Bible Matters - by Tim Chester (Paperback)

About the Book

Sometimes reading the Bible is a delight. But many other times it feels like hard work. Tim Chester reminds us that every time we read the Bible we don't merely learn information about God--we hear his voice and encounter his presence. Including a study guide for group use, this book helps us approach reading the Bible with an eager anticipation, expecting to hear God's voice and meet him in his Word.

Book Synopsis

The Bible is God's Word.The Bible teaches us how we should live.The Bible is something we should read every day.The Bible is something we should enjoy reading.

Most of us agree with these statements. At least in theory. But what's our reality?Sometimes reading the Bible is a delight. But if we're honest, many times reading the Bible feels like hard work and we read out of a sense of obligation. Some of us have given up entirely.

Tim Chester reminds us that every time we read the Bible we hear the voice of God. The One who spoke and brought the universe into existence, whose voice thundered from Mount Sinai, and whose words healed the sick is who speaks to us today. So as we read the Bible we don't merely learn information about God--we hear his voice and encounter his presence.Including a study guide for group use, this book helps us approach reading the Bible with an eager anticipation, expecting to hear God's voice and meet him in his Word.

Review Quotes

"I am delighted to commend Tim Chester's Bible Matters, the latest addition to the Keswick Foundations series. I've been encouraged and taught by it as I've read it. I appreciated the comprehensive yet accessible coverage, the merging of the historical, theological, personal, and applied, the turns of phrase, the clarity, and the imagery. The most striking insight for me is that the Bible is 'weird' and not the kind of book that we would write because its purpose is not simply to give information about God but to develop our relationship with God. But there are many more [such insights]. Buy, read, recommend, lend, give away!"

"In Bible Matters, Tim Chester has simply and powerfully explained the brilliance and necessity of the Bible. I was reminded and refreshed of why it is so important for the Jesus follower to be immersed in the Bible. Bible Matters is accessible for both the new Christian and the seasoned believer--it left me desiring to know God more and to be in the Scriptures daily!"

"Nonbelievers and new believers alike will find this resource valuable for personal Bible study and for fostering a deeper appreciation for the God who still speaks through his word."

"This book is a theology of the Bible as the Word of God, but in a popular format. The Bible is inspired, not dead but living, and promotes Christ from beginning to end. It's also given for a purpose, is sufficient, reliable, and accessible. Mostly, it's relational, and not just a collection of historic documents, though it's also historic, of course. . . . This book is ideal as a primer for new believers wanting to get a bigger picture of the faith, as well as a Bible study tool for small groups. Chester's study guide at the close takes readers through his key points, substantiating them with Scripture."

"Tim Chester's Bible Matters clearly explains why the Bible is not just a part of culture, since it is the record of 'The God Who Speaks.'"

About the Author

Tim Chester is a pastor of Grace Church in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and a faculty member with the Acts 29 Oak Hill Academy. He was previously research and policy director for Tearfund and tutor in missiology at Cliff College. Tim is the author of over thirty books, including The Message of Prayer, Closing the Window, Good News to the Poor, and A Meal with Jesus.