Bible Engagement Basics review:
If I am honest, sometimes … actually, maybe MOST times, the Bible is hard work. It’s hard work getting the motivation to read it, to bridge the gap between the world of the original writers and recipients and mine, and to try and make sense of it through my 21st-century worldview.
Any support, encouragement and practical ideas are welcome, and Bible Engagement Basics tick all 3 boxes.
It’s an ambitious book by any standard. It attempts to engage a global audience whilst laying out a clear theological premise for the importance of Scripture and providing practical suggestions for those wanting to explore different models and ideas for Scripture engagement. I think it does it well.
When speaking to groups of young Christians, I sometimes ask, “What IS the Bible?” Responses offer an immediate understanding of how and why they read (or don’t read) the Bible. “God’s Love Letter to Me,” “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth,” and “A Manual for How to Live” are some of the common responses. I appreciate that Bible Engagement Basics presents Scripture as God’s Story from the opening pages. Lawson eloquently writes that this Story “is a spacious realm that we are invited into with imagination and faith, and once we enter, we see ourselves as participants.”
Throughout history, the Bible has, at times, been used to contain, control and condemn people. It has been seen as a weapon of oppression, not a source of liberation and life as intended. To gather in community and be transformed by God’s Word requires “new postures of authenticity, vulnerability and consecration,” as Lawson articulates well. Reading in community, where we bring our stories, questions and revelations, and together prayerfully allow God to speak to us, is highlighted in this book. I cheer on this approach, mindful that Scripture was written (or spoken) for communities – not individuals, and is most powerfully entered into within community.
Let me warmly commend this important and timely resource to you.
Adrian Blenkinsop, Youth Bible engagement specialist, Author of “The Bible According To Gen Z.”
If this Bible Engagement Basics review resonates with you, read it today by ordering a copy (information below).
Bible Engagement Basics
Author: Lawson W. Murray | ISBN: 978-0-9951694-1-8 | Publication Date: July 2017 |
Order: https://christianbookscanada.ca/products/bible-engagement-basics
Order (French): http://boutique.llbquebec.ca/products/principes-dinteraction-avec-la-bible
More Information: http://www.scriptureunion.ca/beb
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Summary
Bible Engagement Basics is an ambitious and practical book that provides theological insights and actionable ideas for engaging with Scripture. It emphasizes the Bible as God’s Story and encourages readers to approach it with imagination, faith, and community. The book highlights the importance of reading the Bible in community, where people can bring their stories and allow God’s Word to transform them. Adrian Blenkinsop commends the resource for its timely, thoughtful approach to helping people engage with the Bible authentically and meaningfully.
© Scripture Union Canada
