Bible Study Magazine—September–October 2013 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 2013 Issue!

Chip Ingram: Religion vs. Relationship

“The truth does not transform lives. The truth applied transforms lives,” says Chip Ingram, senior pastor of Silicon Valley’s Venture Christian Church. “While Bible study is core, [the Bible] was intended to give life and to change lives. The goal isn’t that people know everything about the Bible; it’s that they apply what they learned—even in baby steps. That will create an appetite for more and more truth and transformation. That’s how God’s love boils over into all areas of your life and the lives of those around you. This is true spirituality. This is becoming a disciple of Christ.’”—Joe Bunting

Helping the Hidden

While meeting physical needs for food and shelter is a Gospel Rescue Mission’s most immediate task, the spiritual component is integral to their life and vision. “Hellfire and brimstone sermons are a thing of the past,” says John Ashmen, president of Association of Gospel Recuse Missions (AGRM). “Many people in the homeless community already feel like they are living in hell. So instead of the hell card, we play the abundant life card. When people in desperate situations know that they have not only immediate help but eternal hope, they respond in a different way.”—Jessi Strong

Ongoing Bible Study: Salvation and Transformation

In Ephesians, Paul calls believers to put on the new self—one “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (2:9). As he clarifies what that looks like in our day-to-day lives, we find more than just instructions for individual growth; we find directions for living as members of the body of Christ. The two are tightly interwoven: How we treat one another can build up or tear down the body of Christ.—Miles Custis