Category: Tyndale Bible Update

by Molly Jo Nyman

If grief were a destination, no one would choose to go there. It’s the inescapable, often unforeseen turns that land us in that sorrowful place.

We’re told grief is something we must go through, but what if the dark tunnel goes on and on? What if we find ourselves stuck there?

Jen shared how God’s Word was the Truth that set her free from grief. Her story is told in the hope that it comforts and dispels the darkness for others.

For over a decade I carried the heavy burden of grief.

On April 2, 2009, I got the call that wrecked my world. My only big sister had been tragically killed in a car accident.

She was my best friend and second mom. We spent every birthday together, talked daily, and never argued. We had so many things planned.

After the call, I went to her house to pack up her things, and the pain broke me. There was her wet towel, her Bible, all her things left like she would be right back. When she got in the car that day, my sister didn’t know she’d be hit head on and die because a driver couldn’t wait to read a text.

I felt like I died too. Without her, I had no idea who I was. I shut down parts of my life because I felt like I didn’t deserve to be happy, just like she didn’t deserve to die. The grief consumed me, and though I didn’t want to carry it, I also couldn’t seem to give it up. I felt like my grief was the last act of love I was giving her.

I wanted to be free from the pain. I wanted to let it go without letting her go. So I saw a therapist and a psychologist, but nothing was helping. I kept reading my Bible, and nothing clicked. Until one day . . .

I read a verse that I’d read a million times before, usually in the King James Version, but on this day I read it in the New Living Translation. It was Isaiah 57:1-2:

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

These words hit me like a ton of bricks and gave me the breakthrough I’d been longing for. Tears started streaming down my face when the truth hit me. No, my sister didn’t deserve to die, but she did have God’s protection. He can see what we can’t, and He was keeping her safe. My sister is now resting in His peace!

Finally, I could let go of the pain, suffering, and grief—because I knew that she was in the most beautiful place and that one day we would be together again. I felt a huge weight lift from me.

God is so good and so faithful. The grief I carried after my sister’s death stopped me from fully living, and it made me sick and depressed. But there is such power in God’s Word. Praise God!

I highly encourage you to get the NLT because it is much easier to understand and less intimidating than other translations. I am forever grateful for the NLT because through it and with Christ, I have finally found freedom from my grief.

We would love to hear your NLT Story. You can share it with us here

*Photos are stock photos

We are excited for some great new releases in 2023! We’re looking forward to beautiful new covers, the addition of Filament to two of our most beloved Bible brands, and a colorful update to one of our favorite Bibles! Here is a quick list of some of the new items you’ll see this winter and spring as well as a sneak peek at an exciting update coming this summer.

Student Life Application Study Bible

We are beyond excited for the release of the full-color Student Life Application Study Bible! In addition to the thousands of notes and study resources in this Bible, readers will have access to the full suite of content in the Filament Bible app just by scanning the page numbers with their phones or tablets. This robust study Bible has an invigorating full-color interior design and will give you access to over 27,000 study resources in the physical Bible and the app. It will be available in softcover, hardcover, charcoal gray LeatherLike, and teal blue LeatherLike.

Inspire Bible Collection

We have a lot of Inspire news!

Filament is being added to our Inspire Bible collection! We often receive requests for a coloring study Bible that still has lots of journaling space. Filament gives our Inspire Bible fans access to all the study resources without taking up any journaling space!

This spring we are releasing a Filament-enabled version of the original bestselling Inspire Bible. It will have all the great Scripture line art and journaling space—we’ve just added the small Filament icon next to the page numbers so readers can scan them with their phones or tablets for access to the thousands of study and devotional resources provided through the Filament Bible app!

And there’s more! A new Filament-enabled edition in this beloved Bible brand is releasing this spring! Inspire FAITH, a Filament-enabled coloring and journaling Bible, will have over 650 all-new, faith-themed Scripture illustrations attractively placed alongside the Bible text. Lightly ruled, three-inch margins and high-quality Bible paper are perfect for creative journaling. When you want to dig deeper, grab your phone or tablet and explore God’s Word with the Filament Bible app by scanning the small icon by the page numbers. Thousands of resources without limiting coloring and journaling space! Can you tell we’re excited?!

