Zondervan, in partnership with Walk Thru the Bible, 2012, 1,600 pp., $49.99
Bibles are ubiquitous. Most Christian, American families own one if not three. We have access to online Bibles, app Bibles, and we can read Bibles at the library. We are visual people. Covers sell books, and themes draw us into the story. The Great Rescue Bible may be the most aptly named Bible. In the past, I have been critical of different themed Bibles. I thought some were gaudy or silly. Giving a teen (or anyone) a black, pleather, generic Bible with gold letters says, “Read me—because you’ll go to hell if you don’t.” It’s no less the Word of God, but shouldn’t the greatest story ever told engage us with a powerful and truthful narrative from cover to cover?
One the cover, The Great Rescue Bible describes itself as “A Narrative Devotional Bible” and accomplishes this with the help of Walk thru The Bible. There are 365 daily devotions scattered though out the Bible and offers the reader “kingdom eyes” to the world around us. The devotions are short and laid out well and easy enough for teens or adults. If there is a piece missing from the narrative, for youth workers it would be multiple ways and ideas to present the theme to teens. Creative youth workers could take advantage of The Great Rescue Bible by developing mid-week lessons on the theme or developing a custom reading plan through the devotions the Bible offers. The Bible offers 30-day reading plans and a topic reference.
