Bibles Bible Studies Books

I have to admit that I was very apprehensive about purchasing this study bible. That is why I purchased the paperback edition - if it is not to my liking then I have not wasted too much money.
The NLT 2nd edition is so much better that the first edition. The translation is less free and more trustworthy. The ideal translation for people on the go. Maybe less ideal than the (N)RSV for in-depth study.
As for the notes in the study bible, well I have to admit that they are very useful for sermon preparation. When I need to write a (short) sermon, this study bible is always consulted. I do not accept everything that the authors write - there is often much speculation - but on the whole the notes make me think again.
My recommendation is to use this study bible alongside other study references so that you can enlarge your understanding of a particular passage.
If the dollar-Euro rate waas better I would purchase a leather-bound edition.

The bible is amazing all on its own. However, it's great to have the study footnotes that bring out the greater revelation of God's word. This version is an essential study companion.

Since l got the Bible , haven been studying the word of God with more understanding and blessing me daily .

I knew when I bought this that it had small print and no red letter (because Tyndale usually uses the most beautiful pinkish/red ink); two major drawbacks, BUT the rest of it is so lovely. First this edition, the baby blue that dominates the cover - part of front, the spine and entire back (you cannot tell by looking at and through the box) is so beautiful, and I absolutely love these new vinyl type covers as they curve around the Bible spine and make the Bible look expensive, versus the square bricks that so many Bibles look like nowadays. I don't mean to imply that this one has a major curve, but it has a bit of one, it is a thick Bible after all. I love the quality of the sewing because it is sewn around the edges of the vinyl and the two tone baby blue and brown is so well done. Silver edges, book marker and all that...just lovely and beautiful. I too agree that the 2nd edition by far exceeds my expectations. This one does have the better John 1:18 translation. Some of the other 2nd editions NLT's do vary in this verse, I have noticed. Look at John 1:18 and you will see that some editions vary in the NLT Bibles that I believe are the 2nd editions. I am not talking about the 1st edition. Also, if you need to know...a good way to compare the 1st from the 2nd, though, is look at Isaiah 63:9. There will be a footnote for the 2nd edition (which I really appreciate) that says that the "He" is the Angel of His Presence. This is really important because it literally means the Angel (which means messenger) of His Face.
Also, I just have to say, what a pleasure it is to have an entire giant study Bible in a small personal size. This makes it very portable. One might need a magnifier for this one at times, but it is well worth it.
This has got to be one of the "prettiest" Bibles I have seen in a long while. That light blue is so dreamy...have I said that already??? I certainly hope that they come out with more ultra pastel Bibles in this vinyl. Drool. Drool. Just plain with silver or gold lettering is fine. Grin.
But of course, more than anything else, it is the content and what can I say, this is a winner, the Life Application is so very wonderful for the soul and mind. I noticed that more and more people are using the Life Application Bible as their main Bible (even in the KJV) at church, and for good reason. God bless you all.

I ordered a leather bound bible, what I received was a two tone, light blue and brown, imitation leather bible. This is not the way it was advertised. I did call they offered for me to send it back, but said when I receive the replacement one, they could not guarantee that it wouldn't be the same as I already received. So then I said well it don't make sense to send it back, just to receive the same thing yet again, so how about some credit. He gave me $5.00 back from my purchase price, so was resolved. So if ordering this bible, be careful and ask all questions beforehand, so you aren't disappointed. I am good with the outcome.

I like Swindoll, but he rates 3 stars compared to Tozer. If you want to read a great book on God I suggest about anything by A.W. Tozer. The Attributes of God (2 books) are very good and IMHO much more enlightening.

As a new believer, I have found Swindoll's book very down-to-earth and straightforward which I appreciate. The idea that there are many mysteries in God's Word that are beyond our human understanding is reassuring, since I have puzzled frequently over passages that I could not fathom and had concluded that it must be some lack in
me. Swindoll encourages us to trust in our Father's goodness toward his children and to surrender to His perfect will for our lives. I highly recommend this excellent "guide to understanding" especially to those who are new to the Christian pilgrimage. It has become a very welcome companion to my evolution as a believer.

