Customer Reviews

Storylines: Your Map to Understanding the Bible

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you've been listening to sermons since you were in the womb, this book might not be overly enlightening, but the authors do have a knack for refreshing conversation. If bible-reading is new to you, or if you've put off reading it for a long time, the book can be very enlightening and the refreshing tone makes it a very easy read.

The authors highlight themes throughout the bible that might be brand new concepts to some readers. For instance, in describing a parallel between Joseph and Jesus, they point out that Joseph was condemned (after that Mrs. Potiphar incident) with two criminals. To one of these, Joseph spoke life. The other, died. Similarly, while on the cross, Jesus promised life to another while another chose death.

The book is divided into 6 segments:
Jesus Storyline
Covenant Storyline
Presence Storyline
Kingdom Storyline
Salvation Storyline
Worship Storyline

These storylines reveal God's sovereign plan of salvation, foreshadowed for centuries. Parallel after parallel is shared to convince readers that our salvation wasn't an afterthought; God planned it from the beginning. He always thought we were going to be worth it.

The book also has two appendices. Appendix A shares a synopsis of the Bible in 20 pages. Appendix B helps readers learn "What, Why, and How of the Bible."

The audience makes all the difference with this book. The conversational tone will be very refreshing to those wanting to discover or renew a love for God's Word. To another audience it could also be seen as irreverent. Each chapter focuses on scripture, refers to scripture, and ends with a paperchase leading readers to explore scripture more deeply. Dotted throughout are personal anecdotes and observations that can put some readers at ease while irritating others.

In all honesty, I was in the irritated camp. Some beautiful, holy truths were shared in an almost flippant tone at times. Please understand, I'm a pentecostal gal that fully believes in freedom in worship and a very personal relationship with God. But I still felt uncomfortable with some of it. It wasn't that it went against scripture, it's just that there were times when it seemed to lack an awe of the holiness of God.

From the back of the book: "C'mon, admit it: You haven't been reading your Bible. It's so...long. Honestly, it's intimidating. What you need is an overview. Something that will pull it all together."

If you're in the irritated camp, do you see what I mean?

That said, it is a book I am excited to be able to share with young Christians. It really is a book about discovery and realizing the love story God has been writing to us all along. It's also quite educational, tackling Christian-speak in an easy-to-follow manner. If this is a new idea to you, or if you've lost your enthusiasm, I think this is an excellent book that has a lot to offer.

Storylines is a refreshing look at the Bible and the story of God's love that weaves it's way through from beginning to end. Andy and Mike explain the Bible in an overview of six stories. Their humor was fun and enjoyable and made the book feel like a relaxing conversation with friends. I appreciated the fresh look at what these six story lines mean to us here and now and how these two men use examples we can relate to in order to make it come alive in our own minds.

I would have rated this book with five stars if it hadn't been for one red flag on page 23 where it reads as if baptism plays a part in our actual salvation. It is only one sentence, but still I believe one needs to exercise discernment in reading and hence I will recommend this book but with this caution. However, the rest of the book is wonderful and gives many examples that make the Bible come to life. In fact, I also have marked several pages that grabbed my attention and helped clarify in my mind a Biblical truth.

This book is frank on matters and because of that I recommend this to only adults and older teens. While it's directness is not meant for younger readers, it will most likely help you understand the Bible in ways you have not before. Storylines is a cool glass of lemonade on a warm summer day!

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This review copy was provided courtesy of The B&B Media Group

Pretty good in terms of making the Bible clearer. I believe teens will like it.

When I heard about "Storylines", it was described as a way to make understanding the Bible easier. Well, for me anything that makes the Bible easier to read, relate to and understand is something I want to check out. So, I dove in. In the first chapter I was blown away. Mike and Andy made the Bible start to come alive with revelation knowledge that made me say, "Duh, why didn't I see that before???" The correlation between Jesus and Joseph and Jesus and Abraham and Isaac - that was just a "Wow Moment" for me. And it didn't stop there...

The book is broken up into 6 sections or storylines.

Jesus Storyline
Covenant Storyline
Presence Storyline
Kingdom Storyline
Salvation Storyline
Worship Storyline

Each Storyline traces that topic through the Bible and then wraps it up with a Storyline Paperchase which is designed to make you get your Bible out and follow it through the Scriptures yourself. Then there are a few discussion questions and you move on to the next Storyline. It is absolutely brilliant and I love the insight this book contains. I can think of a lot of people that will enjoy this book as much as me!

What I really enjoyed about "Storylines" was the very casual, layman approach to understanding the Bible that makes this both an entertaining and informative book about the major themes that are found throughout the Bible.

Filled with personal ancedotes, discussion questions at the end, a "paperchase" after each chapter that provides specific verses to further explore the biblical themes that are shared, several appendixes that provide even more in depth information from how the Bible was brought together, discussion of verse to verse studies and character studies, I was really impressed at both how informative and just really entertaining "Storylines" is.

More than just a "handbook", I particularly enjoy the personal ancedotes that the authors shared and the light conversational style that "Storylines" is written in, really just shows that there is so much to the Bible that is offered.

Although the themes are lightly touched on, this is does not take away from the reading, but instead, the authors touch on topics such as sin, and grace, and our Father's prescence to name a few that had me really glued to each page, andfinding myself surprised for a "small" book of 208 pages, that they manage to share so much about not just the "Bible itself" but each storyline that it is broken down into such as, what they called, "The Jesus Storyline", for example.

I highly recommend this refreshing and casual, but, in depth look at the Bible and find yourself looking at the Bible in not only a new way, but at the same time reminded of God's everlasting message that is found through His word.

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Mike Pilavachi and Andy Croft and their publisher for sending me a copy of "Storylines" to review for them. I have always been grateful for this generosity, and I am trying to improve at being consistent in taking the time to thank these wonderfully giving individuals in a public forum. I really appreciate your time, effort and expense in making a reviewer copy available to me.

I am absolutely smitten with Andy Croft's and Mike Pilavachi's overview of the Bible. "Storylines: Your Map To Understanding The Bible" does not claim to be a substitute for reading scripture. Rather it is intended to whet the appetite of the reader as to the subject matter of the books of scripture so that they will open their Bibles and feed on scripture for themselves. This would be a terrific individual or group study guide for all levels of student. There is some wonderful information on how to study scripture for yourself. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking discussion questions. And I absolutely loved the appendix "The Bible in 20 Pages"!

What a great book to choose for your next Bible study or organized class to help new Christians learn how to read and study the Word of God! I will recommend this book for years to come.