The Bible is so confusing to me. I just don’t see how it all fits together.
Our small group never knows what to do next. We want the continuity of a series that we are familiar with, but also want new topics that relate to our lives.
How can I help my children develop good Bible study habits?
I'm concerned about all the TV my kids watch; what makes children learn to love reading?
How do I study the Bible?
Are there any sources I should be reading while studying the Bible?
What's out there for reference sources?
Where can I find the best selection of Bibles, reference resources, and software?
I'm taking first year Greek with your book Basics of Biblical Greek. Does Zondervan have other resources that can help me learn Greek?
I need to write a research paper for my religion class. Does Zondervan have a resource to help me write my papers?
The Bible is so confusing to me. I just don’t see how it all fits together.
The Bible often seems foreign to us because our culture, language, and traditions are quite different from the ancient near-eastern culture in which it is set. But, with guides like the Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, a 21st-century seeker can take a tour of the Holy Land without ever leaving their home. This handbook gives a broad overview of the Bible and shows how it all fits together, and it highlights the wonderful beauty and culture of that distant land through hundreds of four-color photos.
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Our small group never knows what to do next. We want the continuity of a series that we are familiar with, but also want new topics that relate to our lives.
"What next?" is the most asked question in small group ministry. What you want is a series that grows with you as your group grows. The Interactions series consists of 20 topics that touch every person’s life. The beauty of this series is that you can grow with it; the format will become a familiar friend which makes discussion easier, and the variety of topics is ready to meet the current needs of your group.
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How can I help my children develop good Bible study habits?
First, you can show them you’re interested in the Bible by studying it yourself—and with them. Kids learn by example and will "catch" the values you live out. Next, make sure they have an age-appropriate Bible that will engage them wherever they’re at in life. There are story Bibles for the tiniest folks, in interesting shapes and sizes, with colorful art that will practically reach out and grab preschoolers! And there are literally hundreds of Bibles specifically geared toward young readers, 8-10 year-olds, and preteens.
Another approach is to help them engage the Bible a little at a time by way of kids' devotionals. Popular formats include a verse for the day with a bit of teaching, thought-provoking questions, and side-notes that make the verse come alive through humor, real-life application, and examples from the lives of other kids. Most of all, don’t give up! Your kids need spiritual input—and who better to get it from than you?!
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I'm concerned about all the TV my kids watch; what makes children learn to love reading?
A number of years ago, a government study was done on how to grow early readers. After a ton of money was spent on the study, the conclusion was something most of us know innately.
It was not early reading programs or private preschool that were most effective. The best training consisted of parents who held their kids on their laps and simply read to them. The combination of a parent's arms around them, mom or dad's words in their ears, and the shared experience of a book is the ultimate "scientific" approach to growing kids who will read.
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How do I study the Bible?
A. Zondervan's Online Guide to Bible Reference Works & Software provides a wealth of information to help you get started. You'll also find help Bible study guides and other resources in our Curriculum section.
When determining how to study the Bible, first consider a few basics. What are your (or your study group’s) needs for the study? What are the goals for the study? Keep those ideas in mind as you start searching through the options. After a series piques your interest, look at a specific book in the series. Try reading the sample text from the book.
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Are there any sources I should be reading while studying the Bible?
Other reference books can help you understand the Bible.
There are hundreds of Bible reference books to choose from. Here's a simple way to select the books and software that will best support your personal study. Your library should be comprised of five types of books that meet your three basic needs:
1. For an OVERVIEW of the Bible, get a Bible Handbook or Bible Companion.
2. To FIND something in the Bible, get a Bible Concordance and a Topical Bible or search topics and verses via the online Zondervan Bible Search at www.ZondervanBibleSearch.com
3. To UNDERSTAND something in the Bible, get a Bible Dictionary and a Bible Commentary.
Each of these reference books should be directly connected with your preferred Bible translation. For example, if you read the NIV Bible translation, your reference books and software should be keyed to the NIV. Please check out our Online Guide to Bible Reference Works & Software to find out more.
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What's out there for reference sources?
The five types of Bible reference books.
A Bible Handbook is a companion to Bible reading. It's arranged in the order of the books of the Bible. It provides background before you read through a Bible book, offers commentary and illustrations as you read, and presents topical and historical notes to expand your understanding.
A Concordance lists common words found in the Bible and shows the places they occur. For example, under the entry "faith" you'd find the locations in the Bible where the word "faith" is used. A Concordance enables you to do word studies as well as locate verses you vaguely remember.
A Topical Bible includes a guide to different subjects addressed in the Bible. Under faith, it will list not only the most important verses where the word "faith" is found, but also verses that talk about faith without using the word, for example Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the LORD. . . ."
A Bible Dictionary gives more detailed information about people, places, words, and events in the Bible. You could use it to learn more about what the Bible says about children, Peter, Egypt, or miracles.
A Bible Commentary is a single or multi-volume work that explains the meaning of Bible passages.
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Where can I find the best selection of Bibles, Bible reference books, and software?
Christian bookstores specialize in all these products, and quite likely their staff will be more knowledgeable about them than most general market retailers. Bibles are available at most bookstores and at many large grocery and retail stores. Zondervan publishes a full selection of Bibles and reference books and makes them available through brick-and-mortar, as well as online, stores. Find a retailer near you >>
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I'm taking first year Greek with your book Basics of Biblical Greek. Does Zondervan have other resources that can help me learn Greek?
Learning the language of biblical Greek can be a challenge, but it is worth your effort when you are able to read and understand your Greek New Testament. Zondervan has produced a number of helpful tools to will help you learn Greek.
Basics of Biblical Greek Vocabulary Cards includes all the words in the Mounce grammar in a convenient flash card set. For your convenience, the first 320 words in the set are in the order they appear in the textbook.
The second tool is the Zondervan Get an A! Biblical Greek laminated sheets. These sheets contain the Greek alphabet along with all the paradigms you will need to know in handy four-page, three-hole punched, laminated sheets.
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I need to write a research paper for my religion class. Does Zondervan have a resource to help me write my papers?
Writing a good research paper is certainly hard work, yet worth the challenge when you receive a good grade for your efforts. To assist you, Zondervan offers the book Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology.
This book will help you select your topic, make effective use of the library, write relevant notes, organize your thoughts, and format your paper. This indispensable guide will help you write superbly crafted papers.
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