As our world is in crisis, people need God’s Word more than ever. The Africa Study Bible can equip you to minister effectively to God’s people, with the biblical insights of contributors from 50 countries. Here are some features you might find especially relevant at this time:
- Counselling people in crisis? Look up the articles “Suffering – God’s Goodness and God’s Power” or “Care and Counselling in the Church”.
- What does it mean to be the church without a gathering? Consult the articles “What Makes a Healthy Church?” and “Teaching and Preaching in the Digital Era”.
- Wanting to capitalize on this time for deeper devotions? Learn notes on “Our Time with God” or the Bible Overview Reading Plan are a good place to start. Let church father Athanasius introduce you to how to pray each Psalm or use beautiful Scripture art to meditate on relevant Bible verses like Philippians 4:12-13, Romans 8:38, and Psalm 91.
- Getting ready for Easter? Remind yourself of how Christ removes our fear of death in the learn notes on “Resurrection” and “Eternal Life”.
- Preparing sermons to encourage your people? Find verses related to the passage you’re reading with the Africa Study Bible’s centre-column cross-references. Find fresh illustrations in the proverbs and stories notes, which connect sayings from our cultures to biblical truth, or the touch points notes, in which our customs or key figures from Africa in church history shed new light on familiar passages.
- Wondering if recent events are signs of the end times? Check out the Book Introduction to Revelation and the learn note “The Second Coming of Christ”.
- Trying to respond to claims God will protect people behaving recklessly? Take a look at the article on “Miracles” and the learn note about “Faith”.
- Seeking perspective beyond the chaos? Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness throughout history with the Narrative Timeline of God’s Work in Africa.
- Whenever you need to find out what the Bible says about a specific topic, look it up in the Africa Study Bible “Topical Index and Concordance”. For instance, looking up “disease”, “heal”, or “health” will lead you to relevant Bible verses, the “Health and Wellness” article, a learn note on “Healing”, and application notes that guide you on how to live out these truths.
Although many bookstores are closed at this time, you can access these tools by ordering the ASB through Amazon or by downloading the Africa Study Bible app – and it’s free for a year if you’re in Africa! In the app, tools that aren’t linked to specific passages are accessible by clicking the ASB cross and then the cube-shaped “Resources” icon.
We’re praying for you as you minister in this time of crisis, inspired by the prayer of our supervising editor, Dr John Jusu, over all who would read the Africa Study Bible:
“To the many saints in Africa and the African diaspora – champions of faith who face trials, war, persecution, famine, disease, and the temptations of the world – we pray that the words of the Lord and the words of his servants in this book will be a source of strength to live in joy, motivate loving and godly service, encourage worship of our great God, and establish hope and trust in Jesus Christ, who initiates and perfects our faith.
“As each person reads, may they hear the Lord’s voice in their own stories and proverbs. May the power of the Holy Spirit help them understand, preach, teach, and live the Bible better.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)
“Amen.”
[h1]Insert links for App Store and Google Play Stores or download link for free access in Africa.
IRETI HOPE 