Featured Bible Study Program

The Bible is Word of God to us. In the Bible, we hear the very voice of God, revealing himself to us, instructing us how to live, and guiding us in the path of salvation.

In the past few hundred years, our civilization has developed to a high level in the distribution of specific knowledge and skills. People only have a relatively fair understanding of their own profession or career related, while lacking balance and even losing common sense in other fields.

If you come into contact with the reality of church members, or churchgoers, and those who claim to be Christians, you will not be surprised to find that they know very little about the Word of God.

It’s about approaching your study with intentional goals and having a plan.  Studying the Bible is neither dry nor arduous. While it does require effort, the rewards are truly remarkable. Give yourself an opportunity to explore an incredible journey, test yourself and becoming mature in Christ.

Bible Study involves more than just Intellectual Ability or Achieving High Academic Scorecard

Studying systematically involves analyzing the Bible with a clear plan, often focusing on its historical, cultural, literary, and theological elements, rather than reading it randomly or selectively. In contrasts with casual or devotional reading, which may focus on inspiration without delving into deeper analysis. Systematic study is often used by scholars, theologians, or serious students of the Bible to build a robust understanding of its message and avoid misinterpretation.

This method often involves examining the Bible’s content chronologically, tracing themes, and understanding the historical and cultural context of the text. It also emphasizes the importance of observing the text, interpreting its meaning, and applying it to one’s life. 

Non-cognitive factors like learning strategies, academic mindsets, and behaviors play a significant role in our programs. Not quite the same as academic study, most of us are in other professions rather than studying this subject as theologians. Please be aware the methods use to study The Word of God will be change and adjusted after extended period. We recommend that finding a quiet environment and studying independently and at a controlled pace is the best option.

Last, most people, specifically in the personal development, underestimate daily effects, and short-term mood swings are unlikely to push you to new heights. Having a long-term plan can stick also requires building or having a study habit.

Heart Condition

A believer’s heart condition is crucial for their spiritual life and walk with God. The Word of God emphasizes the need for self-examination, genuine love, and a heart open to God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The heart condition of believers is needed to backup your study plan. We should challenge ourselves before embarking on the journey of lifelong learning. As believers, it is the call to constantly assess our motives, attitudes, and actions to ensure they align with God’s will and reflect the love of Christ.

Practicing and Concerns

Learning without practicing is a common problem among many people. In our personal lives, study, or work, we have similarly neglected practice and instead have been keen on arguing about issues that are not even related to core doctrines. Intellectual corrupted can be seen everywhere in contemporary society, especially in political and religious life. In other words, focusing on intellect and knowledge without practice will not help you grow much, but will increase the chances of revealing the hypocritical aspect of human nature. We often fall short in our Christian living. In fact, it is very difficult to live out our gifts, time and treasures as a true Christian.

On the other hand, the phrase “act and busy with no understanding like a fool” describes someone who is actively engaged in tasks or activities but lacks the wisdom or comprehension to do so effectively or purposefully. These persons are busy, but their busyness is unproductive or even detrimental due to a lack of understanding. It’s a state of being actively engaged without the necessary knowledge or insight to guide their actions.  This concept is reflected in various proverbs and teachings:

  • “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in airing his own opinions.” (Proverbs 18:2). Fools are more interested in expressing their own views than in seeking understanding, which can lead to ineffective and even harmful actions.
  • “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent and discerning if he holds his tongue.” (Proverbs 17:28). This proverb suggests that a fool’s lack of understanding can be masked by silence, but their actions will reveal their folly when they speak or act without proper knowledge. 

The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. The time you spend in the Word of God will also show up in your own life, in the fruitfulness of your words and deeds. Let us begin to experience its wholeness and make a difference in our journey to find love and truth.

About Dr. J. Vernon McGee

We highly recommend the journey as Dr. J. Vernon McGee calls “The Bible Bus” which takes through the whole Word of God in every five years. What also makes the program unique is the systematic way via mainly audio format by radio, podcast and app in your phone. Written notes and outlines are available for free distribution or download at TTB.

John Vernon McGee (1904-1988) was born in Hillsboro, Texas. Dr. McGee remarked, “When I was born and the doctor gave me the customary whack, my mother said that I let out a yell that could be heard on all four borders of Texas!” His Creator well knew that he would need a powerful voice to deliver a powerful message.

After completing his education (including a Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary), he and his wife came west, settling in Pasadena, California. Dr. McGee’s greatest pastorate was at the historic Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, where he served from 1949 to 1970.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee loved to tell the story more than anything else. He began teaching on the radio in 1941, knowing as The Open Bible Hour, hoping that the San Gabriel Valley and the metropolitan Los Angeles area would pay attention and respond to the wonders of the Bible, simply told. That little program aimed at “Mr. Average American” was the foundation stone for what would eventually become Thru the Bible Radio.

