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It’s Christmas time around the world and that means the Christmas wish list is filling up fast. I know my own kids are already talking about what they want for Christmas. You may have your own wish list this year. What do you want to impact your life the most this Christmas season?
One of the best gifts you could receive this Christmas is a good set of Bible resources to help you dive deeper into God’s Word. Can I share five Bible resources with you that I recommend putting on your Christmas list?
The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible
I’ve already written about how the ESV is my go-to version when studying the Bible. What makes the Gospel different than any other message is that the Gospel has the power to transform lives, not just modify behavior. This is why I recommend the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible. It features study notes and book introductions written by over 50 outstanding pastors and Bible scholars.
Here’s what worship leader Charlie Hall shared about the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible:
“I spent years blind that the gospel story was threading through all of Scripture and the Bible came to life when I got that truth. The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible shows Jesus and the gospel everywhere, and will empower your heart for Jesus, your love for the gospel, and your ability to share it with others.”
Get your copy of the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible on Amazon.
A great set of Bible highlighters
If you’re like me, you love highlighting different sections of your Bible. It can be hard to find a good highlighter that marks your page without bleeding through to the neighboring pages. I recommend checking out this pack of Scripture highlighters on Amazon.
Praying the Bible (by Donald S. Whitney)
Does it often feel like you’re repeating the same types of prayer? The Bible is God’s Word speaking to our hearts and lives, but it’s also a tremendous book of prayers. Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney changed my life and how I read the Bible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed differently because of this book.
ESV Journaling Bible
Keeping a consistent journal is a fantastic way to enhance your devotional time. If you don’t have a journaling Bible or a journal to capture your devotions, start with the ESV Journaling Bible. I prefer the single-column edition because it allows the reader enough space to write down their thoughts next to each verse. The ESV Journaling Bible also has ruled lines to keep your notes clean and organized.
Get your copy of the ESV Journaling Bible single-column version through Amazon.
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels- edited by I. Howard Marshall, Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight
What if you could understand every term that’s used in the Bible in its original context? We can learn more from the Bible when we understand what each word means. The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels is a fantastic resource for exploring some of the biggest moments and questions throughout Jesus’ ministry. I love all the “dictionaries” in this series, but if you are going to get one, get this one.
Logos Bible Study Software
Logos is easily one of my favorite Bible Study tools. I use it nearly every day. Let me just say that if James Bond was serious about his Bible, Q would set him up with Logos, because it is one impressive tool! It is a pricey gadget if you go for the full Logos 8, but it’s worth it for those who need it. However, Logos has a FREE VERSION you can check out that is perfect for those who are using it just for their own knowledge and benefit. You’ll get insights and deeper understanding from your own Bible Study. If you need a more robust tool for study and want to pay for it, I can get you a discount! Just enter WEIDMANN8 at checkout!
Get the FREE version of Logos here.
Get the more robust options at a discount here.
Photo Companion to the Bible: The Gospels
Bible Places puts out an amazing collection of photos that highlight the Bible text verse by verse. I always enjoyed the images from Bible Places, but seeing them verse by verse as I read though the Gospels has been amazing. In addition to the Gospels, they also sell Psalms, Ruth, and some fantastic collections from Israel. I highly recommend all of them, but since I’ve had the birth of Christ in my studies lately, I’ve been really enjoying the Gospels versions.
