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Savoring Scripture: A Six-Step Guide to Studying the Bible
Some books on how to read the Bible are academically informative, but their rationality can make God seem distant. Other books are spiritually vibrant but provide few tools that truly help God's people read the Bible better. Readers need a guide that combines the academic with the spiritual—that integrates textual analysis with the illuminating and transformational work of the Holy Spirit.
Drawing from his experience training students to study the Bible, Andrew Abernethy provides a holistic method that helps readers listen carefully to what God was saying to the original audience and what God is saying to us today. Using clear examples, he lays out six
PostureFlowContextWhole BibleSavor GodFaithful responseChapters provide guidance on interpreting biblical genres, factoring in historical backgrounds, reading each passage in context, tracing the redemptive storyline of Scripture, and more. Then, building on a strong grasp of Scripture's meaning, readers engage the traditional practice of lectio divina and consider how to respond faithfully to the text. The goal, Abernethy says, is to encounter God and to be shaped by the Word as we savor its richness.
Filled with practical features such as illustrations, maps, timelines, and discussion questions, Savoring Scripture is a valuable guide for students and anyone who wants to study the Bible more effectively. God has given us a Bible that is for the hungry—for those willing both to depend on God for provision and to put in the mental effort to enjoy the feast.
Drawing from his experience training students to study the Bible, Andrew Abernethy provides a holistic method that helps readers listen carefully to what God was saying to the original audience and what God is saying to us today. Using clear examples, he lays out six
PostureFlowContextWhole BibleSavor GodFaithful responseChapters provide guidance on interpreting biblical genres, factoring in historical backgrounds, reading each passage in context, tracing the redemptive storyline of Scripture, and more. Then, building on a strong grasp of Scripture's meaning, readers engage the traditional practice of lectio divina and consider how to respond faithfully to the text. The goal, Abernethy says, is to encounter God and to be shaped by the Word as we savor its richness.
Filled with practical features such as illustrations, maps, timelines, and discussion questions, Savoring Scripture is a valuable guide for students and anyone who wants to study the Bible more effectively. God has given us a Bible that is for the hungry—for those willing both to depend on God for provision and to put in the mental effort to enjoy the feast.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2022
32 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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July 25, 2022Does the Bible feel intimidating or irrelevant? This step-by-step guide offers a simple but effective way to engage with Scripture for personal transformation. Andrew Abernethy puts his academic credentials in service of the church in this down-to-earth book. Beginners will experience the Bible as was intended—as a true story that changes us and helps us connect with God.
February 17, 2025
This is a really solid intro to Bible study as a part of Christian discipleship. Its greatest advantage over other “how to study the Bible” books/materials is its emphasis on reading and studying in order to know God. In my experience, a lot of approaches (even those used in church!) focus so much on the information-based/objective parts of studying the Bible (understanding the context, identifying themes, recognizing word connections, etc.) that Bible study becomes just an exercise. “If we just do our homework, we will know what God wants us to do.” Abernethy does a great job of showing how careful reading and studying is meant to bring us closer to God, while still maintaining an emphasis on things like context and themes. I also really like that Abernethy focuses on studying individual passages really closely, and his framing of application as “faithful response” is also really helpful.
Probably the weakest point of this book is that Abernethy could have spent some more time talking about context and themes within individual books. He does this a bit, but his primary focus is on the flow of an individual passage and its fit within the entire story of the Bible, so it could have used some more attention. I also would have liked some more on lectio divina. But those aren’t deal-breakers, just something I would have liked a bit more of.
Overall, I’d feel pretty comfortable recommending this to someone who was looking for a Bible study method. I’m already incorporating some of the things mentioned in here myself (like lectio divina and a prayerful approach) and have found extra refreshment in my reading.
Probably the weakest point of this book is that Abernethy could have spent some more time talking about context and themes within individual books. He does this a bit, but his primary focus is on the flow of an individual passage and its fit within the entire story of the Bible, so it could have used some more attention. I also would have liked some more on lectio divina. But those aren’t deal-breakers, just something I would have liked a bit more of.
