Old Testament Essentials

Readers' Choice Award Winner "Christians love the Bible, but they often do not know what to do with the Old Testament," writes Westmont College professor Tremper Longman. Further, he points out that it includes many types of writing—history, prophecy, poetry, wisdom and apocalyptic. In this helpful volume he offers different strategies for understanding each of these important types of writing. Jesus made a point to tell his disciples that the whole Old Testament anticipated his coming (see especially Luke 24:25-27, 44-45). And so each session includes a special feature called "Anticipating the New Testament." Through this you will begin to discover the links between the two testaments and gain a fuller sense of our unfolding salvation history. Following the format of the other volumes of the Essenitals series, originally designed by Greg Ogden, author of Discipleship Essentials, each session includes the following elements: a memory verse a Bible study a reading "Anticipating the New Testament" a life application section Designed to work well on your own, with a partner or triad, or in a small group, Old Testament Essentials offers a comprehensive overview that will enrich your knowledge and deepen your faith. "Tremper Longman is for me—and countless others—a treasured 'go-to' resource to uncover the treasures of Old Testament wisdom. This survey will be of huge value to anyone who wants the big picture of the Great Story." —John Ortberg, senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and author of Who Is This Man?

"I was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ as a college student. The Jesus of the New Testament overwhelmed me, and by God?s grace Jesus still does," writes professor Robbie Castleman, author of New Testament Essentials. Her love of Jesus and Scripture is evident in this study, which seeks to answer the question Jesus? disciples posed: "What kind of man is this?" (Matthew 8:27). New Testament Essentials introduces us to the New Testament in three parts: The revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the indwelling of God in the church by the Holy Spirit and the present and coming kingdom of God. In each of the twelve studies the author helps us to hear Scripture in its own historical and cultural context before guiding us to apply it to our own context. Jesus? life, teachings and works were thoroughly grounded in the Hebrew Scriptures. And so each session includes a special feature called "Connecting to the Old Testament." Through this you will begin to discover the links between the two testaments and gain a fuller sense of our unfolding salvation history. Following a format similar to the other volumes of the Essentials series, each of the 12 sessions includes the following elements: A memory verse A Bible study A reading A life application section "Connecting to the Old Testament" feature Designed to work well on your own, with a partner or in a small group, New Testament Essentials offers a comprehensive overview that will enrich your knowledge and deepen your faith.

For millions of people throughout the world, the Hebrew Bible functions as the foundation of their faith. For millions more, the same book functions as the subject of their studies. For both groups, the characters discussed in the Bible lend key insight to the lessons found there. However, sifting through the hundreds of names mentioned in this key religious text to find information about one figure can be tedious and time-consuming, and most reference guides either provide only brief, unhelpful entries on every character, including minor figures, or are so extensive that they can be more intimidating than the original text. Essential Figures in the Bible compiles thorough but manageable entries on the figures most vital to an understanding of the Bible and its teachings. In this valuable reference, Dr. Ronald L. Eisenberg catalogs and explains the importance of more than 250 figures who are most vital to an understanding of the Hebrew Bible and its teachings. For these figures selected from the more than 3,000 names found in the Hebrew Bible, Eisenberg provides summaries of the narratives relevant to each figure discussed along with illustrative quotations from the Bible and supplementary material from rabbinic literature when appropriate. Both religious studies and rabbinical students and casual readers of the Hebrew Bible will benefit from the comprehensive entries on the most-frequently discussed biblical figures and will gain valuable insights from this reader-friendly text. Complete in a single volume, this guide strikes a satisfying balance between the sparse, uninformative books and comprehensive but overly complex references that are currently the only places for inquisitive Bible readers to turn. For any reader who wishes to gain a better understanding of the Bible, Eisenberg’s text is just as “essential” as the figures listed within.

An understanding of the Bible is essential to a disciple who wants to grow in their faith. In this eight-week study, you will discover an overview of the entire Bible and gain a deeper understanding of how to apply God's word to your life.

"Looking for the ultimate study Bible? The NIV Essentials Study Bible combines the best features of our six most popular Bibles. It’s designed to help you easily understand and interpret God’s Word, then apply it to your life. This Bible includes great study tools to help you unpack and discover Scripture. Features such as Q&A, detailed in-text study notes, timelines, photos and charts answer your questions, while helpful devotional insights shed new light on familiar passages. Biblical character profiles help you get to know the people of the Bible on a deeper level. Helpful notes are structured into a variety of “lenses” that shine a unique light on Scripture. As you study, you’ll find the ones that best speak to your heart, mind, and spirit. These unique lenses offer different approaches to studying God’s word. - Flyover Lens: Start each book with the big picture. These easy-to-read introductions from the popular Essential Bible Companion help you start each book with a general understanding of the context. - Unpack Lens: Looking for help understanding and interpreting Bible passages? These study notes from the well-loved NIV Study Bible offer valuable insight into the context and meaning behind the words. - Dig Deep, Look Close Lens: Articles and photos from the NIV Archaeological Study Bible bring Bible times to life. Go back in time with fascinating historical and archaeological discoveries. - Q & A Lens: Tackle your tough questions with thoughtful excerpts from the beloved NIV Quest Study Bible. Questioning is an important part of learning. - People Lens: You’ve heard the names before, but what do you really know about the characters within the pages of the Bible? Excerpts from the popular NIV Student Bible introduce you to 100 significant people in the Bible. - Guided Tour Lens: Helpful excerpts from the NIV Student Bible give context and explanation along the way. - Insight Lens: Notes from the NIV Student Bible point out interesting facts and shed light on verses you might have questions about. - Reflect and Respond Lens: These excerpts from the award-winning Great Rescue NIV Bible will help recap what you’ve read. Take a moment to reflect and digest each section as you walk through the sweeping narrative of the Bible. Tailor your journey through Scripture to the way you study best with the NIV Essentials Study Bible. It’s like six awesome resources in one. Order your copy today and take your study to the next level. This Bible offers a biblical perspective on the following topics: Angels, Creation, Evangelism, Ecology, Faith, Eternal Life, Church, Family, Forgiveness, God's love, God's will, Growing with God, Guilt, Holy Spirit, Idolatry, Immigration, Jesus’ life, Jesus’ miracles, Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy, Judgment, Leadership, Marriage, Miracles, Money, Pagan gods, Parenting, Poverty, Prayer, Prophecy, Reliability of Scripture, Satan, Sanctification, Suffering, Temple, Warfare, Wealth, Women, YHWH, and more."

The book of Exodus is a key to understanding the Bible. Without it, the Bible would lack three early scenes: deliverance, covenant and worship. Exodus provides the events and narrative, the themes and imagery foundational for understanding the story of Israel and of Jesus. You can read Exodus on your own, and its main themes will be clear enough. But an expert can sharpen your understanding and appreciation of its drama. Tremper Longman provides a box-seat guide to Exodus, discussing its historical backdrop, sketching out its literary context, and developing its principal themes, from Israel's deliverance from servitude to Pharaoh to its dedication to service to God. And, for Christians, he helps us view the book from the perspective of its fulfillment in Christ.

With this scathing indictment of modern America, editor Steve Burris takes us on a pilgrimage that is foundational. It is necessary that we go back to fundamental matters at this point in our history, he writes. We live in an instant culture. We have come to expect instantaneous answers to all of life's questions. Yet, he notes, we are called by God to be the light and salt of the earth even as problems of the world permeate the church and threaten it. It is from this need that Essentials of Christian Faith was born. That is why Burris has drawn together many of the most influential and prolific Restoration writers. As a Christian, what is essential that you know and believe? The answer to that question is here in Essentials of Christian Faith.