NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People

by Zondervan, Max Lucado (Foreword)

With over 3 million sold, The Story tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time!

God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God's great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the world’s most popular modern-English Bible, the New International Version, and printed in the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. Like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption—and this story’s true!

Features:


Selections from the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
Events, characters, and teachings of the Bible are arranged chronologically
Short transitions between each chapter to connect the reader to the continuing story
Timelines of Bible events
Foreword by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee
List of characters and who they are
Discussion questions for each chapter
Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface
11.5-point print size
The Story can be read on its own, used in a small group, or as part of the 31-week church wide-campaign. Companion curriculum is also available.

Using the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) text makes the Bible accessible and easy to read. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Spirituality

512 pages, Hardcover

Published June 29, 2021

About the author

Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). They are a part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. and has multiple imprints including Zondervan Academic, Zonderkidz, Blink, and Editorial Vida. Zondervan is the commercial rights holder for the New International Version (NIV) Bible in North America.

Reviews

[Rick Kirkton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great way to read the Bible in story form. The timeliness is a great way understand and examine the events told about in God's Word. A person can also use the discussion questions for self reflection.

[Jess Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read especially the Old Testament section. Everything is chronological in common English and it brings everything together. I have a hard time figuring out where all the Old Testament fits in the timeline and this made things so much clearer

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Fabulous! Thorough! Thought-Provoking! Such a good, good review of the whole Bible written in an easily remembered and understood 31 chapters quoting so many of the Biblical highlights.

I can't say enough of what this well-done book means to me. It will sweep you through the whole historical years from the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis, right through to the book of Revelations keeping you interested and motivated all the way.

Thanks Max Lucado and Randy Frazee for a wonderful Biblical review. Readers will not forget 'The Story' and I pray they will make a positive decision on what they will do with it.

[Gary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is NOT a Bible. I'm no theologian, but I've studied the Bible for years and have read it front to back, Genesis to Revelation, at least 4 times. Whatever else you may think this is, it is not a Bible. If you read this and think you have read the Bible then you have not. This is a PC, sanitized, dumbed-down, edited and abbreviated summation of the Bible that overlooks so very many books, chapters, etc:

Entire Genres and Books
Most of the wisdom literature genre: This includes large sections of books like Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes, which are not primarily narrative.
Almost all of the general epistles: Books such as James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude are largely excluded.
Significant sections of prophetic books: While prophets are mentioned, the detailed prophecies and degeneracy of Israel from perspectives like Jeremiah's are not described in the same detail as in the full Bible.

Key Stories and Details That Are Omitted:
All details surrounding Lot's experiences in Sodom and God's judgment on the city.
The Tower of Babel.
The cycles of the Judges.
Details of God's judgment: Some moral lessons, such as the full message of judgment upon the house of Eli in 1 Samuel, are downplayed or omitted.
Genealogies and legal codes: Extensive lists of laws, regulations, and family trees found throughout the Old Testament are left out to maintain narrative flow.
Specific verses and passages:
Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14.
Mark 7:16; 9:44; 9:46; 11:26; 15:28.
Luke 17:36; 23:17.
John 5:4.
The story of the woman caught in adultery (John 7:53–8:11), which is typically bracketed in modern Bibles.
Acts 8:37.
1 John 5:7b-8a (the explicit reference to the Trinity).

Also, you do not get the entirety of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) so you don't even get all of Jesus' words as recorded in an actual Bible. This means you also do not get to experience the "harmony of the Gospels."

Most egregious of all, though, is the abridgement of the Book of Revelations. The editors saw fit to remove passages related to what is commonly called "the Tribulation." The apostle John (who wrote the book) specifically wrote in Revelation 22:18-19: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in the scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." And yet the editors at Zondervan saw fit to "take words away from" John's prophecy. Did they even read the book?

This book borders on blasphemy and should NOT be used in place of an actual Bible.

I need a refund. I'd hate to trade this off at a used book store for fear that I would be contributing to someone else reading this and equating it to an actual Bible.

Zero stars.

[Carson Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped me read all the way through the Bible for the first time, effectively taught me about each of the stories and now I can recognize allusions to the text during sermons.
325 pages of the 470 were about Old Testament which pretty much just consisted of Israelites betraying God and getting smited then believing in him and repeat. New Testament was a lot more entertaining .

[Julie Crooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great way to read through the Bible. Written in chronological order and in the form of a novel. Even if you have read through the Bible, I suggest reading this book and I promise you will learn something new!!! Max Lucado does an excellent job of digging deeper and commenting to give you a better understanding.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book for new Christian’s or people wanting to know more. Thus the 4 stars. It’s not that great for people have who have studied the Bible and or attended Bible studies. The chronological order is good for people who have not read much of the Bible.

[Emmy Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated getting to see the Bible in chronological order. And to get the overarching message of the Bible in a novel format. (31 chapters) It was neat and I definitely plan to reread it again in the future. But next time going along with the discussion questions provided in the back.

[Janice Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough about this book. I enjoyed reading stories from the Bible in book form. I will probably reread it in a few months. It was so good.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the Bible was put in order and made easy to understand. I read a little each day and completed it before the end of November.

[Pierce Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A easy to digest abbreviated version of the bible that is more accessible than trying to go right into the bible first. Helps condense the big stories and characters into the most important passages.

[Ashley Garay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend by my grandpa. This book is incredibly easy to help understand the Bible! Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning the Bible.

[Marjorie Schmitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Bible study.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started Study on 2024.08.28