This has a good exposition to doing god's will and how to seek that will

I used to think that I was about the only one who really struggled with knowing God's will in my life. It seemed like everyone else knew exactly what God's will was for their lives. This book has taught me that just about everyone struggles with knowing God's will for their life. And more than that, Chuck gives many "what to do" examples of how to better discern God's will for your life. One of the best parts of the book is that he is unafraid to use real life examples of people who struggled mightily with knowing what God would have for them to do.

I always was puzzled why God would allow someone who is doing the work of God in this life would be allowed to die, sometimes tragically. It made no sense to me. With the aid of this book, I'm beginning to understand more about God and the fact that His ways are often a mystery to me. Chuck explains that God's righteousness is something that is very difficult for a mere mortal to understand and comprehend. God has chosen to do things His way, and that often contradicts what we think He should do, based on our human logic and emotion.

I have read the book once, and it is very much like an excellent movie, in that multiple visits are necessary to uncover all the gems that are to be found there. I plan to read it several times, in addition to my normal Bible study (and not a substitute for it!), because there is so much there it takes several trips to begin to understand something so vast and mysterious as God's will for our lives.

I have several friends and family members who are stuggling with knowing what God would have them do. I plan to get and give them a copy of this book which may help to explain why things in their lives are not working out as they think they should. God's will is still a mystery to me, but at least thanks to this book I know a lot more about how to find it, understand it, and most of all, not sweat it when nothing seems to make sense.

Every Christian I know wants to know and do God's will -- to follow the path that God has set for each of us. Chuck cannot of course provide that, but he does provide some roadside markers so that each of us can learn God's will for our life by prayer, seeking God in our silent moments, and by using some of Chuck's practical suggestions how to travel that road that God has set before us.

Sometimes you know something deep in your heart, but it takes someone else to point them out and make them clear for you. In my case, I had been struggling with God's plans for me, and it took this book to remind me of what I already knew in my heart-"The Lord's mercies never cease. The Lord's compassions never fail. The Lord's faithfulness never diminshes." This book clearly outlines how we can find and use God's will. I particularly enjoyed the extensive use of Biblical scripture, including passages from the little read Lamentations and Job. Swindoll had a way of presenting this complicated and mysterious topic in a way that made me say "duh!" I needed this book, and will recommend to many friends.

For a non-native English speaker, this is the perfect study Bible. The language is easy to understand without being childish or condescending.The study helps are fun and informative. The pictures are delightful.

The church where I serve spent several weeks looking to buy Bibles that were age appropriate for our Elementary age children. We chose this Bible because we felt it was great for that age. It is clear and easy to read, but also has lots of "extras" on the pages. It is bright and colorful, catchy for kids to pick up. The illustrations in the book are also wonderful. A great resource for any family or church.
-Rev. Heather Apel
Bethel Lutheran Church

My son who is seven years old enjoys hearing the bible stories from this Bible before bed. I enjoy reading it also as an adult.

I was looking for a child's edition that was matched as closely to an adult version, but easy to understand. This is the one! I'm very pleased and my child loves it.

I am director of Children's Ministries at an American Baptist church and we give this Bible every year to new First Graders. They use this Bible until they get to 6th Grade. This Bible has wonderful illustrations and does not divert from the meaning of the original text other than using more child friendly words. It is WONDERFUL!

The Ignatius series of commentaries are marked by their clarity and depth of coverage. Though a thin volume, this commentary on Romans is still packed with solid, doctrinally sound, exegesis.

Of course, it is difficult to review any in this series without thinking also of the Navarre series volume, The Navarre Bible: Romans and Galatians (The Navarre Bible: New Testament). The strength of the Ignatius commentary is it's broader overview word studies and outlines in addition to it's clarity. The strength of the Navarre commentary is in the introductory section - and the Navarre volume contains Galations and Romans together which seems to be a good fit as these two epistles overlap in so much of Paul's theology. The Navarre Bible also includes the parallel Latin vulgate not included in the Ignatius Bible. For the Ignatius commentary, you would need two volumes to get both Romans and Galations studies.

