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Chasing Sacred: Learn How to Study Scripture to Pursue God and Find Hope in Him
In a culture full of chaos, stress, and confusion, we can find firm grounding in the Bible . . .when we truly take the time to understand and experience what it says.In Chasing Sacred, Bible teacher Mikella Van Dyke breaks down the misconceptions and reservations so many of us have about what it means to study the Bible. Using her story alongside the Inductive Bible Study Method to teach a systematic, empowering approach, she will help a practical, step-by-step method to understanding God’s WordGain a fresh perspective on what it means to study the Bible for a new generationEngage in a healthy habit of Bible study that encourages confidence and eliminates shameFeel equipped to lead a small group or ministry in your communityAs you chase the sacred narrative woven through the pages of Scripture, let Mikella guide you to a deeper understanding of God’s Word and the who at the end of the a Savior full of wisdom, depth, truth, and love.
272 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
17 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 16, 2024
Fantastic!!
October 19, 2024
{Full review here:https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/a-...}
Mikella Van Dyke’s Chasing Sacred is written to guide readers in gaining a deeper understanding of God’s Word and to offer a clearer perspective on why we study Scripture—not just for knowledge, but as an act of worship to our Savior. The book also provides practical steps to help readers engage meaningfully with the Bible.
In three parts, Mikella Van Dyke explains the value of studying Scripture for the Christian life. She explores how the Holy Spirit and the discipline of prayer support us in this journey and provides a practical guide to studying the Bible inductively. Throughout, she shares relatable stories from her cross-cultural experiences as a missionary kid in Thailand, enriching her insights with personal examples.
This book will draw you toward your Bible and refresh your desire to study his Word.
If you’ve been feeling a little stuck in your study of scripture, or have never learned how to study before, this is the resource for you!
* A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!
Mikella Van Dyke’s Chasing Sacred is written to guide readers in gaining a deeper understanding of God’s Word and to offer a clearer perspective on why we study Scripture—not just for knowledge, but as an act of worship to our Savior. The book also provides practical steps to help readers engage meaningfully with the Bible.
In three parts, Mikella Van Dyke explains the value of studying Scripture for the Christian life. She explores how the Holy Spirit and the discipline of prayer support us in this journey and provides a practical guide to studying the Bible inductively. Throughout, she shares relatable stories from her cross-cultural experiences as a missionary kid in Thailand, enriching her insights with personal examples.
This book will draw you toward your Bible and refresh your desire to study his Word.
If you’ve been feeling a little stuck in your study of scripture, or have never learned how to study before, this is the resource for you!
* A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review!
October 4, 2025
Better ways to study the Bible! Very helpful!
July 18, 2025
So good! Goes deep while keeping it real and relatable. Definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to learn (or re-learn) how to love and study Scripture!
September 10, 2024
Summary: Using inductive Bible study methods to encounter God and find hope in Him.
Mikella Van Dyke grew up as a missionary kid in Thailand, and so reading the Bible and applying it to her life came early. In college, that habit deepened, and then, after a brief career in dance, she began leading women in Bible study. However, she realized that she needed more than good habits of Bible reading. So she went to Regent College. In a class on hermeneutics, on how to interpret scripture, the scriptures opened up to her in a whole new way. Specifically, she learned the method of inductive Bible study, in which one moves from careful observation of the text, through interpretation that asks what does it mean to application. Since that time, she founded Chasing Sacred a ministry that “exists to equip women and local churches with sound doctrine and practical tools for their walk with God” through inductive Bible study.
I resonate with her story. Accepting Christ at a Vacation Bible School at a young age and getting serious about following Jesus through the Jesus movement, I went to a lot of Bible studies and read scripture regularly on my own. But in college, I went to an InterVarsity conference where I learned inductive Bible study, and it opened up the scriptures to me in a whole new way. I went on to work on InterVarsity staff and taught generations of students and many others what I had learned and saw the power of God to change lives through the scriptures. And so I was eager to hear how another teacher trained in similar methods teaches these to others.
Van Dyke begins by answering why we study scripture, or in her terms “chase sacred.” Very simply, the scriptures, opened up through careful study show us Someone worth chasing. There’s both duty and delight in chasing sacred. First, there is the duty of careful and regular study. And then there is the delight of learning how to live well with the one we are chasing. But sometimes we get lost in the detail and miss the big story. We miss the narrative arc of creation, fall redemption, and restoration holding the whole together. And sometimes, teachers stray from the big story. She offers help in recognizing false teaching.
