30 Days to Understanding the Bible Paperback – March 28, 2011

Have you ever wished that there was an idiots guide to the Bible that gave context to all of it's parts? The Bible is a beautiful collection of assorted types of literature but it's organization and foreignness often creates confusion. So scholars claim we live in the most biblically illiterate time in modern history. While many have theological and doctrinal opinions and views few understand the book called the Bible. 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders is exactly the sort of "idiot proof" guide many people are looking for. Anders' uses a simple format that explains how the bible is assembled and how each parts fits within or connects to the rest of the parts. The majority of the book covers the Old Testament (due to its size) and lays out a simplistic easy to follow and retain story. Every element is broken down into smaller digestible elements which are repeated and tested throughout the chapter.For instance:The Old Testament is divided into it's parts.17 Historical Books5 Poetical Books17 Prophetical Books The historical books are divided into smaller eras (ie Creation, Patriarchs, Exodus, etc). Every era is linked to a picture, a central character, a geographic location, and a story line summary. The story line summaries are one liners that sum up what that era is about. The reader is able to learn piece by piece each book of the Bible as he or she explores the eras. The reader is given pictures, maps, and subdivisons that aid in understanding the bigger picture of scripture and it's events. Each chapter contains simple tests right after new information is given and the tests are repeated becoming slightly more difficult as you go in the short chapters. This creates a stair step approach to learning that build new info onto slight older info. The chapters are short and can be done for about 20 minutes once a day for 30 days.The books covers the OT, NT, and the 10 Great Doctrines of the Bible. I'd highly recommend this to someone who doesn't understand the Old Testament, how the bible is constructed, bais doctrine, new believers, older believers looking to brush up, or anyone interested in making sense of the Bible. It's a fun hearted book and simple enough for a 10 year old but never so simple an adult couldn't glean something from it. It's a great resource for churches, small groups, or missional communities. It's denominational friendly as it is generic enough to work in a variety of churches. Lot's of free teaching material is available for free online as well.I've personally studied the Bible most of my life and I found this book to be the best I've ever seen. I'm thinking about completing this once a year. The book is also a workbook with fill in the blank questions, maps, etc. It feels a little elementary at first but I've noticed that my bible reading has benefited from a more clear understanding of chronology and geography. I've also learned several small facts here or there that filled in gaps in my own understanding after all these years. I'm excited about this resource and would definitely recommend it.

Never out of date - Best Basic Bible over view (Historical periods) I've read so far.Max E Anders ( original version used his initial) lets you MEAnder through the Bible by breaking it down into 12 Historical periods of around 400 years each.He presents each period as a simple name, with a simple statement and a single historical figure to allow you to build up a skeleton over view of the Bible.Each period has four sub sections ( e.g. Genesis, = Creation , The Fall, The Flood, The Tower) with a single sentence describing it. He also places each period in its physical location to help anchor the overview geographically.Why buy this book?- An over view of the Bible helps you understand the big picture stuff so the small parts of the bible make more sense.- Knowing that the Hebrew people started from a single family, grew to a kingdom and then got conquered, banished and then returned lets you see God's hand through 4-6 thousand years of history.- Knowing where in the history of the Bible events occurred helps you understand more. for example, too many Christians read Bible verses in isolation without understanding the context. Jesus lamb of god makes no sense without knowing there was a temple, a law given and the fall of creation separating us from God.This book has been a foundational influence in my understanding of the Bible - building a frame work to hang other learning on. There are other ways to do a Bible over view ( law and forgiveness, prophetic words over time, blessings and curses through history etc) but a general historical overview is one of the most crucial foundations you can put in place as a Christian.I first read this book 20 plus years ago and still mentally refer to it. My kids have used it and the structure has formed the basis for teaching others.If you want pretty pictures, florid prose or hand holding this book isn't for you. It is to the point, sparse and requires you to interact - filling in study notes etc - but it is plain to read, down to earth and simple to follow.The book version better than Kindle - which has a horrible layout. I need to flick back and forwards to compare nad review - the Kindle didn't cut it. buy the book version - you wont regret the extra $ spent.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read that CONCISELY summarizes the Bible in chronological order. Author Max Anders focuses on 12 main events/people in the Bible, but also includes 10 main Christian Doctrines as well. He does a great job creating simple & straightforward ways to remember the events and points of doctrine. A great refresher for a someone well-grounded in their Christian faith, but an outstanding resource for a new Christian or for someone who is just trying to understand the point of the Bible without getting bogged down in theological detail. Dr. Anders also was one of the original people who worked on the Walk Thru the Bible seminar program which I also recommend, but I would recommend his book FIRST as it focuses on 12 main point + 10 Doctrines and then I would strongly recommend attending the 8-hour Walk Thru the Bible seminar that is offered throughout the United Staes ([...] that teaches you the 77 key points in chronological order in the Old Testament + 77 key points in chronological order in the New Testament. Note: Old Testament & New Testament series are offered separately. I also spoke with Dr. Anders directly on the phone with a couple of questions and he took my call, though I am not a professor at any seminary, and took time to answers my questions about his book - he is an awesome verbal communicator as well! He has a new book coming out in Jan. 2014 and I plan to get it as soon as it is available!

This is a very easy book to get into. It's very informative and repetitive. I like that because the more you write things over again the more you understand and retain it.

I have been struggling for years to not only decipher the Bible but retain what I was reading. The countless names and places seemed to all blend into one. But this book, this brilliant book! I only received it today and Im on chapter 5, I cant put it down. Im understanding the events and corresponding figures and eras of the Bible and even more amazing is I have mastered the map of the Old Testament in one evening! (and Im terrible at geography). I cant reccommend this book enough. I would encourage new christians to read this first before starting the Bible so that when you start the Bible it wont just seem like a list of names and places, you will already have a mental picture and overview of what is happening. I wish I had found this book years ago. God bless the author!

I have bought a few books to help me understand the Bible as I am only starting to read the Bible now. This book is absolutely wonderful and the layout is superb. I can honestly say that this book is a must for all people who want to understand the greatest story ever told. Max Anders has helped me understand the Bible (which can sometimes be very complicated and difficult to read) in a whole new way. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who reads the Bible and not only to beginners

Excellent Resource - If you are a new Christian or have been a Christian a while, this is an amazing resource to have, it teaches you in a way that is relevant and easy to understand......

Great book! Literally took 1 month to receive it, and it wasn't anything like the description though. Overall love the book but would never go through the same dealer.