Basic Bible Guide is a faith-based study guide designed to take readers through all sixty-six books of the Bible in just twelve weeks. It is not intended to cover every passage of scripture, but instead, it gives readers a basic overview of key scriptures in every chapter of the Bible. Its purpose is to bring hope to anyone quickly and simply, regardless of their beliefs. There are seven editions: Original, Student Edition, Daily Devotional, Travel Size, KJV, Military Edition, and Spanish Version. I received the Basic Bible Guide: Daily Devotional, which costs $16.95, and the Basic Bible Guide: Student Edition, which costs $15.95. Books can also be ordered directly from the non-profit ministry on their website for a suggested minimum donation of $10 each.

The Daily Devotional includes three-hundred sixty-five daily five-minute devotions without commentary, and a few facts included, such as the historical setting and the intended audience. I love that it also provides some cross-references of other relevant/related scriptures, usually tying together the Old and New Testaments. There is also journaling space for personal notations and thoughts. In addition, there are sometimes probing questions to get you thinking and reflecting on the scripture before making your notes and comments. It helps readers answer basic questions about where the Bible came from, whether it is real or make-believe, and still relevant today. All that is needed is the devotional and a bible. No additional resources are required. The introduction to this book encourages readers to read the whole Bible in a year by reading four to five pages of scripture a day. However, it stresses that one can still get a basic understanding of the Bible by using this devotional book and the Bible for reference to the provided scriptures to study. Any bible version can be used for the study, although all references in the devotional are in the English Standard Version.

An individual can use the Student Edition as a self-paced guide, but it is also set up for group study. Groups can spend an hour per session once a week for a semester (fifteen sessions) and complete the course. This edition includes the same scripture references for study in the Daily Devotional, but many more days’ worth of study are combined into each session. In addition, it includes some optional group discussion questions, optional reading assignments of scripture, and self-quizzes to help students recognize their level of understanding of what they have studied. References in this edition are also provided in English Standard Version.

I think the thing I appreciate most about Basic Bible Guide is that there are never any opinions or interpretations offered. That means that regardless of what denomination or non-denominational beliefs a person may have, one could study the Bible with this guide and not be confronted with something that violated personal beliefs...just what the Bible says about everything. There is no influence being conveyed except that of God’s inspired word, as it should be! This provides a good overview of the Bible so that even someone with no prior knowledge of scriptures could understand the primary message. That makes this an essential tool, for instance, for helping introduce a non-Christian to His word without overwhelming them with the whole Bible at one time. It gives the reader just enough to get them hungering for the rest of the story! I also love that there is so much space for personal journaling. It is so important to reflect on how the Bible applies to each person as an individual. I would recommend these products, especially to someone new to the scriptures or to a young person who may not yet be ready to commit to reading the whole Bible.

-Product review by Kelly Burgess, The Old Schoolhouse®, October 2021