A beginner-friendly roadmap through the Gospels, Psalms and beyond.

Hi there Lovely Lady,

Starting anything new after 40 can feel a bit awkward. Starting the Bible? Even more so.

You might be thinking:

• “I’ve been around church forever… I should know this already.”

• “I left faith behind years ago and I’m only just peeking back in.”

• “I want to read the Bible, but every time I try, I stall and feel silly.”

If that’s you, you are in very good company.

The Bible wasn’t written to make you feel small. It was written to reveal God’s heart — for real people in real life. You don’t have to be “good at” reading it to begin. You just need a simple roadmap.

Let’s talk about where to start reading the Bible as a beginner, especially in midlife, and how to keep going without getting lost or discouraged.

Why Starting Point Matters (and Why “Page 1” Is Hard)

Most of us are used to reading books from front to back. So we open the Bible at Genesis, make it partway through, hit a wall in Leviticus and quietly close it again.

The problem isn’t you. It’s that the Bible is:

• A library of 66 books

• Written over hundreds of years

• With different styles (story, poetry, letters, wisdom, prophecy)

Beginning in the hardest section is like starting a fitness journey with a marathon.

Instead, think of your Bible like a new city. You don’t need to see every back street at once. You start with a few main landmarks and build from there.

Step 1: Start with Jesus – The Gospels

If you’re new or returning to the Bible, the best place to meet God is in the life of Jesus.

Recommended starting points:

• Mark – Short, straightforward, full of action. Great “first Gospel”.

• Luke – Warm and detailed, with lots of stories involving women, outsiders and everyday people.

• John – More reflective, focusing on who Jesus is and why He came.

Pick one Gospel and commit to reading it slowly, over a month or two, in small pieces.

How to read a Gospel as a beginner:

1. Read one story or section at a time (most Bibles have headings).

2. Ask: “What stands out to me about Jesus here?”

3. Note one thing you learn or one question you have.

4. Pray a simple one-line prayer in response.

That’s it. You don’t have to untangle every detail to benefit.

Step 2: Add the Psalms – Prayers for Every Season

Once you’ve started in a Gospel, adding Psalms can help you put words around your own emotions.

Psalms are:

• Honest (sometimes shockingly honest)

• Full of questions, doubts and praise

• Written by people who had very real problems

A simple pattern:

• Gospel + Psalm – Read from your chosen Gospel most days, and a Psalm once or twice a week.

For example:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – Gospel of Mark

• Thursday – Psalm

• Friday – Gospel

• Weekend – catch up or re-read a favourite

When you hit a Psalm that sounds like your own heart, linger. Copy a verse into your journal. Make it your prayer for the week.

Step 3: A Beginner-Friendly Bible Reading Path (First 6 Months)

Here’s a gentle path you can follow as a midlife beginner:

Month 1–2: Gospel of Mark

• Goal: Meet Jesus in action.

• Focus: His compassion, authority and interactions with ordinary people.

Month 3: Selected Psalms

• Psalms 23, 27, 34, 42, 46, 51, 73, 103, 121, 139

• Goal: Learn to pray honestly.

Month 4–5: Gospel of Luke

• Goal: See how Jesus treats the overlooked and hurting.

• Watch for: Widows, sick people, women, “outsiders”.

Month 6: Philippians + Colossians

• Short letters from Paul, full of encouragement and practical instruction.

• Great on-ramp to the rest of the New Testament letters.

You can move faster or slower. The point is to have direction, not to hit a deadline.

Step 4: Practical Tips for Reading After 40

Midlife eyes, midlife brain and midlife life all have their quirks. Let’s honour them.

Make it physically easy

• Use a Bible with larger print or read on an app where you can enlarge the text.

• Keep your Bible and reading glasses together in one spot.

• Create a simple “Bible basket” with your Bible, a notebook, pen and tissues (because Psalms).

Make it mentally kind

• Read shorter sections than you think you “should”.

• Re-read the same passage on two or three days if it helps it sink in.

• Don’t panic about what you don’t understand yet. Focus on what you do see.

Make it emotionally safe

• You’re allowed to bring your questions, doubts and frustrations to God.

• You’re allowed to say, “I don’t get this bit” and move on for now.

• You’re allowed to start again as many times as you need.

Step 5: What If I Get Stuck or Bored?

It will happen. At some point, you’ll hit a chapter that feels dry or slow.

When that happens:

• Zoom out: Read the section headings before and after to see the bigger picture.

• Switch angle: Move to a Psalm for a few days, then come back.

• Ask for help: Message a trusted Christian friend: “Hey, I’m reading Luke 8 and I’m stuck — can we chat about it?”

Sometimes boredom is just your brain learning a new rhythm. Sometimes it’s a sign you need to change your approach. Both are okay.

A 21-Day “After 40” Starter Plan

Here’s a simple 3-week plan you can follow:

Week 1 – Meeting Jesus (Mark 1–3)

• Day 1: Mark 1:1–20

• Day 2: Mark 1:21–45

• Day 3: Mark 2:1–17

• Day 4: Mark 2:18–28

• Day 5: Mark 3:1–19

• Weekend: Re-read any story that moved you

Week 2 – Jesus With Real People (Mark 4–6 + Psalm)

• Day 6: Mark 4:1–20

• Day 7: Mark 4:21–41

• Day 8: Mark 5:1–20

• Day 9: Mark 5:21–43

• Day 10: Psalm 23

• Weekend: Rest or re-read Psalm 23 slowly

Week 3 – Hope and Honesty (Mark 10 + Psalms)

• Day 11: Mark 10:13–31

• Day 12: Mark 10:46–52

• Day 13: Psalm 34

• Day 14: Psalm 46

• Day 15: Psalm 139:1–18

• Weekend: Journal about what you’ve noticed about Jesus and about yourself

By the end of 21 days, you’ll have:

• Met Jesus in real stories

• Prayed with the Psalms

• Begun to build a habit that feels more like relationship than homework

So, if you’re starting (or re-starting) the Bible after 40, you’re not failing.

You’re responding.

Responding to the nudge that says, “I want this to be real.”
Responding to the God who’s been quietly present in every twist of your story.
Responding to the invitation to know Him not just in sermons, but in the pages of His Word.

You don’t need the perfect plan. You just need a first step.

Choose your Gospel, open to chapter one, whisper “Lord, show me who You are,” and read the next few verses.

That’s you, beginning again — and heaven is not rolling its eyes. It’s cheering you on.

Until we chat again my dear friend,

Blessing and hugs to you....

Dianne xx