40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John
Do you have a spiritual thirst? Do you want to drink Living Water that only Jesus offers?
Whether you are yet to take your first sip of Living Water or have been quenching your spiritual thirst for a long time, dig deeper into the Gospel of John to move forward on your spiritual journey.
Embrace John’s—and Jesus’s—recurring themes of eternal life, love, and the need to believe. It could—it should—change everything.
Explore profound truths in Living Water, a devotional Bible study based on John’s biography of Jesus.
In Living Water, lifetime student of the Bible and founder of the ABibleADay website Peter DeHaan, PhD, celebrates the poetic rhythm of the Gospel of John. In doing so he digs into the disciple’s evocative writing to uncover profound spiritual truth and life-changing insights with eternal ramifications.
You’ll never look at John the same way.
In Living Water, you’ll discover:
Why John’s biography of Jesus is beloved by so many.
Jesus’s gift of living water—so we’ll never thirst again.
The power of Jesus’s longest prayer and what it means for us today.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for us, his sheep.
The role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’s ministry—and in our lives.
Learn more about Thomas’s disappearing doubt, Peter’s redemptive restoration, and Nicodemus’s born-again confusion. Find out who Jesus’s first missionary was, how Joseph of Arimathea risked everything for Jesus, and the truth about Mary Magdalene.
Get Living Water today to celebrate Jesus’s life and embrace his love.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Earlier this month I took part in the Victorious Christian Conference, hosted by Emily Louis. My session was a “Fresh Perspective of the Bible and God.” We covered that and a lot more.
Though I don’t like seeing myself on video or listening to a recording of my voice, I did enjoy my interaction with Emily and our faith discussion.
I pray you’ll get something useful from our words. Here’s the video of the session.
Here are some of the other speakers at the conference:
R. Christian Bohlen: “Letting the Life of Jesus Shape Our Lives”
Mimika Cooney: “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things for God”
Entrice Rowe: “Relational Prayer”
Wendy Snyder: “Relating to God as our Father”
Rick Torrison: “Created for More/Our Identity in Christ”
Daniel Lancaster: “Shame Is a Liar”
Kim Vollendorf: “Who God Says We Are”
If you want to hear their sessions at the Conference, it’s not too late. A backstage pass is available.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Reimagining Our Sunday Traditions from a New Testament Perspective
Do you have a nagging feeling that something’s missing from your church experience?
You’re not alone. And it’s time to discover a better way.
Church-reform advocate and Bible scholar Peter DeHaan, PhD is a strong proponent of meaningful Christian community. In Jesus’s Broken Church, he uses Scripture to guide us into right practices and away from the off-track customs that most every church adheres to.
The problem is that today’s church follows an Old Testament model. We go to a building where we have professional clergy serve as our liaison between us and God. Then we pay for the whole thing with our tithes and offerings—just like Moses instructed.
But Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament. Through him we are the church, we are living stones. We don’t need to go to a building. As the church, we take it with us wherever we go. And we don’t need paid clergy either. Each of us serves as priests to one another. Or at least we should.
In Jesus’s Broken Church, you’ll discover:
How Jesus moves us from an Old Testament understanding to New Testament enlightenment
The early church’s approach to their meetings, which we neglect to follow today
Essential New Testament practices that are more important than song and sermon
Biblical ideas to inform the activities of our spiritual communities
Seven religious concepts that require reformation
If you happen to like how your church functions, then don’t buy this book. It will only make you mad. But if you sometimes leave your Sunday service feeling let down, that something is lacking and there must be more, then this book can guide you into a new direction.
Get your copy of Jesus’s Broken Church today to discover what’s missing and how to fix it.
Read more about this in Peter’s thought-provoking book, Jesus’s Broken Church, available in e-book, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Form a Habit of Daily Bible Reading to Guide You through the Year
Each year I have the goal to read through the Bible. And each year I invite you to read along with me. To help with this, my annual Chronological Bible Reading Guide is now available.
Chronological Bible Reading Guide
Each year I get requests for a chronological plan. And each year I try to make one, but I give up. It’s a complicated task.
The problem is a comprehensive chronological reading of the Bible requires a lot of details that won’t fit on a two-page sheet. Because of overlapping passages from different books, some days you would find yourself reading from multiple sections of different passages.
Along with being a lot of information to present, that’s too much page flipping and the potential for confusion. For a truly chronological reading of the Bible, get one of the many one-year chronological Bibles. These provide the best and easiest approach.
It is possible, however, to make an approximate chronological reading guide by putting the books of the Bible in order. This plan is my inaugural attempt to do so. I’ll use it for my annual Bible reading guide.
