The Books of Moses: Guiding Word Series Book Review

The Books of Moses is the first of six in-depth Bible studies that will walk you completely through the Bible.

Though I am the author of a Bible study book and write Bible study blog posts and podcast/radio episodes, I’m not a fan of many Bible studies. My complaint is that so many so-called Bible studies involve very little study of the Bible. In addition, many involve the lowest level of study, providing merely fill-in-the-blank activities rather than offering more in-depth study. For those who want to dig deep and learn more, let me tell you about the new Guiding Word Bible studies.

Concordia Publishing House has just released The Books of Moses, the first in a six-part series that will cover the entire Bible. This first volume focuses on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the books written by Moses.

Bible Study Features

The Books of Moses is a workbook size paperback with 176 pages. At first glance, it doesn’t look like it could possibly do justice to such a vast amount of the Bible, but a lot is packed in those pages.

The welcome section introduces the layout and explains how the book is set up and the different options for study. From the introduction, you can quickly assess that this is not for someone who wants hand holding and for someone else to do the heavy lifting for them. No, this study is for those who are hungry for the Word and want to delve in and truly understand at a new level.

Like the name suggests, Guiding Word is a guide to lead you through your study. The theme of travel and a travel guide is used to enhance understanding.

Each chapter encompasses one book of the Bible. The chapters include passage summaries, open-ended questions (called Observation Points), landmarks, visual aids, pictures of the Savior to come, links between the Old and New Testaments, confusing passages, cultural or historical themes, and more questions for deeper study.

Unlike studies that are set up with daily or weekly assignments, this is designed for you to go at your own speed, taking as long as it takes to fully appreciate each passage. It also be used in a group setting, in which case, you would need to decide how long the group wants to spend on each chapter.

Bible Study Review

I’ve honestly never seen another Bible study set up like this, so I suspect some readers will find it confusing. If you’re used to fill-in-the-blank studies or need something that tells you exactly what to do, you may find Guiding Word confusing.

On the other hand, if you want to dig deep but don’t know how, this could be a game changer for you. This format could make Scripture come to life in a whole new way.

Though the book doesn’t mention this, I would think this would be a great reference book for Bible study teachers. If you’re doing another study on Genesis (or one of the other books), you could use this to find additional insight and additional layers to your studies.

Personally, I’m excited about the Guiding Word series because it challenges Christians to take ownership of their Bible study. It assumes that readers want to grow and learn rather than settling for spoon-fed simple lessons that are easily forgotten. It’s going to change the way some people approach the Bible, and that’s a great thing.