What is the Best Study Bible?

If you're looking for a great study Bible for yourself or as a gift to someone else, I would suggest one of these:

~Life Application Study Bible (in the NIV or NLT)

~NIV Study Bible

The Life Application Study Bible is the one I recommend the most times because it's goal is to help you understand what you are reading and help you understand how it applies to your life and helps you today. It features over 10,000 application notes and outstanding introductions on each book of the Bible that are written to help you understand the overall theme and emphasis of each book in the Bible. Also included are over 100 "character sketches" on some the most notable personalities of the Bible, in-text maps, charts and diagrams (in-text means on the same page with the chapter and verses you're reading) and helpful indexes to all the wonderful features of this Bible.

The NIV Study Bible has been around since the early 1980's and it has undergone some major revisions (the latest was in 2011 and is the one I would recommend, so look at the copyright page) that has placed it - in my opinion - back as one of the best study Bibles available today. It has lots of features including in-text maps and charts plus nearly 20,000 study (commentary) notes on the Biblical text. It also includes book introductions and outlines, archaeological information with full-color in-text pictures of ancient artifacts and cities.

Either of these study bibles are EXCELLENT and would be of great help to anyone wishing to understand God's word. I use both of these Bibles on a regular basis as they bring unique, helpful perspectives on each passage in the Bible. So if you're buying for yourself, you may want to splurge and get both!

Another thing I like about both of these study Bibles is that they remain theologically neutral. In other words, they have less theological bias than other study bibles. They try and present multiple views on "tricky" passages and allow the reader to formulate their own opinion. At times the study notes in the NIV Study Bible will, after presenting various views, will indicate perhaps what they believe is the most preferable view. The Life Application Bible does the same kind of thing, but then it will back up to the 30,000 foot level and draw out a principle that applies to everyone regardless of what view they take.

Well, I hope this info proves to be helpful for your studies!

Psalm 19:7-8 NIV
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Are Prosperity and the Favor of God the Same?

"Many, Lord, are asking, 'Who will bring us prosperity?' Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound." ~Psalm 4:6-7 (NIV)

It seems that one of the most asked question Americans have these days is "Who will bring us prosperity?" Now, before you get nervous about where this post is going let me be very clear: there is nothing wrong with being prosperous. Nothing at all.** The danger is when our first question becomes, "Who will bring us prosperity?"

The writer of this Psalm understood that to be a dangerous and misleading pursuit. He responds to the prevailing question by saying, in effect, "God may we understand that real wealth and true riches are not matters of financial prosperity." He points out that true prosperity is when we have God's affirmation, grace, and compassion being poured out upon us. The phrase "your face shine on us" was one that reminded Jewish people that God's favor, not his anger, rested upon them. His pleasure was with them. In other words, he took pleasure in them as a father and mother does their children. As he looked upon his people, his face beamed with pride. His favor was upon them. They had his approval.

I don't know about you, but given the choice between prosperity and God's approval ... well the decision isn't even close. The point is that those who have God's approval - his face shining on them - already have something of immeasurable value - indeed it is true prosperity and wealth! It is this "wealth" and favor that the Psalmist here is seeking and valuing.

He says that when everyone else is rejoicing in prosperity - the abundance of things (i.e. "grain and new wine") - that he would rather have a heart filled with joy that comes from God's favor and approval. As most are very aware, things don't bring the heart joy and contentment. Only God does that - and that is what the Psalmist is seeking. Prosperity and the favor of God are not the same. You can have one without the other.

And for those of you wondering ... yes, David wrote this Psalm. And, yes, David was wealthy - very wealthy. How encouraging it is to us that someone with great wealth knew it's fleeting benefits and instead sought the favor of God.

Wise words for us all.