I encourage you to do so as well. It only takes 12 to 15 minutes a day. And each Tuesday throughout the year, I’ll blog about a passage from that day’s reading.
If reading the entire Bible in a year seems too daunting, scale back to a more manageable goal. I have a series of other Bible reading plans to guide you. Pick the one that works for you:
Form a habit to read the Bible. Download your preferred Bible reading plan today and be ready to start reading on January 1.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Peter DeHaan and his wife did just that. They spent a year visiting a different Christian church every Sunday: Protestant mainline, evangelical, and charismatic; Roman Catholic too.
He visited a congregation just like yours. Count on it.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe. You’ll cry.
Church-reform proponent Peter DeHaan is a strong advocate of forming meaningful Christian community. And he shares his discerning journey of discovery to inspire ministers, members, and attendees to build personal connections that matter.
This isn’t a church-shopping romp or a mean-spirited critique. Peter doesn’t rip at today’s church. Instead he offers a gift of encouragement, hope, and insight to all of Jesus’s followers. Plus, he shares astute observations and makes spot-on suggestions.
Then build on the narrative of 52 Churches with the thought-provoking follow up: The52 Churches Workbook. In it, consider 200 challenging questions to grow your faith. Ideal for group discussion or individual introspection.
But that’s not all. Read more church encounters in More Than 52 Churches. Followed by TheMore Than 52 Churches Workbook. More experiences and more reflective considerations.
Read the 52 Churches Boxset for education, read it for entertainment, and read it for the vision gained only from visiting a diverse array of churches.
These books are ideal for ministry leaders, members, and spiritual seekers.
Get your copy of the 52 Churches Boxset to begin your own exploration of religious practices!
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
95 Theses Reveals Our Past So We Can Reform Our Present
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther’s supporters printed copies of his 95 theses and distributed them widely. The document essentially went viral.
Had Martin Luther lived today, his supporters might have taken to social media to get the word out. In doing so, 95 theses might have become 95 tweets.
Celebrate the five-hundred-year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed his list of ninety-five concerns to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.
Most Protestants Have Heard of Martin Luther, but They Know Little More
Discover what Luther said in his history-changing document that people talk about but have never read.
Learn what Luther’s ninety-five theses meant 500 years ago.
Understand the significance behind his work.
Explore how the ninety-five theses apply to us today.
Consider reformation as an ongoing effort.
Reassess your spiritual practices.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses explains the meaning behind each of Luther’s ninety-five concerns. Then it updates the basic premise of each one, for today’s audience. 95 Theses concludes with a present-day list of ninety-five items for the modern church to consider.
The intent is not to criticize her but to encourage ongoing reforms.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Answer: Throughout my life I’ve sat through thousands of sermons and most all of them talked about the men in the Bible. They ignored women or gave them a mere footnote in the message.
If a sermon was ever about a woman, the director of women’s ministry might have given it, or it popped up on Mother’s Day. And frankly we don’t need another sermon about the Proverbs 31 Woman. All the messages I’ve heard about her miss the point.
The women of the Bible deserve more attention, and I want to give it to them. There’s so much they can teach us.
Q 2: What drew you to the women in the Bible?
A: Women make up slightly more than half the people on our planet, yet we don’t talk about biblical women too much in church. That is to our shame and our discredit.
I desired to discover more about the women who appear in the Bible. I wanted to learn from them and share the insight that God gave me with others.
Q 3: In all due respect, how can a man write about women? What makes you qualified?
A: I’m glad you asked this question so that we can talk about it, but at the same time I wish it weren’t necessary. The short answer is that I believe God has given me a heart for women.
Obviously, I can’t understand everything women go through, but that doesn’t disqualify me from writing about them, to encourage and inspire others.
In researching and writing this book God gave me a curiosity to ask questions other people would skip, to seek to understand these women’s circumstances, and to draw lessons from their lives. I put all those insights in the book. The outcome is what matters.
Q 4: What was your intent in publishing this book? How do you expect people to use it?
A: My goal was to compile and provide the information for readers to use as they saw fit. Some have treated it as a devotional and others as a Bible study. I’ve heard from people who’ve bought it as a reference and were glad to have it.
One reader intended to read one chapter a day but couldn’t put it down and kept turning pages. She read it in a couple of days. Many have told me they kept reading, with the pledge to read “just one more chapter.”
I also hope small groups or classes will use it for a study or discussion guide.
Q 5: Is this book just for women, or can men read it too?
A: I wrote the book for everyone.
The fact that it’s about women, doesn’t mean it’s only for women. The truths it covers are universal, applying to both women and men.
