Believe (NIV): Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus

by Randy Frazee

It’s one thing to know the story of the Bible. It’s another thing to live it.

Grounded in carefully selected Scripture, Believe, NIV is a unique spiritual growth experience that takes you on a journey to think, act, and be more like Jesus. Pastor Randy Frazee walks you through the ten key beliefs of the Christian faith, the ten key Practices of a Jesus-follower, and the ten key Virtues that characterize someone who is becoming more like Jesus. Every believer needs to ask these three What do I believe? What should I do? Who am I becoming?

What you believe in your heart will define who you become. God wants you to become like Jesus - it is the most truthful and powerful way to live - and the journey to becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When you study the life of Jesus you will notice a distinct Jesus faithfully lived in a purposeful way. Jesus compared the Christian life to a vine. He is the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in the vine of Christ, over time you will produce amazing and scrumptious fruit at the end of your branches for all to see and taste. You become like Jesus.

Each chapter uses short topical passages from the New International Version (NIV) to help you live the story of the Bible. As you journey through this Bible, whether in a group or on your own, one simple truth will become undeniably what you believe drives everything.



Includes selections from the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity, Devotional, Christian Non Fiction, Theology

485 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2014

About the author

Randy Frazee is the lead teaching pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and a leader and innovator in Bible engagement, spiritual formation and biblical community. Randy is the architect of The Story and BELIEVE church engagement campaigns as well as the author of His Mighty Strength; Think, Act, Be Like Jesus; What Happens After You Die; The Connecting Church; Making Room for Life; and the coauthor of Real Simplicity with his wife of 40 years, Rozanne.

Reviews

[Patty Corwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this as a women’s study at church. Excellent discussions.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s really hard to criticize a book that’s primary purpose is to quote scripture. But, I thought the presentation and “discussion” was vague, dry and repetitive.

[Vanessa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Christmas gift from my sister; and I decided to read it as part of my Lenten journey. It came at a good time, and really hit close to home. At points, I truly felt God talking to me. p.260: 'Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.' About half of the book consists of bible verses that support the topic of the chapter. Some of the stories are repetitive. Even if you aren't very religious I feel this is a good book on the road to becoming a better human being. At the end one of my major take-a-ways was to remember during times of frustration/impatience/sickness that I am where I am because that is where God wants me at that time, during those times talk to him, listen for him and he will get you through them. I think this book will become a part of my future Lenten journeys in the coming years, there are some things in there you can't hear enough.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe is an amazing book to read if you are looking for a way to connect with God. I am a big believer in being well read in the bible and learning about Christ in order to be more like Him. However, it can be difficult to really be constantly intrigued in the Bible. A lot of people struggle with the genealogy, and all the different translations. I felt Believe was an excellent way to tie in our lives as humans with the word of God in such a way that maps out how we should live and love.

It's long, and it seems overwhelming, but it's good even as a once a week devotional. Any way you choose to consume it, you certainly won't regret it.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding tool that uses primarily Scripture to provide guidance for those persons who are serious about learning to become more like Jesus Christ. Divided into three sections covering what we believe, what we do, and what we are becoming, it is systematic in the approach to help us grow in our faith. I highly recommend it for all who profess the name of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Studying with a group, using the companion study guide and videos makes for a much better learning experience.

[Susan Anderson Misey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific book for a personal Bible study or a group one, too. Love how it weaves Old Testament and New Testament scripture together in each thematic chapter to show how God changes our hearts and lives one step at a time.

[Courtney Skelton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Believe has a lot of good information- yet all the good parts are from the Bible- and all are out of order- some parts repeat- and all the while the half-hazard attempt to bring everything together failed miserably. Before you read this- my advise- just go to the source-The Bible.

[heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

what you believe in your heart will define what you become and surprisingly many Christians don’t know what they believe or why. this book is basically the Bible consisting of large passages - stories of real people who lived in ancient times and encountered the one true God - arranged by general topics under the main questions: what do I believe; what should I do, who am I becoming? when we think and act like Jesus, empowered by His presence within us, little by little we become like Jesus.

another reviewer summed up my thoughts well: “Believe is an amazing book to read if you are looking for a way to connect with God. I am a big believer in being well read in the Bible and learning about Christ in order to be more like Him. However, it can be difficult to really be constantly intrigued in the Bible. A lot of people struggle with the genealogy, and all the different translations. I felt Believe was an excellent way to tie in our lives as humans with the word of God in such a way that maps out how we should live and love.”