Having both the Navarre and Ignatius commentaries would be ideal for study and it is highly recommended to use both in preparation for teaching. However, if your budget allows only one or personal study is your sole purpose, the Ignatius study is the one to choose even if it requires obtaining the second volume for the epistle to the Galations.

Another great effort that makes the book of Romans come alive. The special helps reflect the historical and patristic positions on Scripture. "Pop theology" is thankfully missing from this amazing study.

Our women's group was looking for a Catholic Bible study that did a good job of incorporating history, theology, and personal application all in one! This fabulous study has that and more! We are devouring it and savoring it. The footnotes are incredibly helpful in helping us put meaning to Paul's words, and the discussion questions do the job of reiterating Paul's meanings and giving our group a fabulous place to start our discussions. As the leader, I never have to stimulate discussion. In fact, thus far, we have always run long and had to cut people off to stop. There is so much valuable "meat" in this book, and it portrays Paul, the Catholic faith, and all of Scripture with reverence, accuracy, relevancy, and orthodoxy. I haven't found anything else that comes close to the depth and breadth of this study.

The Ignatius Bible studies are great resources. The print, however, is unacceptably small. If you have even minor eye issues, you need magnification to use these study guides. This is a real drawback to an excellent series of commentaries.

My main issue with this study guide is the way in which the commentary and notes are formatted on the page. They are squeezed in with tiny print at the bottom of the page like regular footnotes in an academic journal and they are broken down by the verse to which they refer. So there really is no flow to the notes, they're just choppy, jumping from one subject to another.

I think a more effective means of explaining the contents of Paul's letter would be to have the text of the letter on one page and have the notes on the facing page. And have the notes in a flowing paragraph style rather than the choppy verse-by-verse format that are in this book.

I could get similar styled notes in the New American Bible that I already own.

If your life gets so busy that you may be neglecting the spiritual part of your being, this is the book for you. You don't have to give up an hour a day to read the whole Bible. Using this book, fifteen to twenty minutes a day will get you through the whole Bible in a year.

I've read pretty much every translation of the Bible imaginable. I own probably 12 different Bibles for comparison purposes and the RSV version is my favorite. It's accurate and readable. Check out IS 7:14 in RSV and then compare that passage in NLT or NRSV versions.

Keep this Bible in your car and when you're stuck in traffic, backed up in line at the bank or waiting for junior at soccer practice pull out this one year Bible. You'll be surprised how much calmer you'll be...with or without lipstick!

This book achieves its primary purpose: giving an easy, systematic way to read the whole Bible in one year. Three things keep me from giving it a 5-star rating.

First, the New Testament books are not in their traditional order (the Old Testament books are). I really wish Mr. Thigpen had explained why he changed the order, especially since he puts Acts of the Apostles before Luke's Gospel (the other 3 Gospels come before Acts).

Second, there's no index. This is especially important trying to keep track of the New Testament readings.

Finally, the cover's protective coating is not very long-lasting. It started peeling in a distracting way after 4 months.

My Daily Catholic Bible (MDCB) uses the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translation, which is my favorite. The RSV is one of the most accurate translations and does not use inclusive language like the New Revised Standard Version. It incorporates the Deuterocanonical Books nicely. MDCB also quotes a Saint every day, noting particular Saints' Days. Though MDCB does not follow the Lectionary readings of the Liturgical Year, it provides an additional way for the faithful to familiarize themselves with Sacred Scripture every day. Our Sunday Visitor claims that the readings are twenty minutes long. In average, this is more or less true depending on how fast you read. I have found occasional typos, perhaps one or two since I began reading MDCB around May 18, 2008. And, I wish Our Sunday Visitor provided MDCB in a hard cover edition. Nevertheless, I'm delighted with MDCB and look forward to reading it every day!