Releasing in February is the second book in our Inspire devotional series: Inspire: Knowing God. This beautifully designed coloring and journaling devotional book will strengthen your faith as you meditate on 100 devotionals drawing you into a deeper understanding of who God is and how he can transform your life.

Having completed all the New Testament books in our Inspire coloring book series, we will be releasing our first Old Testament book, Inspire: Genesis, in June. Inspire coloring books include all the cherished features of the bestselling Inspire Bible displayed beautifully in a square-trimmed coloring book edition featuring high-quality uncoated art paper that works well with all art supplies, including markers.

Filament Text Bible Collection

Releasing early 2023 are some beautiful genuine leather Bibles in our Filament text Bible collection. In the NLT Filament Thinline Reference line (8.75-point font) and the NLT Large Print Filament Thinline Reference line (10.25-point font), we are releasing gorgeous genuine leather editions in olive green and a classic brown. Genuine leather covers in olive green and navy blue will be added to our line of Personal Size Giant Print Filament Bibles (12-point font) as well.

Our NLT Filament Wide Margin Bibles are also getting genuine leather editions in brown and black in early 2023, and by this summer, Filament Wide Margin Bibles will be available in the KJV translation.

In June 2023 we will be adding compact editions to our Filament Premium Value line. These Bibles will have a 6-point font, and they will be available in black mountainscape, pink rose, and dark brown LeatherLike covers.

Immerse

Immerse: The Reading Bible in the New Living Translation is designed to help people reengage with Scripture reading. Immerse is available in a six-volume softcover series. All chapter and verse numbers are removed, and the beautiful single-column text allows the original literary genres of each book to shine through. This spring we are releasing Immerse: Luke & Acts, an easily manageable portion of the Bible with the same format as the full volumes. Use it for personal reading, or enjoy and discuss it with friends or in church communities, Bible studies, or book groups.

One Year

The One Year Bible Expressions and The One Year Chronological Bible Expressions are the coloring and journaling editions of our bestselling One Year Bibles. It’s never too late to start a one-year journey through the Bible, and these amazing new covers might just be the catalyst you need. In late spring we will be releasing a One Year Bible Expressions with a tidewater teal cover featuring a gold-foil leaf design, gold page edges, and two ribbon markers. The One Year Chronological Bible Expressions will have an imperial purple cover with a beautiful floral foil design, lattice floral page edges, and two ribbon markers.

NTV

Our Spanish NTV text Bible line is growing this spring! We will be releasing three new covers in the Santa Biblia NTV, Edición compacta, letra grande line. These compact Bibles with a readable 8.33-point font are the perfect size for taking with you wherever you go. The LeatherLike covers include a charcoal gray edition with a mountain etching, a deep brown edition with a lattice pattern, and an edition featuring a solid mint-colored upper portion with a brushed, softy colored nature pattern below.

Colorful Sneak Peek!

This summer we are releasing the third edition of the amazing Hands-On Bible for kids! This bestselling Bible helps kids not just read God’s Word but experience it with games, crafts, recipes, jokes, and more! Using experience-based learning, kids can engage all their senses to immerse themselves in the truth of Scripture. We didn’t think this Bible could get any better, but this summer, it will be available in full color! Color is just bursting off the pages of this interactive Bible. Oh—and there are all-new, super fun covers releasing this summer too (only picturing two, but have a few more coming)!

We often hear people ask, “Can I read through the whole Bible in a year?” And the answer is yes! But the length of time it takes you to read through the Bible really isn’t what’s important. What really matters is that you are spending daily, consistent time in God’s Word. For some people, having a Bible with a reading plan can help them stay on track. Having a goal of reading through the Bible in a year might be the motivation they need to push through some of the more difficult passages (yes, like Leviticus). There are lots of good reasons to read through the Bible in a year, but the most important reasons are to gain a better understanding of who God is and of his relationship with us and to experience his full story of salvation. Like any great book, it’s important to read the beginning, middle, and end (yes, even Leviticus). You don’t want to miss out.

