A Free Book-by-Book Bible Survey
The Bible: Book by Book is a free, 70+ page Bible survey designed to give you a quick introduction to every book of Scripture. Each book gets a single-page overview with background information, key themes, important passages, interesting details, and questions to help you dig deeper.
66 Books • One-Page Overviews • One Big Story
How This Resource Came About
I originally created these studies in 2011–2012 after the church I was serving experienced a devastating fire. In the months that followed, my adult Sunday School class asked if we could simply work our way through the Bible together, one book at a time.
That request became this Bible survey.
My challenge was to fit each book onto a single page. That’s difficult enough with a book like Romans or Genesis—and, strangely enough, sometimes just as challenging with a book like Obadiah or 3 John. Each page includes enough background to help you find your footing, along with themes, passages, questions, and occasional bits of trivia and humor that helped our class explore the text together.
Over the years, these pages traveled farther than I expected. They were used at Kansas Christian Church, Kemp Church of Christ, and by other churches, teachers, classes, and individuals. I’ve continued to hear from people who found them useful, which is why I decided they deserved a permanent home here.
One Important Note
A friend once told me, “If you’re going to quote me, be sure to date me.”
These studies date from 2011–2012. Since then, I’ve continued studying, teaching and preaching Scripture, completed graduate work in Bible and theology, and earned a doctorate in preaching. There are things in these pages that I would phrase differently today, conclusions I would qualify, and probably a few places where I’d simply say, “I don’t think I’d put it that way anymore.”
I considered extensively revising the material before releasing it, but ultimately decided against it. This isn’t intended to be a scholarly commentary or the last word on any biblical book. It’s a teaching resource and a starting point. I’ve preserved most of it as it was originally taught.
So keep your Bible open. Check what you read. Dig deeper. And feel perfectly free to disagree with me.
What’s Inside?
The free PDF includes:
- A one-page overview of every book of the Bible
- Background and introductory information
- Major themes and key passages
- Questions for study and discussion
- Connections between biblical books
- A page on the Intertestamental Period
- A concluding study of “The Big Picture” of Scripture
Use it for personal Bible study, Sunday School or small-group preparation, lesson planning, sermon research, or simply as a companion while reading through the Bible.
You’re also welcome to print copies for your church, class, or small group. Please see the copyright page in the PDF for complete usage permissions.
