Helps for Enjoying the Bible for All Its Worth
This week we had week two of our class, Enjoying the Bible for All Its Worth (see note on the first week, on erasing biblical aliteracy ).
The three-week crash-course is meant to only whet one’s appetite for devouring God’s Word, so we can enjoy HIM for all He’s worth!
A number of the attendees asked for a list of helps — how can I understand the Bible better? (If you are like me, you feel so far behind!) I had a stack with me and showed them a few of my most trusted ones. Here’s the list and a comment on each. Some are for beginning and intermediate readers, others are more advanced. I note the features of each. The links are to Amazon, for the least expensive prices available (use these links).
My suggestion: go with one or two of the below and delve in!
Just starting out
The Jesus Storybook Bible // The best children’s Bible I’ve found. Links every story within the overall message of the Bible, pointing the way to Jesus.
There is also no shame in reading this as an adult (even not to your kids), for learning and knowing the overarching Story of Scripture is essential to knowing, loving and enjoying God above all else. [$11.55]
With the Word by Warren Wiersbe // a pocket-sized chapter-by-chapter commentary — a short page per chapter, very brief — on the key themes and main points of each chapter in Scripture. It’s like having the faithful preacher there next to you explaining the way with you, daily. [$12.74]
A Study Bible is also helpful. I’m eagerly awaiting the ESV Study Bible release this fall (watch an intro here ), and have used the Nelson NKJV Study Bible (Kari’s choice; her’s is falling apart after so much use!) and Zondervan NIV Study Bible in the past.
(See links to Bible reading plans below.)
God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible by Vaughn Roberts // A brief panoramic view of all of the Scriptures and God’s big picture in His story, past, present and future. [$9.60]
Intermediate
Playing With Fire: How the Bible Ignites Change in Your Soul by Walt Russell // this forms the essential emphases of the class, and goes deeper and wider than we were able to in our short time together. Russell’s insights and pastoral heart come together with the mind of a brilliant professor/teacher. [$10.19]
Promises Made: The Message of the Old Testament by Mark Dever // An overview of all 39 Old Testament books, the ones we are prone to neglect and misunderstand, in a simple yet comprehensive format. Written for any level of reader. Helps one to see the ‘forest’ as well as the most important ‘trees.’ [$26.39]
Promises Kept: The Message of the New Testament by Mark Dever // An overview of all 27 New Testament books in a simple yet comprehensive format. Written by a veteran pastor with clarity and faithful to the text. Helps one to see the ‘forest’ as well as the most important ‘trees.’ [$19.79]
How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour by Gordon Fee (a revision of many of the concepts from his How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth ) // Book-by-book introduction and discussion of key themes and core emphases. For any level of reader. Both books are tremendous helps.[$12.91 + $11.55]
Daniel Fuller’s Unity of the Bible [$19.79] and the late Ray C. Stedman’s Adventuring Through the Bible [$14.99] are also extremely helpful resources. One of my profs, Albert Baylis, has a more advanced (but with lots of charts and helps) treatment of the OT: From Creation to the Cross (formerly called On the Way to Jesus ) [$20.27]
(Note: I receive a very small kickback on any new books purchased through the links listed above. Only enough to help me pay for shipping on my next order or something like that. But every penny helps, so consider buying through here.)
Bible Reading Plans
- Discipleship Journal Bible reading plan (the whole Bible in one year, 25 days/month) // I handed out a copy of this one to the class
- M’Cheyne system Bible reading plan (in one year) // I use this one, and have the reminders show up in my RSS Reader
- Or shape a specific plan using the ESV’s various RSS feeds
- Sign up for daily email devotional from Don Carson’s For the Love of God , aimed at walking through all of the Scriptures in two years. It’s a revised version of the M’Cheyne system, spread out over two years. [To simply subscribe to the email devotions, send an email to: christwaymedia-join@associate.com ].
Let me know if you have any questions or need any help.
Enjoy!
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