How to Read (and Understand) the Bible by
Have you ever felt intimidated by the Bible? Would you like to get to know it better, but worry you might find it difficult or daunting? How to Read (and Understand)the Bibleis the book you need. It's a fascinating, accessible approach to Scripture that will help you go deeper into the heart of what it's all about: the timeless true story of God's love for you.Join scholar and theologian Larry Richards on a journey through the Old and New Testaments as he explores 21 key stories and themes in Scripture and shows what they reveal to us about God. Whether you are new to reading the Bible or were brought up on its stories, you'll come to understand it more deeply than ever before--and connect in a whole new way to the God who wrote it for you.
One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal? by
What makes a Bible translation faithful? Is one version superior to others? Do we really need more than one translation? How can answering these questions help us become better Bible readers?Dave Brunn has been involved in Bible translation work around the world for many years. From the perspective of this on-the-ground experience in different cultures he helps us sort out the many competing claims for various English Bible translations.By giving us a better understanding of the process of translation, Brunn helps us read and understand Scripture more clearly. He demonstrates how the variety of translations enables us to grasp more fully the meaning of the biblical text.This clear, readable and informative work will be of special interest to pastors, undergraduate and seminary students, missionaries, Bible translators, Bible study leaders and anyone involved in Christian ministry.
Read the Bible for Life by
The Bible may be the most-purchased book in the world, but it is often the least read and least applied due to a basic lack of understanding and motivation on the part of readers. Read the Bible for Life aims to improve biblical literacy in the culture and the church by simultaneously moving readers toward greater skill in reading the Bible well and toward a deeper commitment to applying Scripture to everyday life. Through a series of down-to-earth conversations with some of today's brightest scholars, author George Guthrie discusses the basic tools and attitudes needed to read the Bible more effectively. Chapters focus on the various types of literature in Scripture and how to read them well. For instance, how should we read a psalm differently than we read a parable? How should we read a story of the Old Testament differently than we read a letter from Paul? How can we engage these various parts of Scripture in a way that is truly life-changing? The book also discusses issues such as reading the Bible in context, choosing and reading a Bible translation, reading in times of sorrow or suffering, and reading the Bible with your family. As we better understand how to read the Bible skillfully, we begin to see how every person of the Bible, every psalm, and every teaching fits into the Bible's powerful, overarching story, and we begin to realize our place in the story God is still writing in the world. Endorsements "In the church's dry desert of biblical illiteracy, this book is a drink of cold, refreshing water. With pastoral sensitivity and practical skill, George Guthrie is equipping us to know, understand, and apply the treasures of God's Word in a way that will transform our lives and our communities for the glory of our God. I wholeheartedly recommend Read the Bible For Life for every Christian and every leader in the church." --David Platt, New York Times best-selling author of Radical "In a culture where biblical illiteracy continues to spread like the proverbial plague, George Guthrie has introduced a healing medicine in the form of Read the Bible for Life. This overview of the Bible's nature and content will be welcomed in churches intent on developing biblically grounded followers of Christ. The book's conversational approach provides an easy entry for a generation that tends to read only headlines. With fresh insights for the long time student of God's Word and accessible material for the new student, it is a resource I recommend for all believers." --Ed Stetzer, coauthor, Transformational Church "The genuine give and take of conversation is key to the Christian community's deeper grasp of the Scriptures. Read the Bible for Life is a celebration of biblical conversation between friends who really love the Word. Hopefully, lots of people will join in." --Michael Card, award-winning musician and author
Saving the Bible from Ourselves: Learning to Read and Live the Bible Well by
Does the Bible need to be saved?Over the course of the centuries, Bible scholars and publishers have increasingly added "helps"--chapter divisions, verses, subheads, notes--to the Bible in an effort to make it easier to study and understand. In the process, however, these have led to sampling Scripture rather than reading deeply. According to author Glenn R. Paauw, the text has become divorced from the Bible's literary and historical context, leading to misinterpretation and a "narrow, individualistic and escapist view of salvation." Rather than being a culture-shaping force, the Bible has become a database of quick and easy answers to life's troubling questions. But these deficiencies can be corrected by engaging in what the author calls "big readings."In these pages Paauw introduces us to seven new (to us) understandings of the Bible as steps on the path to recovering one deeply engaged Bible. With each "new" Bible presented, deficiencies in how we currently interact with the Bible are explored, followed by recommendations for a new practice. The Bible's transformative power is recovered when we remove the chains Christians have applied to it over the centuries. The Bible does not need to be saved because of any defect in itself, but because we have distorted and misread it. Saving the Bible from Ourselves provides students of the Bible a new paradigm for reading and living the Bible well.
