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It is important to spend time reading the Word: the Old and New Testaments and the Writings for the New Church. With 33 books to choose from, as well as the Bible itself, getting into a routine of reading from the Word can seem daunting.

The Word is your connection with the Lord. The book of John opens with: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Word is the Lord. The Word is the map, the instruction book, God’s letter to you. Read it knowing that your loving Creator wrote it for you. The spiritual power of the messages comes alive when you read and bring these ideas into life.

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, an introductory work by Swedenborg, says: “We cannot be spiritually reborn without some knowledge of the new or spiritual life, of the true ideas that we ought to believe, and the good things that we ought to do... Spiritual knowledge comes only from revelation” (number 177).

Taking the First Step

With so many books to choose from, the Old and New Testaments and the Heavenly Doctrines can feel overwhelming. One idea of where to start is to read a little from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Heavenly Doctrines each day. You want to keep your daily readings vibrant, so change it up from time to time. Set an attainable goal for yourself. Start out reading a small amount per day and build from there. Find a time during the day that you can consistently take time to read. Maybe when you first wake up, maybe on your lunch break or just before you go to bed at night. Commit to reading something each day, even if it’s just a few sentences. Consider keeping a journal or a pad of paper close by during reading. Jot down questions, thoughts, insights and applications. Most importantly, pray before you read and ask the Lord to show you what you’re meant to know.

Good Places to Start

True Christian Religion: an in-depth overview of the teachings of the New Church. Heaven and Hell: a personal, vivid message on life after death, filled with angelic stories. This book also gives a nice overview of some of the main teachings of the New Church. Divine Providence: This book lays out the way that the Lord leads us.

A Note on Translations

Originally written in Latin, the Heavenly Doctrines are available in a variety of translations. Find a translation that works for you, and start exploring today.