Before getting down to the “how to’s” of inductive Bible study, she addresses two other foundational elements. One is the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating the scripture he inspired. The other is the role of prayer in acknowledging our dependence on God’s help and opening ourselves to his transforming work.
The third part of the book is devoted to the how-tos of inductive study, beginning with our choice of Bible. She explains the different translation philosophies but does not opt for a particular translation. Instead, she rejoices in the abundance of good English translations. Then she turns to observing. The basic question is, “what do I see.” This includes context and background, key words, atmosphere, and asking the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. She then spends a whole chapter on the different types of context: literary, historical, and cultural, while staying Christ-centered. Genre also is important enough to merit a chapter as she describes how we read different genres. More briefly, she discusses interpretation, which asks the meaning of what we’ve observed, and application, how we will act on that meaning. The end of the book includes a collection of Bible study resources.
The most compelling aspect of this book is Van Dyke’s sheer enthusiasm for scripture, evident in every chapter. Her explanations are clear and she distills a lot of hermeneutic wisdom into a concise and understandable format. While she offers numerous examples in her explanations, it seems this book is best used with its companion, Chasing Sacred Bible Study. In this she walks people through five weeks of inductive study of Colossians and Philemon.
I was curious about the covers of both books. Each show typed copies of biblical text marked up with different colors. I know this as manuscript Bible study, a particular form of inductive study. I kept expecting her to mention this but did not find any reference in the text.
However, I was so thrilled to read this and learn of Van Dyke’s ministry. A great obstacle to biblical literacy is helping people understand what they are reading and rightly interpret this ancient text. Some trust to impressive teachers, so frustrated are they in their own efforts, And sometimes those teachers mislead them. The tools here both help people spot deception and discover the joy of “chasing sacred.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Mikella Van Dyke grew up as a missionary kid in Thailand, and so reading the Bible and applying it to her life came early. In college, that habit deepened, and then, after a brief career in dance, she began leading women in Bible study. However, she realized that she needed more than good habits of Bible reading. So she went to Regent College. In a class on hermeneutics, on how to interpret scripture, the scriptures opened up to her in a whole new way. Specifically, she learned the method of inductive Bible study, in which one moves from careful observation of the text, through interpretation that asks what does it mean to application. Since that time, she founded Chasing Sacred a ministry that “exists to equip women and local churches with sound doctrine and practical tools for their walk with God” through inductive Bible study.
I resonate with her story. Accepting Christ at a Vacation Bible School at a young age and getting serious about following Jesus through the Jesus movement, I went to a lot of Bible studies and read scripture regularly on my own. But in college, I went to an InterVarsity conference where I learned inductive Bible study, and it opened up the scriptures to me in a whole new way. I went on to work on InterVarsity staff and taught generations of students and many others what I had learned and saw the power of God to change lives through the scriptures. And so I was eager to hear how another teacher trained in similar methods teaches these to others.
Van Dyke begins by answering why we study scripture, or in her terms “chase sacred.” Very simply, the scriptures, opened up through careful study show us Someone worth chasing. There’s both duty and delight in chasing sacred. First, there is the duty of careful and regular study. And then there is the delight of learning how to live well with the one we are chasing. But sometimes we get lost in the detail and miss the big story. We miss the narrative arc of creation, fall redemption, and restoration holding the whole together. And sometimes, teachers stray from the big story. She offers help in recognizing false teaching.
Before getting down to the “how to’s” of inductive Bible study, she addresses two other foundational elements. One is the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating the scripture he inspired. The other is the role of prayer in acknowledging our dependence on God’s help and opening ourselves to his transforming work.
The third part of the book is devoted to the how-tos of inductive study, beginning with our choice of Bible. She explains the different translation philosophies but does not opt for a particular translation. Instead, she rejoices in the abundance of good English translations. Then she turns to observing. The basic question is, “what do I see.” This includes context and background, key words, atmosphere, and asking the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. She then spends a whole chapter on the different types of context: literary, historical, and cultural, while staying Christ-centered. Genre also is important enough to merit a chapter as she describes how we read different genres. More briefly, she discusses interpretation, which asks the meaning of what we’ve observed, and application, how we will act on that meaning. The end of the book includes a collection of Bible study resources.
