I got a Bible from my aunt for Christmas, but when I started reading it I got all bogged down and after a few days I just quit. What am I doing wrong? I didn't grow up in a church or anything, so maybe that's the problem. — M.R.

A church background might have helped you, but I hope you won't let that discourage you or keep you from discovering the Bible for yourself. You may even find it more exciting than some people do who have brushed up against it all their lives!

Part of the problem is that the Bible is different from any other book you've ever read. When you read a book, you naturally begin at the beginning and go straight through it, page by page. But the Bible is different, because the best way to discover its message is to begin at the center -- that is, to begin with one of the Gospels in the New Testament. (I often suggest people begin with the Gospel of John.)

Why is this? The reason is because the whole Bible revolves around Jesus Christ. The Old Testament points forward to His coming; the New Testament tells of His coming, and what He has done for us. Once you understand who Jesus was and what He has done for you, the rest of the Bible will become clearer.

The greatest discovery any person can ever make is that God loves them, and He sent His Son into the world so they could know Him in a personal way. Don't give up, but ask God to show Himself to you as you read the Bible. The Bible's promise is true: "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130).