Overall, I’d feel pretty comfortable recommending this to someone who was looking for a Bible study method. I’m already incorporating some of the things mentioned in here myself (like lectio divina and a prayerful approach) and have found extra refreshment in my reading.
July 20, 2025
Simple, yet profound. I think you could hand this book to any teenager and church member, and they would be well equipped to hear from God through the Scriptures. While other hermeneutics books can lose the beauty and goal of Scripture (ie. to hear from God), Abernathy equips his readers to do the hard work of exegesis & the even harder work of responding faithfully to God. May require for my next hermeneutics class!
September 20, 2025
Read this one to use as a loose outline for a Bible class I’m teaching for high schoolers. Great framework for beginners seeking to study scripture and deepen their knowledge of God both intellectually and relationally. Would recommend!
September 15, 2025
This book is like seminary in a nutshell — but minus the pressure to get good grades and plus the constant reminders to just sit and savor God. I have been reading it at the end of my four years in seminary, and it’s been a wonderful reminder to me of why I turn to my Bible every morning: to meet with the living God and be transformed by His Spirit. Throughout seminary, each semester I have felt the deadening effects of academic study of the Bible. Though I knew in my mind that more study should entail more love, I found it way easier to wrestle with literary or historical abstractions than the Holy Spirit. The steps in this book are nothing groundbreaking (I would be suspicious if they were!), yet they are steps in the right direction, towards bridging “a schooled mind” and “a blazing heart”.
December 29, 2022
Easily going to be my go-to recommendation to anyone who’s interested in developing a robust Bible study process.
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April 19, 2025Practical, informative, and accessible intro to reading the Bible. Dr. A is a bit more constrained by authorial intent than my own sensibilities would have me. But I'd recommend this as an intro for people who struggle to know how to engage Scripture.
January 11, 2023
Wonderful book, does a great job distilling the interpretive methods I learned at Gordon-Conwell in an accessible yet still conducive to devotional way. I've already loaned it to my pastor with the hope of him recommending it to the rest of the congregation.
April 11, 2024
This is a good introduction to how to study the Text that I would recommend to students who are just beginning the lifelong task of reading and meditating on the Scriptures.
August 22, 2023
"[... ] Some books on how to read the Bible are academically informative, but they can create the sense of a gap between God and us as we read the Bible. Other books are spiritually vibrant, but they provide few valuable tools from academia that can truly help God's people read the Bible better. We need a beginner's guide to Bible study that weds the academic with the spiritual, that integrates textual analysis with the illuminating and transforming work of the Holy Spirit." - quite the dilemma indeed! And I would say this book absolutely succeeds in that.
This book offers a six "step" guide on approaching and reading the Bible, and ultimately meeting God through it. I've put these steps below, with my own jargon of what's covered in parenthesis:
1) Posture (come with teachable humility, communal accountability, expectancy and using a hermeneutic of trust)
2) Flow (overview of literary genre, how to read well, including literary units and analysis)
3A) Context - Historical (for the OT and NT, breakdown of key periods for each testament, and breakdown of geographical context also, great tables and map summaries here!)
3B) Context - Book (reading within the thrust of the entire document/book, immediately surrounding verses and chapters)
4) Whole Bible (reading biblical-theologically / with redemption history in mind, cross-testament parallel building)
5) Savouring God (how might we connect with God through Bible reading? Lectio Divina as an approach)
6) Faithful Response (as opposed to a more clinical "application")
I've been looking for a book like this for a long time - and will definitely become something I recommend to anyone who is beginning to read the Bible for themselves!
It's balanced, sensible, fairly comprehensive (covering basics and then some! I did not expect to see some linguistics theory, lectio divina, or annotated maps! All covered in an actually understandable way), but also engaging. Throughout each chapter there are worked examples which are built on throughout the book, aswell as discussion questions closing each chapter, and a suggested journaling layout closing the book.
