5: 8). It should be read at least once a year.

PSALMS: This is a simple handbook of prayer, teaching us how to relate to God in all circumstances, expressing lament, praise, joy, and despair. Psalms meets our need to grieve, confess sin, ask God for guidance, or express joy and thanks.

EPHESIANS: This is a letter to the Ephesians that describes the blessings and grace that are ours in Christ. It covers topics helpful for Christian living, like unity in the church, counsel for husbands, wives, and families, as well as how to engage in spiritual warfare to help us stand firm in our faith.

PROVERBS: A general ‘How to do Life’ book. There is sound advice for everything from relationships, marriage, and family, to work and money. We learn self-control, wise speech, planning, justice, leadership, success, and love.

PHILIPPIANS: When discouragement comes, this Book encourages us to look beyond our circumstances to find joy in Jesus Christ. In just 4 chapters, Paul mentions joy or rejoicing 16 times. It also is a guide on how to handle worry and anxiety.

1 JOHN: This book reminds us of God’s love for us with many affirmations of His amazing love. In 5 chapters, John touches on themes of light, victory in Christ, fellowship with God, forgiveness for our sins, and assurance of eternal life.

JAMES: A short Book, it challenges us to take practical steps towards acting out our faith, instead of just talking about it. James begins with special encouragement for people undergoing trials and for those who need wisdom. It con-tinues with sage advice on listening before speaking, obeying God, the Word, taming our tongues, and showing generosity to the poor.

ISAIAH: Written about 700 years before Christ, Isaiah foretells the coming of Christ, the Messiah. Like Old Testament prophets, Isaiah can be challenging to read because of its strong words of judgment against disobedience and sin. Yet it also gives us a beautiful picture of God, holiness, majesty, compassion, and His plan for redemption. It also offers powerful words of encouragement and comfort.

After reading these Books, you get an overview of a complete Book that continues to transform lives miraculously like no other.

Can you imagine a world if everyone treated others like they want to be treated? It starts with each one of us. We should never forget to share the Good News of what the Bible teaches us.

Have a good week, and share God’s love in everything you say and do. God Bless!