My Daily Catholic Bible is a wonderful bible for every Catholic. It is in a good trustworthy version, the Revised Standard Version, it is a nice size and the print is easy to read. The Bible is laved out with readings for each day of the year. And You can start anytime and just keep going and in a year you will have read the entire Bible. if you miss a day, you can skip that day or go back and catch up, the readings take from 10-20 minutes per day, so it won't take long to catch up. I would encourage every fellow Catholic and every Christian, from any denomination, to read the bible daily, and this, My Daily Catholic Bible, is a great way to read though the whole Bible; I would also encourage all to have more than one bible, I would suggest a Dewey Rhimes version for Bible study, with this My daily Catholic Bible being great edition and addition for daily reading. The LORD said my people die for lake of Knowledge and that knowledge is from God's word. The more we read and study the Bible the more we know the LORD.

This is a great resource if you want to read the entire Catholic bible in one year. Unlike other one year bibles, this edition has all of the Catholic books of the bible. RSV translation is very readable. The edition is also laid out according to the day of the year, so you can buy it at any time and will be able to completely read the entire bible in 365 days. The only thing that would make it better would be a short commentary at the beginning of each reading that offered some insight/background/reference to that day's reading. Highly recommended.

This is a very good book and I got for a great price.Joyce really helps out alot of people.

This book is an absolute eye opener! Joyce Meyer is an amazing woman with powerful wisedom from God that applys to everday life. She's a perfect example of how God works in your life and with a relationship and faith and trust he'll do amazing things. PLEASE DON'T BOTHER AND READ the 1-2 star reviews, it'll just make you angry. There are some people that are hurt and want to blame god for their problems and are hateful towards Christians and look for ways to try and hurt us. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do. It'll be one of those books that I'll always reread from time to time. Just see what God can do in your life too! Enjoy!

You can't please all the people all the time, and this Christianity-based book will help you realize that truth.

I enjoy self-help, self-exploring books. However, it is disturbing yet another self help book reads more on being the right type of Christian then being a better you, regardless of your faith!
I am a Christian. A person of faith with an open mind. I believe that the diversity amoung people are to be celebrated rather than feared and I won't tell people what God wants them to believe.
I do belive that it is rare indeed when one person can tell another what God thinks about any controversial issue.
This book would have saved me a lot of "here we go again", er, time, if Ms. Myers could have written it with out all the Christian Right B--- S---!

Joyce Meyer did a great job on writing this bestseller. Approval Addiction is another one of Joyce's masterpieces. I saw a lot of me in this book, and she stepped on all of my toes....(even though I didn't want to hear it). The good thing is that she uses references (via scriptures from the Holy Bible) to explain how approval addiction can be harmful not only to you, but to other relationships. NOW, I understand that I need to change my behavior. Thank you, Lord, for having people like Joyce Meyer for keeping it real.

This excellent commentery on Mark's gospel gives new insights as it helps to place us at the scene of Christ's earthly ministry.

This book is being used as the basis for a men's bible study on the Gospel of Mark. All of the men in this group are very pleased with the way the author paraphrases the sections of the gospel to be covered as well as the way he provides some insight to the cultural and historical background of the various times and regions. Tom Wright provides a very thoughtful and original commentary on the Gospel of Mark without being so bold as to insinuate that his opinion is the only correct interpretation of the text. I am looking forward to reading other bible commentaries from this author.

This book was tailor-made for a bible study group. I used it in law school for an inter-denominational group that included Catholics, Baptists, LDS and various other protestants. We all got a lot out of it. The book is divided by short passages from Mark interspersed with longer commentary (usually 2-3 pages) from Tom Wright. I can sincerely say this helped me on my faith journey and deepened my knowledge of Jesus and the New Testament, particularly the Gospel of Mark. For beginner and intermediate-level bible students, I highly recommend it for group-study.

I found this devotional commentary to be a refreshing personal devotion resource as well as a comptetent commentary on the uniqueness of Mark's gospel. You will find it easy to read and a very helpful resource for prompting small group discussion if used in that setting. You need not be anywhere near a scholar to benefit.

This guide really does what it sets out to do: Make the gospel accessible to all. Wright's prose is easily read and his analogies move the Word into a modern context. At the same time, he correctly points out that Mark was recording what was occuring before a first century audience. As such, it is just as important to be aware of their perspective.

This book has proven to be a briliant study guide for our men's group and church community. I recommend you start here and move on to other works as your community sees fit.

