The Back Door Introduction to the Bible


Book Description

The Bible's influence on Western culture is profound: its stories are referenced in commerce, the arts, and beyond. Know the stories, and you understand the allusion in a commercial, a painting, or a movie. Living in the Western world, once cannot be culturally literate without knowing something about the Bible. A product of a very different world, the Bible can be hard to read and difficult to understand. In explaining the customs and social mores of the time, the authors take the reader to a level of understanding where the real significance of a story is more clearly revealed.--




Reading the Old Testament Anew


Book Description

"The Bible is utterly unique. Compiled by different authors over the span of more than a thousand years, it offers a mix of myth, poetry, biography, history, and other literary genres, all with the purpose of providing insights on incredibly diverse topic and themes. For centuries the Bible has influenced and shaped understandings of the world or Christians and non-Christians alike - often without our even knowing it! In 'Reading the Old Testament Anew,' John Kaltner presents an accessible overview of contemporary biblical scholarship as it relates to timely themes for today's classroom. Chief among these are creation covenant, liberation, the human condition, the marginalized "other," and social justice. Chapter by chapter, these six themes are unpacked through careful observation and scholarly insight, followed by questions for discussion and reflection. Using real-world connections, pertinent artwork, informative and thought-provoking sidebars, and a robust bibliography, 'Reading the Old Testament Anew' is the perfect guide for exploring the ancient context and modern relevance of the Bible as it relates to some of today's most pressing themes" -- Publisher description.




Understanding the Bible


Book Description

Understanding the Bible: A Guide to Reading the Scriptures will inform your reading and enrich your understanding of the Bible from historical, literary, and faith perspectives. It is ideal for use regardless of your background, your beliefs, your questions, or the Bible translation you are reading. Inside are articles that explore the Bible in its faith, historical, and cultural contexts. The Bible is looked at as literature too--its genres and literary forms. There are articles introducing the Old and New Testaments, specifically the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom and Poetry Books, the Prophets, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters, and Revelation. The history and differences of translations are discussed, and other tools to help you unlock the Bible are introduced. Additional aids include maps, charts, a timeline, and a glossary. Together these aids further investigate the Bible and the world in which it was written, as well as the progression of scholarship that helps us understand the Bible today.




IVP Introduction to the Bible


Book Description

IVP Introduction to the Bible




Beginning Biblical Studies


Book Description

Thirty-three years of teaching Scripture and theology to undergraduates has given Marielle Frigge great insight into the needs of biblical study students and teachers. Unlike any other text on the market, this book does not assume familiarity with the contents or origins of the Bible or with the Bible's major events, characters, and themes. Beginning Biblical Studies, Revised Edition paints in broad strokes to provide readers sufficient context for reading and understanding the Bible. Revisions to Frigge's original text include fuller treatment of Jewish, Orthodox, and Protestant perspectives, updates for the most recent scholarship, a new appendix on archaeology and the Bible, plus more photographs, sidebars, and recommended resources, as well as revised appendices, time lines, and maps.




An Introduction to the Old Testament


Book Description

Enter the classroom of John Goldingay, one of today's premier biblical interpreters, and begin the adventure of exploring the Bible's First Testament. More workbook than handbook, this refreshing introduction to the Old Testament outfits you with basic knowledge, points out the main approaches, outlines the primary issues and then sets you loose to explore the terrain for yourself.




Old Testament Stories from the Back Side


Book Description

Brings a new perspective to selected Old Testament stories by exploring them from a unique starting point or from a different person's viewpoint. Chapter titles: The Second Sin; The Importance of Naming Joseph; Because My Mother Told Me; Moses' Midlife Crisis; Patron Saint of the Minority Report; Tragic Son, Tragic Father; Honey in the Lion; Beauty and the Beast; A Refugee at the King's Table; In Defense of Job's Wife; Jonah's Christmas Story; God Is Better Than His Plans. 12 Sessions with a leader's guide.




Just Open the Door


Book Description

Hospitality is one of the best ways to live out the two greatest commandments: loving God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. But often we get caught up in perfecting our homes and conversations before we open our doors. Over 7 sessions, look to Jesus as your model for hospitality. Discover how He lived a life full of interruptions, yet always welcomed people and invited them to follow Him. Learn to replace cultural expectations with biblical hospitality to create a legacy of invitation and reflect Jesus through simple acts of service. Features: Leader helps to guide questions and discussions within small groups Personal study segments with homework to complete between 7 weeks of group sessions Interactive teaching videos, approximately 25-30 minutes per session, available on DVD and via digital download The Bible study book Thirty-three free study resources, including the books the author used in preparation for this study Promotional tools, including a sample chapter, poster, bulletin insert, PowerPoint slide, and more Benefits: Replace cultural expectations with biblical hospitality to create a legacy of invitation. Discover daily rhythms of kindness, generosity, and presence at home and on the go. Learn to view welcome as worship, and reflect Jesus through simple acts of service. Become a woman of influence through hidden hospitality. Create spaces of welcome in your heart, home, and beyond.




The Bible: a Very Short Introduction


Book Description

This study explores the importance of the Bible in different communities and cultures and attempts to explain why it has such a variety of uses and interpretations.




New Morning Mercies


Book Description

365 Gospel-Centered Devotions for the Whole Year Mornings can be tough. Sometimes, a hearty breakfast and strong cup of coffee just aren't enough. Offering more than a rush of caffeine, best-selling author Paul David Tripp wants to energize you with the most potent encouragement imaginable: the gospel. Forget "behavior modification" or feel-good aphorisms. Tripp knows that what we really need is an encounter with the living God. Then we'll be prepared to trust in God's goodness, rely on his grace, and live for his glory each and every day.