There are some phenomenal books out there for helping someone read the Bible (or for that matter, just read generally) better - but I think Abernethy's Savouring Scripture takes the cake for beginners, for a few reasons:
Firstly, I think what sets this book apart from some others of it's kind, especially when written by "professional/full-time" bible-studyers, is it's framing of the entire "enterprise" of Bible study. Something I've certainly experienced personally with as a layperson, especially when consuming more "academic" literature and it's careful hermeneutics and methodologies - is feeling more rather than less separation from the Bible. Abernathy puts it this way:
"[ due to dietary requirements ] I often settle for cooking a great meal yet never taste it. When I first began reading God's Word, I felt so close to God. Then I started thinking more strategically about how to read the Bible. Through classes in college, seminary, and grad school, my skills in literary, historical, and canonical analysis grew. But something else was growing - a gap between me and God. [...] I became skilled at cooking up savory meats, but did not savor them." (p. 119)
Often well intentioned "Bible Study" books, through no fault of their own, can create an impression that the Bible is primarily something to be mined for an almost purely propositional truth - using purely naturalistic methods. But throughout the entire book, especially through Steps 1, 5 and 6, the reader is consistently reminded that Scripture is something to be savoured, because of the one it points to:
"The aim of reading the Bible is communing with the living Lord, a communion that results in worship, repentance, healing, and obedience (see step 6).
The Bible is a means, not the end. [...] Our aim is to meet with and hear from God through the Scriptures." (p. 121)
Secondly, this particular guide essentially combines a "Bible Study" Book (i.e. Beynon and Sachs' "Dig Deeper", or Fee's "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth") - with a decent chunk of a "Bible Overview" Book (i.e. Robert's "God's Big Picture", or Carson's "The God Who Is There") in a properly integrated and complementary way;
This helpfully prepares a reader, imo, for the dual exegetical AND historical (biblical-theological/redemptive historical) task of what it means to properly 'savour Scripture', and relate to God through it. And it does not seem like this is accidental - Vaughn Roberts "God's Big Picture" comes recommended inside! Alongside a slew of other (probably) helpfully formative books.
Thirdly, there is an abundance of tables, diagrams, maps etc, which honestly in and of themself would be a brilliant resource to come back to again and again. Throughout the whole of Step 4, you get updated, nested triangular diagrams each step of way through describing the Bible's grand narrative. Very helpful for visual learners!
There was only one single thing that stood out to me that I thought would be worth pointing out: in pages 49-55, some may not be happy with the dating proposed. For dating in general, Abernethy is very fair (I say this as if I have any expertise at all in the subject - I do not), going as far to include multiple potential historic dates which are held among believers for key events.
The one thing that did stand out was, and it is not expanded on whatsoever, so it's hard to know exactly what Abernethy was attempting to convey: on the period / epoch diagrams for the OT, Isaiah is split into 1-40, 40-55, and 55-66. Again, this not need to be taking in the most critical sense, but I thought it might be minorly confusing for the majority of laypeople.
But to end, there's also a very helpful appendix on "Word Studies" - how to do one well, and some pitfalls! Some good quotes from the book.
On thinking about God / Jesus from the Old Testament / trinitarian hermeneutic:
"The most basic question we can ask is this: What does this passage say about God, and how is this reflected in Jesus? If God has always existed as one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), then what we learn about God anywhere in the Bible reveals something about Jesus' character." (p. 90)
On Biblical-Theological / Redemption History:
"Reading a passage in view of redemptive history is a lot like surfing. When you are studying a passage, you need to see how the wave is developing before it reaches your passage. [...] Next, you need to catch the in wave in your passage [...] Finally, when you ride a wave, it does not always head directly to shore. [...] With a grip on the uniqueness of your wave, take it's unique path to Jesus' first and second comings" (p. 114-115)
On Faithful Response / Application:
"My beef with ’application' is that it is just so impersonal, human-centered, and detached from God's Word. This is not a hill that I'd die on, but I do prefer 'faithful response' over 'application.'" (p. 144)
"[My daughter's] glasses reactivated the eye that would wander slightly. Now, her eyes are in harmony and her vision is correctable to 20/20 vision. Similarly, God's Word transforms our wandering minds, reshapes our desires, and instills within us our identity in Christ." (p. 149)
This book offers a six "step" guide on approaching and reading the Bible, and ultimately meeting God through it. I've put these steps below, with my own jargon of what's covered in parenthesis:
1) Posture (come with teachable humility, communal accountability, expectancy and using a hermeneutic of trust)
2) Flow (overview of literary genre, how to read well, including literary units and analysis)
3A) Context - Historical (for the OT and NT, breakdown of key periods for each testament, and breakdown of geographical context also, great tables and map summaries here!)
