Joanna Davey, Senior Bible Editor, Hodder Faith talks to Together magazine about their new Youth Bible, Engage which has been published in collaboration with The Good Book Company.
We all long for connection; it’s a basic human need. Connection with family, friends, community and of course, God – who created human beings for relationship with Him. This is the premise of the NIV Engage Youth Bible – the exciting new Bible for young people developed by Hodder and The Good Book Company. Engage connects young people with God through His Word.
Reading the Bible can, understandably, be a daunting prospect, especially for young Christians. Developing an understanding of the story arc of Scripture is key to making sense of the detail within and this is the approach that is offered by Engage. A clear infographic showcasing the Bible timeline from creation to new creation can be found right inside the cover. It’s easy to flick to from wherever you are in the Bible. To further help young people grasp the Bible as a whole there’s also a 21- day ‘Big Bible Story’ reading plan – a series of studies found in the margins alongside relevant passages.
Studies are an important theme of Engage: there are 12 issues-based studies on topics relevant to teenagers such as anxiety, body image and relationships, as well as a study on a key passage for each book of the Bible. The idea is to model how to study a Bible passage, so that young people feel empowered to start doing this independently. The studies in the NIV Engage Youth Bible are revised and updated from The Good Book Company’s popular Bible reading notes for teenagers by the same name. The original notes also contained articles to equip young people for the world they are experiencing around them. These articles – on applying the Bible to your life (‘Stuff’), answering your friends’ difficult questions (‘Tricky’), how to explain Bible doctrines (‘Essential’) and stories about real people whose faith has made an impact in the world (‘Real Lives’) – have been revised and updated for the new decade and include teaching on the environment, transgender and porn.
The Bible says that when His people read it, God speaks and things change. And teenagers can experience that for themselves through the pages of Engage. It has been designed as a journaling Bible to further encourage young readers’ connection with Scripture. The Bible has wide blank margins for note-taking, drawing, colouring and journaling. The act of noting down thoughts and questions, or even drawing or painting in the margin, encourages the reader to respond personally to the text and its author. Readers will find over 100 journaling prompts next to passages to dwell on and explore. Similarly, prayer is a central aspect of growing in our walk with God – Engage highlights 60 important prayers in the Bible, suggesting teenagers put them in their own words, for their own situation. Occasionally, important verses to memorise are displayed in the margin to colour or read aloud.
Of course, this edition contains the full text of the 2011, Anglicized New International Version, in 9PT British text. The NIV is the world’s most popular Bible translation in modern English and is renowned for its combination of accuracy and readability. Royalties from all sales of the NIV help Biblica in their work of translating and distributing Bibles around the world.
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
■ Includes the full text of the Anglicised 2011 NIV
■ Suitable for ages 11 – 18
■ Uses the popular Engage Bible study notes from The Good Book Company
■ 12 issues base studies on topics relevant to teenagers
■ 80 articles apply the Bible to life
■ Introduction to and key studies on each book of the Bible
■ Bible studies on important issues for teenagers
■ 21-day ‘Big Bible Story’ reading plan
■ Includes wide, blank margins for journaling, note-taking and drawing
Together Magazine
Together is the Christian resources magazine for the UK, with stories of what God is doing across the church today, book reviews and publishing industry news. Subscribe now at www.togethermagazine.org.