Between the year of 1955 to 1967, the radio program known as High Noon Bible Class. Again in 1967, he began teaching Thru the Bible. After retiring, his radio ministry expanded rapidly. The second language, other than his native tongue, Spanish broadcasting stated in 1974. When Dr. McGee passed way in 1988, the radio program was heard in 35 languages.

The continued success of this ministry, even after the death of its founder, gives testimony to God’s abundant blessings.

Unique Arrangement and Time Allocation

This featured program takes the listeners through the entire Bible in five years, going back and forth between the Old and New Testaments with an interesting sequential variation by mixing Books with each canonical segment. You can start studying at any time, as TTB claims. When you finish Revelation, it will restart at Genesis, so if you listen to the program for five years, you will not miss any part of the Bible. It is one of best systematically learning approach for the Bible if you have not done so.

Thru the Bible broadcast airtime is 26 minutes Monday to Friday, including a few minutes of the program information sharing. Occasionally, you can hear additional recordings of Dr. McGee’s teaching on special topics such as God’s covenants, Eight judgments and Dispensation or just listen from listeners’ feedback.

Here is the sequence of the 66 books’ arrangement, and time assigned to each book:

The Old Testament Pentateuch (5 books)1 rotate with the New Testament Gospels (4 books)2 that made up the first group with the following order.

  1. Genesis (55 Broadcasts in 11 weeks)
  2. Matthew (Gospel) (39 Broadcasts in 8+ weeks)
  3. Exodus (36 Broadcasts in 7+ weeks)
  4. Mark (Gospel) (19 Broadcasts in 3+weeks)
  5. Leviticus (31 Broadcasts in 6+ weeks)
  6. Luke (Gospel) (29 Broadcasts in 5+ weeks)
  7. Numbers (19 Broadcasts in 3+ weeks)
  8. John (Gospel) (40 Broadcasts in 8 weeks)
  9. Deuteronomy (20 Broadcasts in 4 weeks)

The second group starts with total 12 books of History3 from Old Testament, rotate with the New Testament starts with Acts also consider as History4, and the canonical order (specification follows a principle or rule) of the first 3 Epistles from Paul (3 of 14).

  1. Joshua (13 Broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  2. Judges (11 Broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  3. Ruth (7 Broadcasts in 1+weeks)
  4. Acts (New Testament – History) (35 Broadcasts in 7 weeks)
  5. 1 Samuel (17 Broadcasts in 3+weeks)
  6. 2 Samuel (13 Broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  7. 1 Kings (14 broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  8. 2 Kings (14 broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  9. Romans (Epistle)5 (36 broadcasts in 8+weeks)
  10. 1 Chronicles (12 broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  11. 2 Chronicles (17 broadcasts in 3+weeks)
  12. 1 Corinthians (Epistle) (24 broadcasts in 4+weeks)
  13. Ezra (7 broadcasts in 1+week)
  14. Nehemiah (12 broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  15. 2 Corinthians (Epistle) (20 broadcasts in 4 weeks)
  16. Esther (10 broadcasts in 2 weeks)

The third group starts with 5 books of Poetry from Old Testament, rotate with the next 4 Epistles from Paul (4 of 14) in the canonical order.

  1. Job (23 broadcasts)
  2. Galatians (Epistles)
  3. Psalms (54 broadcasts)
  4. Ephesians (Epistles)
  5. Proverbs (33 broadcasts)
  6. Philippians (Epistles)
  7. Ecclesiastes (12 broadcasts)
  8. Song of Solomon (13 broadcasts)
  9. Colossians (Epistles)

The fourth group begins with the first 5 books of the Prophets (5 of 17) and continues in rotation through the remaining Pauline Epistles (7 of 14) in the New Testament (Please note some dispute the authorship of Hebrews, but the argument offers little value as our position for our study purpose).

  1. Isaiah6 (Prophets) 49 broadcasts with 219 tracks
  2. 1 Thessalonians (Epistle)
  3. 2 Thessalonians (Epistle)
  4. Jeremiah (Prophets) 20 broadcasts with 96 tracks)
  5. Lamentations (3 broadcasts in 1-week)
  6. 1 Timothy (Epistle) 12 broadcasts with 44 tracks in 2+weeks)
  7. 2 Timothy (Epistle) 8 broadcasts with 31 tracks in 1+weeks)
  8. Ezekiel (Prophets) 25 broadcasts with 108 tracks
  9. Titus (Epistle) 5 broadcasts with 15 tracks in 1 week
  10. Philemon (Epistle) 1 broadcast with 5 tracks in 1 day
  11. Daniel (30 broadcasts in 6 weeks)
  12. Hebrews (Epistle) 43 broadcasts with 115 tracks in 8+ weeks

The fifth group begins with the remaining 12 books of the Prophets (12 of 17) and continues in rotation through the remaining 7 catholic Epistles.