**Many followers of God in the Bible were very prosperous (Abraham, Job, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, Cornelius, and Matthew, just to name a few). What the Scriptures do say about wealth is that it can be something that causes our hearts to stop trusting in God. The danger of wealth is in loving it and seeking it. As you read the Scriptures, you begin to understand that God is not against wealth; in fact, he blesses his people with wealth so that they can be generous to a needy world.

Reading, Desire and Understanding the Bible

If you have no desire to read the Bible it's probably because you aren't reading it. The discipline of reading Scripture produces the desire to read more. The more you read the Bible, the more you will understand what you read. The discipline comes first, the desire and understanding follow.

So ... dive in to reading each day. I suggest you begin by reading one chapter from each of of the following books each day. Try it for for 30 days and see what happens.

One chapter from Psalms
One chapter from Proverbs
One chapter from Luke
One chapter from Acts

This is a simple 15 minute plan that will produce results in your heart.

Understanding the Bible

If you find the Bible difficult to understand, you are not alone. So what should a person do? Well, for starters, avoid reading the difficult parts and begin with the books that are easier to understand! And for a little kick start, here's a list of 32 (of 66) books that you may find easier to understand:

Old Testament
~Genesis
~Exodus 1-20
~Deuteronomy
~Joshua
~Judges
~1 Samuel
~2 Samuel

~1 Kings
~Nehemiah
~Esther
~Psalms
~Proverbs
~Jonah
~Haggai
~Malachi

New Testament
~Matthew
~Mark
~Luke
~John
~Acts
~1 Corinthians
~2 Corinthians
~Ephesians
~Philippians
~Colossians
~1 Thessalonians
~1 Timothy
~2 Timothy
~Titus
~James
~1 Peter
~1 John

Need further clarification? You can't go wrong with Psalms and Proverbs in the Old Testament. I encourage people to read one chapter from each every day. They are quick reads.

For the New Testament, I would encourage you to read Luke & Acts (they are written by the same author and combined they make one seamless narrative of the life of Jesus and the early Church). Other quick, helpful reads from the New Testament would be Ephesians, 1 Thessalonians, James, and 1 Peter.

If you're looking for a GREAT study Bible, I would highly recommend the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation (NLT).

A book you may find helpful in learning to read and study the Bible is "Living by the Book" by Howard Hendricks.

Another one is "Talk Thru the Bible" by Wilkinson & Boa.

Hope these suggestions help you as you read the Bible.

Reading Your Bible, Training Your Heart

During the month of August, I'm going to read one chapter of Proverbs a day (August 1, chapter one; August 2, chapter two, etc). Each day I'll pick a verse or two that speaks to me in some way and then post those verses to my facebook status. I encourage you to do the same. The discipline of reading the Bible each day will have an impact on your life. Its a small thing to do each day, but done over a long period of time, this discipline will train your heart and mind to think like God thinks and to see as God sees. The Word of God is a powerful thing in the heart of a person.

Going Deeper is Simple

It was many years ago now that I heard something on the radio that really took me to a whole new level in terms of my Bible knowledge. I had been through Seminary and was preaching at a small church. I knew the Bible pretty well, I thought. But when I heard the challenge, I thought, "Okay, I'll give it a try."

The preacher on the radio said something really simple. "If you want to learn what's in the Bible then you've got to read it." So far, nothing profound. And then he said it, "You need to take the same passage and read it once a day, every day for thirty days." I'd never done that before, and to be honest I thought it sounded a little dull. But I gave it a try anyway.

I cannot tell you how much that simple little exercise impacted my life, my heart, and my ministry. Nothing I'd ever done before taught me so much about specific Bible passages like this simple exercise of reading it once a day, every day for thirty days. Since I was a young pastor at the time, I decided to read the book of First Timothy. It only had six chapters, so I thought that would be a good place to start.

On the first day it took me about 20-25 minutes to read (I've always been a slow reader). I tried to keep my mind focused and just read trying to resist the temptation to look up other passages as I read. I tried not to underline too many things, because I knew I was going to be at this for an entire month.