The Bible: the Basics by
The Bible: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the Bible as both a sacred text, central to the faith of millions, and a classic work of Western literature, containing a tapestry of genres, voices, perspectives, and images. This guide skilfully addresses both aspects of the Bible's character by exploring: the rich variety of literary forms, from poetry to prophecy and epistles to apocalypses; the historical, geographic, and social context of the Bible; contemporary attitudes to the Bible held by believers and non-believers; the status of biblical interpretation today. The second edition has been updated throughout and includes maps and detailed suggestions for further reading. This is an ideal starting point for people of any faith, or none, who are studying the Bible in any setting or who simply want to know more about the best-selling book of all time.
Bible Memory Plan by
This indispensable study tool will help you develop a personal Bible memorization plan starting with 52 key verses of scripture. Featuring full scripture text (in the King James Version, New International Version, and New Living Translation), brief devotional insights, and memorization tips, Bible Memory Plan provides the impetus, structure, and encouragement you need to begin the challenging but life-changing habit of memorizing scripture. Its handy size goes anywhere, tucking easily into Bible cover, purse, briefcase, or glove compartment. Start a habit that will pay lifelong dividends!
CSB Life Connections Study Bible, Trade Paper by
Designed with groups in mind, the CSB Life Connections Study Bible includes thousands of questions and study helps for every single chapter of the Bible. In addition to chapter-by-chapter notes about key people, places, and events--this Bible guides you through the "Open-Consider-Apply" method for small group Bible study and personal reflection. The CSB Life Connections Study Bible is a revised and updated version of the bestselling Serendipity Study Bible which was the culmination of forty years of community building and ignited small group engagement across the country. When we gather together around God's Word, big things happen. The Holy Spirit shapes us into a beautiful community where we can share our stories, care for each other, and help each other grow and be on mission. The features in this Bible for small groups were designed to support you at every step of the way. FEATURES "Open" questions initiate discussion and reflection "Consider" questions focus on the details of the passage "Apply" questions encourage application to daily life "For Groups," "For Worship," and "Dig Deeper" questions promote further study, reflection, discussion, and application on select passages Study note commentary on every page 60 "life-focused" course study plans 16 topical course study plans making this an excellent small group study Bible Additional features include: two-color interior design, smyth-sewn binding, presentation page, single-column text, topical subheadings, black-letter text, 9-point type, textual footnotes, concordance, and full-color maps. The CSB Life Connections Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB captures the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.
Josh Mcdowell's Guide to Understanding Your Bible by 
Life Essentials Study Bible by
"So what?" That's the response many people have to the Bible. Read a passage, interpret it, and still they ask, "So, what difference does that make in my life?" In the Life Essentials Study Bible, renowned Bible teacher Gene Getz complements the full text of the popular HCSB translation by elaborating on 1,500 principles in Scripture that are as relevant today as when the sixty- six books of the Bible were written. Distilling these truths into principles, Getz helps the reader more easily remember and effectively apply the Bible's wisdom to everyday life. He explains how each of these principles represents a supracultural truth - one that can and should be applied at any moment in history and in every cultural situation. In addition, the Life Essentials Study Bible was created with an integrated digital study system--more than 250 hours of free online coaching content led by Getz--that fosters a greater understanding of the Bible's grand story. Along the way, Getz adds pertinent questions in print to inspire personal reflection or group discussion of each principle. There's also an introduction to each book of the Bible and its list of corresponding principles, plus a topical index and cross references for all 1,500 principles. Other features of this dynamic study Bible - available in six different editions - include a two-piece gift box (leather editions only) as well as a presentation page. "Owning a copy of this astounding project containing the prodigious work and wisdom of my friend and mentor Gene Getz will be like having him in the next room -- available to advise me on every passage. Being able to access his video teaching on each of the 1,500 'Principles to Live By' is a breakthrough approach, making this truly the first multi-media study Bible. What a treasure! I know it will inform my own writing." Jerry Jenkins, owner, Christian Writer's Guild, and author of the Left Behind series
