Enter the Story Resources
We’re excited that you’re joining us for the Enter the Story series!
This year, we’re walking through 50 episodes of the Bible. Each one is part of the grand story God is telling across six seasons.
Our goal this year is simple: to know Jesus and become God’s people for the world. We’ve put together a variety of resources to help equip you as we step into the story of the Bible together!
Bible Recommendations
Here are a few translations our pastoral team would recommend for personal reading.
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The Common English Bible is the most commonly used translation by your RH teachers and pastors. It is well-balanced and endorsed by pastors and scholars across denominations. We recommend it because of its balance of reliable translation and readability.
Recommended use: Everyday use
Links: CEB Study Bible or CEB Bible
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Featuring thousands of study notes drawn from the bestselling NIV Application Commentary series (over 2 million copies sold), the NIV Application Bible helps you understand Scripture and connect it to your world in a whole new way. This study Bible guides you in discovering how the ancient truths found in Scripture relate to your experiences today.
Recommended use: Everyday use
Link: NIV Application Bible
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The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB) is highly endorsed as a leading academic study Bible, widely used by students, professors, and clergy for its unbiased, scholarly approach. It is considered the definitive one-volume reference tool for historical and critical Biblical analysis. It is praised for its comprehensive supplementary materials, including detailed book introductions, in-text essays, maps, timelines, glossaries, and an index to study materials, making it an invaluable reference tool.
Recommended use: Deep Study
Links: Oxford Annotated
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This version of the NIV removes all distractions- notes, verse numbers, etc. so that you can read devotionally.
Recommended Use: Devotional / Prayer
Link: Lectio Bible
General Resources
Books
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“Parakeets make delightful pets. We cage them or clip their wings to keep them where we want them. Scot McKnight contends that many, conservatives and liberals alike, attempt the same thing with the Bible. We all try to tame it. McKnight’s The Blue Parakeet has emerged at the perfect time to cool the flames of a world on fire with contention and controversy. It calls Christians to a way to read the Bible that leads beyond old debates and denominational battles. It calls Christians to stop taming the Bible and to let it speak anew for a new generation.”
Link: Blue Parakeet
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“The Gospel means good news. But if the message has been around for 2,000 years, what makes it significant today? What’s so “good” about stories involving damnation, violence, and a God who sacrifices his only son? Noted Bible scholar N.T. Wright shows us how Christians today have lost sight of what the “good news” of the gospel really is. In Simply Good News, he takes us back in time to reveal how the people of the first-century—the gospel’s original audience—would have received Jesus’ message. He offers a clear and thoughtful analysis of what the “good news” really is, and applies it to our lives today, revealing its power to transform us.”
Link: Simply Good News
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In clear, simple language, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible—their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today—so you can uncover the inexhaustible wealth of God's Word.
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Which Bible passages are for us today and which only apply to the first audience of ancient readers? Can we just pick and choose the verses we think fit our situation? Who gets to decide? In Read the Bible for a Change, Dr. Ray Lubeck helps readers correctly understand and relate the Bible to their lives. If you are serious about your relationship with God and committed to responding faithfully to his Word, this book is for you.
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“You want to understand the Bible and feel a deeper connection to God, but busyness, relationships, and everyday distractions seem to crowd out Bible reading most days. Not to mention it’s hard to know where to start—and deep down, you might even wonder if the Bible is relevant to your modern life. It’s overwhelming. It’s confusing. And it’s easy to feel frustrated on your faith journey. Too often, you find yourself walking away from reading Scripture, feeling lost instead of encouraged, something Zach Windahl experienced firsthand. Even though he grew up going to church, his Bible often remained on the shelf. It wasn’t until he discovered the joy of reading the Bible that he became passionate about helping others do the same. In his relatable and easy-to-read style, Zach has simplified Scripture to help you—especially if you’re a new Christian—understand the Bible’s message in a way that’s approachable and life-changing. If you’re feeling lost with Scripture, this book will be your guide. You no longer need to be confused, disconnected, and overwhelmed in your faith. Take the first step to understanding God’s story—and your remarkable role in it.”
Link: The Bible, Simplified
Online Resources
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STEP Bible is a free online Bible study software developed by Tyndale House that provides scholars and everyday readers with extensive resources like multiple translations, original language access (Greek/Hebrew), commentaries, dictionaries, and cross-references, turning any translation into a study Bible.
Link: STEP Bible
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The Bible Project is a nonprofit, crowdfunded organization that makes free resources like videos, podcasts, articles, and classes to help people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable and transformative. They do this by showcasing the literary art of the Scriptures and tracing key biblical themes from Genesis to Revelation.
Links:
Commentaries
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There are many good commentaries out there, but if you’re looking for a good place to start, we recommend the NIV Application Commentaries.
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A single volume commentary that gives concise, essential context for reading every book of the Bible.
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A large single volume commentary that gives a comprehensive and in depth guide to reading whole Bible in context.
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A highly accessible commentary set for reading the New Testament by N.T. Wright. Available as individual books.
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A highly accessible commentary set for reading the Old Testament by John Goldingay. Available as individual books.
Enter the Story Journal
Pick up a copy of the Enter the Story Companion Journal for $15! Only available in-person on Sundays.
We’re not offering a digital copy of the full Companion Journal at this time, but you can access all the weekly content and reading plan for free in the Rockharbor app. We’ve also included a couple of key downloads below to help you follow along.
Get more in the Rockharbor App!
Want to get full access to the weekly Sunday message, bonus videos, group guides, and Sunday notes?
Find everything under the “ETS” tab in the Rockharbor app today!