The Bible

Honest, revealing insight into the bestselling book of all time

A stimulating and accessible survey of history's most influential book.

The Bible is the most influential yet most frequently misunderstood book in all of history. As modern culture clashes over which story we should live by, Andrew Ollerton gives us a timely reminder of why the Bible has provided a narrative that has made sense of life for billions of people for thousands of years. In the process he sketches out a remarkably accessible roadmap for those who want to trace the big story that scripture tells. For the believer, seeker, sceptic or just-plain-confused, this is an essential guide to understanding how the Bible continues to speak to modern life today.

Andrew offers us not just keys to understanding the Bible but also skilfully makes sense of our own purpose within the beautiful narrative. The wildest most wonderful thing any generation whispers to the next is that we are written into God's story - this book celebrates and embraces this essential truth.

Someone has said that the Bible is the bestselling, least read book of all time. I think there is some truth to that. Why is that the case? For many people the Bible is seen as a "spiritual book" with very little to do with practical daily living. What people need to know is the Bible, as Andrew Ollerton says, is a story that makes sense of life. For over 40 years now, I have been reading, studying and teaching the Bible and I can attest to you, from my own experience and the experiences of thousands of others, that there is no book in the world like the Bible. After reading, The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life, I think you'll agree.

Practical, accessible and inspiring. This wonderful book highlights the relevance, power and necessity of the greatest book ever to the lives of all people.

In a market of too many books and too few of real calibre, Andrew Ollerton's The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life stands out like a luminous gem. This is not simply yet another Christian book but an expertly written and user-friendly guide to the book of all books. The Bible is explored thematically using topics such as freedom, meaning and community, building a bridge between the world of the Bible and the one we inhabit. Andrew brings his gifts as a scholar and pastor to bear and has produced an amazing resource which is in-depth and illuminating but also practical and applied. I enthusiastically commend it.

In recent years, many folk I've met have been surprised to discover how closely the Bible's story of reality matches the contours of their own lives. Andrew Ollerton's guided tour of the world's bestselling book will help both seasoned readers and those new to the Bible encounter the God who is able to meet our deep desires for meaning, freedom, peace, love, community and home.

Ollerton is a master communicator - and here he manages to make something so vast so relatable. Drawing on science and philosophy, bringing a fresh, straightforward perspective, this book shines a new light on the Bible. Relatable, warm, wise... A very human, accessible read that will open your eyes and cause you to open your Bible. This is a great book, about the Good Book, and whatever your opinion of the Bible, from sceptical to evangelical, Ollerton will enhance your understanding. Highly recommended.

This is a masterpiece. Andrew Ollerton takes the complexities and intricacies of the Bible and arranges them in an accessible and engaging way for all to see, whatever your age or stage of faith. Punctuated with great stories, carefully chosen metaphors, humour and insight, The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life takes you on a journey that masterfully pulls together the threads of the greatest story ever known. I wholeheartedly commend it.

This very well-written, widely researched work conveys Andrew's great love for the Bible and his desire that we might know its divine author and his great plan for our lives. This excellent resource will be a blessing to many.

With clear readable prose, full of contemporary touch points, Andrew Ollerton brings the Bible to life in ways that make it highly accessible and show its relevance to our daily lives. There is no skirting over the difficulties or controversies of the Bible. But Ollerton skilfully disarms our modern confusion by revealing, in striking and simple terms, what it meant to its original audience and how surprisingly up to date this ancient text really is. We discover that it's not just about making sense of the Bible, but experiencing the Bible making sense of us. Strongly recommended!