Exploring the Story: A Reference Companion

Well written - excellent introduction for readers who are interested in learning to read and understand the Bible and the timeline of the Bible story! I bought copies for my grandchildren.

I bought "The Story" by Randy Frazee because it looked like an interesting way to get an overview of God's story to His people. I decided it would make a great gift for friends and family and went on Amazon to order additional copies. It was then I realized it had several support materials to use as a Bible study for groups. I recently began teaching it to a group and I've had really good feedback. It tells God's story from Genesis to Revelation and helps get into areas of the Bible many people know little about, especially the Old Testament. Randy helps make that much easier by using NIV scripture to tell "God's story" but it flows like a novel. There are questions for each chapter in the back of the hardcover, 31 chapter book that are relevant and help the reader see how we can know God more today through these "old" stories and the people of the Bible. There is a particiapant's guide, a DVD at a really reasonable price, and other support materials. This reference book offers some additional information for the leader to use and also provides questions that I have used during the class discussions. Although I could easily ask the questions provided in the study guide without participants having their own book, I have found it helpful for them to read over them ahead of time. This allows people to put more thought to the questions before we discuss them. I have taught many studies and enjoy digging deep. This study is a nice change that requires a little less deep digging for the participants and as I said, gets them into areas of the Bible they might know little about.

A wonderful SUPPLEMENT to the Bible. It is NOT a replacement for the Bible, just a great supplement to learn some of the stories you may not know if you're new to the faith and get a general overview of the Bible. I also used the supplement to this book "Exploring the Story" which is not needed but did provide even more information chapter by chapter including overviews and character background. I loved it and I am passing it on today to another new Child of The Faith.

My small womens Bible Study is using The Book for our study lessons. This book, Exploring The Story, is an excellent supplement to the study. It gives background info on the people and the times they lived in. Each subject discussed gives the Bibilical reference it came from. Some chapters include a timeline. It has maps along with actual pictures of items that have been found that have been dated to that particular time in history. It also has a couple of discussion questions at the end of the chapters.I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys digging deeper into your Bible Study.

Our whole church has been doing The Story study for weeks now, and I love having this companion on my iPad. It helps having maps, chapter summary and the list of names for each week's study as we watch the videos and have discussions. It is also convenient to have all this before reading each week's chapter in the book. I often have people looking over my shoulder at the maps and lists of names as we do our weekly study. Although this information is in the back of the book, I find it more convenient when you can have it side by side as you're reading.

I was visiting my mom in another state and attended her church. They were going to be starting the 31-week The Story study. I thought it sounded great, so I got The Story. I have purchased Zondervan books previously, and double-checked to be sure they weren't the publishing arm of a church with which I disagree--they aren't, but are actually an imprint of a well-known nonreligious publisher. Relief! I noticed this on Amazon, and it was well-reviewed and the few "see inside" pages seemed informative with maps and illustrations, so I got it. WELL...be warned. In chapter 1 (corresponding to The Story's chapter 1, on the Creation story thru Noah), he briefly mentions that academics question the timetable of events (was a day one of our days or longer or what?). Great--so he'll look at that, I thought. Well, no. Instead he says the Bible's Creation story is an alternative to today's "materialistic myth of evolution" (page 13, last paragraph). Yep, he's going to be one of those that only accepts the Bible as complete truth and not man's later writings that could have errors, much less that the themes he discusses may be the reason for the Creation stories. How disappointing! This book is supposed to be a study guide for Bible study leaders, but already it alienates many who will read The Story for the chronological format. I wish that point of view had been made clearly in the title--and that other reference companions were available that are able to reconcile The Bible with evolution. My church teaches that, and it makes sense with all that science has shown us. The 2 do NOT have to be at odds. This book's going to the used book store. No doubt there are people who feel the same way as Mr. Barr, but they are sadly missing out on some beautiful connections that in no way diminish the beauty of the Bible nor people's faith in God.

I got this book used and it looked like it was practically new. It’s great. Side note it had a three dollar goodwill tag on it which made me feel kinda crappy about how much I paid but oh well 🤷‍♀️

This reference guide follows The Story chapter by chapter. It provides an overview of the chapter's contents, a list of characters and tells the Upper Story of God's actions in spite of mankind's actions of inactions. I highly recommend this companion volume to The Story.

I found this book very interesting and I understand the bible better. I have recommended it to many people who also have enjoyed it.

Nice