Bible Study Magazine—September–October 2014 Issue

• Feature Stories
  Discover new ways to connect the Bible with your ministry and life through in-depth interviews and articles from the biggest names in the church and biblical scholarship.
• Bible Study Tips
  Explore the Word—thoughtful and engaging authors tackle the tough passages in Scripture, explain difficult concepts, and confront complex interpretations in a way that helps the Gospel make sense in your life.
• On the Cutting Edge
  Keep up to date on the latest news in biblical research, including archaeological and historical findings.
• A New Kind of Bible Study
  Encounter God by yourself or with other believers with an ongoing Bible study in each issue.
• On Teaching
  Get advice on how to preach or teach the Bible in any setting from well-known pastors and teachers who use the Bible every day.
• Tool Box
  Learn how to effectively use the latest Bible study tools with our how-to guides.
• In the News
  Keep informed about the latest news in biblically related topics, discoveries, and events.
• Thoughts from the Ancients
  Read the Bible together with those who have come before you, and learn from the wisdom of the early church—in its own words.
• Word Studies
  Get a close-up view of the Bible! Each issue contains insights about specific words found in the Bible and tutorials on how to do word studies.
• If Only Someone Would Explain It to Me
  Enrich your understanding of the Bible with explanations of biblical and theological concepts by top scholars.
• Did You Know?
  Discover interesting facts about the place of the Bible in the contemporary and the ancient world.
• What They Don’t Tell You in Church
  See things you never noticed in biblical passages you have read dozens of times.
• Biblical Humor
  The funniest stories and the best comics related to the Bible, useful for any setting.
• Book Reviews
  Stay on top of the latest books about Bible study. Each issue contains reviews of books and commentaries to equip you in your study of God’s Word.

Excerpts from the Sept–Oct 2014 Issue!

Lysa TerKeurst: Simply Trusting

When Lysa TerKeurst—author, speaker, and mother of five—began working for Proverbs 31 Ministries, she felt “like God made a mistake in calling me because I was hyper-aware of my imperfections.” Then, through a friend’s Bible study, TerKeurst discovered “the concept of my identity being in Christ—that I was a dearly loved child of God, and his love is not based on my performance.” Now, “reading God’s Word is exciting because I need it. I am so desperate to know how to do life in the way God wants me to.”—Jessi Strong

The Gospel through Oppression and Freedom

Pastor Gelu Paul-Faina has seen the challenges faced by the Romanian Church through times of oppression and freedom. “Openness to the Western world changed our environment so people had less time for God. Time and energy shifted from God and religion to materialism and gadgets. Christianity—Christ, the gospel and discipleship—is not so in vogue anymore.”—Jessi Strong

Not Your Average Bible Study—Lights in the Darkness: 8 Weeks in 1–3 John

To the writer of 1 John, Jesus’ actions on earth matter. If we want to love, we must “walk just as [Jesus] walked” (1 John 2:6). Yet we struggle to make the connection between the people Jesus served and the people we are called to serve. The world is so enticingly full of “the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions” that we grow blind to people in the shadows (1 John 2:16).—Carrie Sinclair-Wolcott

Special Section—Joy That Doesn’t Quit: Philippians

Why Don’t We Talk about Money in Church?

For many churchgoers, a pastor’s mention of money is downright awkward. Whether the message is about tithing or a new outreach initiative that needs funding, a palpable feeling of uneasiness can quickly spread through the congregation. While our Christian spirituality easily contemplates intangible things like “the heart” and “meeting Jesus in the prayer closet,” material issues seem distinctly unspiritual: “Let’s not talk about money; let’s talk about getting our souls right with Jesus.” The text of Philippians shows us this is not the case.—Nijay K. Gupta

Can Christians Really Do “All Things”?

Paul’s bold declaration in Philippians 4:13 is one of the most commonly quoted passages in the New Testament. We find the verse on everything—from clothing to tattoos, and even eye makeup worn by professional athletes. . . . While the Bible affirms God’s ability to do anything he pleases (e.g., Matt 19:26; Mark 9:23; compare Job 42:2; Jer 32:17), this is not Paul’s point in Philippians 4:13.—Derek R. Brown