Provan treats 1 and 2 Kings as a unified whole nestled within its canonical context. Kings constantly presupposes knowledge of the remainder of the story of Israel and invites reflection upon itself in the light of the prophetic writings and of the New Testament. It is examined here as narrative literature with historiographical intent, designed to teach its readers about God and the Ways of God. Provan does a masterful job of drawing the reader's...

Things look bleak for Israel: Military attacks threaten from the outside while moral corruption destroys from within. But God will use three men to guide the nation through these bad times into the next stage of His perfect plan. In this Bible study on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, you'll learn about the establishment of monarchy in Israel and the rich spiritual legacy David has left us.

The Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah provide a testimony to God's sovereignly working through people to accomplish His redemptive purposes. This Navigator Bible study covers both books in 8 lessons. Learn about faithfulness, right worship, and the need to patiently endure in the face of difficulty in Ezra. Nehemiah continues the story with an inspiring account of returning to faithfulness and doing God's work no matter what. If using in a...

The books of Leviticus and Numbers are not easy to study. For one thing, no book of the Old Testament presents a greater challenge to the modern reader than Leviticus, which requires imagination to picture the ceremonies that form the bulk of the book. But, it is important to understand the rituals in Leviticus because, first, they enshrine and teach values and ideas that a society holds most dear. Second, these values are foundational for understanding...

The 10 sessions of this Bible study on the books of Esther and Ruth bring home the truth that God has a plan for everyone. If using in a group, personal study is needed between meetings (30-45 minutes each week, including a Scripture memory verse).

The book of Proverbs contains a wealth of practical wisdom for everyday living. The 15 lessons of this Bible study on Proverbs explore the book's timeless teachings and helpful guidelines on many aspects of personal conduct, including goodness and sin, friendships and family, and life and death. Includes study aids and discussion questions. If using in a group, personal study is needed between meetings.

See What God Will Do When You Trust Him. Can trusting God change the world? Ruth and Esther, two young women who lived 600 years apart, would both say Yes. Living in dark days, ruled by oppressive regimes, their small but significant faithfulness would play a decisive role in God's bigger plan. Ruth chose to leave her family, face hardship, and trust God, without knowing what would happen to her. Esther chose to risk her life, confront the king, and...

To have a lifelong goal of becoming like Christ involves change, and change isn't always easy. But the more a person knows of God's purposes for him or her, the more that person can experience God's joy and participate in His plan. The LifeChange studies on books of the Bible promise a life-changing encounter with God's Word that can help you grow in Christlikeness. LifeChange studies help you . . .Understand the book's historical context, purpose,...

Start from the Beginning The book of Genesis is all about beginnings. God creates the heavens, the earth, plants and animals, men and women. When rebellion breaks out, God begins the task of mending His relationship with humanity and all creation. The stories that unfold in this extraordinary book grapple with some of our deepest questions: Who am I? Why are we here? Is there a God? Does He love me? To answer these questions, start from the beginning....

We want our lives to have meaning, so we try to find significance through worldly pursuits. We may even feel satisfied for a time. But when those moments fade-and they always do-the emptiness returns. As long as we view life from a human perspective, nothing really matters. That's why it's easy to relate to the author of Ecclesiastes when he declares everything to be meaningless. His journey is our journey.The book of Ecclesiastes will teach you how...