I recently got my hands on a Mission of God Study Bible. Now having spent some time with it on my own, here are some personal highlights I came away with.
1. Study for a Purpose: Missions
Why do we study the Bible? Jesus charged the entire Church with the Great Commission. I love the Mission of God Study Bible because it is specifically designed to point believers toward connecting study with practice. All study Bibles, and Bibles in general for that matter, are oriented toward God's mission. But the Mission of God Study Bible helps students of the Word by highlighting the missional thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation.
2. Portable Size
As Bible publishers pack study Bibles full of commentary, it is difficult to maintain a size that is attractive to take to church or in carry-on luggage. The Mission of God Study Bible is portable, and packs in a lot of helpful study aids at the same time.
3. Based on a Solid Translation (HCSB)
Of course we are going to say so at the HCSB blog, but I really like the translation and am glad it is the basis for the Mission of God Study Bible.
4. Outstanding Group of Contributors
Here are some highlights for me. There are many other great contributors in addition to these:
Glenn Burris Jr. - President, The Foursquare Church
Matt Chandler - Pastor, The Village Church, Flower Mound, TX
Eric Geiger - Vice President, LifeWay Christian Resources
Billy Graham - Evangelist
J.D. Greear - Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, N.C.
David Hesselgrave - Professor emeritus of mission, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
R.T. Kendall - President of R.T. Kendall Ministries
Andreas Kostenberger - New Testament Scholar
Eric Mason - Lead Pastor, Epiphany Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA
Juan Sanchez - Preaching Pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, TX
R.C. Sproul - President of Ligonier Ministries
Ed Stetzer - President, LifeWay Research
Tullian Tchividjian - Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbytarian, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Joe Thorn - Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship, Chicago, IL
Adrian Warnock - Top missional blogger at www.adrianwarnock.com
Trevin Wax - Managing Editor of The Gospel Project, blogs at www.thegospelcoalition.org
Keith Whitfield - Pastor and seminary professor
Christopher Wright - International Director of the Langham Partnership International
5. Cross-Reference Notes
Though cross-references are a standard feature for modern study Bibles, I love that the Mission of God Study Bible includes them. It is a helpful way to trace the mission of God through the entire Bible. After all, the mission of God doesn't begin in Matthew 28.
6. Dynamic Content Powered by Technology
Included throughout the Bible are QR codes that transport readers to video content, going deeper in the study helps with contributors. This is one way the publisher was able to pack so much content into a portable size.
7. Helpful Commentary
Throughout the Mission of God Study Bible, contributors have offered biblical commentary to sharpen readers working through the text. Some commentary features include: book introductions, "God's Heart for the World," feature essays, God Who Sends notes (Frank Dubose), "Text Messages," "On the Frontlines," "Worldview," "Praying for the World," "Church Unleashed," and "Letters to the Church." All of the content is helpful and unique.
Click here to learn more about the Mission of God Study Bible.