The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching the Bible (Complete Idiot's Guide To...) [Paperback]

W. Terry Whalin (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: September 2, 2003

A unique reference for Bible-study leaders, Sunday School teachers, and others!

Readers will learn how to teach lessons for students at all levels using methods including thematic, devotional, topical, summary, character study, word study, background, book overviews, chapter, and verse-by-verse.

€ This title continues to be a top seller
€ Great reviews
€ 86% of the US population is Christian
€ Expert author known in both secular and Christian book markets
€ Also by the author, Alpha Teach Yourself the Bible in 24 Hours is a great seller € The Bible remains the top-selling book of all time

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

W. Terry Whalin has co-authored more than 55 books including The World at Your Door with a foreword by Dr. Billy Graham. Whalin has also written for over 50 publications such as Christianity Today and Decision. He is currently an acquiring editor at Cook Communications Ministries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159257064X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592570645
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,048,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

W. Terry Whalin knows and understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer and a literary agent. For five years, he was a book acquisitions editor and a former literary agent, now he's a Vice President and Publisher at Intermedia Publishing Group. He worked as a magazine editor for Decision and In Other Words magazines. His magazine articles have appeared in more than 50 Christian and general market publications plus he's written more than 60 books. His personal site is located at: www.terrywhalin.com.

A journalism graduate from Indiana University, Terry writes a wide spectrum of subjects and topics for the magazine and book marketplace--from children to teen to adult.

His latest books include Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Write Now Publications) and Running On Ice by Vonetta Flowers with Whalin (New Hope Publishers). He is an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (the leading nonfiction writers group in the nation) and an associate member of the Evangelical Press Association.

Also Terry is the creator of a popular site for writers at:
www.right-writing.com. Terry blogs about his life as a writer and editor at The Writing Life or www.thewritinglife.ws. Terry and his wife, Christine, live in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 22, 2006

By 

Doctor Louis (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching the Bible (Complete Idiot's Guide To...) (Paperback)

This book will assist people with various bible teaching appoaches or tastes; like focusing only on a single verse, or a whole chapter, or a specific topic, or a bible person, etc.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As helpful as anything..., November 12, 2004

By 

M. Baird (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching the Bible (Complete Idiot's Guide To...) (Paperback)

This book was very complete -- and would allow a reader to teach and write Bible studies, teachings -- perhaps even an entire book with authority if guidelines were followed. Very thorough!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Bible Study Tool -- Not Perfect, But What Is?, July 27, 2008

By 

Indiana Jeff Reynolds "Preacher Jeff" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching the Bible (Complete Idiot's Guide To...) (Paperback)

This is a very useful book. It gives various techniques for a person who is interested in learning how to teach Sunday School or a Bible study.

One concern I have is the person's view of Scripture. Is the Bible, all of it, given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is profitable for teaching (doctrine), reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete (or perfect), thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17; see also 2 Peter 1:21)? Whalin seems to take that approach.

One sign is when he deals with translations. Of course, there are so many translations one can't deal with them all. However, Whalin focused on the more conservative translations (KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB) and freer paraphrases (NLT, NCV, the Message), but did not mention more liberal versions like the NRSV, etc.

I have one slight caveat. It mentions putting more focus on application (how to live Scripture out) than interpretation (what did it mean to the original readers). On one hand, I loudly applaud Whalin, because the Bible is relevant and changes lives. However, the best applications follow interpretation. The method of interpretation will affect the applications.