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Resources

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Reading the Bible

The Bible is a book for the community of faith first – not just the individual. It instructs us how to do life together and what our roles and responsibilities are as members of the community of God. It is a book of books about God and God’s people. It is what we have experienced of God over many centuries – what we have recorded about God’s activities and interactions with Israel and the ancient world. God longs to be known, and the Bible is one of the means by which God is revealed to us.

As United Methodists, we believe that the Bible is the inspired record of the people who experienced the active Word of God. In this sense, inspired does not mean that God dictated text to passive note takers; it means that God’s presence was breathed into it and God’s truth is at the central core.*

Our holy scriptures are translated into English from the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
At Hunt’s Church, we most often read from one of these three English versions:

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Published in 1989, based on the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of 1952. Dignified, formal language in the tradition of the King James Version. Uses gender-inclusive language in references to human beings. 

Common English Bible (CEB)

Published in 2011. Smooth reading in plain English. Outstanding balance between accuracy and readability. Translated by 120 translators from 24 denominations, including women for the first time in Bible translation teams. Oral field testing among congregations in 13 denominations makes the CEB especially suitable for worship use and devotional study.  

The Message (MSG)

Published in 2002. An easy-to-read, colloquial paraphrase by Maryland pastor Eugene Peterson. Develops the tone and rhythms of American English speech with creative emphasis on contemporary idioms. 

Looking for a Bible to deepen your faith journey? Here are Rev. Carissa’s top recommendations:

For Adults

  • The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible gives excellent historical information to contextualize any text. Great for the curious mind!
  • The NRSV Wesley Study Bible includes articles and teaching from John Wesley, initiator of the Methodist movement. Also available in CEB. 
  • The CEB Women’s Bible has a special article for every woman in the Bible, as well as topical commentary written by local female UMC clergy.
  • The New Interpreter’s Study Bible is the academic standard for anyone entering seminary. Well-rounded commentary on each text, with stand-alone articles on key themes.

For Youth

  • The CEB Student Bible for United Methodist Confirmation includes articles and prayers by and for young people. We gift this edition to our youth as they enter confirmation class!  
  • The Message is a fresh way to read scripture, and this edition is a compact option for the young person headed to college.
  • What is your tween or teen into? Consider finding a Bible that will speak to them. Lego fans will enjoy The Brick Bible while comic book readers will be inspired by The Action Bible.

For Children

  • The Frolic First Bible is a great board-book Bible for age 0-3.
  • The Beginner’s Bible is written and illustrated in a fast-paced and engaging style. We gift this to our preschoolers!
  • The Family Time Bible has 52 scripture stories, each presented with engaging questions and suitable prayers for adults reading with early elementary children.
  • The Peace Table is a storybook Bible with tons of resources in the back, including maps, breath prayers, and so much more. Beautifully illustrated with images of people from all over the world!

Gifts for Children

Looking for a gift to help your child (or grandchild) grow in faith? Here are Rev. Carissa’s top recommendations:

  • Sparkhouse has a wonderful “Frolic” series of faith-based board books appropriate for children ages 1-3. This is a great place to start!
  • Matthew Paul Turner picture books have inspiring and affirming language with beautiful, engaging illustrations. Start with When God Made You for a preschooler or When God Made the World for early elementary children.
  • Advent Blocks are a 25-day scripture based practice for children to learn about God as they anticipate Jesus’ birth. There is also an Easter version for observing Holy Week at home. Our pastor’s son loves these!

Gifts for Parents

It’s hard raising young disciples! Here are some tools:

Resources for Adults

Looking to learn and grow? Here are Rev. Carissa’s top recommendations:

Online:

  • To learn about the Bible, check out The Bible Project. Includes overview videos for each book of the Bible, as well as in-depth teaching in key sections!
  • For answers to all your Methodist/churchy questions, watch the Chuck Knows Church series on YouTube.
  • For transformative quotations and prayers from a Black perspective, follow Cole Arthur Riley @BlackLiturgies.

Poems & Prayers:

Book Studies:

Since 2021, our church has studied these books together:

  • Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado (October 2021)
  • Pauses for Advent by Trevor Hudson (December 2021)
  • Three Months with John by Justo Gonzalez (Lent 2022)
  • Peace is a Practice by Morgan Harper Nichols (June 2022)
  • 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth (July 2022)
  • The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas (August 2022)
  • The Lord’s Prayer by Adam Hamilton (Fall 2022)
  • Love is the Way by Michael Curry (Lent 2023)
  • Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (Summer 2023)
  • Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass (Lent 2024)

“I want to read the Bible, but where do I start?”

Here are a few options for daily scripture study:

  • The Everyday Sanctuary app (recently launched by a female UMC pastor in Upper New York!) has a guided 5 minute spiritual practice each day that includes scripture meditation, breath prayer, and journaling.
  • The Upper Room is a United Methodist daily devotional, offering a scripture and brief reflection each day. (In addition to reading online, you can pick up a paperback copy of this devotional from church. Each booklet covers 2 months of readings.)  
  • The American Bible Society publishes a daily reading guide each year, with readings and reflections posted online.
  • The Narrative Lectionary is a 4-year cycle of scripture readings that takes the reader through the scope of the scripture story from September to June, with each academic year highlighting a different gospel. These weekly readings could be stretched across each week using contemplative practices. (As of Lent 2024, Hunt’s Church is aligned with NL Year 2.)
  • The Revised Common Lectionary is a 3-year cycle of scripture readings followed by many denominations, and includes daily options. (As of Lent 2024, the global church is in Year B. However, Hunt’s Church rarely follows the RCL.)

*These paragraphs were written for Week 2 of the study, “A Disciple’s Path.”