The following is an email conversation that I had with a student from the youth group that will likely prove helpful for many.  With his permission, I share our conversation...

Hey Pastor Jeff, my name is Mason Kellar. I'm a member of Parkwood  

and a participant in the youth group. I have a question about the  

Bible and its contents.

I've been reading the books of Genesis and Exodus. About halfway  

through Exodus, I became discouraged because of the content. That  

particular part didn't speak to me. The part that I was reading was  

the lineage of Isaac and his descendents.

My question for you is this: Is there a particular part of the Old  

Testament that I can skip to so that I can get more out of it? I  

want a part of the bible that is especially for personal application.

Thank you,

Mason

(My Response)

Mason, 

Your desire to know and read the Bible is to be commended.  I am so pleased that you have taken the time to ask me these questions.  Your questions are of utmost importance and I do not want to give a shallow answer.  I will answer you on two levels.

First, read the Gospels(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to understand who Jesus is and what He has done.  Next, read the letters of Paul in the NT(Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, there are several others) to understand how what Jesus did applies to all of life.  You have got to start somewhere in your reading of the Bible.  Beginning to end in terms of pages is not the best way to go about reading the Bible. 

Second, the Bible is one big connected story written by multiple authors with the Holy Spirit as their guide.  They wrote in various genres(i.e. history, prose, poetry, letters, etc.)  All of these come together to reveal to us the story of redemption.  The OT is essential for the understanding of the NT.  In time, you will come to understand what I mean.  To read the Bible you have to think and ask questions.  The places that you were having trouble require a big picture reading and deeper thinking to grasp how it fits into the bigger story.  Every verse of the Bible is not written with a lesson to be learned.  However, every portion of Scripture is written to reveal who God is, who man is, and the need for and the coming of the Savior Christ our Lord to redeem a people to live for Him in this world and to be with Him in eternity.  In other words Mason, don't open your Bible every day looking for an application of how to live or change that day.  Most days the Bible will reveal to you who God is and over time that will change you in profound ways that you may not see the day you read it.  

I hope this helps.  Keep reading.

Be Strong and Courageous,

Pastor Jeff