by Alan Hoare
Looking for books for new Christians about learning to read the Bible?
You’ve finished Alpha. You’ve made the decision to follow Jesus. Now someone’s handed you a Bible and said, “Start reading!” But where do you begin? Genesis and get lost in Leviticus? Open randomly and hope for the best? Many new Christians struggle with how to read the Bible, feeling overwhelmed by its size and uncertain where to start.
The Wardrobe is one of the essential books for new Christians learning to read the Bible. Drawing on decades of Bible teaching, Alan Hoare gently guides new believers through the origins of Scripture, God’s big story from Genesis to Revelation, and practical strategies for making Bible reading a life-giving daily habit rather than a confusing chore.
Who is “The Wardrobe” written for?
This book is perfect for new Christians (including those who’ve just completed an Alpha course), returning believers who want to approach Scripture afresh, and anyone who feels the Bible is too complicated or daunting. If you’ve ever wondered where the Bible came from, whether you can trust it, or simply where to start reading, this book will become your trusted guide into God’s Word.
Why do I need this book?
It answers the questions new Christians actually have. Where did the Bible come from? Can I trust it? What’s the big story it’s telling? Alan doesn’t assume you know anything, walking you through the origins and trustworthiness of Scripture before teaching you how to read it. You’ll understand not just what to read, but why it matters and how it all fits together.
It gives you a proven, practical system for Bible reading. Alan’s “Five-Finger Method” prevents the common mistakes new Christians make—getting stuck in Leviticus, randomly pointing to verses for guidance, or only reading favourite passages. You’ll learn how to balance continuous reading, devotional reflection, and thematic study, creating a sustainable rhythm that nourishes your faith for years to come.
It uses the powerful “wardrobe” metaphor to transform how you see Scripture. Like Lucy stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia, Alan shows how the Bible becomes your doorway into the Kingdom of Heaven. This isn’t just information about God—it’s an invitation to encounter Him, hear His voice, and sense His power working in your life as you learn to “get it down your neck” (as Alan’s Grandad Tom would say!).
Can I read a sample first?
Of course! Here’s Alan’s practical advice for new Christians on where to start reading:
Extract from Chapter 7: Starting to Read the Bible
When it comes to reading the Bible, I met Ralph, one of my first mentors, early in my Christian life. We were having a conversation about reading the Bible and he asked me how I did it. I told him about reading it from the beginning to the end, and that when I got to books like Leviticus and Deuteronomy, I found it heavy going. He looked at me with a smile on his face and said, ‘Alan, you are having a lot of meat and potatoes in your spiritual diet. You need also a daily dose of vitamins.’ He then explained that I needed to introduce into my reading portions from both the Old and the New Testaments. I put that into practice and the heavy going got a lot easier!
Since that time, I have developed a system of reading the Bible that has proved so beneficial to me. It is a method that I have now taught for decades. I call it ‘The Five-Finger Method.’
Finger One – Continuous Reading
We need to read the Bible methodically, systematically, thoroughly and deeply. This is where we learn to go through whole books, whole gospels, and whole letters. This way we get the bigger picture. Continuous reading of the Word will reveal God’s thoughts in their variety and connection.
I certainly do not recommend the ‘skip about’ method. This type of reading produces nothing but well-worn sections of the Bible. Neither do I recommend the ‘open up and point’ method. This is where we ask the Lord for a Scripture to help us, then randomly open the Bible and point to a text. This methodology can really lead you up the garden path.
I do recommend that we develop a regular reading pattern. For an absolute beginner, I suggest starting with the gospel of Mark, reading it right through several times. Mark was the first to write an account of the life and death of Jesus and it reads very easily. After that, read through all four gospels several times. Then read the whole of the New Testament several times, whilst starting to go slowly through Psalms and Proverbs.
Excerpt from The Wardrobe © Alan Hoare, 2024
Where Can I Purchase the Book?
You can buy paperbacks & ebooks directly from us here.
If you’d love this book but cannot afford it, we do run a bursary programme. Please contact us to request a book.