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The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John: Get to Know the Living Savior

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"John: Get to Know the Living Savior" is a Bible study of John that has 12 main lessons. It also has a short introduction and an ending summary lesson. This study can be used with small groups that meet once a week or as a personal Bible study. I really liked how the study remained God- and Scripture-focused throughout and helped me dig deeper into my reading of John. The questions invited thought and discussion, and I felt they were more effective than the questions typically found in Bible studies.

Each lesson started with a reminder to pray and with the reading of the next one or two chapters of John in your own Bible. The Bible study then asked two questions about what stood out to you in the reading. Next were eight questions that help you dig deeper into the themes found in the reading. Each of these questions was proceeded by a paragraph or two of comments or material quoted from the author's Be commentaries on John. Next were three questions reflecting on what was learned and how it mattered to your life today. The final question asked you to pick one idea from the reading to explore further in the coming week. Then you're prompted to say a prayer asking God to guide you in the areas you've noted during the study.

Overall, I was very impressed with this Bible study and would highly recommend it for small groups or as a part of your personal daily reading of the Bible.


I received this book as a review copy through B&B Media Group.

Reviewed by Debbie from ChristFocus Book Club

It's that time of year where many are starting to look for some great small group teaching material or even simple 531 Wiersbe BS John 3D coverBible studies to do with a class. Then you will want to read what David C. Cook has just recently put out.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe has given his whole life to the teaching and understanding of God's word. He has taught thousands of people who Christ is and how to best follow him. Many of us have even used his writings to teach our people about God's word. Dr. Wiersbe has gone at it again and is giving us a new Bible study, The Wiersbe Bible Study Series, that proves to be a great tool for us to develop our people spiritually.

The format is very simple, yet very intentional in helping leaders handle a small group or classroom conversation. Here are some highlights that you will find in every study.

- Specific prayer topic for each lesson
- Instructions on what needs to read
- "Getting Started" provides some basic and simple questions to get everyone talking
- "Going Deeper" section allows one to look at the theological implications of what has been read in each section. This section also incorporates some analyzation of our current world and the lives we are living
- "Looking Inward" takes the lessons you have learned and asks specific questions for your reflection.
- "Going Forward" gives one the opportunity to set a goal for next week related to what has been taught
- "Seeking Help" closes out the lesson with a chance to personally go before God

Individually this seems like a great way to learn. However, I am excited about doing this as a group study to see how they respond to it as well.

Dr. Wiersbe is the author of the :"BE" Commentary Series, a series of expositional commentaries exploring a variety of topics such as being aware of religious imposters, living a life that counts for God, and letting the world know that Jesus cares. Each of the "BE" Commentary books explores a book of the Bible, or a part of a book of the Bible, in depth, gleaning life lessons from the scriptures and passing on the wisdom of the Great Book to Biblical scholars and new Christians alike.

The Wiersbe Bible Study Series is designed to be used by individuals or small groups in conjunction with the "BE" Commentary Series. While Dr. Wiersbe does state that reading the commentaries is not a prerequisite for going through the Bible Study, the Commentary will certainly add a level of insight and understanding that I didn't find possible without the accompanying Commentaries.

If a person has memorized only one verse from the Bible, it is most likely John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The basic theme of the gospel of John is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and all who believe in Him receive eternal life. John sets out to bring people into the Light of the Lord.

The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John works toward this same goal. It correlates with the Be Alive and Be Transformed Commentaries, encouraging the reader to not only read the gospel of John or a commentary on the gospel of John, but to actually ponder and understand the gospel of John and how it applies to her life today. Each lesson in the Bible Study includes Getting Started questions, which encourage the reader to record her first thoughts and reactions to the study text, Going Deeper questions, with excerpts from the "BE" Commentaries, which challenge her to examine the original context and meaning of the verses as well as their modern application, a Looking Inward section which helps her to apply the Word to her personal situation, and a Going Forward section which leads her to identify steps you need to take in her life to grow closer to Christ.

I began this Bible Study without the corresponding "BE" Commentaries: Be Alive and Be Transformed. While the Bible Study text does include selected passages from the commentaries, I found myself frequently wanting more. In some cases, I found myself without the Biblical or historical knowledge to fully understand and intelligently respond to the Going Deeper questions. As a result, I would strongly recommend having the appropriate "BE" Commentaries on hand when starting this study.

Overall the study was well organized. It required the reader to truly contemplate, ponder, and understand the Word. It also encouraged the reader to look inside herself, sometimes in uncomfortable ways, but always with the goal of becoming closer to God by developing a better understanding of His Word and how it applies to her life. This is definitely not a quick and easy Bible study, but rather is one that will guide the reader as she reads, thinks, understands, and grows in her Biblical knowledge and faith.

I received this book from B & B Media Group in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts printed in this review are entirely my own.

Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John: Get to Know the Living Savior by Warren W. Wiersbe is another thought-provoking Bible study by a top notch author. Over the course of twelve lessons, readers are taken through the entire Gospel of John. Each chapter has excerpts from the Be books Wiersbe has written about John and lots of questions to inspire deeper thought about John. I have a love/hate relationship with these books. I hate the effort each chapter requires, but I love the depth of understanding and knowledge I gain from each one. The questions make me look closer at Jesus' relationship with his disciples, those he healed, and with his Father. This is a series I hope to eventually own in entirety because they are the best I've ever read. By the time you finish, you will never look at the book of John or the Savior it describes the same way again.

I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Warren Wiersbe and his publisher for sending me a copy of "Bible Study Series - John" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

"The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John - Get To Know The Savior" by Dr. Warren Wiersbe is a valuable tool to use in the study of the gospel of John. This guide is comprised of 12 chapters - a perfect summer study - that takes you through more than one chapter of scripture with each lesson. It contains excerpts from Dr. Warren's insightful commentaries on the gospel of John. The questions afford a deeper study and understanding of the Biblical text. They also provide a good starting point for small group discussion, and encourage a deepening of relationship with Jesus as they prompt the student to apply what they've learned. Each chapter ends with an opportunity to pray and record the prayer for future reference. I highly recommend this study as well as Dr. Wiersbe's other resources for studying scripture.

Just another bible book - How many poorly written bible study books do we need?

Read the bible - Think for yourself