Q 6: What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this book?
A: It seemed perfectly natural for me to write about women in the Bible, but I was surprised at how many people thought it was strange.
That may make me atypical, but I prefer to think of it as me having a little bit of God’s heart for the female half of his creation.
Q 7: What surprised you most when you researched this book?
A: The character of Mary Magdalene has taken a hit in recent years. But after studying what scripture says about her a different story unfolded.
Mary Magdalene was the one to carry the good news about the greatest event in the history of the world—Jesus’s resurrection of the dead—to the disciples.
God didn’t have a man do it, even those that’s what the society of the day expected and even demanded. This makes Mary Magdalene the first missionary for Jesus. Never forget that.
Q 8: Many people criticize the Bible for how it portrays women. Does this make God sexist?
A person who reads the Bible quickly without a discerning eye—or a person who has never read it at all—might claim that the Bible treats women badly or that God is sexist.
This, however, is far from the truth.
Remember that God created us in his image, male and female. When he finished, he pronounced it as “very good.”
Yes, the Bible reveals God to us, but the narrative takes place during a time when sin badly distorted what God had in mind for the human beings he made.
In this regard, the Bible reflects man’s mistakes, not God’s heart.
Q 9: Who is your favorite woman in the Bible? Why?
A: That’s such a great question. I have many favorites, so it’s hard to pick just one. Ruth is a longtime favorite because of her dedication to her mother-in-law and to God.
Esther is another cherished favorite for using her position to influence the king and save her people from an inevitable genocide. I also like Judge Deborah and Rahab in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament I especially appreciate Priscilla because she often received first billing over her husband.
And then there’s Rhoda. Her story, her faith, and her exuberance make me smile every time.
Q 10: Your subtitle is “The Victorious, the Victims, the Virtuous, and the Vicious.” Why did you select these words?
A: The overall arc in Women of the Bible is to celebrate the feminine half of God’s creation. This makes it natural to look at the victorious and the virtuous. But that’s not a complete picture.
Due to sin’s impact, some of them are victims. And there are a few who are just vicious.
This is a reminder that terrible behavior isn’t the sole domain of men. Women can fall into evil as well. That’s why we must all be vigilant, to protect ourselves from falling into their error.
Q 11: How many women does your book cover? Why did you include that many?
A: I cover 135 women in Women of the Bible. Most books about biblical women address only a handful, usually twelve or less. And that omits a lot of interesting women and ignores what we can learn from them.
Initially my goal was 100, but I quickly realized that wasn’t enough. Although I could’ve kept writing and gone beyond 135, at that point I covered what I felt was important.
To continue writing about some of the very obscure names that remained wouldn’t really add anything to the discussion. So, I stopped at 135.
Of course, that’s not to say there couldn’t be an expanded version of Women of the Bible in the future. An appendix in the book lists dozens more women I could add in the second edition—if there’s value in doing so.
Q 12: Will you write a counterpart to this book, Men of the Bible?
A: I’d never considered doing that, but some people have asked about it and one reader assumed I would.
So, there might one day be a book Men of the Bible.
Q 13: Will you be writing any more about women in the Bible?
A: I’m glad you asked. The answer is yes!
Women in the Bible is book one in the Bible Character Sketches Series. My next book in the series is Friends and Foes of Jesus. This looks at New Testament characters. Many of those in Women of the Bible will make a reappearance.
For them I offer new and expanded content. In this way their story continues. Then I repeat the process for a book about Old Testament characters: Old Testament Sinners and Saints. And I’m currently working on a sequel of sorts: More Old Testaments Sinners and Saints.
Beyond these, I have several more books planned for the Bible Character Sketches Series, such as prophets, priests, judges, kings and queens. And every book will include women.
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
The first five books in the popular Dear Theophilus series are now available in a convenient e-book box set. This Dear Theophilus box set includes:
Dear Theophilus: A 40-Day Devotional Exploring the Life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke
Dear Theophilus Acts: 40 Devotional Insights for Today’s Church
Dear Theophilus Isaiah: 40 Prophetic Insights about Jesus, Justice, and Gentiles
Dear Theophilus Minor Prophets: 40 Prophetic Teachings about Unfaithfulness, Punishment, and Hope
Dear Theophilus Job: 40 Insights About Moving from Despair to Deliverance
In Dear Theophilus Books 1–5: Exploring Luke, Acts, Isaiah, Job, and the Minor Prophets, lifetime student of the Bible and ABibleADay.com founder, Peter DeHaan, PhD., digs deep into the beloved Gospel of Luke to unearth 40 thought-provoking gems that can inform your beliefs and transform your life.
