Adventuring Through the Bible

Last year I read the Bible all the way through for the first time. This year, this book is my companion as I read the Bible again; I find the information is spelled out logically and is Insightful, interesting, and eye opening. I have enthusiastically recommended this guidebook to others, as it was recommended to me.

This book is great for Bible students who are eager to get an overall grasp of understanding the Bible. Ray Stedman has a uniquely simple but interesting way of writing that helps the reader get an overview of each book of the Bible. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to increase their Bible knowledge whether student or teacher.

This book is to the Bible as the picture on the front of the box the 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle came in...you could put the puzzle together without ever having the benefit of seeing what the final image should look like, but it would be a long, hard, often frustrating task. That is the way I would describe trying to understand all of the Bible having now had the benefit of using this book for our current Sunday School study, and I have been a Christian since childhood. Stedman is just a wonderful scholar and Bible teacher. This book, with the aid of Denney, starts with an overview of how the Old and New Testaments compliment each other. He then moves on to grouping the books that have generally common themes. Finally he goes into each book with a nice overview of key points and stories. By the time you get down to the individual book level, you can't wait to go back to the Bible and read that book/chapter again, but this time, knowing what to look for, and seeing it much more clearly and cohesively than you ever have before. Many people have successfully read through the Bible though about the time you get into Leviticus it is a major struggle...and some even stop right there. But Stedman tells you what the theme of that book is and what to look for, and, sure enough, now it is a lot easier to get through all the genealogy and dimensions and understand that this book is about explaining God's way to Wholeness. Every person will find a part of their daily struggle in the way Stedman portrays the history of Old Testament Israel. We are obedient to God for a while, then we go into a decline which frequently requires some discipline in order to show us our folly, and then God delivers us back to the path. And all the while, we are looking forward to something that we have not yet found. That is the story of the Old Testament. It is an unfinished journal of looking forward to Something. Then along comes the New Testament that shows us exactly what the Old Testament was seeking - Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels. The Epistles show us the application God's plan for salvation. And finally the approaching crisis becomes clear in Revelation. As Stedman himself says, "Do not think this book replaces the Bible. If you think that, throw THIS book in the trash right now." In my view, this is the roadmap TO the Bible. I would highly recommend this book to New Believers and long-time believers alike. The New Believer will find the broad outlines very helpful in getting comfortable with the Bible, which admittedly can be challenging in some places, while the long-timer will use this to drill down to compare points of doctrine and experiences. There is something in here for everyone.

I never write reviews but when I saw someone rated this book a 1 I couldn't believe it and had to speak up. This has been the most wonderful and enlightening book I have ever read in understanding the bible. The Ray Stedman has truly been blessed by the Lord in teaching and understanding the word of God. I read the bible from cover to cover along side Adventuring Through the Bible and the transformation God has made in my life has been amazing. If you ever struggled with reading the entire bible cover to cover, this companion book will get you excited and help you all enjoy it all the way through. My faith has been strengthened and I am ordering more for friends. Don't pass this one up!!

These writings have greatly helped me to understand the messages in the Bible. I read them over and over again and don't get tired of them. This is WELL worth your money, -no regrets.

I am totally baffled by that 1st person's rating. From the moment you open the book, Mr. Stedman draws you in with his easy-to-understand style. I've been reading the Bible since 1984 and this book has helped me truly understand the meaning behind the original texts. The english language is not as elaborate as the languages of the Bible and Mr. Stedman's vast experience at studying the Word gives you much more insight. He flatly states it's not in replacement of your Bible but is meant to be a companion read along with Scripture. It has really helped me gain a deeper understanding of the Word - which is exactly what it is intended to do.

Ray Stedman is one of the great men of the 20th century. Pastor of the Peninsula Bible Church for half a century, he was the author of more than 30 books. He brought a fresh and vital understanding to the Bible and influenced countless men and women with his ministry, including Chuck Swindoll, who said "Ray Stedman is what I want to be when I grow up." This book is a wonderful introduction to Ray and his marvelous teaching. My wife and I have given many copies to friends. All of Ray's sermons can be yours free at pbc.org.