Second day I read it again. It sounded familiar! "Yeah, I read that yesterday," I thought to myself. But I read the whole thing.

Third day I read it again. "Okay, here we go again. This is beginning to feel like a rut - and it's only the third day!"

Fourth day, fifth day, sixth day, seventh day. "It's been a whole week! I can't do this for thirty days!" I thought to myself. It was getting painful reading the same exact thing again and again.

Nothing was new and I like new things!

Eighth day. Ninth day. Tenth day. Now I started underlining things (I use a pencil in case I make a mistake).

Eleventh day. "Okay I'm beginning to see how things in chapter one relate to things in chapter three. But this is still boring!"

Twelfth day. "Do I really have to keep doing this? I know what I'm reading. I've read it day after day and I'm getting sick of it." It was a real test of my discipline to keep at it.

Thirteenth day. Fourteenth day. Fifteenth day. Sixteenth day. Seventeenth day. Eighteenth day. Nineteenth day. Twentieth day. "Hey, what do you know! It only took me about twelve minutes to read all six chapters." I thought I was actually becoming a speed reader, of sorts! I wasn't skipping over things, but my mind knew what was coming and I just ripped right through it.

Twenty-first day. Twenty-second day. Twenty-third day.

~OKAY, TIME OUT~

Remember back in the 1990's these poster-sized pictures that were computerized? They looked like just a blob of random colors. They said that if we looked at the "picture" long enough that we'd start to see it in 3-D. Yeah right. Remember looking at those dumb things? I looked and looked and looked; nothing! I crossed my eyes and stared at the silly poster; nothing! It was a sham! And then one day I kind of blurred my vision just slightly and then BAMB! There it was! I saw all kinds of things in that poster-picture. Trees, and people, and cars, and birds! It felt like I had just walked into the picture itself and was standing among all the things I was looking at. Unbelievable!

Well, that's kind of what happened to me on day twenty-four of reading First Timothy, yet again. As I read it again that day, all of a sudden I felt like I had just stepped into the book and I was seeing things in 3-D like I'd never seen them before. It was truly amazing! I couldn't believe all the things I was seeing and understanding that I hadn't the other 23 days. I was underlining like crazy and scribbling notes. I had truck loads of insight into the passage that I didn't have before.

Now, just to be clear: all I was doing was reading the text. I wasn't reading a commentary alongside of the text. I wasn't reading the footnotes in some study Bible. All I was doing was reading the simple text of First Timothy.

Twenty-fifth day. Twenty-sixth day. Twenty-seventh day. All most done.

Twenty-eighth day. Twenty-ninth day. Thirtieth day. I think the last day I read the book in about ten minutes! The insights kept coming. It seemed like each day I saw yet another facet of what the text was saying.

And then I realized something else. Ever looked at something for several seconds and then closed your eyes? When you shut your eyes there is kind of an "imprint" in your head of what you were looking at.

I realized that after 30 days of reading First Timothy that there was an "imprint" of that entire book upon my heart. I knew just about where every phrase appeared in that book. I could name you book, chapter, and verse of every topic that Paul wrote about. I was truly amazed at what a simple, repetitive reading actually accomplished.

I was so excited that I did it again the next month with a different book in the Bible (Second Timothy and Titus). And then I did it with the book of James, the books of First and Second Peter, the book of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First, Second, and Third John. Then I started in the book of Romans and read the first 5 chapters in the same way. Then I took the next section of Romans and read it in the same way. And then the final section of Romans. Then I went to Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount) and did the same way. I just kept going and my experience was the same.

That's how I learned the Bible. I'm thankful for my Seminary education. But I'm equally thankful for that radio preacher who said, "Read it once a day, every day for thirty days."

If you want to "go deeper" and if you want to get to know the Bible better then you have to read it. And I would suggest you begin with a short book or a short passage and read it once a day, every day for thirty days.

So, are you going to go deeper?