  1. Hosea (15 broadcasts in 3 weeks)
  2. James (Epistle) 16 broadcasts with 53 tracks in 3+ weeks
  3. Joel (8 broadcasts in 1+week)
  4. 1 Peter (Epistle) 15 broadcasts with 50 tracks in 3 weeks
  5. Amos (Prophets) 16 broadcasts with 58 tracks
  6. 2 Peter (Epistle) 14 broadcasts with 36 tracks in 2+weeks
  7. Obadiah (Prophets) 5 broadcasts with 11 tracks
  8. Jonah (11 broadcasts in 2+weeks)
  9. 1 John (Epistle) 25 broadcasts with 75 tracks in 5 weeks
  10. Micah (17 broadcasts in 3+weeks)
  11. 2 John (Epistle)
  12. 3 John (Epistle)
  13. Nahum (8 broadcasts in 1+week)
  14. Habakkuk (10 broadcasts in 2 weeks)
  15. Zephaniah (7 broadcasts in 1+week)
  16. Jude (Epistle)
  17. Haggai (9 broadcasts in 1+week)
  18. Zechariah (34 broadcasts in 6+weeks)
  19. Malachi (15 broadcasts in 3 weeks)

The last group also the sixth’s, contains only one New Testament book – Revelation.

  1. Revelation (New Testament – Prophecy)7 (65 broadcasts in 13 weeks)
  1. Pentateuch (5 books – Old Testament) classification ↩︎
  2. Gospels (4 – New Testament) classification ↩︎
  3. History (12 books in the Old Testament) ↩︎
  4. History classification in the New Testament (1 Book) ↩︎
  5. Epistles (21 books – New Testament) ↩︎
  6. Prophets (17 books – Old Testament) ↩︎
  7. Prophecy (1 book in the New Testament) ↩︎

Study Guideline and A Step further in-depth study review and suggestions

If the Bible is like any other book, there’s no reason for diligent Bible study. If the Bible falls into the same category as a piece of literature or non-fiction book, and even history textbook, then there’s no need to focus on the Bible over any other book.

There are dedicated airs on this program for “Guidelines for the understanding of the Scriptures” before the study of the first book in the Bible. Dr. McGee writes:

“I want to mention seven very simple, yet basic, preliminary steps that will be a
guide for the study of the Word of God.

Begin with prayer
Read the Bible
Study the Bible
Meditate on the Bible
Read what others have written on the Bible
Obey the Bible
Pass it on to others

You may want to add to these, but I believe these are basic and primary.”

Let’s explore few of these steps now.

Study the Bible
– Customized Bible program for advance Study

“To put the cookies on the bottom shelf so that the kiddies could get them.” – This is Dr. McGee has definitely and deliberately attempted to do for the needs of lay Bible readers as well as clergy. Thru the Bible Radio 5-yr program were transcribed, edited for reading audience as well. It is not the word-for-word recording of the audio messages however the changes were necessary to accommodate for this purpose. You can find Dr. McGee’s publication in most Christian Book stores. This is what Amazon online describes:

"Radio messages from J. Vernon McGee delighted and enthralled listeners for years with simple, straightforward language and clear understanding of the Scripture. Now enjoy his personable, yet scholarly, style in this 60-volume set of commentaries that takes you from Genesis to Revelation with new understanding and insight. Each volume includes introductory sections, detailed outlines and a thorough, paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of the text. A great choice for pastors - and even better choice for the average Bible reader and student!"

Thru the Bible, 5 Volumes (By: J. Vernon McGee)

A complete reference edition of the 60-volume Thru the Bible commentary series, this five-volume set is an excellent choice if you need a complete Bible commentary in durable hardcover bindings. It includes Dr. McGee’s insightful study of each book of the Bible with in-depth, paragraph-by-paragraph discussions of key verses and passages.

Thru the Bible, Complete Index (By: J. Vernon McGee)

With this book you can customize your study by theme, scripture reference, or doctrine, by bible character or concept. Under one index entry, you will find every reference to your topic or scripture that Dr. McGee makes in all these volumes. Imagine how helpful this quick, powerful access will be when you’re pulling your thoughts together for a sermon, bible lesson, or personal study. 504 pages from Nelson.

Dr. McGee also provide many free booklet and materials on topic with published as written materials in addition to his audio source at Thru the Bible.

Read what others have written on the Bible

For serious readers, we complied all books of Dr. McGee mentioned and have written by others. The links and review of these extended study will be available to you one at a time when each item or session is ready to publish.

Last, we believe the condition of the study incl. your listening environment and yourself is very important. On your journey of this program, you may experience miss the study here and there, or important topics that matter to you, or get interrupted during the listening hour at your favorite radio stations or podcast even at your own scheduled time. We trust the Holy Spirit will guide you through the exciting journey. May God richly bless you!

Dr. McGee wrote:

Someone has put it in a very brief, cogent manner: “The
Bible—know it in your head; stow it in your heart; show it in your
life; sow it in the world.”