Next, he builds on that foundation by exploring 40 more jewels from the book of Acts.
Then, he examines Isaiah, the Minor Prophets, and the book of Job for 120 more nuggets of gold.
In this five-book box set treasure, you’ll discover:
The way Luke viewed God, and how his view might change your view
How Jesus’s followers in Acts met daily in people’s homes and public spaces, which ignited church growth
The parallels between the books of Isaiah and Revelation, about peace, woe, and salvation
The Minor Prophets’ place in the biblical timeline—because the Bible doesn’t list them chronologically
How the book of Job resembles a play and the way that can enlighten our understanding of suffering, Satan, and God’s sovereignty.
The Dear Theophilus series explores Scripture like you’ve never seen before. It’s part devotional, part bible study, and fully life changing.
Explore the powerful way the words of these books of the Bible can speak to you today, as you increase your understanding and grow in faith.
In Dear Theophilus Books 1–5, you’ll encounter eye-opening insights from passages you thought were familiar. Find fresh truths as you gain a broader appreciation of what the Bible says and how this ancient book is still relevant for us today.
Ideal for both individual and group study, these books includes Scripture references and questions inviting further discussion.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Peter DeHaan’s latest book Dear Theophilus Job is now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. It’s book five in the beloved Dear Theophilus series.
In Dear Theophilus Job you can explore the book of Job as if watching a movie, with the biblical text serving as our screenplay. It’s a fresh take on an ageless story, breathing new life into one of the Bible’s more perplexing tales.
Consider:
Do your eyes glaze over when you read the book of Job?
Are Job’s friends too pompous? Is God a bit aloof? Can you push through all the lengthy speeches? Does Satan have too much control over poor Job? If you cry “foul,” you’re not alone. It doesn’t seem fair.
Job doesn’t have to be boring, however. But to access its profound message requires adopting a fresh approach. It calls for pursuing a unique take to embrace this ancient story.
What if we read Job like a screenplay?
In Dear Theophilus, Job, founder of ABibleADay.com and lifetime student of the Bible Peter DeHaan, PhD, digs deep into the dialogue in the book of Job. By doing so he reveals heart-thumping drama, misguided do-gooders, and heretical notions about God that still exist today.
In Dear Theophilus, Job, you’ll discover:
That the book of Job resembles a play and how that can inform our understanding
How well-meaning people can misrepresent God
A glimpse into the heart of our Lord
That life isn’t fair, but God is
The way Job questions the Almighty and lives to talk about it
Part devotional. Part Bible study. No fluff. Totally life changing.
In book five of the Dear Theophilus series, you get all this and more: Thought-provoking insights about justice, mercy, and deliverance. God’s power, patience, and sovereignty. And don’t overlook the guile of evil Satan.
End with a greater appreciation of how the book of Job can inform your actions and attitudes today. May it change you and inspire you.
Buy Dear Theophilus Job today and move from despair to deliverance!
Discover more about Job in Peter’s book I Hope in Him: 40 Insights about Moving from Despair to Deliverance through the Life of Job. In it, we compare the text of Job to a modern screenplay.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Want to learn more about the Gospel of Luke? Do you seek insights from the book of Acts?
Doctor Luke wrote the two powerful New Testament books of Luke and Acts, giving us a compelling one-two punch into better understanding the life of Jesus and the work of his followers.
Grow in your faith and deepen your understanding of Jesus and his church from these two amazing books in this special Dear Theophilus box set.
In Dear Theophilus, Dr Luke, lifetime student of the Bible and founder of ABibleADay.com, Peter DeHaan, PhD., digs deep into the beloved Gospel of Luke to unearth 40 thought-provoking gems that can inform your beliefs and transform your life. Then he builds on that foundation by exploring 40 more jewels from the book of Acts.
Part devotional. Part Bible study. Totally life changing. No fluff.
In this book, you’ll discover:
The way Luke viewed God, and how his view might change your view
The people who angered Jesus the most, why they frustrated him, and how this applies to us
The importance of community and getting along
The example to minister to each other, serve as priests, and tell others about Jesus.
The model of sharing life with other believers
In Dear Theophilus, Dr. Luke you’ll encounter eye-opening insights from passages you thought were familiar. Find fresh truths as you gain a broader appreciation of Luke’s biography of Jesus and the account of his followers as they formed the Christian church.
Ideal for both individual or group study, this book includes scripture references and questions inviting readers to go deeper.
Get Dear Theophilus, Dr Luke today to deepen your understanding of Jesus and his church.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