This was a baptism gift for my husband. He has a 30 minute commute for work so he listens to it nearly daily. Said he has benefitted greatly from it. The different voices for different characters make it easy to follow along.

The audio bible is great for those who can't stay awake long enough to read. For best memory retention, play cd just before sleep.

I read a LOT of the reviews before purchasing. I listened to an audio excerpt and liked it but read the reviews before making a final decision. One common complaint I heard was that people didn't think "God's" voice was very authoritative. I disagree. I think it's perfect. They actually put a little bit of an echo to "God's" voice which is pretty cool. Another complaint I read was that there's no 'table of contents' on one sheet of paper showing which discs have which chapters on them. Doesn't bother me. I'm just listening all the way through and don't ever have to 'look up' a specific book. The background music/noise is fantastic. The noises match the storyline to create a wonderful atmosphere (i.e. Moses & the burning bush had the crackling sound of a fire, when the Israelites went to war there was background noise of swords and war noises, for Noah and the ark there was background noise of rain and animals). When the geneologies are being read, there is quiet background music which actually helps to keep your interest (rather than just dry reading of name after name after name). I love it! I have no complaints whatsoever. I do think the manufacturer's suggested retail prices are a bit hefty. I searched the internet & e-bay for over a week before I found my set for $32 (by signing up for an Amazon card and getting a $30 statement credit on your first purchase.) Hope you enjoy your copy as much as I love mine!

I think this Niv Audio Bible is really good, it provides enough different voices to keep it interesting and I love the sound effects and music in the background.

I listen to it on the way to work and back, if I am going to sit in my car I might as well use my time wisely anyways buy this and enjoy it, at the store it was $100 so your saving cash.

GREAT SOURCE FOR GETTING THE WORD INTO THE HEART. HELP YOU USE YOUR TIME WHILE DRIVING ETC... GOOD TRANSLATION. GOOD SOUND. MAKES SENSE TO GET THE WHOLE BIBLE INSTEAD OF PART BECAUSE ONLY NEW TESTIMENT.

I was given this book for Easter when I was in junior high and didn't actually start using it on a daily basis until my junior year in high school. It took commitment of course, then it became more and more intriguing. I don't have the Purpose Driven Life book to accompany this, but it stands well on its own! I have been memorizing the "Point to Ponder"s for each day, and I've found that I use them everyday, whether at school or facing a difficult situation. If you want to grow closer to God, this journal will draw you in wholeheartedly. It will teach you about God in a very down-to-earth way, intensify your personal relationship with Him, and is friendly rather than frightening. I'm so in love with this journal, I carry it to school and write in it instead of doing classwork. =P
I would recommend this to anyone, on any level of faith, who wants to find their purpose, make their life matter, and please our awesome God.

The journal was a awesome companion to the book The Driven Purpose Life. It was packed with scriptures. It was a little bit limited on space to write but over all it was a very nice addition to the book and with the leather cover and golden edges, it was quite attractive

I bought this journal for a couple of my friends and they absolutely loved it...great gift!

This journal is a nice companion to "The Purpose-Driven Life" for those who are documenting their personal journeys.

It's a little too restrictive for me in places, however, because it assumes things which don't apply to my specific view of spiritual life.

If you like journaling and can do so within the confines of a prescripted outline, this book is for you.

-- RuthAnn

This deluxe journal is a wonderful companion book with "The Purpose Driven Life". It helps to direct ones thoughts and ideas for journaling. It is a beautiful book and makes a wonderful gift for a man or woman of any age.

I highly recommend this book.
Dianne Pedersen author of: 21st Century Woman of Virtue

If you don't have this book on your shelf, get it!

The Sales Bible is definitely one of the most comprehensive books written for sales people. It is a fun read and Gitomer uses different fonts and bolding to give you a feel of the author's sense of humor and style of "ranting".

This book covers it all; cold calling, networking, the sales process, handling objections, questioning, trade show strategies, 30 second commercial development to name only a few key elements, skills and processes of selling. This only skims the surface. The lay out is simple and the table of contents is detailed for easy reference.

This book is full of proven sales strategies, tactics and techniques that work. Even though this book is a few years old, it still comes out on top as The Ultimate Sales Resource today.

