Alpha Teach Yourself the Bible in 24 Hours

by W. Terry Whalin

Book Overview

Learning the Bible can be a daunting task, and for those new to Christianity or those seeking to expand their understanding, figuring out where to start can be difficult. Written in chronological order, this title moves from the Creation, through to Jesus the Messiah.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028643895
• ISBN13: 9780028643892
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Alpha Books
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 1.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Exciting Tool for Understanding & Applying the Bible

How much do you know about the Bible? Is your knowledge of this all-time bestselling guide to the Christian faith limited to random verses pulled out of a hazy memory in times of need? Here's an invaluable reference book by prolific author W. Terry Whalin, whose experience includes service as a former Wycliffe Bible translator and associate editor at Decision, the publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Whether you're a brand-new Christian or a seasoned believer who's interested in brushing up on Sunday school lessons you learned decades ago, Alpha Teach Yourself the Bible in 24 Hours provides effective steps that will guide you toward a fresh familiarity with the Bible.The success of this book lies in its unique approach to learning, one hour at a time. Whalin begins with a thorough introduction of the authors and organization of the various books; how Bible translations differ, and which study tools are most helpful. Discover the beauty of Creation, the birth of the nation of Israel, and more, as the author leads you through four distinct divisions:"The Kings and the Prophets""The Old Testament Wisdom Books""Meet Jesus Christ""The Church is Born and Letters from the Apostle Paul"Any good study involves a time of personal thought and application. Alpha Teach Yourself The Bible in 24 Hours delivers both! At the close of each hour, W. Terry Whalin has included an "Hour's Up!" section, with ten questions to deepen the focus of that lesson. According to the author, "The Bible is more than a series of good stories or practical advice; it's a book that provides people with personal applications for everyday life." He realizes how busy our lives have become, and has purposefully planned this guidebook to work around manageable blocks of time. Whalin believes Bible study can be "easy and fun," and has added fascinating sidebars to enrich the takeaway value: Cultural Fact, Historical Fact, and Just a Minute (tips, biblical insight, and advice).Readers are immersed into the lives of people like David, "a man after God's own heart;" Moses, "prince, shepherd, and leader;" and Queen Esther of Persia. Discover why the Psalms were written for singing, and what the word blessed means in Greek. Explore what it means to become a follower of Jesus, and why Jesus often taught in parables. Learn how the early Church began, and what it meant in the lives of those very first Christians.Alpha Teach Yourself The Bible in 24 Hours proves that Bible study does not have to be laborious or dry. It eliminates any preconceived notions by presenting "faithful and flawed men and women who followed God" in a manner that's unstilted and easy to grasp. Readers come away with a realization that God has a plan and a purpose for his world, and a deep personal love for each of us.Think you're too busy to dig deeper? W. Terry Whalin will change your mind.

A reader-friendly guide to the Bible.

I was very pleased to discover Mr. Whalin's new book. I now have a reader-friendly companion to my daily Bible reading. By paraphrasing and summarizing; and with the inclusion of historical and archeologicial tidbits, the author has made the books of the Bible understandable and interesting. The stories within are NOT just long lists of names and mysterious prophecies--they present history in a manner that keeps me turning pages. Highly recommended as a study aide or reading as literature.

Basic Training

As a young Christian in the 1970s, I immersed myself in another Bible overview book, Henrietta Mear's "What the Bible Is All About." It helped me at that point in my spiritual journey, but I'm glad another overview is out to help new Christians or to re-orient older believers who just never got serious about Bible study. Whalin has done a fine job of explaining important Bible doctrines and summarizing the contents of the Bible books. I noticed a few books missing (Ruth, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Titus and Jude), presumably because Whalin had to keep to the promise of getting the reader through the Bible in 24 one-hour study sessions. But for covering the "basics," and hopefully helping believers approach deeper study with more confidence, "Alpha Teach Yourself" is a worthy addition to the discipling shelf.

A Perfect Way to Learn the Bible

I've had a Bible for years but didn't have a clue about most of the pages and especially the Old Testament--until I found this book in my local bookstore. In 24 one-hour lessons, I began to get a solid overview of the entire book.I lead a regular Bible study in my home and next year I'm recommending our group use this Teach Yourself the Bible in 24 Hours book to get the Bible's big picture. In particular, I liked the "Hour's Up" section of each chapter where I was able to apply the information to my every day life. What a wonderful book! Thank you, Terry.

Solid Overview of the Bible

I've been going to church for years but I've not known much about the details of the Bible--particularly the Old Testament. I picked up Terry's book and step by step, I've been learning about the main people and events of the Bible. The writing is easy to read and the format is ideal for studying the Bible in little chunks of time. I've not made it through the entire book but I highly recommend this book. It's great.