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    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible
    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible
    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible
    Ebook144 pages2 hours

    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible

    By Keith Ferrin

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Do you feel like you should read the Bible more?

    This book will help you     want to read it.

    Keith Ferrin has been talking to churches for years about enjoying God's Word. Here he shares the most helpful ideas and habits you can start using today. You will find ten proven tips that are equally practical whether you are a longtime Bible student or simply exploring what this life-changing book is all about.

    Aimed at deepening your relationship with God, these simple suggestions will help you focus more easily as you read, remember Scripture better, and most importantly, enjoy the Bible and its Author more than you ever dreamed possible.

    Includes Discussion Questions and Reading Suggestions for Small Groups

    "This book delivers on what the title promises."--Gary Thomas, bestselling author and speaker

    "Not only did Keith bring the Word to life for me, but he brought God to life for me again! I will be forever grateful."--Nancy Stephens, West Virginia
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateMay 12, 2015
    ISBN9781441228529
    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible
    Author

    Keith Ferrin

    Keith Ferrin (www.keithferrin.com) is an author, speaker, storyteller, and blogger who strives to help people realize that the living Word of God is a reality, not a phrase. Keith is the founder of That You May Know Ministries, and he holds to the idea that people can believe the Bible is not only true and applicable but also fun, engaging, and enjoyable. Keith's one-man, dramatic, word-for-word presentations of whole books of the Bible have been seen by thousands around the country. Keith loves writing, movies, hiking, baseball, coffee, ice cream, and seeing the light go on in someone's eyes when they realize that the Bible isn't boring. Keith is a husband to one and a father to three. They all live just outside of Seattle.

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    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      How To Enjoy Reading Your Bible by Keith Ferrin - my reviewHow To Enjoy Reading Your Bible by Keith Ferrin is full of tips to help you understand and enjoy reading the Bible. Instead of just reading a few verses or a chapter or two a day, he suggests reading it as you would with any other book, reading it straight through. Lets know God and have a relationship with him instead of just trying to learn about him! One of my favorite quotes from this book is...."After all, isn’t that the point? Isn’t our time in God’s Word primarily about spending time with Him? Being with Him. Knowing Him. Sitting with Him. Learning from Him. Laughing with Him. Hanging out with Him." page 5He has several tips for different books of the Bible for you to start reading along with family or friends, someone you can discuss it with. I have read through his book, and now I am ready to go back and try out some of his tips. This is an easy to read book, which the author suggests that if you follow his tips you will memorize parts of the Bible without even trying! How cool is that? I am anxious to go back and start with some of his suggested tips for reading the Bible.I will update this review after I have tried some of these tips out and let you know if I have memorized parts without trying.I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to get more from reading their Bible.I received an ARC (advanced reader's copy) from Bethany House for my honest review be it good or bad.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I think everyone has struggled with reading their Bible at one time or another. I know I have. When I do I feel guilty. This is God’s love letter to me, shouldn’t I be enjoying it? What is wrong with me? Even though I know I should be doing it in obedience to Him, I hate finding myself reading “just because I am supposed to.”This book is perfect to overcome those “blah” times in the Word.Ferrin gives 10 helps that will not only make your time in the Scripture more of a pleasure but also more profitable without making it a chore. It is short, well written, plus very easy to read and implement the ideas!The author brings out two very important truths we tend to forget. 1. Bible reading is God talking to me. 2. Prayer is me talking to God. In other words it is you spending time with the most important person in your life (or should be), your Heavenly Father. Bible reading isn’t an item on your to-do list to check off but building a close relationship with the Lord.I was so inspired and encouraged by these ideas! I see how there have been areas I have failed in my quite time. I was present (sort of) with the Lord but not truly a participant. No wonder those times were stale and I seemed to walk away with little.There are study guides, further scriptures to pursue, prayers, Bible reading plans and even challenges! I am so excited to start reading God’s Word with a fresh start! If I ever slip back to my old habits I can just refer back to this book! It is becoming a permanent fixture in my library!This little book is a treasure chest! It is great for new believers, old believers, young and old people alike! I think every Christian should read this! You will be glad you did!I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

      1 person found this helpful

    Book preview

    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible - Keith Ferrin

    © 2015 by Keith Ferrin

    Portions of this text were previously published in 10 Tips for Liking the Bible (2013)

    Published by Bethany House Publishers

    11400 Hampshire Avenue South

    Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

    www.bethanyhouse.com

    Bethany House Publishers is a division of

    Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

    www.bethanyhouse.com

    Ebook edition created 2015

    Ebook corrections 05.05.2017

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

    ISBN 978-1-4412-2852-9

    Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

    Scripture quotations identified NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

    Cover design by LOOK Design Studio

    How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible delivers on what the title promises. Keith’s tips are immediately practical and accessible, whether you have walked with Jesus for thirty years or thirty minutes. If you are a pastor—to adults or students—keep several on hand and start giving them away. Do you want your congregation and your students to grow in their hunger and love for the Word? If so, this is the next book they need to read!

    Gary Thomas Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Writer in Residence at Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX)

    He did it again! Keith Ferrin’s tips have helped me dive into the living Word of God and discover how much deeper my relationship with Him can be.

    Dawn HeckertPastor of Children’s Ministries at Christ Community Church (Leawood, KS)

    Never have I come across such a practical, comprehensive book as How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible. This book rekindled my passion for reading the Bible.

