Five Bible Study Guides I Point People Towards First

When it comes to studying the Bible with a group of others, have you ever felt like it can be the blind leading the blind?  Let's be honest: The Bible can at times be confusing.  And so we can benefit from guides that help steer us in the right direction.  This is where Bible study guides can play a valuable supporting role, as we dig into Scripture on our own or in groups.  

A few times a year, I'm approached by an individual or a group that is asking something like the following question: "What study guides would I recommend for people who are studying the Bible?"  I've already posted some online tools I point people towards, along with some tips for how we ought to read the Bible responsibly and faithfully on our own and books I suggest as people start building their own biblical and theological libraries.  But what about print study guides that help us get into specific books of the Bible - the question-and-answer guides that can be useful at supporting group and individual study?

Here are the five I generally recommend first:

(Click on either the picture or the name of the Bible study guide and you'll be taken to a site where you can learn a bit more.)

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Bible Study Guides produced by the Good Book Company

Excellent studies that walk you through books of the Bible passage-by-passage.  Besides being strongly biblical, the questions are thought-provoking and well crafted.  Lots of studies both in the Old Testament and New Testament.  Contributors include Tim Keller, Mark Dever, Tim Chester, Thabiti Anyabwile, and more.

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ESV "Knowing the Bible" Studies

Here's a blurb Crossway (the publisher) has put together about these guides: 

"The Knowing the Bible series is a new line of Bible studies designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word.  Each study covers one book of the Bible over 12 weeks, making practical applications and connections between the passage and the rest of Scripture. The series is edited by theologian J. I. Packer, and includes contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders. Perfect for both small groups and individuals, these gospel-centered studies will help you see and cherish the message of God’s grace on each and every page of the Bible."

You can see a short video preview of this series here.

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"Bringing the Bible to Life" Series

A study guide series connected to Zondervan's popular NIV Application Commentaries, these guides likewise are devoted to understanding the text in its original setting, bridging contexts (from biblical times to today) and contemporary application.  Contributors include Scot McKnight, Doug Moo, John Walton, Karen Jobes, and more.

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N.T. Wright's "For Everyone" Series

Yes, I know in certain areas N.T. Wright has stirred up some controversy in certain circles.  (And for what it's worth, I don't agree with 100% of everything Wright says...)  But in my experience with these guides, the controversial issues aren't dominant.  Instead, Wright's pastoral heart and his rootedness in the text of Scripture stand out clearly.

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John Stott Bible Study Guides

Even after his death, Stott remains a voice to listen to.  At once both a pastor and a scholar (though let's be careful not to force a disjunction between those two words), his study guides reflect careful attention to the Scriptures, familiarity with the lives of people, and a concern for application.

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What print study guides have you found helpful that I've not listed here?  Or, what are the qualities you look for most in a print study guide?