What's with the Bible? Would somebody help me? (Vol. 1)

5 Things worth sharing this week.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Hey Crashers,

I've started my Master's degree. Yep, I've returned to uni and am studying with the Baptists at Morling College in Sydney. I love this new discipline and way of studying the Bible and rethinking what I know. I love diving into scripture and learning to see it through a historical lens - seeking to understand who it was written to and what it said to them before thinking about what it means for us. So today's Rapid 5 focuses on what I'm currently focused on. It's all about giving you tools to help you navigate the unknown and dig deeper into the book that shapes your faith.

“We read scripture in order to be refreshed in our memory and understanding of the story within which we ourselves are actors, to be reminded where it has come from and where it is going to, and hence what our own part within it ought to be.”
― N.T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God:
How to Read the Bible Today

THE BIBLE PROJECT APP

Everyone's favorite, Tim Mackie, and the team at the Bible project have created an app to give you access to a stack of resources to help you understand the Bible and what you are reading. Here's what they say -

The Bible can be difficult to figure out. We’ll help you develop skills to understand its larger story and gain confidence in reading along the way. From your living room to the bus stop, access the entire BibleProject library alongside interactive features found only on the app. Watch a video, listen to a podcast, and then let us show you more.

THE BIBLE RECAP AND READING PLAN

This year Rich and I decided we would read the Bible in a year again but wanted a different approach, so we enlisted the help of Tara Lee Cobble and the Bible recap.

With a reading plan on You-Version and a podcast each morning, we listen to the chapters for the day and then her podcast review of the reading. We've started to love Tara telling us each day that "He is where the joy is" and to look for our "God shot." If you listen, you'll understand what I mean. She has incredible show notes, and slowly, over time, you will gain a better understanding of who God is and what He's up to in the narrative of the Bible.

Heres what they say about it: -

If you've ever closed your Bible and thought, "What did I just read?", this podcast is for you! In about 8 minutes a day, we’ll give you a summary and highlight reel of that day's Bible reading from our 1-year chronological plan (free on the Bible app), and you can start anytime—it's always a good time to read the Bible!

THE BEST COMMENTARIES EVER!!!

I’m only just starting to use this site, but Rich tells me it’s great! It’s a HUGE list of commentaries for every book of the Bible. The best part is the page where they give you the top 3 commentaries for every book in the Bible. And they tell you what kind of commentary it is; Technical, Pastoral, Devotional. So for my study, I’m reading more technical and pastoral commentaries, but for your personal reading, you may like to look for something more devotional.

PRACTICING THE WAY - JOHN MARK COMER

"Practicing the Way" is a tool for discipleship designed to help the rhythms of the Bible become practices in your own life of faith. One of the areas they will be looking at is the role of Scripture. (and the first 3 rhythms are incredible and worth practicing in a small group or in your own life)

Here's what they say;

Is this strange, ancient book still relevant?

We are all being formed by something. The scripture is a library of writings both divine and human, that tell a unified story, leading us to Jesus. But are the words in this strange, ancient book still relevant? Do they still mean anything to us today? To Jesus, the Bible is trustworthy. To Jesus, the Bible has authority. The scriptures were designed to be read for formation. To shape us into the image of Jesus. In this book, we find life. In this book, we find a new way to be human.

THE FILAMENT BIBLE

Check out this Bible…

This Bible could be a great resource. We haven’t used it, but we love the look of it and the combination of tech and paper. Rich often reads the Bible with commentaries open beside him. This Bible would make it easier to do that while sitting in church 🤣.

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Everything about the world is pressuring us into its mold, yielding a life we don’t want. Have you ever desired to live slower, simpler, and more beautifully? What did Paul tell the Thessalonians, and what does that mean for us today? Join Cass as she shares her journey this week in an insightful post about 5 ways to live within a busy society with greater intentionality and purpose.

note: audio is available on this post.

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It’s your turn now…

What apps, tools, tricks, or tips have you found to help you navigate the Bible?

And, don’t forget you can email us at rapid5@thehopefulrhino.com if you have a topic you’d like us to cover or if you’ve seen or created something inspiriting to share.

Grace and Peace,

Cass & Rich