3B) Context - Book (reading within the thrust of the entire document/book, immediately surrounding verses and chapters)
4) Whole Bible (reading biblical-theologically / with redemption history in mind, cross-testament parallel building)
5) Savouring God (how might we connect with God through Bible reading? Lectio Divina as an approach)
6) Faithful Response (as opposed to a more clinical "application")
I've been looking for a book like this for a long time - and will definitely become something I recommend to anyone who is beginning to read the Bible for themselves!
It's balanced, sensible, fairly comprehensive (covering basics and then some! I did not expect to see some linguistics theory, lectio divina, or annotated maps! All covered in an actually understandable way), but also engaging. Throughout each chapter there are worked examples which are built on throughout the book, aswell as discussion questions closing each chapter, and a suggested journaling layout closing the book.
There are some phenomenal books out there for helping someone read the Bible (or for that matter, just read generally) better - but I think Abernethy's Savouring Scripture takes the cake for beginners, for a few reasons:
Firstly, I think what sets this book apart from some others of it's kind, especially when written by "professional/full-time" bible-studyers, is it's framing of the entire "enterprise" of Bible study. Something I've certainly experienced personally with as a layperson, especially when consuming more "academic" literature and it's careful hermeneutics and methodologies - is feeling more rather than less separation from the Bible. Abernathy puts it this way:
"[ due to dietary requirements ] I often settle for cooking a great meal yet never taste it. When I first began reading God's Word, I felt so close to God. Then I started thinking more strategically about how to read the Bible. Through classes in college, seminary, and grad school, my skills in literary, historical, and canonical analysis grew. But something else was growing - a gap between me and God. [...] I became skilled at cooking up savory meats, but did not savor them." (p. 119)
Often well intentioned "Bible Study" books, through no fault of their own, can create an impression that the Bible is primarily something to be mined for an almost purely propositional truth - using purely naturalistic methods. But throughout the entire book, especially through Steps 1, 5 and 6, the reader is consistently reminded that Scripture is something to be savoured, because of the one it points to:
"The aim of reading the Bible is communing with the living Lord, a communion that results in worship, repentance, healing, and obedience (see step 6).
The Bible is a means, not the end. [...] Our aim is to meet with and hear from God through the Scriptures." (p. 121)
Secondly, this particular guide essentially combines a "Bible Study" Book (i.e. Beynon and Sachs' "Dig Deeper", or Fee's "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth") - with a decent chunk of a "Bible Overview" Book (i.e. Robert's "God's Big Picture", or Carson's "The God Who Is There") in a properly integrated and complementary way;
This helpfully prepares a reader, imo, for the dual exegetical AND historical (biblical-theological/redemptive historical) task of what it means to properly 'savour Scripture', and relate to God through it. And it does not seem like this is accidental - Vaughn Roberts "God's Big Picture" comes recommended inside! Alongside a slew of other (probably) helpfully formative books.
Thirdly, there is an abundance of tables, diagrams, maps etc, which honestly in and of themself would be a brilliant resource to come back to again and again. Throughout the whole of Step 4, you get updated, nested triangular diagrams each step of way through describing the Bible's grand narrative. Very helpful for visual learners!