    Sheryl Nelson Director of City Kids School (Kirkland, WA)

    Keith Ferrin sits us down at the table of faith and plainly explains how to not simply read the Bible, but to dine on a five-course meal with the Creator of the universe. How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible invites us to push the crumbs aside and feast on all God is offering.

    Krista Gilbert Mother of Four, Writer, Speaker, Connector (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

    I have fallen in love with God’s Word all over again reading this book. Not only did Keith bring the Word to life for me, but he brought God to life for me again! I will be forever grateful.

    Nancy Stephens (Parkersburg, WV)

    To Sarah, Caleb, and Hannah

    As you grow, may God’s beautiful, mysterious, amazing story continue to engage you as deeply as it does today. May you read it, trust it, internalize it, live it . . . and enjoy it!

    Love, Dad

    Contents

    Cover    1

    Title Page    3

    Copyright Page    4

    Endorsements    5

    Dedication    7

    Introduction    11

    Tip 1: Remember Why You Are Doing This    15

    Tip 2: Set Your Expectations Really High    29

    Tip 3: Have a Strategy    37

    Tip 4: Watch the Whole Movie    51

    Tip 5: Learn From Your Shampoo Bottle    63

    Tip 6: Raise Your Voice    75

    Tip 7: Read Alone    83

    Tip 8: Don’t Read Alone    93

    Tip 9: Go on a 60-Day Adventure    103

    Tip 10: Take Two 4-Month Challenges    125

    How These 10 Tips Have Changed Everything    137

    Appendix A: A Small-Group Study of Ephesians    145

    Appendix B: A Chronological Reading Plan    149

    Acknowledgments    154

    About the Author    156

    Let’s Connect . . .    157

    Back Cover    159

    Introduction

    I didn’t always enjoy the Bible. Not that I disliked it. I didn’t even think about enjoying it.

    I spent the first twenty years I was a Christian believing that the Bible was true. Still do. Believing the Bible was reliable. Still believe that too. Believing that I should read it more, study it more deeply, and memorize more verses.

    But the idea of enjoying it didn’t even enter the conversation. In fact, I still rarely hear people talk about enjoying the Bible. It is almost as if we think that once we convince people it is true, reliable, and valuable, then they will read it every day, sign up for every Bible study, and memorize it from cover to cover. (Okay, I might have just gone a bit too far.)

    If you have ever heard me speak—or read one of my other books—you have heard me tell of the night I began to enjoy the Bible. Yes, I can trace it back to a specific night in the spring of 1993.

    A friend told me about an actor named Bruce Kuhn who was coming to his church to perform the gospel of Luke. Bruce had memorized Luke. The whole book. And he got up on stage, quoted it, and acted it out at the same time. No sets. No props. No other actors or actresses.

    Honestly, I went out of curiosity. I thought it would be a bit fascinating, but I didn’t expect to enjoy it. At least not for almost two hours! But that night, the living Word of God went from being a phrase to a reality. It came alive for me like never before. I sincerely enjoyed it. A lot.

    Bruce agreed to have lunch with me the next day. We ended up spending about nine hours together. He challenged me to hang out in a book of the Bible. So I did.

    That summer I read Philippians. Every day. All summer. It was the first time I could remember enjoying the Bible consistently for a long period. Thank you, Bruce. I am forever grateful.

    That was the summer of 1993. Just under three years later—in March of 1996—I did my first dramatic presentation of the gospel of John. I have spent the better part of the last two decades speaking, writing, and doing everything I can to help people fall in love with God’s Word.

    What you are about to read is my attempt to boil down the lessons, analogies, ideas, and habits people tell me have been the most helpful for them.

    Ten tips. Ten tips you can apply today. Ten tips that are simple to understand. Ten tips that are equally practical for the long-time Bible student or the person who is exploring what the big deal is about this old book.

    The Bible is a big deal. (Check the all-time bestseller list. It’s right at the top.)

    Yes, the Bible is true. Yes, it is practical. And yes, it is fun!

    My goal is simple: to help you enjoy the Bible. That’s it. If you enjoy it, you will read it more. If you enjoy it, you will talk about it. If you enjoy it, you will be more consistent in your time with God. If you enjoy it, you will apply it.

    When it comes to the Bible, God never intended you to stop at believing it is true. He also wants you to enjoy it. I do too.

    So let’s get started.

    Alongside,

    Keith

    Tip 1

    Remember Why You Are Doing This

    Why do you read the Bible?

    Take a moment to answer the question before moving on. (Hint: Your answer is really important.)

    Whenever I ask this question—especially to a group of people sitting in a church—I typically get replies like this:

    It is an opportunity to know God’s will.

    I find encouragement there.

    It is what I am supposed to do.

    It reminds me of what is true.

    It is how I know what God wants me to do.

    It is God’s Holy Word.

    All of these are true statements. Without a doubt. But once—just once—I would love to hear someone say, I read it to hang out with God.

    After all, isn’t that the point? Isn’t our time in God’s Word primarily about spending time with Him? Being with Him. Knowing Him. Sitting with Him. Learning from Him. Laughing with Him. Hanging out with Him.

    One of My Pet Peeves

    It has been bugging me for almost twenty years now. I wish it had bugged me for longer. You see, we talk a lot about having a relationship with Jesus. (That’s not the part that bugs me.) The part that really gets to me is when we talk about having a relationship with Jesus. Or even more specifically—when we don’t talk about it.

    We seem to talk about having a relationship right up to the time when someone actually says, I’m in. Once someone

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