Inspirational Study Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible is very different from every other kids’ Bibles. While other kids’ Bibles contain stories from the Old and New Testaments, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible, pointing to Jesus as our Savior.

In a book that took eight years to research and write, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman explores how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty Creator of all things.

Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally - including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Erhman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament - how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus' message but helped shape it.

Large numbers of atheists, humanists, and conspiracy theorists are raising one of the most pressing questions in the history of religion: "Did Jesus exist at all?" Was he invented out of whole cloth for nefarious purposes by those seeking to control the masses? Or was Jesus such a shadowy figure - far removed from any credible historical evidence - that he bears no meaningful resemblance to the person described in the Bible?

Elaine Pagels explores the surprising history of the most controversial book of the Bible. In the waning days of the Roman Empire, militant Jews in Jerusalem had waged anall-out war against Rome’s occupation of Judea, and their defeat resulted in the desecration of the Great Temple in Jerusalem. In the aftermath of that war, John of Patmos, a Jewish prophet and follower of Jesus, wrote the Book of Revelation, prophesying God’s judgment on the pagan empire that devastated and dominated his people.

Most people - even people of faith - do not understand how the Bible fits together. Too many Christians accept half an inheritance, content to embrace merely the New Testament, while Jewish people may often experience the same by embracing only the Old Testament. But God has an intricate plan and purpose for both the Old and the New. In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel reveals the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. Known for his emphatic declaration “but there’s more!” he guides us in seeing the passion and purpose of the Messiah.

Rather than trying to resolve discrepancies by bending the Gospel narrative, which risks making them say things they aren't saying, Jesus, Contradicted situates the Gospels within their proper context and helps readers account for differences in the Gospels in a cohesive and historically cogent way.

From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing audiobook that reveals new insights on the Essenes, a radical Jewish community predating Christianity, whose existence, beliefs, and practices are often overlooked in the annuls of history. Bergsma reveals how this Jewish sect directly influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity and offers new information on how Christians lived their lives, worshiped, and eventually went on to influence the Roman Empire and Western civilization.

Illuminata brings prayer into our daily lives, with prayers on topics from releasing anger to finding forgiveness, from finding great love to achieving intimacy. There are prayers for couples, for parents, and for children; prayers to mend broken relationships and prayers to overcome obsessive and compulsive love. There are prayers to heal the soul, prayers to heal the body, and prayers for work and creativity.

Every day, we hear dozens of outside opinions: from our spouses and our family members to our coworkers and our church community, but how can we shift our focus away from the clamor of other voices so we don't miss what God is trying to tell us? How to Listen to God helps you distinguish God's voice from all the rest.

Two thousand years after his birth and death, Jesus of Nazareth continues to be of vital interest. Yet much of the scholarship around Jesus focuses on his religious significance. Jesus for Everyone examines his most famous teachings from a fresh perspective, exploring how they have continued to shape ethics and civilization in the West for two millennia. Even for those who reject faith, Jesus’s life and his philosophy are important to study, writes renowned biblical scholar and author Amy-Jill Levine, because of the insights they hold for us today.

Whispers of Wisdom: Bedtime Stories from the Bible is not just a collection of tales—it is a treasure chest of lessons for life, wrapped in the warm, soothing blanket of bedtime stories. As you listen to them, whispering words of wisdom into the night, you pass down the greatest legacy of all: the enduring stories of faith, hope, love, and humanity.

Gary Thomas, pastor and best-selling author of Sacred Marriage, believes that one simple word can bring hope, light, and life into any marriage: Cherish. Most marriages survive by gritting teeth and holding on. But what if surviving marriage wasn't the goal? What if we aimed to thrive instead? In Cherish, Thomas teaches us that although there are a countless number of marriages consisting of two people just going through the motions, there are real ways this pattern can be reversed.

From beginning to end, the Bible reveals the glory of Jesus. But for many Bible listeners, it doesn't seem that simple. We're often unsure how the Bible's many stories, characters, events relate together and connect to Jesus. Some are tempted to force the pieces of the Bible together, making superficial jumps to him. Others give up trying to understand the Bible altogether.

Have you ever read the Bible only to come away confused? Ever wondered if God actually had you in mind when He began telling His story? Though life may not be going according to your plan, God has another one, far better than you can imagine. From Genesis to Revelation, experience His invitation to get you dancing with joy. Listen to the story of God unfold through these chapters, and you’ll find not only His redeeming love but His plan and provision designed especially for you.

This devotional contains all 150 Psalms and 20 other songs in Scripture, divided by day. The selections include helpful background information on the psalm, a related hymn stanza, and an application thought. Biweekly "Interludes" further aid understanding by explaining things such as acrostic psalms or Hebrew poetic style.

Why is it so important to know the One who knows all about you? The answer is simple: When you come to a point where you understand his ways, your life takes on new meaning. Most people know a little something about God, but their knowledge of who he is and how he works stops just past the point of an initial introduction. In Step with God, pastor and author Charles F. Stanley offers simple, clear teaching that answers questions such as: What is God like?

These audio lectures are a unique learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, 1 Corinthians, Part 1: Audio Lectures includes high-quality live recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. 1 Corinthians, Part 1: Audio Lectures feature the author's expert teaching through chapters one through nine of 1 Corinthians and are an ideal resource for traditional students, students in distance and online-learning courses, and self-learners.

A practical plan to identify the threads of your life and how to intentionally weave them together for God's glory and purposes. Restless explores the fact that God has called us all to do great things in his name, and then helps us discover what that might mean for each of us individually.

Renowned spoken word artist David Bowden tackles one of the most difficult questions of all---Where is God when we can’t find him?---and reveals what God’s absence and his presence tell us about God’s glory and his grace.