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book over a 9-month period as part of a 30-week sermon series at my church. Author Randy Frazee provides a solid framework for spiritual growth with a handy chart of biblical references for each chapter. He advocates thinking and acting like Jesus and, empowered with the Holy Spirit within us, then we can begin to become more like Jesus. There's a heavy reliance on biblical passages in the book (90% is my guess-timate). With the author being a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and well-known leader in spiritual formation, I expected more of his original thoughts in the book.

[Connie Hansmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that strengthens your faith or teaches you about our true loving God. It explains why we as Christians believe and also show us the character of the Triune God. If you have questions about being a Christian this will help you through Bible stories, understanding scripture and applying the principles to your everyday life. It is a great book to study with a group. There is a workbook that goes along with it and a video as well.

[Jarm Boccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth look into the Christian faith

We read this book as a church family this past year. It gives good food for thought when it comes to our relationship with Christ and what that should look like. In simple terms and using
familiar Bible passages and characters, this book helps us pull all scripture together in a meaningful way.

[Joel Eynon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This follow-up study to "The Story" church-wide study is solid. It is filled with necessary information that Christians need to know about the foundation of their faith. However, it is not nearly as engaging to follow along with or to read as "The Story."

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this study especially after doing The Story 2 years ago. This study makes you think about your belief and how to help clarify how you tell others what you believe. It may have been purely timing on my part of faith development, but it was not a good fit for me.

[Daniela Quinteros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nos ayuda a recordar que creer no es algo tan fácil que tiene muchas capas y es más profundo. También es útil para poder estudiar o dar prédicas sobre ciertas temática y poder ir en búsqueda de ciertos versículos 🤍

[Marie Angus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our church did this together. It was a great experience...especially in the beginning! We took some breaks for various things and then had trouble getting back into the rhythm of it, but that's not the book's fault. Lol.

We had some great discussions.

[John H. Warren III · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent theological discourse on what and why Christians believe.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this enough. This book is a life changer. Every page was an impact on my heart for Jesus.
I plan on reading it again and again throughout my journey to be more like Jesus.

[Jackie Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read fast paced

[Mallory Albeck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very bad

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe because it was an ebook it left out way to much. It was highly recommended to me I'll have to get the hard back copy.

[Rozanne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fundamental beliefs of Christians and why we believe them. A great follow up for The Story. It anchored my faith.

[Jeffrey McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Got very long

[Sandy Sandmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reading Copy

Believe, NIV: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus by Randy Frazee is probably the best book any Christian believer can read, with the exception of the Bible, to help the reader understand what they believe, what they should do, and who they are becoming.

Using scripture from the New International Version Bible, Believe helps disciple the believer in three core areas: the Christian’s beliefs, their practices, and their virtues.

Frazee explains scriptures, which are written out in their entirety in the book, and how they are related to Christian living. The explanations are italicized and the scriptures are not. I found this particular layout to be a little confusing, because, traditionally, the scriptures would be italicized, so I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t the case.

I had a very difficult time with the fact that he placed all of the scripture references in the back of the book in a “Chart of References”. I really wished that I could just have the scripture references listed after the scripture readings. By placing them in the back of the book, it was confusing and disruptive and it doesn’t help someone who is unfamiliar with the Bible find their way around the scriptures. It would have been helpful to have the verse numbers as well. It would especially be helpful for believers who don’t have a lot of experience or knowledge of the Bible.

In the same vein, the discussion questions for each chapter were written in a section in the back of the book called “Discussion Questions” and are listed by chapter. I’m not sure why they at the end of the book, but I think it would make it easier for group discussions or book groups if the questions were at the end of each chapter.

I really do like the premise of Believe and highly recommend it for new Christian believers or believers who need further discipleship. I think that it’s a great way to learn about what a Christian life should be modeled after and how a Christian should live.

[Virginia Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn't know what I was getting into with this book. It was billed as a Bible, but it wasn't a Bible-Bible. My curiosity got the better of me and I agreed to review it.

I LOVE It!!

From the back cover:

It's one thing to know the story of the Bible. It's another thing to live it. Grounded in carefully selected Scripture, Believe NIV is a unique spiritual growth experience that takes you on a journey to think, act and be more like Jesus.

