Bible Study Magazine—May–June 2012 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 May–June 2012 Issue!

A Timeless Message

When Nancy Leigh DeMoss was eight years old, she taught her very first Bible study class: a group of her third-grade peers. Although it might have seemed like a precocious move at the time, her actions displayed a desire to teach that stuck with her. Today, she is a radio host for Revive Our Hearts, the author of 14 books, and a passionate teacher of the Bible.

The Heart/Mind Balance

It can be tempting to pursue biblical knowledge for its own sake. Just as tempting is the pursuit of religious experience without a biblical foundation. As a well-respected New Testament scholar and university professor, Scot McKnight has experienced the tension of these pursuits.

Pity the Fool

The temptation to rip into someone when he or she speaks foolishly at our expense isn’t a stretch for most of us. We get angry at the person who unfairly blames us in a department-wide email. Or we feel ashamed when our entrusted secret becomes an engaging dinner-party topic. Self-justification incites a response. But should we respond to the perpetrators of such foolishness? Proverbs 26 says no—and yes: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes” (26:4–5). While we ponder whether we should even answer the fool, it’s helpful to understand who the writer of the book of Proverbs is actually talking about. What words or actions characterize a fool?