There was only one single thing that stood out to me that I thought would be worth pointing out: in pages 49-55, some may not be happy with the dating proposed. For dating in general, Abernethy is very fair (I say this as if I have any expertise at all in the subject - I do not), going as far to include multiple potential historic dates which are held among believers for key events.
The one thing that did stand out was, and it is not expanded on whatsoever, so it's hard to know exactly what Abernethy was attempting to convey: on the period / epoch diagrams for the OT, Isaiah is split into 1-40, 40-55, and 55-66. Again, this not need to be taking in the most critical sense, but I thought it might be minorly confusing for the majority of laypeople.
But to end, there's also a very helpful appendix on "Word Studies" - how to do one well, and some pitfalls! Some good quotes from the book.
On thinking about God / Jesus from the Old Testament / trinitarian hermeneutic:
"The most basic question we can ask is this: What does this passage say about God, and how is this reflected in Jesus? If God has always existed as one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), then what we learn about God anywhere in the Bible reveals something about Jesus' character." (p. 90)
On Biblical-Theological / Redemption History:
"Reading a passage in view of redemptive history is a lot like surfing. When you are studying a passage, you need to see how the wave is developing before it reaches your passage. [...] Next, you need to catch the in wave in your passage [...] Finally, when you ride a wave, it does not always head directly to shore. [...] With a grip on the uniqueness of your wave, take it's unique path to Jesus' first and second comings" (p. 114-115)
On Faithful Response / Application:
"My beef with ’application' is that it is just so impersonal, human-centered, and detached from God's Word. This is not a hill that I'd die on, but I do prefer 'faithful response' over 'application.'" (p. 144)
"[My daughter's] glasses reactivated the eye that would wander slightly. Now, her eyes are in harmony and her vision is correctable to 20/20 vision. Similarly, God's Word transforms our wandering minds, reshapes our desires, and instills within us our identity in Christ." (p. 149)
March 7, 2023
“Savoring Scripture: A Six-Step Guide to Studying the Bible” begins with a glimpse into how Andrew Abernethy began the journey of writing this very book: His own father asked him for a book on how to read the Bible, and despite being a Bible professor, Andrew felt there was none he could recommend because none quite met the need in a way he thought would help most: A Bible study guide that marries “the academic with the spiritual, that integrates textual analysis with the illuminating and transforming work of the Holy Spirit.”
The author says: “We need an approach to reading the Bible that will allow our faith to soar rather than sour. . . that can help us draw closer to God rather than away . . . that recognizes God's ability to speak to us in the moment, in real life, through an ancient book.” This book “brings together faith and academics. It offers a template for Bible reading that fuels a lively faith and incorporates the academic tools that are most valuable for ordinary Christians.”
The book provides a balanced way of approaching the Word of God through six different steps:
1. Posture
2. Flow
3A. Context (Historical)
3B. Context (Book)
4. Whole Bible
5. Savor God
6. Faithful Response
Throughout the book, the author takes you through practicing each step with a passage of Scripture. This was so much more engaging than simply reading about the steps, and helped to connect the passage to its context and meaning.
In step 5–amid the study aspects of the other steps, the author mentions an all too important aspect of Bible study, connecting with God: “My growth in analysis led to paralysis in my relationship with God. I became skilled at cooking up savory meats, but did not savor them. . . The aim of reading the Bible is communion with a living Lord, communion that results in worship, repentance, healing, and obedience. . . The Bible is a means, not the end.” I appreciated the book’s balance of explaining good study steps, like a passage’s context, alongside connecting with God through His Word in step 5.
Finally, the appendix contains a journal template featuring the six steps that helps you study the Bible and connect with God. I enjoyed every aspect of this book and look forward to using this study method more and more as I study God’s Word.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
The author says: “We need an approach to reading the Bible that will allow our faith to soar rather than sour. . . that can help us draw closer to God rather than away . . . that recognizes God's ability to speak to us in the moment, in real life, through an ancient book.” This book “brings together faith and academics. It offers a template for Bible reading that fuels a lively faith and incorporates the academic tools that are most valuable for ordinary Christians.”