If you think a Bible with a year-long Bible-reading plan would be helpful, we have a few ideas for you:

The One Year Bible is the #1–selling reading-plan Bible. And there are a variety of different formats and types so you can pick which one is best for you.

Daily Readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs

The traditional daily reading format includes a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs for you to read each day. This daily reading format is also available in large print and Spanish.

The One Year Pray for line of Bibles uses the traditional daily reading format and includes daily prayer prompts that focus on a specific topic to help connect your Scripture reading and prayer time. These are available in The One Year Pray for Life Bible, The One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible, and The One Year Pray for America Bible.

The One Year Bible for Women and The One Year Bible for Men also use the traditional daily reading format. Each day’s reading includes a short devotional that connects a truth from one of the daily Scripture passages to real-life issues men and women face. They can be used for personal or couples’ devotions.

The One Year Bible Expressions adds wide margins and Scripture line art to the traditional daily reading format, allowing plenty of space for notes, art, and more as you creatively interact with the Bible and read through it in a year.

Chronological Journey

If you want to go on a historical trek through the Bible in a year, the chronological reading format arranges the Bible into 365 daily readings that help you experience the Bible events in the order they actually occurred. It tells God’s story like you’d expect it to be told: from beginning to end.

The One Year Chronological Study Bible uses the chronological reading format to create a more robust experience. The Bible text is also divided into groupings by era using the innovative 14 eras timeline and includes articles and charts to establish context and connection. With study notes introducing each day’s reading and discovery questions following the reading, it allows you to read, reflect on, study, and apply God’s truth as you read through his big story.

The One Year Chronological Bible Expressions adds wide margins and Scripture line art to the chronological reading format, allowing plenty of space for notes, art, and more as you creatively interact with the Bible and read through it in a year.

More Ways to Read through the Bible

In addition to our family of One Year Bibles, there are a few more Bibles that include reading plans and can help you stay on track while reading through God’s Word.

The Daily Reader’s Bible is a unique way to read through the Bible in a year. Instead of grouping Scripture passages by date, this Bible groups them by theme. Each reading includes three passages—a selection from the stories of the Bible (the Old Testament books of Genesis through Esther and the New Testament books of Matthew through Acts); a selection from the teachings of the Bible, including the prophetic books of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel through Malachi) and the letters of the New Testament (Romans through Revelation); and a selection from the wisdom of the Bible (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations). Since this is a reading Bible, there are no chapter and verse number interruptions, and because the daily readings are numbered instead of dated, you can start reading at any time of the year and read through it at your most comfortable pace.

Immerse: The Reading Bible splits the Bible into six volumes and is specially crafted for a distraction-free reading experience, helping you dive in and get immersed in Scripture. Chapter numbers, verse numbers, and all other modern additives have been removed. Each volume includes reading plans so you can read through an individual volume in 8 or 16 weeks. Created to be read in community, it’s a great way to read the Bible with others, such as your church, Bible study, book club, or friends.

The Daily Walk Bible offers a simple daily reading plan that shows how the Bible fits together. Each day’s reading includes an overview to give you a bird’s-eye view of the day’s reading, several chapters from the Bible, an interesting fact from the day’s reading, and a short devotional to help you reflect on and apply a specific insight from the day’s reading. Every seventh day offers a pause on the journey as you are invited to Look Back over the readings from the previous week, Look Up to God, and Look Ahead to the reading to come.

The DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible is a beautiful wide-margin Bible that takes you deeper into God’s Word using twelve indisputable truths about who you are in Christ, such as you are known, you are blessed, and you have a reason for hope, that highlight God’s promises and devotion to his children. Devotionals and reflections connected to these truths are scattered throughout the Bible, and each truth has a unique logo to help you visually connect the dots.

When you think of the brown paper packages tied up with string or whatever wrapping paper you use during the Christmas season, what do you hope is inside? From the practical to the sublime, Christmas wish lists can represent what’s going on in our lives. This year, the Bible team’s wish lists include some gifts with eternal significance: Bibles! Which one is on your list?

Massie: I hope to find The One Year Bible for Women under my tree this year! It is a beautiful Bible broken down into 365 readings, so I can be sure to meet my goal of reading the entire Bible in a year. It not only allows me to sit in the Word each day but also has insightful, inspirational devotional thoughts written for women. It is just what I need to fill up my spiritual cup each morning and set me on the right path for the day. I hope The One Year Bible for Men, which has devotionals written for men, is under my tree as well so that my husband and I can read the Bible together and discuss what we took from the reading each day.

Amy: I’m hoping to wake up on Christmas morning and find The One Year Chronological Study Bible under the tree. Like other One Year Bibles, it will help me read through the entire Bible in a year. This one presents the events of the Bible in chronological order, which I find really enhances my understanding of and appreciation for God’s unfolding story. On top of that, it’s both a study Bible and a devotional Bible, which is like getting two Bibles in one! And I love the way the 14 eras of the biblical story run across the bottom of every page, acting as milestones and showing which era I’m reading in so I’ll always be able to see where I’m at in relation to the rest of the story. This Bible will require a higher level of commitment than most One Year Bibles, and I’m ready for the challenge!

Jeff: I’ve fallen in love with the NLT Large Print Thinline Reference Bible, Evergreen Mountain LeatherLike. As part of the teaching team in our church’s high school ministry, I’ve found this Bible is the perfect combination of highly readable and easy to hold while speaking. In particular, I love the way the chapter numbers are called out, making it very easy to keep my place while teaching. The Smyth-sewn binding and trim size mean that this is a Bible that stays open anywhere—on a pulpit, on a music stand, or even on your lap! And Filament gives me easy access to resources that I can share to the TV from my phone, especially Bible Project videos. Finally, I love the poignant reminder on this cover: to look not to the mountains but to the Lord for help.

Claudia: I would like the NTV Inspira Bible under my tree this year. I am a huge fan of the Inspire Bible, and for many years I was longing for a Spanish edition to be published. I love the fact that this Bible is in my favorite Bible translation, so now I have the opportunity to journal while I meditate on God’s Word. I’m also a very visual person, so I’m sure I’m going to enjoy all the beautiful illustrations and also express my creativity through my own drawings. I picture this Bible being one of the treasures that I will pass on to my next generation.

Becky: This Christmas I’d love the NLT Thrive Creative Journaling Devotional Bible. This is a lay-flat journaling Bible that not only looks beautiful but also is comfortable to read and easy to hold in your hands. Its perfectly designed pages invite you to reflect and then journal your thoughts in the lined margins, which appear on every page. This Bible also features a collection of short daily devotionals that are affirming, practical, and memorable. Whatever your concern or struggle, this Bible will help you find assurance in God’s Word and encourage you to thrive every day of your life. I love being able to capture the verses that are most meaningful to me in the margins of this Bible. And there’s plenty of space to add artwork, stickers, stencils, or other ephemera, if desired.

Callie: This year, I’m wishing for the NLT Art of Life Bible. While I’m not an artist or heavy journaler, I love the wide margin design that this Bible offers and the space that it gives me for jotting down notes. I’ve thumbed through it before, and the drawings of animals, plants, and Bible character portraits are so beautiful! Plus, it has captions that connect each illustration to Scripture so I can learn interesting facts and parallels that I never would’ve known otherwise. This is a Bible that I know I will enjoy for years to come.

Jim: When you look at several Tyndale Bibles, you’ll note a lot of common elements: the written text of God’s Word (we feature the clear and accurate New Living Translation), beautiful and durable covers, a table of contents, Bible index, and other common features. But what I want for Christmas this year is an edition of the NLT Large Print Thinline Reference Bible that is equipped with the Filament Bible app and, yes, a zipper. When I previewed this Bible, I was struck by its unique qualities. It is a remarkably thin Bible—I thought at first that it was a New Testament, but it’s the whole Bible! The Large Print edition is super readable, but the type is not oversized; it’s “just right” for my eyes. I like the Messenger Stone and Camel cover—a TuTone brown cover. Although it’s LeatherLike, part of it looks and feels like cloth. Here’s why I love the zipper feature: I’ll keep this Bible in my backpack, which can be hard on books and Bibles, but having it zippered will protect the pages. Translation notes and cross-references in the lower right corner of each two-page spread help make this a nice reading Bible with just the right amount of references. There are two additional features in the back of the Bible: the “Tyndale Verse Finder,” which is organized by theme, and the fabulous “Visual Overview of the Bible,” with full-color maps and charts.

Sibley: Gift giving brings me so much JOY! For Christmas this year, I’d love to give my mom the new Inspire Bible in Spanish—la Biblia Inspira NTV. We’ve always bonded through art, and I have so many happy memories of us doing crafts together and inspiring each other to be more creative, so this is right up our alley. Bible journaling will be something completely new for both of us, so it will be a really fun experience for us to try, and it will be even better since we’ll be able to spend more time connecting with God and his Word. When I first saw the Inspire Bibles and portions in the New Living Translation, I fell in love with the artwork and cover designs. And even though I also love the NLT, I’m so glad that it’s available in Spanish now in the Nueva Traducción Viviente. It will make reading and understanding the Bible much easier because it’s in our native language.

Evie: I absolutely love the DaySpring Filament Bible Signature Collection’s Personal Size Giant Print Bible. I don’t even need a font size that big, but I just can’t get enough of that cover. I would love to see it under my Christmas tree. In addition to having a gorgeous cover, it contains the words of God speaking to me through the New Living Translation and access to thousands of resources available through the Filament Bible app, making this such a perfect gift. I can delve into Scripture and just read without distractions, basking in God’s truth. Then, I can go back to places where I have questions or want to know more, scan the page number with my phone, and do a deep dive into what I am reading with resources available in the Filament app.

We have so many great Bibles and Bible portions releasing this fall! Fall is a great time to start a fresh Bible reading routine, and these Bibles offer so many different ways to engage with the Bible at your own pace and in your own style. We’re also giving you a first look at an exciting new release coming in early 2023.

The One Year Chronological Study Bible tells God’s story as you’d expect a story to be told: from beginning to end. From Creation to eternity. In the order the action took place. The engaging text of the New Living Translation is broken into 365 daily readings. Each reading includes a daily introduction and concludes with reflective discovery questions. Its easy-to-follow, 14-era format will guide you through the expansive timeline of the Bible, show you the unfolding of God’s work among His people, and help you discover your place in God’s grand story. Purchase here

The One Year Bible for Men was created by the same team who brought you the #1–selling Bible for men, the Every Man’s Bible. Each day’s reading includes a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs, as well as a short devotional connecting Scripture to men’s lives. Preorder here

The One Year Bible for Women brings God’s Word into real-life issues women face. Combining the beloved One Year Bible reading plan with short devotionals, this Bible allows Scripture to speak right into the lives of women. Preorder here

Filament Journals are the newest addition to the Filament Bible Collection. Consisting of a single book or a small grouping of books from the New Testament, they are small but mighty! Pages alternate between a page of single-column Bible text and an open page for note-taking, journaling, asking questions, writing prayers, and more. Scan the icon at the top of the page to open the Filament Bible app, providing you with study notes, devotionals, videos, maps, and other resources curated for the page you are reading and journaling about. Perfect for Bible studies or sermon series. See all the journals

The DaySpring Filament Signature Collection has been created in partnership with our friends at DaySpring. This limited series is available in five Filament formats: Thinline Reference, Thinline Reference Large Print, Personal Size Giant Print, Wide Margin, and Super Giant Print. In addition to the gorgeous covers and the transformative text of the New Living Translation, they include a specially designed reading plan in the front of each Bible. They also offer access to the resources on the Filament Bible app, including 100 exclusive devotionals. See the DaySpring Filament Signature Collection

Two new Every Man’s Bible covers will be releasing this fall. A green LeatherLike with an east–west grey stripe will be joining the full size line. A basketball brown with stitching will be added to the Large Print line. This is perfect for the sports fan in your life, as the texture makes holding this Bible feel just like holding a basketball. Designed to help every man develop a fuller, richer relationship with Jesus by understanding what the Scriptures have to say about the challenges men face, Every Man’s Bible is the bestselling men’s study Bible. See all the Every Man’s Bibles

Inspire Worship is not a Bible—it’s a creative music- and art-themed devotional book designed to complement the bestselling Inspire Bible. Let this beautifully designed collection, which features 125 line-art illustrations, strengthen your faith as you meditate on 100 devotionals inspired by the world’s most celebrated songs of the Christian faith. Preorder here

Inspire: 1 Timothy—Revelation is the final Inspire New Testament Scripture portion coloring book. It includes all the cherished features from the Inspire Bible displayed in a square-trimmed edition, featuring high-quality art paper that works well with all art supplies. Readers will enjoy coloring and creative art-journaling through the full books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, and Revelation. Each book is displayed beautifully in a single-column, wide-margin, spacious layout. Preorder here

Psalms 42–89: A Christian Union Bible Study is more exegetically focused and academic than most devotionals, yet more accessible and application oriented than a commentary. Each volume in the Christian Union Bible Study series draws from the best biblical scholarship available, presenting it in an accessible and concise format. This series is perfect for people who want to grow in their faith through in-depth studies of Scripture that supplement their regular Bible reading. Preorder here

The NKJV Life Application Study Bible has just been released in the third edition. It has been thoroughly updated and expanded, offering even more relevant insights for applying God’s Word to everyday life in today’s world. With a fresh, two-color interior design and meaningfully updated study notes and features, this Bible will help you understand God’s Word better than ever. Preorder here

Our Spanish sister translation, Nueva Traducción Viviente (NTV), has some great Bibles releasing this fall as well.

The Edición zíper letra grande con referencias [Large Print Zipper Edition with References] includes book introductions, extensive center-column cross-references, the NTV word-study system with a dictionary and index of Hebrew and Greek terms, a concordance, and three full-color maps. This large-print edition shows the words of Christ in red and includes a presentation page as well as a zipper closure all the way around the cover. Purchase here

The NTV Edición de referencia ultrafina, letra grande [Slimline Reference Edition, Large Print] has been a very popular Bible for many years. It offers a comfortable reading experience for those who prefer large print. Deluxe features include book introductions, a center-column cross-reference and word-study system with a dictionary and index of Hebrew and Greek terms, a concordance, full-color maps, the words of Christ in red, a ribbon marker, gilded page edges, and a presentation page. Purchase here

Biblia Inspira is the Spanish version of Inspire Bible, the bestselling coloring Bible in English. Developed completely new for the Spanish-speaking market, the Biblia Inspira NTV uses the text of the Nueva Traducción Viviente in a single-column, wide-margin journaling Bible with over 400 beautiful line-art illustrations to inspire creativity. Full-page and partial-page Scripture art is interspersed throughout the Bible and can be colored in to make the Bible unique, colorful, and customized. Every page has two-inch-wide margins with either Scripture line-art illustrations or lightly ruled space that can be used to write notes and reflections or to draw and create. Biblia Inspira has high-quality Bible paper with a generous 8.25 font that ensures optimal readability. Purchase here

The NTV Edición manual, letra gigante [Handy Size Edition, Giant Print] offers readers the comfort of a Bible with clear, legible, giant print text. This edition is ideal for pulpit readings and convenient for personal reading. Purchase here

The Santa Biblia, Edición ágape [Holy Bible, Agape Edition] is a beautiful text Bible that includes book introductions and basic Bible helps. This edition is printed on Bible paper with a readable font size. Purchase here

La Biblia en un año [One Year Bible] and Biblia de estudio del diario vivir [Life Application Study Bible] NTV,two of the bestselling NTV Bible brands, have had a recent update. The life-changing content remains the same, but with an updated look and feel. Updated look coming soon!

Coming in 2023

We are so excited to announce that we will be releasing the new Student Life Application Study Bible in early 2023! In addition to offering tens of thousands of notes and features, this Bible will have a full-color interior and be Filament enabled. Use your smartphone or tablet to access thousands of resources such as additional notes, inspiring devotionals, informative videos, and more. This Bible will give you access to more than 27,000 notes, 350 maps, infographics, and illustrations—and that’s just the beginning! We’ll be sharing more soon! Look Inside

Suddenly, you can go so much further with your Bible reading and study without the bulk of a traditional study Bible.

Unbounded by size, weight, or format, Bibles equipped with the Filament Bible app bring you spot-on study notes, articles, reflections, videos, interactive maps, and even worship music—all curated for the page you’re reading—when you scan the page number with your phone or tablet.

See the Filament Bible Collection

According to the American Bible Society’s most recent “State of the Bible” report, the number of people disengaged with the Bible has seen a sharp increase. This continues the discouraging trend of people in America moving away from reading their Bibles. Why are people turning away from the Bible? How do we change this? What can bring people back to God’s Word? It’s not easy to find answers to these questions. But we are seeing hope.

Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience is helping people to reengage with Bible reading. By removing distractions like chapter and verse numbers, the Bible is put back into its narrative form. Readers can experience the Bible like the original audiences would have experienced it—as a collection of letters, poems, stories, and more that tell God’s beautiful story of love for the world he created.

Though the Bible engagement numbers can seem daunting, the individual stories of people reading Immerse and growing as communities of believers brings a spark of hope. A spark that can quickly spread as God transforms individuals and communities who are finding their place in God’s story.

Read Their Stories:

“I didn’t grow up in a church home. As a result, I’d never really had the time or energy to read the Bible on my own. It was very intimidating. What Immerse did for me was to make it accessible in so many ways. Short readings that were understandable stories. Any time I’ve been exposed to the Bible, it seems that it’s all these random verses that made sense in small bits, but it was hard to understand why. I’d heard names of people in the Bible but didn’t understand their part in God’s plan. Immerse was in modern language that literally immersed me in the stories of the Bible, which gave me a new perspective on all the people that I’ve learned about. Each week during our study, we would review the four questions included with the readings. I also was able to get to really know the women that I was studying with. I felt as if we were discipling each other, which I feel was Jesus’ intent. I would highly recommend this style of reading to anyone who wants to give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!”

“I worked through a few of the books with groups of guys at church. Six of us went through Messiah, and even though we all had read the NT before, using Immerse made it fresh. One guy remarked, ‘It’s like reading a play.’ We all enjoyed it so much and wanted to bring other guys in. So we split our group into three groups and invited other men to be a part of it as we went through more Immerse studies. Even reading the laws (in Beginnings) was exciting—way more than it had ever been for us!”

“My church has made it a yearly commitment to read one of the Immerse books in the fall. The first year we went through Messiah, and I was instantly hooked. I theoretically knew of the Bible as a story, but I had never experienced it in that way. Suddenly, people like Peter, John, and Paul all came to life for me. I started seeing them as fully fleshed-out people that grew and changed as the story progressed. This new insight was amazing, but it pales in comparison to what happened next. I was working at my church office, and I overheard two of our members talking. Normally I wouldn’t have even noticed, really, but their conversation caught my attention because I realized they were talking about that week’s Immerse reading, and just like me, they were starting to understand Paul as a more full person. All three of us, separately, sat down to read the Bible in a new way, and all three of us had encountered people like us in the story. That encounter built us up; we now understood our biblical heroes as humans, not unattainable symbols. More importantly, it also brought us together because we experienced this revelation as a community.”

“I would have called myself a Christian at any point in my life, but it wasn’t my faith, it was my parents’ faith. In sixth grade, I decided to make my faith my own. Acting on this, I thought it was time to read the entire Bible, but I didn’t know how to begin. In the past, I set out to read Matthew, but I couldn’t even finish that. Reading the Bible seemed unachievable. Then I found Immerse. The same stories are just formatted a little differently. You feel as if you are reading a novel. You can look at the bigger picture and not just the individual stories. Without the chapters and verses as distractions, I made it through the Bible in just over a year. Fast forward to now, I am in tenth grade. I am reading the New Testament again. I am reading with Immerse and annotating. Reading your Bible directly or reading with Immerse will provide the same information, but Immerse provides an easy way to look at the big picture and see the Bible as the unfolding story in which we all fit.”

Order Immerse: The Reading Bible

*Photos are not of the people who shared their story

Despite having access to more Bibles than ever before, Bible reading and engagement are in freefall. What can we do? Glenn Paauw and Paul Caminiti from the Institute for Bible Reading have done extensive research to try to answer that question and find ways to change the trajectory of Bible reading. It was from this quest that Immerse: The Reading Experience was birthed. It is a simple yet revolutionary way to reengage with the Bible as individuals and in community.

