Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Information...condescending presentation
Review: All I wanted from this book was information. I got that and unfortunately, thensome. Granted, I'm sure LaHaye's condescending tone is intended to be subliminal, but nevertheless it is there. While the book provides a compact, yet comprehensive look at the Bible and how to read and understand it, LaHaye undercuts that purpose by subtly talking down to the reader. A good example of this is the term "baby Christian" used throughout the book. Yes, I have a sense of humor and context, he may not have meant that term to be offensive. "New Christian" or "beginner" might be more appropriate. But frankly, that there is even a question about offensiveness in the mind of a reader of this book suggests that, subliminal or not, LaHaye has an agenda. And I don't want to hear the "tough love" stuff either. Thanks for the great information Tim, I'll gladly take it and use it. But keep your attitude to yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the first books a new believer should buy
Review: Although I am not a new believer, I don't think I ever really knew how to read, interpret, and apply the Bible until reading THIS book. LaHaye lays out a plan for not only reading the Bible through in 3 years, but reading it in such a way that you will cement the Word into your heart and mind. You will not only read the word, you will study it indepth by a variety of ways - chapter study, psalm study, memorization, and analysis. He explains all these things in the simplest of terms, lays out directions plainly, and even includes reproducible forms to get you started. This is a very do-able plan. LaHaye also includes very important things such as HOW to choose a Bible and literary analysis terms which are vital to true understanding. (Such as Biblical metaphors and allegories.)
I am not a Bible scholar, and I've always felt like I COULD be getting more out of my Bible readings - this book has been such a help.
If I could, I'd buy this book for everyone I know (along with a good Bible, of course!)
You will find this book easy to read, as concise as possible, and extraordinarily helpful.
Buy it as soon as you can - you WON'T be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide to focus your life on God's Word!
Review: Although this is the first title I've read by Tim LaHaye, it is obvious that his personal belief in the power of God's Word is significant to him. In a very clear, and easily read format, Tim guides the reader through diverse perspectives on how to read and study the Bible. His focus is clearly on applying the knowledge of scripture in the life of the reader. Tim presents several commitment levels of study for the reader, recognizing that individual members of his audience will be at different phases of faith maturity. Tim prescribes various approaches to reading the 66 books of the Bible, depending upon the specific interests or needs of the reader. He presents a plan to read, and learn from, the entire Bible within 3 years. This is a terrific guide for anyone who has never been taught how to read the Bible effectively. Highly recommended for anyone who is searching for a plan to guide them through personal Bible study.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful time to be a christian lover of literature!
Review: For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful time to be a christian lover of literature!
Review: For so many years, a Christian's only real option to read quality Christian literature was to read the marevelous C.S. Lewis. I feel blessed in the the last couple of years with the outpouring of quality literature now available. What's more, the different books are all very different. Left Behind is a wonderful introduction to the theology behind the End Times and a great series for all ages. We All fall down is a great book for more mature, intellegent Christians who wsnt to explore the individual ramifications of the End Times and the one on one relationship of a man who has fallen away from God. The Christ Clone Trilogy is a thrilling, Tom Clancey like look at these events, full of unexpected twists and turns. I know some people like to argue the various merits of these books as compared to each other, but I think they are all worth reading and feel lucky to finally have such a wide variety of GREAT Christian literature available.
Rating:
Summary: Full of Helpful Information for Beginning Christians.
