I jumped on the opportunity to review the Life Application Study Bible by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. because I wanted to better understand the bible, and a guide to assist me in applying what I read to my daily life. The Life Application Study Bible features life application notes, nearly 100 contributors, book introductions, profiles of bible figures, harmony of the gospels, charts and maps, cross-references, index/dictionary/concordance, Christian workers resource and expanded features.
At the beginning of the bible you have a few pages of record keeping for special occasions. I really like the family tree and special memories pages. The pages are also lined with bible verses based on the occasion. Next you have contents, list of the books of the bible, publisher’s preface to the authorized King James Version Tyndale Paragraphed edition and Epistle dedicatory for the authorized King James Version. A chronology of bible events and world events starts before the book of Genesis.
Within the chronology of bible events there are explanations of the features to help you understand how to use the Life Application Bible. You also get an in-depth definition of what “Application†is. Life Application Study Bible shares… “Application begins by knowing and understanding God’s word and its timeless truths. A good application focuses on truth of God’s word, shows the reader what to do about what is being read, and motivate the reader to respond to what God is teaching.â€
One of my favorite Books of the Bible is Psalms. That’s where I decided to dive into the Life Application Study Bible. I really liked the outline available to me to give me an overview of the purpose of the passage, author, time, setting and key verse. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise Ye the LORD.†Psalms 150:6 I also have a blueprint that breaks down the five books of psalms, verses and explains it in a contemporary way so it is easily understood.
It was easy to read the verses and then refer to the blueprint and references to further break it down. You even have a definition guide to give you the meaning of words or quotes you may not know or understand. I found it valuable when reading the verses if I became stumped on something. I have a notebook to take notes along with a highlighter to mark anything I’d like to stand out and remember. You even have a section that will give you reasons to read a certain book in the Bible and verse.
There is a 365-Day reading plan that will lead you from Genesis to Revelations in just a year. I’m going to try this reading plan. I’ll admit a few years ago, I attempted to read the Bible from start to finish and I didn’t complete it. I can’t even tell you where I stopped reading but, I’m excited to try it again with this reading plan. I like that it offers a complete view scripture and isn’t overwhelming. It cuts out some material that is mentioned more than once and gives you a streamlined look at the entire bible.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that I would recommend the Life Application Study Bible to anyone who is looking for a good bible study resource. It’s great to take to church service with you and follow along with your Pastor. If you are struggling with how to apply what you’re reading in the Bible to your daily life, then this book is for you. This is a King James Version and it’s available in other versions as well. Visit the Christian Book website for more information and to get your copy.