Robyn Roste, Systems & Funnels

Searching the Scriptures [book review]

Released mid-September 2016, the buzz surrounding Searching the Scriptures intensified as the publish date crept closer. As an employee of Insight for Living Ministries (the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll) I stalked my email in hopes of an advance preview of the book, which I heard was a game changer.

Searching the Scriptures quote

Searching the Scriptures by Charles R. Swindoll

But alas. All was quiet.

Because, you see, the book-end and the broadcast-end of Charles R. Swindoll are quite separate. But Tyndale was releasing review copies of the book so as soon as I got my chance I lept. And I was not disappointed.

Searching the Scriptures: Find the Nourishment Your Soul Needs is unlike any book I’ve read. I’d boil it down to Chuck’s personal Bible-study method, which he has broken out into four easy-to-remember steps.

  • Observation
  • Interpretation
  • Correlation
  • Application

Chuck describes Searching the Scriptures as the culmination of 60-plus years of cultivating a love for an pursuing an understanding of the Bible.

Broken into 10 sections and themed after cooking and serving a meal, Chuck takes the reader on a journey towards understanding—beginning, well, at the beginning. He overviews the entire Bible, then builds an argument for careful study of the Bible.

At the end of each chapter is a “your turn in the kitchen” challenge, and as the chapters build (from choosing the recipe to adding the spices), the reader is asked more and more to become an active participant in the book.


Searching the Scriptures Book Review

I love this book and the approach Chuck used to teach us how to study the Bible. We should not be satisfied letting others tell us what the truth is, we should seek it for ourselves by careful reasoning, study, applying wisdom, and knowing Scripture.

This book is more of a manual than a one-and-done read. I can see myself using it in group Bible study, personal devotions, and for those times I feel stuck and need a push in the right direction.

I’m grateful for this work and believe it more than met my expectations. For me, this book is a game changer.

“When the movie The Exorcist was released, all kinds of weird information began to circulate about Satan and demons. People were afraid there were demons lurking in every corner after watching the film. I decided to learn about the topic firsthand, so I did a thorough study of demons and the devil in Scripture. Do you know what happened after I did that study? I lost all fear of the devil. Knowing what Scripture actually says helped me combat all the confusing comments that were being tossed around about the devil and demons. What saved me from confusion? Correlation.”


Chuck Swindoll Biography

Charles R. Swindoll is the founder and senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. But Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body, as Insight for Living airs on major Christian radio markets around the world. Chuck’s extensive writing ministry has also served the body of Christ worldwide, and his leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry. Chuck and his wife, Cynthia, his partner in life and ministry, have four grown children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Other Book Reviews

Searching the Scriptures is Chuck Swindoll's personal Bible-study method, which he has broken out into four easy-to-remember steps.

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Released mid-September 2016, the buzz surrounding Searching the Scriptures intensified as the publish date crept closer. As an employee of Insight for Living Ministries (the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll) I stalked my email in hopes of an advance preview of the book, which I heard was a game changer.

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