Review: HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF is a great book to read if you have never studied the Bible, if you feel that you're not getting much out of reading the Bible, or for someone who is a new or fairly recent convert to Christianity. The book is full of useful information that if you've never heard it or put it into practice before could be of great use to one's spiritual life. It includes guides to how to read the Bible in a year, different ways of reading the Bible, how to keep a prayer journal, memorizing scripture, etc. However, a lot of the information contained within this book will prove valuable only if you are someone who is a new Christian or if you are someone who may have been a Christian for awhile, but have made a renewed dedication to Jesus. I was forced to read this book as part of training for a job I had a Christian institution. I was bored out of my mind. Everything that the author wrote were things that I had heard countless times and had been practicing of my own accord for several years. Not only that, but I was a bit taken back by the author's condescending tone. For instance, several times the author says something to the effect that 'You do not have to do things this way, but I have found over my many years of training that this way is the best way that works for almost everyone; if you don't do things this way there maybe something wrong with your spiritual life.' Not only that, but the author makes several references to other books he has written. I felt like I was reading something by the Walt Disney company trying to mass market their products through every avenue possible; the author's self-promotion just didn't seem right for a book aimed at trying to help people study the Bible. One final point of criticism, the author makes hardly any mention of prayer. In fact towards the end of the book LayHaye says, "Personally I think it is more important to read, memorize, and study the Bible than to pray, for it is more important for God to talk to us than for us to talk to Him. We certainly are not going to tell Him anything He does not know, but he Has much in His Word that He wants us to learn." The book then goes into a page explantation citing that it is important to pray and gives an example of how to pray. Out of all the other criticisms of the book--the condescending tone and the shameless self-promotion--the lack of emphasis of prayer is the most disturbing. Prayer and study of the Bible go hand in hand; you really cannot have one without the other; they are like the two feet we stand upon, cut one away and we loose our balance and fall. One of the biggest differences that separates Christianity from all other religions is that Christianity isn't about a set of rules to follow, it's about relationship; our relationship to God and in turn how that relationship affects our relationships with all other people. Prayer is one of the most vital parts of that relationship ("Pray without ceasing") and to barely mention it in a book on studying the Bible is a major mistake. Therefore, though this book is a great tool for new Christians, it won't be of much use to more mature believers. Also, keep in mind that though LaHaye hardly mentions prayer, prayer happens concurrently when studying the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: The Encouragement I Needed
Review: I am a new Christian; I was baptized in March of this year. LaHaye could have written this book just for me. One of the first stories he relates is of a new Christian sitting in church with the sermon about to begin. The pastor announces the passage that will be the subject of the sermon. The new Christian spends the next 10 minutes trying (unobtrusively) to find the passage. By the time he finds it, he's left out of the message. I cannot tell you how many times I have felt that way in church, and felt guilty because of it.
LaHaye has written a guide that I can follow to learn the Bible. I don't have to wait for the message at worship. And I don't have to merely follow along in Sunday school. And it's focused on what I need to read, not just starting at the beginning and working my way to the end. He brings order and sense to learning and studying the Bible. This is exactly what I needed to grow and mature in Christ.
Rating: 
Summary: Great help, but had some issues
Review: I found that this book was a good self-help. I have found it rather difficult to find books that can compactly help you study the bible as a whole. Although I do agree that Tim Lahaye needed to spend more time on the subject of prayer. We are commanded to pray. For those reading this review and are new Christians comtemplating buying this book, I recommend finding another book on prayer. I really liked this book and recommend it. If you do get this, just remember keep it simple in the beginning and as you get farther along, step up your studies. Also, I found that reading some passages ten times can get rather long and tiresome, but I do recommend reading it until you really can understand the meaning of those passages.
Rating:
Summary: untititled
Review: I have read many books on how to study the Bible and this is one of the best. It would be of great help to a new convert who does not know the difference between studying the Bible and reading it. This book makes studying the Bible seem like an easy task not a difficult, complicated thing that only "Bible scholars" can accomplish. I particularly like the subject analysis method described because it teaches you to find out all that the Bible says about a particular subject and not just part of it. All in all this is a great book and I would recommend anyone to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for Bible study
Review: I have read the Bible a few times before I read this book. After reading this book, I was able to fully comprehend the Word of God and sucessfully apply it to my everyday life. I would recommend this book to anyone that is hungry for the Word of God and wishes to become more spiritually mature.
|