If you are looking for a resource book that contains many sales secrets - this is the book to buy. It will make it to your "favorite's" section in your personal library.

Eliot Hoppe
Author - Selling: Powerful New Strategies for Sales Success

Are you new in the field of sales? Then read on!

This book provides you with almost anything on sales except for the latest technology tricks. Selling a product isn't easy and if you're inexperienced selling is even harder because you're probably insecure. That's why you need books like this.

Being new in the field of sales myself when I read this book five years ago, this book gave me a head start. Motivational and inspirational writing is being combined with common sense and it really makes you act. Several ideas can be implemented at once when a new or existing customer rings you on the phone, that's great about this book.

You don't like to be a salesman? Then at least pick up 'Integrity Selling' by Ron Willingham (available through my reviews). For all you out there who can't wait to start selling, buy this book!

When titling his book, I suppose Gitomer was very concerned with drawing your attention away from (much) more enlightening and inspiring books on the subject of selling. "The Sales Bible" offers little inspiration beyond its title.

If you're new to the sales profession, Gitomer's bible is a fair introduction to old school thought on selling practices. If you're an experienced sales person interested in fresh thinking, certainly do not judge this book by its cover!

My recommendation for a fresher approach to the topic: Selling Sucks: How to Stop Selling and Start Getting Prospects to Buy!

No new information. The man has written 7 books on the same subject. I learned nothing my 20 years of actual sales experience did not already teach me. I was hoping for more than suggestions on how to "out fox" prospects. Nothing really useful here.

Okay - full disclosure - I know the author and consider him a friend. He's also a client, and I've used his techniques to sell to him! That may be the only thing you need to know about this book.

Jeffrey Gitomer may not be the greatest salesman of all time - St. Paul, Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightingale, Dale Carnegie - there may be a few others who rank above him. Time will tell. But Jeffrey has written a book strictly devoted to selling which synthesizes the combined wisdom of all of the published salemen who have gone before him, with the practical knowledge that he has gained from a lifetime selling anything and, eventually, everything. I believe Jeffrey's position in the business world is similar to Ted Williams's in baseball.

As a kid, I remember reading Ted Williams's classic book, "The Science of Hitting." Hitting a pitched baseball is the most difficult skill in all of sports. Williams' book explained that the toughest part of hitting isn't the hand-eye coordination, it is the disciplined approach to preparation and pitch selection - the mental game, that counts. Williams' classic graphic of the strike zone filled with 77 baseballs, each baseball containing a batting average, was worth the price of the book, and an enduring image for baseball lovers. Williams was a great hitter - maybe not as significant as Babe Ruth, or with as high an average as Ty Cobb, but his most enduring legacy was the best book ever written about hitting. And, it's not about fancy tricks, it's about repetition and discipline.

I believe selling is the toughest skill to learn in business. The art of persuasion doesn't come naturally to most people, and some prospects give you more late breaking movement than a Papelbon "slutter" or a Rivera cutter. Jeffrey Gitomer's book helps you perfect the skills that you need to survive and prosper in what could otherwise be a difficult and discouraging world. Are you just getting started? Read the book of Rules. Do you need to cold call? There's a chapter that will give you steps to follow. Need a refresher - the principles are all summarized on handy flash cards and a computer disk. The 72 questions are like Ted Williams' 77 baseballs - designed to get you to focus on what you need to do to raise your average.

I've read the reviews already posted and I can't believe the handful of people who gave this book 1, 2 or even 3 stars - they must be ex-girlfriends or jealous husbands. Those looking for fancy tricks and clever schemes don't get it - that's too complicated, and, worse, destined for a one-time-only sale, or embarrasing failure. Learn the basics, and this book distills the best selling advice of hundreds of other authors, as well as Gitomer's years of Sales Moves columns.

Note - The Sales Bible distills those columns, and doesn't just reprint them as some authors with a regular newspaper gig are prone to do. This is a book that is intended to be USED, not just read. If you're looking for the "History of Great Sales," keep looking. If you're a saleman or an entreprenuer (which means you're that and more) buy this book, and learn from a true Hall of Fame salesman!