Watch the Immerse Story:

by Stephen Arterburn, teaching pastor at Northview Church, Carmel, Indiana; founder and chairman of New Life Ministries; editor, Every Man’s Bible; and coeditor, The Life Recovery Bible

Is there anything that has not been written about biblical manhood? Books, articles, and videos abound with calls for men to demonstrate character, integrity, authenticity, and especially “servant leadership.” In an attempt to not write what has already been written over and over again, I present the following ideas.

First, the term servant leadership is an inaccurate and inadequate description of Paul’s instructions to men in the fifth chapter of Ephesians. A “servant leader” stoops to serve only when he chooses to do so; it is a very tidy role with a narrow focus on serving others. Yet it is already obvious to most Christian men that they need to avoid misinterpreting Scripture as a call to biblical demandhood instead of manhood. They understand that Paul’s words set a standard far beyond that of servant leadership.

Biblical manhood calls us to “Die to Yourself Leadership,” and it is not easy or tidy, which is perhaps why it is not taught in leadership seminars. It is not about coming in from a day of golf and helping with the dishes after dinner. The biblical mandate calls for sacrificing being the fourth man in the foursome outing whenever the family needs us to be present with them.

It is not just being willing to pay for a child to get Christian counseling; it is also getting help for ourselves so we can lead the way by modeling the humility and willingness required to obtain help.

Biblical manhood goes beyond playing catch with the kids and showing up for their games. It is showing up and supporting a son who would rather rock climb, bowl, dance, or sing because he doesn’t like contact sports.

Being a provider and protecting the family are important, but being present is a far greater priority. When we are with them, we need to be fully there, engaged and connected, rather than glued to a television screen, laptop, or cell phone. We need to be eyeball-to-eyeball with family members, downloading love to them.

“Die to Yourself Leadership” refuses to be a donor to the fatherless generation. Even when we’re tempted to abandon our families and let our kids be raised by their mother, we don’t follow through with it. We stay and work through the problems to prevent all sorts of new problems and traumas that come with divorce.

Biblical manhood requires us to do what we don’t want to do exactly at the time we don’t want to do it. We courageously do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, no matter the consequences—because it is the right thing for any man to do. All our actions are based on the truths of the Bible—not popular philosophy, current culture, or feelings that would keep us from going beyond being just a man to being God’s man, daily dying to self.

Read an excerpt from the Every Man’s Bible

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20, NLT

Article from the Every Man’s Bible

Ever since God gave the Ten Commandments, some have been tempted to think he enjoys making people miserable and taking away their happiness by denying them earthly pleasures.

The truth is, God wants to give us something much better. But in order for us to receive it, we need to clear some room in our lives. Often, that means getting rid of sins or bad habits that are using up the space God wants to claim. Instead of filling our lives with sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and obscene stories (Ephesians 5:3-4), God wants us to be full of thankfulness. Instead of drunkenness (5:18), God wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Suppose you’re walking along the beach and find an old treasure chest. But when you pry it open, it’s full of sand, not gold coins. Now suppose someone else comes along and offers to give you as much gold as you can fit into the chest. Sounds great, right? Except for one problem: The chest is already full. In order to accept the gold, you’d have to dump out the sand. You’d need to make as much room as possible for the more valuable treasure. Unless you get rid of the sand, the chest will never hold anything of value.

The same goes for the sins in our lives—the sand in the treasure chest. They may provide temporary pleasure, but they won’t deliver lasting fulfillment. Sexual promiscuity may provide an immediate thrill, but the long-term results are catastrophic—it will never provide real happiness. On the other hand, true love for another person and for God can fill us up to overflowing. Drunkenness provides a temporary giddiness or forgetfulness, but it’s nothing like the true peace and joy that come from knowing and loving God.

It’s our choice. We can fill up our lives with whatever silly or sinful things we choose, or we can let God fill us up with the things that will bring ultimate fulfillment.

Learn more about the Every Man’s Bible