Hi Life Church! Doing the Bible is the first of our Core Values at Life Church and in order to do the Bible we have to learn the Bible. This page contains some Bible resources (including reading plans) that we recommend. We especially want to call your attention to our Life Church Bible Reading Project. Join us as we read the Bible together!
Contents
Bible Versions
We strongly recommend that you read or listen to the Bible in a modern word for word translation such as one of the following:
- New International Version (NIV)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
- BibleSpeak | The Best Bible Name Pronunciation Tool Available
For this Bible reading project, do not use the King James Version (KJV) since it uses outdated English that will get in the way of your understanding of the text. We also do not recommend using paraphrase, or idiomatic versions such (The Message, The Living Bible, etc.) since these make it harder to directly engage the words from the original languages. We do not recommend using the Amplified Bible since it can give the misleading impression that all of the potential meanings of various Biblical words are actually intended at any given point at which that word appears. Finally, you should never use the New World Translation by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (The Jehovah’s Witnesses). Here are some resources to help you better understand your Bible:
- The Bible Project: How To Read The Bible
- Dynamic and Formal Equivalence
- The Making of the Bible with Tim Mackie – YouTube
- Making of the Bible [Extended Version] Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube
The Bible Project
The Bible Project is an amazing resource that includes a dozens of excellently produced videos and study guides that will greatly enhance your understanding of the Bible. The site also includes a 1 year Bible reading plan that you can download.
- Read Scripture (a video introduction to the Bible Project’s plan for reading the Bible in 1 year)
- Read Scripture Reading Plan
The Bible Experience
Inspired by…The Bible Experience is an audio version of the Bible published by Zondervan. The script used is the Today’s New International Version (TNIV) Bible translation. The re-enactment was performed by a cast of more than 200 African-American actors, singers, musicians, poets, personalities, and clergy, including 3 Oscar winners, 5 Golden Globe winners, 7 Emmy winners, and 23 Grammy winners. Members of this cast include Blair Underwood as Jesus, Samuel L. Jackson and Paul Adefarasin as God, Kirk Franklin as Simon Peter, Angela Bassett, Dule Hill, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington in the Song of Songs, LL Cool J as Samson, Eartha Kitt as the Serpent, Bishop T.D. Jakes as Abraham, and Bishop Eddie L. Long as Joel. The original music score was composed by Grammy award-winning producers and performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
- The Bible Experience
- Inspired By … The Bible Experience Audio Bible – Today’s New International Version, TNIV: Complete Bible by Zondervan | Audiobook | Audible.com
More Bible Resources
The One Year Bible Online
This Bible reading plan is the online version of the One Year Bibles available in print in various versions (NV, ESV, etc.). From this web site you can do your Bible reading on the standard plan (January 1 – December 31) or you can create a plan with a start date of your own choice. You can even order the One Year Bible in print!
Bible Gateway
Other Resources
Bible Study Resources
We strongly recommend that you use a specific set of commentaries as you study the Bible with us. These are available from our:
Life Church Discipleship Resources Amazon.com List:
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- The Old Testament For Everyone by John Goldingay (available as a set or individually)
- The New Testament For Everyone by N. T. Wright (available as a set or individually)
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We have also gathered several helpful videos in the following YouTube lists:
Don’t just “Google” the passages you are reading. Use the resources that we’ve recommended above!
Life Church Bible Reading Project
Life Church is using of the Bible Project’s 1 year Bible reading plan, while following it at a slower pace. We will take a month to cover each week of
