My only qualm with Dr. Z’s works is the sheer weight of them. When I went to Precept Ministries International’s teen camp (which is just down the street from AMG) to study the Sermon on the Mount, I tried to bring the Complete NT Word Study Bible Dictionary along with my New Inductive Study Bible, notebook, and a small arsenal of micron pens in the same bag. Needless to say, by the end of camp I was convicted and energized, but that bag has never been the same since. ;-)

NLT Christian Basics Bible. Designed specifically for those new to the Bible, and built around the easy-to-read New Living Translation, with features to make Scripture approachable, and less intimidating. This Bible is laser-focused on helping you understand all the cultural rituals, beliefs, documents, and traditions that the Bible’s earliest readers had in mind. That means it’s NOT a starter studyBible—but it’s invaluable to the Bible geek! A study bible can be one of the most thoughtful gift ideas. It’s certainly one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. Choosing the right study Bible as a gift can make a meaningful statement—and a difference—to someone you care about.

Features

Life Application Study Bible(available in NLT, NIV, NASB, NKJV, and KJV). Study notes and articles are all focused on giving you ways to use what you learn in Scripture. CONCORDANCE: NIV Study Bible takes the cake on this again—it’s the largest, most comprehensive concordance ever bound in an English Bible. If you want a better concordance, you’ll need to either use digital tools or buy a separate book. This is the first, and to our knowledge, only study Bible built on a framework of biblical theology, which general editor D.A. Carson has describes as having a few foci:

Theology: The Jesus Bible (available in NIV and ESV). Specifically shows how the story of Jesus is developed throughout every passage of the Bible. Recommended for: People interested in studying the Bible for themselves (and prefer to take notes in their Bibles) This Bible is the kind of study Bible that you will keep and reference for years on end (though you might not carry it with you everywhere). It’s a massive, invaluable resource for studying the individual books of the Bible. A study Bible is the centerpiece of serious Bible study. For many Christians, this book is not only the tool where every Bible study session starts and ends, but it’s a key resource for prayer, reflection, teaching, and spiritual growth.How experienced are they with Bible study? If you’re getting a study Bible for someone who’s uninitiated in Bible study, you’ll want to get them something that will give them some tools and pointers for getting started. There are definitely challenges in breaking the Bible into a narrative format. For instance, did Jesus clear the temple once or twice? Did John or Matthew put this even in the narrative where it made most sense to them, or did Jesus cleanse the temple at the beginning or the end of his ministry? No matter how questions like this are dealt with, someone’s going to be frustrated. But some study Bibles take a more targeted approach—and the following are ways study Bibles do this: Key Old Testament (Hebrew) and New Testament terms are explained and expanded upon in two helpful reference features

But don’t worry that you’re not going to get enough study material out of this resource. Along with all the application helps, this Bible is equipped with: However, too academic is far better than not academic enough. Getting a Bible with articles and notes that are a little out of your depth can be frustrating at first, but eventually you can grow into it. Talk to your pastor about this. Your church leader should be able to point to scholars and ministry leaders who share key beliefs. Your pastor can also give you a heads-up on key passages, topics, and issues on which your church and a given editorial team disagree. This is especially important if you’re new to Bible study. The last thing you want to do is invest hours of personal Bible study only to find out that the things you’ve learned are considered divisive or not in alignment with your church community. This is the true basis for finding a study Bible that will work for you. If you want to be told how to apply Scripture to become a better leader, you’ll love the Maxwell Leadership Bible (authority & application). If you want plenty of space to explore what the Bible means for yourself, The New Inductive Study Bible was made for you (autonomy & interpretation).Specific themes. The Bible plays a key role in how many Christians think about current world issues—which means some publishers have produced study Bibles with notes specifically aimed at helping readers gain a biblical understanding of important issues, such as Christianity and culture, caring for the environment, marriage, recovery, or human rights. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible (available in NIV, NKJV, NASB, and KJV)—Charles Stanley Now more than 10,000 Life Application® notes and features that help explain God’s Word and challenge you to apply its truth to your life today