Bible Study Magazine—January–February 2011 Issue

• Feature Stories
  Discover new ways to connect the Bible with your ministry and life through reading great interviews with and articles from the biggest names in the church and biblical scholarship.
• Bible Study Tips
  Thoughtful and engaging authors tackle the tough passages in Scripture, explain difficult concepts, and confront complex interpretations in a way that helps God’s Word make sense to 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 along with those who have come before you, and learn from the wisdom of the early church—in their 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 Bible in the contemporary and 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 the books and commentaries to equip you in your study of God’s Word.

Excerpts from the Jan-Feb 2011 Issue!

Turning the Word into Action: Francis Chan's Creative Formula for Bible Study

Chan believes in the strength of communal Bible study, but he would like to see those that gather in God's name attempt to resemble meetings of the early church. "When you look at the way believers gathered back then, it was more like a gathering where there was a tremendous love for one another and celebrated communion, like The Last Supper. People would ask, 'What are your needs? How can I help you?' They would get into your life and sacrifice for you, and spur you on to love and to do good deeds."

It's Personal: Gary Chapman Tells Us Why

"I always end with an application—what am I going to do with this? What is this challenging me to do?" says Dr. Gary Chapman. While Bible study methods vary, studying Scripture should always end the same way—with a response. "I try to make the application as specific as possible, not an informational application but an action application."

Being Like Jesus: John D. Barry's Guide for 8 Very Practical Weeks in Colossians

I've heard Christianity summarized as ethics supplemented by a belief in Jesus. It's not, though. New Testament Christianity is radical. It forces us to ask: "What kind of radical will I be?" Jesus wanted to revolutionize the way people thought, acted and lived. The choice to believe in Jesus is step one. The choice to live ethically is a natural step two. But the choice to have your entire life formatted and defined by "Jesus living vicariously through you" is difficult. Christ in us—resurrecting us—has become uncommon theology. Yet that's what Paul preached.