The book is divided into three sections. The first ten chapters detail the core Beliefs of the Christian life. It is a study of some of the main doctrines but is more a place to go for answers to your "what does the Bible say about" type of questions. The chapters deal with God, Salvation, The Bible, Humanity, Eternity, Stewardship, and others.

The second ten chapters deal with the core Practices of the Christian life. These chapters answer the question, "What should I do?" These chapters deal with Worship, prayer, Bible Study, single-mindedness, spiritual gifts, sharing my faith and others.

The final ten chapters contain the core Virtues of the Christian life. These answer the question, "Who am I becoming?" These chapters deal with topics like: Love, joy, peace, patience and others.

Randy Frazee is the general editor of the and he did a masterful job of allowing the Scripture to speak for itself with very little commentary. I really enjoyed reading his thoughts as he led us through the topic.

I am excited to delve further into the book, to study it. I'm planning on going through it with my children. It would also be great to have a whole church, small group, Bible study go through it. This summer they are coming out with a book geared towards children 4-8, 8-12 and over 12. They will also have a full church kit available.

This book gets 10 turning pages!

I received a free copy of this book from the BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review pertains to the electronic version of Believe, NIV: Living the Story of the Bible to Become Like Jesus by Randy Frazee.

Randy Frazee is a pastor at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Oak Hills is an American mega church. Believe, NIV is an innovative way to study the Bible. It is separated into 3 10 week sections that are divided as follows:

10 Key Beliefs of Christian Faith (What Do I Believe?)
10 Key Practices of a Follower of Jesus (What Should I Do?)
10 Key Virtues that Assist in Becoming More Like Jesus (Who Am I Becoming?)

Believe, NIV is an ambitious book. Each of the 30 chapters has a Key Idea, Key Verse followed by a very interesting discussion on the subject matter. I found the discussions to be straightforward and informative.

I have tested the hyperlinks in the Kindle version and they all work. The book concludes with an Epilogue, Chart of References and Discussion Questions. The Discussion Questions will be very helpful for bible study for individuals or groups. I noticed that a campaign set along with children's and student's editions will be coming out in June. I understand that Believe will be used in churches to promote biblical understanding. I think this will be a great campaign for churches to embark upon.
I do recommend this very interesting book, Believe, NIV. It is an informative book for both new and more mature believers. Be sure to check out this website: http://www.believethestory.com/

[Byron Fike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this along with my church. We were to read a chapter each week. At church the Sunday school classes were built around the the theme as was the sermon. In our small groups we continued the discussion of the chapter giving particular emphasis to how we might live out the message in our daily lives. All ages were included and families were provided extra resources to help them process the information with their children. The process we followed was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend it for other church. However, in my opinion, just reading the book by oneself would not be that helpful.

The book is 90% (my estimate) scripture which has been cut and pasted in a topical arrangement. The three major division of the book: Think, Act, and Be is a helpful way to outline the process of spiritual development. While one might debate the 10 subjects selected for each of the major divisions (i.e. Stewardship as a core belief and no chapter on the Holy Spirit) each subject was certainly worthy of discussion and the scriptures given provide a great amount of material to discuss.

[Shellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a bible study group, I began reading the second half of this book. Each of those chapters examines portions of the Bible that relate to a different fruit of the spirit. When my study group ended, I read the first half of the book on my own. The first half applies to actions like service and prayer. I really appreciated that this book is basically the Bible assembled in large excerpts to illustrate how we as Christians are to go about life. It's great for someone who wants to read their Bible, but doesn't know where to begin or how to go deeper.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consists of passages from throughout the Bible arranged by general topics under the main questions: what do I believe; what should I do, who am I becoming? In addition to the actual language of the Bible there are short editorial comments placing the passage in context, reflection questions and other study guide material. Not a replacement for the actual Bible but a way to study the Bible and what Christians believe.

[Melba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is basically the KJV Bible, as it is scripture from that version. I really enjoyed reading this, and I will read it over & over again. I read the Bible, and this just expounds on that. I only read the KJV, so I was glad that this was available in that version.

[Tabatha Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was introduced to me through my church. I was able to read it with the whole church as a weekly sermon and in a small social group for discussion. This was an incredible journey spiritually and personally