Finally, a devotional guide that paints the big picture of Gods redemptive story. 90 Days Thru the Bible masterfully covers the biblical account from beginning to end in a way that not only enlightens the reader but also connects Gods story with the work Hes doing right now, in and through us. This book is high-octane nourishment for Christians at all levels of spiritual maturity.
MEL SVENDSEN
Lead pastor, Riverview Church, Bonsall, CA
If you want to read the story of the Bible, do not miss 90 Days Thru the Bible. It takes the story of the Bible, which many people have learned through Walk Thru the Bibles live eventsWalk Thru the Old Testament or Walk Thru the New Testamentand puts it into an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand story... a simple narrative that will lead you through the major people, places, and events in a way that will capture your imagination in fresh and creative ways. In an age of biblical illiteracy, what an awesome way to see and remember the greatest story of all time.
STEVE KEYES
Pastor
90 Days Thru the Bible is a beautifully written devotional that provides a powerful and penetrating journey through Gods Word that enables the reader to draw from the depths of Scripture for encouragement, strength, and wisdom for life application.
LT. COL. KENNETH W. MAYNOR
Territorial secretary for program, The Salvation Army
Many have said, You cant see the forest for the trees. When it comes to grasping Gods message to us in the Bible, its important to see both the forest and the trees! 90 Days Thru the Bible helps us do just that. The writing gives us a clear picture of the overall message of the Bible and helps us see the particular truths of the Christian faith. Get this book!
KEITH MOORE
Senior pastor, Dogwood Church, Tyrone, GA
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90 Days Thru the Bible: A Devotional Journey from Walk Thru the Bible
Copyright 2012 by Walk Thru the Bible, Inc. All rights reserved.
Cover tree illustration copyright Bettmann/Corbis. All rights reserved.
Cover leaf illustration copyright Catherine Lane/iStockphoto. All rights reserved.
Designed by Jacqueline L. Nuez
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tiegreen, Chris.
90 days thru the Bible : a devotional journey from Walk thru the Bible / Chris Tiegreen.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4143-5309-8 (sc)
1. BibleMeditations. I. Title.
BS491.5.T54 2012
242.5dc23 2012015842
Build: 2012-07-26 11:16:59
To John Fretz, Sandy Eidson, and Maggie Eldridgewith sincere gratitude for shepherding Walk Thru the Bibles live events for almost three decades. Because of your tireless efforts, more than two million people have a better understanding of the big picture of Gods Word.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
JEREMIAH 29:11, NIV
Introduction
One might think that the bestselling book of all time would be one of the most understood books of all time, but it isnt. Though many people have found inspiration in the pages of the Bible, far fewer have actually read it from beginning to end. Many have believed the overall message of the Bible, but few have grasped the entire story. Thats because Gods message is simple enough for a child to embrace, yet His epic story is complex enough to mystify even the most curious intellect. We grasp the pieces much more easily than we comprehend the whole.
Many people can recite the basic message of the BibleGod created a good world, human beings sinned and fell, and God eventually sent a solution in the form of His Son, who was offered as a sacrifice for sin and will one day return to ruleand many have learned important life principles from the lives of prominent biblical charactersfaith from the life of Abraham, courage from the conflict between David and Goliath, compassion from the story of the Good Samaritan, forgiveness from the parable of the Prodigal Son. Meanwhile, huge portions of the Law and the Prophetsand even a few New Testament lettersremain largely untouched. Between the basic message and some of the well-known stories, deep, dark sections of Scripture remain obscure. The pages of many Bibles are ruffled in predictable spots and pristine in equally predictable spots.
Its entirely possible, then, for us to be well versed in certain specifics and yet ignorant of major themes. We may know key doctrines of our faithespecially those favored by our particular denomination or historical traditionand miss the heart of God. That in itself is a biblical phenomenon. Entire generations of Gods people in Scripture became experts in their sacred writings but didnt recognize Gods voice as spoken through the prophets; many missed the Messiah Himself because they studied Scripture through a certain lens and failed to comprehend the heart of it. We dont want to do that. We cant afford to proclaim the certainty of Gods Word while remaining ignorant of huge sections of it. Our voices carry no weight when we declare that the God of the universe has revealed Himself in the Bible and simultaneously admit that we havent actually read all of it. We far too often tend to ascribe glory to Gods Word and then never get around to exploring it fully for ourselves.
This ninety-day devotional wont explore the Bible fully, of course; its impossible to be that thorough in short daily readings. Rather, the purpose of this book is to draw the major themes out of each book of Scripture and to meditate on how each one contributes to Gods great story. At one level, its an overview, but its designed to go much deeper than thatmore like admiring the beauty of each piece of a puzzle and contemplating how it contributes to the whole picture. In the process, we will encounter the major characters, events, and themes of the Bible and discover a divine flow that connects them all. We will see how God unveiled Himself and His purposes over diverse centuries and through diverse people. The majesty of Scripture will inspire us more deeply and enhance our appreciation of the heart of God.