I just got a couple copies of the new LIVE Bible from Group Publishing. I got a hold of the hard cover version and the soft cover. It’s very, very cool. I really like the look of it, and the fact that even though it’s aimed at teenagers, it doesn’t label itself that way. It kills me when I see Bibles with “youth Bible” on the cover, or “teen Bible.” Flashback to when you were fifteen – that’s just not cool. And it’s labeling it in such a way that when they hit a certain age they’re going to discard it because they want to look older! It comes with some cool extras, like a poster based on the Live Bible (we put our favorite musicians and movie stars on the wall, why not God’s living word?), and some stickers with the instructions to personalize your copy of the Bible. It’s the New Living Translation, which is a solid and easy to read translation – great for young people. And it’s full of articles, devotions, resources and creative expressions by other teens. I think my favorite part of the whole thing, though, are the blank “creative spaces.” Every few pages there is space set aside for teens to draw, write, take notes, create art, whatever. I love that every aspect of this Bible sends the message that we are to interact with it, that we are not casual observers but very involved with God’s word. It’s a great way to teach important study disciplines and it’s done in a very relevant and enjoyable way.
At first glance I thought the price was a little steep for my preferences when it comes to stocking the youth room ($22.99 for the softcover, $27.99 for the hardcover), but places like Simply Youth Ministry have it listed at a great discount ($16.99 for the softcover, $19.99 for the hardcover, with bulk discounts as well; here’s the link – LIVE Bible). Group also has some great bulk quantity rates. At the end of the day, I really, really like it. It’s definitely my top recommendation for parents and youth workers to grab for their teens – just make sure you spend the extra few bucks and get the hard cover. It will last a LOT longer!
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