The most compelling aspect of this book is Van Dyke’s sheer enthusiasm for scripture, evident in every chapter. Her explanations are clear and she distills a lot of hermeneutic wisdom into a concise and understandable format. While she offers numerous examples in her explanations, it seems this book is best used with its companion, Chasing Sacred Bible Study. In this she walks people through five weeks of inductive study of Colossians and Philemon.
I was curious about the covers of both books. Each show typed copies of biblical text marked up with different colors. I know this as manuscript Bible study, a particular form of inductive study. I kept expecting her to mention this but did not find any reference in the text.
However, I was so thrilled to read this and learn of Van Dyke’s ministry. A great obstacle to biblical literacy is helping people understand what they are reading and rightly interpret this ancient text. Some trust to impressive teachers, so frustrated are they in their own efforts, And sometimes those teachers mislead them. The tools here both help people spot deception and discover the joy of “chasing sacred.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
September 13, 2024
“Many will declare, ‘It is written,’ but the important thing is knowing why and how it is written.”
This book came to me at exactly the right time. I recently started reading through the Bible, one chapter at a time, using the Inductive Study method, which is a method I learned about 20+ years ago from my mother-in-law. I’ve used it to study different books of the Bible in the past, but I’m now embarking on a years long project to go systematically through the entire Bible.
In Chasing Sacred, Mikella Van Dyke walks us through what the Inductive Study method is along with practical applications all while using examples of her life growing up in Thailand as a missionary kid. She really brought the information to life and I’m excited to incorporate those tools into my own personal study.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
Learning Bible study techniques
Reading stories of third culture kids
Growing in your faith
Thank you Tyndale and TLC Book Tours for the gifted copy.
This book came to me at exactly the right time. I recently started reading through the Bible, one chapter at a time, using the Inductive Study method, which is a method I learned about 20+ years ago from my mother-in-law. I’ve used it to study different books of the Bible in the past, but I’m now embarking on a years long project to go systematically through the entire Bible.
In Chasing Sacred, Mikella Van Dyke walks us through what the Inductive Study method is along with practical applications all while using examples of her life growing up in Thailand as a missionary kid. She really brought the information to life and I’m excited to incorporate those tools into my own personal study.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
Learning Bible study techniques
Reading stories of third culture kids
Growing in your faith
Thank you Tyndale and TLC Book Tours for the gifted copy.
September 26, 2024
I was so blessed by this book. For years I have been searching for a practical guide to studying the Bible. Mikella does an excellent job laying out the principles of Hermeneutics thoroughly and in a way that is easy to understand. She encourages the reader to stay the course and put in the effort to dig deep and stay true to the Word.
It was so helpful when she pointed out how common it is for scripture to be taken out of context even with the best intentions. But when we slow down and take the time to study the Scripture as it is written to the original audience, assess the context, and identify the genre it is written in before making an application, we will stay true to the Word and draw closer to the Lord.
Mikella’s use of short illustrations from her life experience adds so much to this book. She has a unique perspective and understanding due to her parents’ work as Bible translators and having lived in different cultures. She presents the truth in love about the dangers of jumping to application without a proper understanding of the passage one is studying.
I think this book should be on every woman’s read list if they are a believer in Christ. This gem will help believers to dig deeper in the Word, to be ready to give an answer for their faith and help them to train up the next generation. Our relationship with the Lord will grow and flourish as we draw closer to Him and seek Him through the pages of Scripture. Rightly interpreting His Word will enrich our lives and help us to worship Him in spirit and truth
It was so helpful when she pointed out how common it is for scripture to be taken out of context even with the best intentions. But when we slow down and take the time to study the Scripture as it is written to the original audience, assess the context, and identify the genre it is written in before making an application, we will stay true to the Word and draw closer to the Lord.
Mikella’s use of short illustrations from her life experience adds so much to this book. She has a unique perspective and understanding due to her parents’ work as Bible translators and having lived in different cultures. She presents the truth in love about the dangers of jumping to application without a proper understanding of the passage one is studying.
I think this book should be on every woman’s read list if they are a believer in Christ. This gem will help believers to dig deeper in the Word, to be ready to give an answer for their faith and help them to train up the next generation. Our relationship with the Lord will grow and flourish as we draw closer to Him and seek Him through the pages of Scripture. Rightly interpreting His Word will enrich our lives and help us to worship Him in spirit and truth
December 10, 2024
So much food for thought!
January 11, 2025
Mikella Van Dyke has a gift for explaining how to read scripture in a light-hearted, practical way. This book is a must-read, for new Christians or those who grew up in the faith.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews