How to Eat Your Bible: A Simple Approach to Learning and Loving the Word of God
by Nate Pickowicz (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2021), 143 pp., paper $13.99.
Pastor Nate Pickowicz has written a simple guide for reading Scripture that both informs and encourages Bible study. The author claims the discovery of John MacArthur’s Bible reading plan revolutionized his own approach to the Bible (pp. 9, 31-34). Before this discovery his own biblical reading program was virtually nonexistent and, with an aversion to plans tilted toward rapidly going through the Bible in one year (p. 28), he found MacArthur’s approach inviting. Simply stated, the MacArthur plan calls for reading a book of the New Testament 30 times before moving on to the next book and repeating the same approach. Larger books, such as Matthew, could be broken down into shorter sections. Pickowicz eventually modified MacArthur’s program into what he calls the “The Seven Year Bible Plan” (pp. 123-135) which he recommends to his audience. The author states his direction on page 30:
Instead of plowing through a few verses and then speeding off to work, slow it down. Instead of laboring through the whole Bible in a year, go a little deeper. Instead of reading your Bible simply to check it off the chore list, change your mental approach—change your philosophy. Instead take a longer view of learning your Bible—two, three, five, or even seven years. Make your end goal not merely to read the Bible but to know and understand it—to love and treasure it as God’s holy, sufficient, transforming Word.
How to Eat Your Bible also offers a mini-course on hermeneutics and Bible study methods (pp. 58-96). There is nothing new in this section to those familiar with the genre, but it provides good reminders to them and valuable instruction to those unfamiliar with basic hermeneutical principles.
The volume includes study questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate small group discussion. This material is a useful, short, simple and a helpful guide to Bible study.
Pickowicz had a couple of out-of-context interpretations (pp. 44-45), was a bit confused on illumination, dipped his toe into redemptive hermeneutics (pp. 105, 134), equated the church with the kingdom (p. 107), and strangely states that “God always gives the why before commanding the what” (p. 109), which is certainly not true. But these are off-handed comments that did not derail the overall thrust of the book. Those looking for a different approach to Bible reading and/or small groups wishing to encourage “eating” of the Scripture will appreciate this volume.
Reviewed by Gary E. Gilley, Pastor-teacher at Southern View Chapel
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Reviews with images
Every believer needs this book!
I first saw this book featured in a YouTube interview with the author. By its conclusion, I wanted to get this book asap. I've attended church for over 45 years, but in the past year I have learned I didn't know how to study the Bible at all. This was why I felt so compelled to read this - learning to eat our Bibles is absolutely critical to growing in faith.It is a quick read and I devoured it in about a week. It is just so well done, I cannot stress this enough. Nate lines out every point so clearly with the Word of God that - whether brand new to the faith or a seasoned believer for decades - can be understood and applied. The flow is amazing - he ordered the subjects in a logical progression that seems natural. Each point required the point previously covered - he maintained this style throughout. Nate didn't jump ahead; in fact, he encourages to not be intimidated by the process and especially not to skip ahead but to stay the course til the book's end.This is much more than a simple Bible study plan. Nate unpacks faith, God, His Word, the importance of history and culture, and so much more! He also maintains slowing down to really grasp the text instead of checking off a box and consequently forgetting what you read. That's the whole premise. He tells you what the Bible is, where it came from, why it matters, how it was written, ties it in with tenets of the Christian faith, and he even presents the Gospel at several points. By the time I got to the end, where the plan is, he not only gives his own plan but he walks you through each part and shares his struggles, things that were helpful to him, and things he would change - and concludes with helping you make your own plan. Nate educates the reader, walks them through the entire concept, and then equips you to eat your Bible too.I highly recommend getting this book, reading it several times over, and giving a copy to everyone you know - especially new believers!
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021
I first saw this book featured in a YouTube interview with the author. By its conclusion, I wanted to get this book asap. I've attended church for over 45 years, but in the past year I have learned I didn't know how to study the Bible at all. This was why I felt so compelled to read this - learning to eat our Bibles is absolutely critical to growing in faith.
It is a quick read and I devoured it in about a week. It is just so well done, I cannot stress this enough. Nate lines out every point so clearly with the Word of God that - whether brand new to the faith or a seasoned believer for decades - can be understood and applied. The flow is amazing - he ordered the subjects in a logical progression that seems natural. Each point required the point previously covered - he maintained this style throughout. Nate didn't jump ahead; in fact, he encourages to not be intimidated by the process and especially not to skip ahead but to stay the course til the book's end.
This is much more than a simple Bible study plan. Nate unpacks faith, God, His Word, the importance of history and culture, and so much more! He also maintains slowing down to really grasp the text instead of checking off a box and consequently forgetting what you read. That's the whole premise. He tells you what the Bible is, where it came from, why it matters, how it was written, ties it in with tenets of the Christian faith, and he even presents the Gospel at several points. By the time I got to the end, where the plan is, he not only gives his own plan but he walks you through each part and shares his struggles, things that were helpful to him, and things he would change - and concludes with helping you make your own plan. Nate educates the reader, walks them through the entire concept, and then equips you to eat your Bible too.
I highly recommend getting this book, reading it several times over, and giving a copy to everyone you know - especially new believers!
It is a quick read and I devoured it in about a week. It is just so well done, I cannot stress this enough. Nate lines out every point so clearly with the Word of God that - whether brand new to the faith or a seasoned believer for decades - can be understood and applied. The flow is amazing - he ordered the subjects in a logical progression that seems natural. Each point required the point previously covered - he maintained this style throughout. Nate didn't jump ahead; in fact, he encourages to not be intimidated by the process and especially not to skip ahead but to stay the course til the book's end.
This is much more than a simple Bible study plan. Nate unpacks faith, God, His Word, the importance of history and culture, and so much more! He also maintains slowing down to really grasp the text instead of checking off a box and consequently forgetting what you read. That's the whole premise. He tells you what the Bible is, where it came from, why it matters, how it was written, ties it in with tenets of the Christian faith, and he even presents the Gospel at several points. By the time I got to the end, where the plan is, he not only gives his own plan but he walks you through each part and shares his struggles, things that were helpful to him, and things he would change - and concludes with helping you make your own plan. Nate educates the reader, walks them through the entire concept, and then equips you to eat your Bible too.
I highly recommend getting this book, reading it several times over, and giving a copy to everyone you know - especially new believers!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2023
This is a practical and helpful book on how to learn and love God's word. I recommend this book to anyone who is new to Bible study and wants to get back into it again.
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Top reviews from other countries
Salle Mostyn
Concise, well written , hopeful and encouraging.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2023W. Loon
Good short book on reading the Bible
Reviewed in Singapore on November 13, 2023