The book provides a balanced way of approaching the Word of God through six different steps:
1. Posture
2. Flow
3A. Context (Historical)
3B. Context (Book)
4. Whole Bible
5. Savor God
6. Faithful Response
Throughout the book, the author takes you through practicing each step with a passage of Scripture. This was so much more engaging than simply reading about the steps, and helped to connect the passage to its context and meaning.
In step 5–amid the study aspects of the other steps, the author mentions an all too important aspect of Bible study, connecting with God: “My growth in analysis led to paralysis in my relationship with God. I became skilled at cooking up savory meats, but did not savor them. . . The aim of reading the Bible is communion with a living Lord, communion that results in worship, repentance, healing, and obedience. . . The Bible is a means, not the end.” I appreciated the book’s balance of explaining good study steps, like a passage’s context, alongside connecting with God through His Word in step 5.
Finally, the appendix contains a journal template featuring the six steps that helps you study the Bible and connect with God. I enjoyed every aspect of this book and look forward to using this study method more and more as I study God’s Word.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2023
Savoring Scripture is my new go-to recommendation for people seeking to learn to not only study the Bible but also desiring transformation in the process. Abernethy has provided a helpful guide that includes preparing to read all the way through faithfully responding. The steps in between provide accessible steps to studying and meditating upon Scripture. Because of the ground covered in the book, I would recommend this for new students of the Bible as well as those who would like a refresher on engaging Scripture.
November 29, 2022
An excellent introduction that weaves together practices not just for the mind but for the heart and soul as well. I appreciated the emphasis on paying attention to the immediate context of the passage as well as how a passage fits within the overall flow of a book. That will help many keep from going off course. Abernethy also keeps our focus on the spiritual and life dimensions of what the Word says. Clear, readable, and practical.
July 17, 2024
Nice approach to Studying Scripture...
Abernethy, a professor at Wheaton College, offers and easy, accessible approach to reading Scripture. He moves away from the traditional method in one of his steps, preferring “faithful response” over “application” and I appreciate his reasoning. This book is a good primer/reminder on the Bible Study process and does a good job of explaining Lectio Divina to laypersons.
Abernethy, a professor at Wheaton College, offers and easy, accessible approach to reading Scripture. He moves away from the traditional method in one of his steps, preferring “faithful response” over “application” and I appreciate his reasoning. This book is a good primer/reminder on the Bible Study process and does a good job of explaining Lectio Divina to laypersons.
December 31, 2022
Great guide on how to read scripture. This guide directs in a way that is both focused on understanding the truth of scripture but also learning how to grow closer to God through scripture. It guides you in both an “academic” pursuit of understanding context and a spiritual pursuit of savoring God.
March 1, 2023
Savoring Scripture is an excellent new resource on studying the Bible. While some books on Bible study are far too deep for the average Christian, and others sit on the surface, this was a beautiful blend of practical and deep. Chapter 3 (Step 3A and 3b) was incredible. It is my new go-to book to give to anyone wanting to study the Scriptures more deeply!
July 20, 2023
I feel guilty giving this one only three stars. It's solid, but it's really just how to interpret literature (parsing/diagramming sentences, identifying dependent and independent clauses, following an argument through a passage, etc) which is something I already know how to do. I think these are absolutely vital skills for reading and understanding the Bible, though.
December 18, 2023
This books transformed my relationship with scripture and my approach to Bible study. Have been in derp Bible study programs for years building a lot of informational knowledge about God, even applying it to my life but the six steps outlined in the book helped me build the heart knowledge that I wasn’t even aware I was missing.
January 3, 2024
A bit of a slow burn, but if you apply it the knowledge I think it could really change the depth of your scripture study
May 27, 2025
A solid introduction.
July 2, 2025
Audiobook. Solid method for reading scripture but fairly elementary.
October 26, 2025
Practical advice and examples. I appreciate that Abernethy recognized how awkward examples of prayer can feel. Book was accessible for the layperson without overemphasizing either the the emotional or the academic connections to Bible study.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews