Bibles

Personal Study Bible
The Life Application Bible from Tyndale (available in various translations)
Devotional Bibles
The One Year Bible (available in many translations)
The One Minute Bible (especially good for students)
Bible Translations
For study—New International Version (NIV)
For devotional reading—New Living Translation (NLT) or The Message paraphrase

Books on Spiritual Growth

The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg
God’s Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren

Devotions

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (A user-friendly introduction to basic Christian beliefs organized in 40 daily readings.)
Drive Time Devotions from Word Entertainment (on CD)
My Time with God for Daily Drives by Thomas Nelson (on CD)

Websites

www.biblegateway.com
(a searchable online Bible in over 50 versions and 35 languages)

www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/
(four different Bible reading plans)

www.biblegateway.com/resources/
(a variety of excellent online resources, including audio Bibles, commentaries, eBooks, dictionaries and study tools)

http://ntgateway.com/multibib/bible.htm
(online Bible search tool in many translations)

www.crosswalk.com
(daily devotionals and Bible study tools)

www.oneplace.com/devotionals
(many online daily devotions)

http://bible.oneplace.com/
(extensive online Bible study tools)

www.backtothebible.org/devotions/bible_guides.htm
(several Bible reading guides, including chronological, historical, Old and New Testament together, beginning to end, and blended)

www.backtothebible.org/devotions/
(several online daily devotionals)

www.backtothebible.org/bible_studies/
(several online Bible studies)

www.rbc.org/
(many daily devotionals, including the popular “Our Daily Bread”; many Bible study tools)

www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Bible/Plans.htm?
QueryStringSite=Zondervan
(incredible variety of Bible reading plans, including some very good ones for beginning Bible readers)

www.christianbook.com/html/specialty/1003.html
(the Bible page for Christian Book Distributors. A box on the right-hand side, called “Features to Help You,” contains links to information on Bible translations and translation reading levels, how to choose a study Bible, Bible reading plans and a guide for new Bible readers.)

www.zondervanbibles.com
(lots of links to Bible reading plans, information about translations, and Bible study tools)

Booksellers

www.christianbook.com
www.amazon.com

Hear the Bible

Inspired By...The Bible Experience: New Testament Audio Bible on CD

The Bible Experience is an inspiring audio Bible that features an unprecedented cast of nearly 200 of today's distinguished Hollywood actors, actresses, and musicians. It also features movie-quality sound effects and background music. This fully dramatized version of the TNIV New Testament was developed by entertainment veterans, and is a ground-breaking undertaking. The phenomenal quality draws you into Scripture and makes the Bible come alive in a new way you have never experienced before.

The Bible Alive (on CD) narrated by Steven Johnston

Read the New Testament in 30 Days

  1. Matthew 1-9
  2. Matthew 10-15
  3. Matthew 16-22
  4. Matthew 23-28
  5. Mark 1-8
  6. Mark 9-16
  7. Luke 1-6
  8. Luke 7-11
  9. Luke 12-18
  10. Luke 19-24
  11. John 1-7
  12. John 8-13
  13. John 14-22
  14. Acts 1-7
  15. Acts 8-14
  16. Acts 15-21
  17. Acts 22-28
  18. Romans 1-8
  19. Romans 9-16
  20. 1 Corinthians 1-9
  21. 1 Corinthians 10-16
  22. 2 Corinthians 1-13
  23. Galatians - Ephesians
  24. Philippians - 2 Thessalonians
  25. 1 Timothy - Philemon
  26. Hebrews
  27. James - 2 Peter
  28. 1 John - 3 John, Jude
  29. Revelation 1-11
  30. Revelation 12-22

Books on Bible Study

Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word by Rick Warren

Living By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks

How to Memorize a Verse

  1. Pick a verse that speaks to you.
  2. Say the reference before and after the verse.
  3. Read the verse aloud many times. Record it!
  4. Break the verse into natural phrases.
  5. Emphasize key words when quoting the verse.
  6. Write down the verse and erase a word one at a time.
  7. Write out the verse on a flash card.
  8. Carry some cards with you at all times for review.
  9. Display your verses in prominent places.
  10. Always memorize the verse “word perfect”.
  11. Put the verse to music. Write a song!
  12. Get a partner so you can check each other.

Suggested Memory Verses

The following verses suggest a "balance" in scripture memory. The verses selected are key verses in understanding the foundations of the Christian life and Christian growth. Do not feel tied to this suggested list. This is only a tool to lead you in an understanding of the importance of memorizing "key verses”.

Live the New Life:
Christ the Center - II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20
Obedience to Christ - Rom. 12:1; John 14:21
The Word - II Tim. 3:16; Josh. 1:8
Prayer - John 15:7; Phil. 4:6-7
Fellowship - Matt. 18:20; Heb. 10:24
Witnessing - Matt. 4:19; Rom. 1:16
Christ:
All Have Sinned - Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:6
Sin's Penalty - Rom. 6:23; Heb. 9:27
Christ Paid the Penalty - Rom. 5:8; I Peter 3:18
Salvation Not by Works - Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
Must Receive Christ - John 1:12; Rev. 3:20
Assurance of Salvation - I John 5:13; John 5:24
Rely on God's Resources:
His Spirit - I Cor. 3:16; I Cor. 2:12
His Strength - Isa. 41:10; Phil. 4:13
His Faithfulness - Lam. 3:22; Num. 23:19
His Peace - Isa. 26:3; I Peter 5:7
His Provision - Rom. 8:32; Phil 4:19
His Help in Temptation - Heb. 2:18; Ps. 119:9, 11
Be Christ's Disciple:
Put Christ First - Matt. 6:33; Luke 9:23
Separate from the World - I Jn. 2:15-16; Rom. 12:2
Be Steadfast - I Cor. 15:58; Heb. 12:3
Serve Others - Mark 10:45; II Cor. 4:5
Give Generously - Prv. 3:9-10; II Cor. 9:6-7
Develop World Vision - Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19-20
Grow in Christlikeness:
Love - John 13:34-35; I Jn. 3:18
Humility - Phil. 2:3-4; I Peter 5:5-6
Purity - Eph. 5:3; I Peter 2:11
Honesty - Lev. 19:11; Acts 24:16
Faith - Heb. 11:6; Rom. 4:20-21
Good Works - Gal. 6:9-10; Matt. 5:16

Six Ways to Meditate on a Verse (from Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods)

  1. Picture it! Visualize the scene in your mind.
  2. Pronounce it! Say the verse aloud, each time emphasizing a different word.
  3. Paraphrase it! Rewrite the verse in your own words.
  4. Personalize it! Replace the pronouns or people in the verse with your own name.
  5. Pray it! Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to God.
  6. Probe it! Ask the following nine S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. Questions:
Is there any…

Sin to confess?
Promise to claim?
Attitude to change?
Command to keep?
Example to follow?
Prayer to pray?
Error to avoid?
Truth to believe?
Something to thank God for?