Getting the Most Out of BEGIN ▷

One of the many resources Tulip Gospel Outreach gives out at the Iowa State Fair, IowaGO! booth, is the book, Begin: A Journey Through Scriptures for Seekers and New Believers. It’s a great resource for those really seeking the Lord, as well as those who just come to know Christ and need a starting point.

What makes this book special is that it starts right at the beginning—Genesis 1:1 and travels through the Bible by way of selected chapters to give an overview of the Christian faith and a message of the gospel. By presenting it the way God does it in His Word, and starting at the begining, we are communicating the message of the One True God, the Creator and Savior of the world. This book contains excerpts from God’s Word begining in Genesis to communicate a time-line history from the beginning of time to Christ, and then to the New Heavens and New Earth to come. By reading it, a person will get a better understanding of who God is, why He created everything, how we are accountable to Him, what happens when his first human creation disobeyed Him, where sin comes from and the damage it caused. But, it also shares the glorious good news that God didn’t let us alone, but reached out into humankind and saved us from His judgments by dying on a cross and being raised from the dead on our behalf. People will get a “big picture” understanding of the gospel and challenged to recognize their own need of receiving Christ into their life as Lord and Savior.

The selected Scriptures that are shared in and discussed are:

1. Genesis 1-11 (the foundation)
2. Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments)
3. the Gospel of John
4. the Book of Romans
5. Revelation 21-22 (the fulfillment in Heaven)

It also discussed in detail the following topics:

• What does it mean to be saved?
• Creation in six literal days
• Radiometric dating
• The uniqueness of man
• Global flood
• Dinosaurs
• One race
• Suffering and death
• and more

The following are some helpful hints and insights to get the most out of BEGIN ▷:

Mark key words

There are several key words throughout the book you, as the reader, should highlight or mark in some shape or form:

• believe, believed, belief, faith, follow, followed, follower—green
• anything to do with unbelief—red
• righteousness, redemption, reconcilliation, restoration, and resurrection—blue
• light—underline
• Jesus (and pronouns)—cross
• God (and pronouns)—triangle
• Holy Spirit (and pronouns)—upside down “v”

When you do this, you will see a pattern and notice things in the text that pertain to those words. For instance, when marking the 5 “R” words, you will notice a pattern that the “blood of Jesus” is very near by when reading these words. Something to think about.

Not only that, but it’s good to find the biblical definition of these words. What does it mean to have faith? What does unbelief look like? What is righteousness and how do we receive it? When answering these questions about key words in the text, you are gaining more knowledge about why the author wrote that book in the first place.

Read the “brief reviews and commentaries”

Don’t skip the “brief reviews and commentaries” at the beginning of each book! They are vital for unlocking the purpose, author, and context of the book you are about to dive into. These insights help illuminate your reading experience, providing you with valuable keys to discover hidden gems within the text. Like a key to a door, they can activate the tumblers of your curiosity, revealing exciting treasures on the other side!

Ask questions about the text

When you go through the text, ask yourself questions in relation to what you are reading. Focus on the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” questions throughout the book. Use the space in the margins to answer them. Take notes and mark headings and topics in the upper corners of the book for reference. Some questions to consider:

• Who was the author?
• Who are the recipients?
• What was the purpose of the book?
• What is the main teaching?
• Where is this taking place?
• Why is something happening?
• How is something to be done?

Pray every time before you read

Any most importantly…pray as you read. Let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart and mind, guiding you through the words and illuminating their deeper meanings. Ask Him to reveal things you need to learn, encouraging you to reflect on how these insights can be applied to your daily life and spiritual journey. Trust that the Spirit will lead you to a greater understanding of yourself and your relationship with God. Embrace this moment of connection and openness, allowing your faith to grow as you engage thoughtfully with the text.

If you had the chance to visit the IowaGO! booth at the Iowa State Fair and received a Begin book, I’m excited for you! This article is here to help you explore all the amazing insights and knowledge that await you within its pages. This is a great start and prayerfully a new relationship with Jesus Christ.