Most Important Stories of the Bible ~ Review

The Most Important Stories of the Bible
Understanding God's Word Through the Stories It Tells
By Christopher D. Hudson
   and Stan Campbell

This book takes the reader from Genesis through Revelation touching on 75 of the most important stories that give an overview of the whole. Forty-three come from the Old Testament and thirty-two from the New Testament.

The book is broken down into six main sections Beginnings, Patriarchs, Israel's Family Becomes a Nation, Kings and Prophets, Stories of  Jesus, and Stories of the Early Church. Beginnings covers what one would expect Creation, the first sin, the flood and the Tower of Babel. The Patriarchs covers the promise God made to Abraham, the fulfillment of that promise through Issac, Esau, and Jacob and Joseph's life in Eygpt. Israel's Family Becomes a Nation begins with God speaking to Moses through the burning bush, the plagues on Eygpt, the people's journey through the desert, the taking of the Promised Land and the lives of Gideon, Samson, and Ruth and Boaz. Kings and Prophets begins with the call of Samuel, King Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Israel's captivity and then their return to Jerusalem. Stories of Jesus shares the birth of John the Baptist, the Birth of Jesus, the baptism and temptation of Jesus, Jesus's ministry and parables, and the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Stories of the Early Church opens with the Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost, the work of the disciples, Saul's conversion and ministry as Paul, and concludes with John's vision. Each section opens with a timeline of what is taking place during this Biblical period and major events of the world.

This book can be a daily reading and take approximately two and a half months to go through. Or one could do it as a weekend devotional with a reading on both Saturday and Sunday taking almost 10 months to go through. Or you could do one a week for just under 1-1/2 years. Though I'll be honest I often read more than one selection a day so I went through this book fairly quickly. 

This would make an excellent gift for a new believer who wants to quickly get a better understanding of the Bible. This would also be a good way to introduce young readers to the Bible. The book is just over 180 pages so no reading is too long so lack of time won't be a problem with this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

All Your Favorite Stories from the Bible

 . . . and Why They Matter to You!

Perhaps you've heard of the exciting adventures of David and Goliath, Noah, or Daniel in the lion's den, but you don't know the details. Or maybe you read Bible stories like these a long time ago, but you can't figure out how they fit together and what you're supposed to get out of them.

The Most Important Stories of the Bible will lay out for you the key stories in Scripture and how they flow into one big story. Each chapter is compact, easy-to-read, and includes a brief introduction to explain the historical context, plus a summary to help you understand its most important lessons for your life and faith.

There's a reason most of the Bible is made up of stories. They speak to us in a deep way, helping us internalize God's message. And in the end, understanding the stories of God's Word will help us connect more closely to Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all. 

About the Authors:

Christopher Hudson is the author of numerous books, including the Self-Guided Tour of the Bible and Navigating the Bible, and has contributed to over fifty Bible projects. Christopher is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and has been an active teacher in his church for over twenty years. He lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.

Stan Campbell holds communication degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Wheaton College. He has authored dozens of Bible-related books, primarily for youth and seeker markets, including the first three editions of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible. He and his wife, Kathy, live in the Nashville area.