On one rainy Tuesday last year, I was reading Matthew 5:13 to my small group: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

We started discussing the verse. When we started talking about the meaning of salt, I realized that I really didn’t understand the passage at all. See, in this time, salt wasn’t just something that added flavor or graced the center of their kitchen tables. Salt had value.

It was a necessity: for preserving meats and fish and for disinfecting wounds. I learned that salt was even used as currency in Jesus’ day. And I learned that the purpose of this passage was to show us much more than what salt meant to them—it was meant to show how much we mean to Jesus. By leading others to Jesus, we help preserve the eternal lives of others, we encourage others to heal their emotional wounds, and we show the ultimate value of living for Christ. I stepped away from that small group wondering how many times I had overlooked things in the Bible, unknowingly committing biblical fallacy by just coming up with my own conclusions about what things meant.

In order to have the most complete understanding of Scripture, we must understand the historical and cultural factors that influenced Scripture as it was written.

Every passage of Scripture has a context that illuminates its original intent. In order to have the most complete understanding of Scripture, we must understand the historical and cultural factors that influenced Scripture as it was written, as well as how it fits into Scripture as a whole. Explore the Bible exists to bridge gaps like this in biblical comprehension.

Through this book-by-book study, Explore the Bible guides preschoolers, kids, students, and adults into a deeper understanding of God’s Word. This resource will guide your church’s members to:

Grasp the Context of Scripture

Context separates what we may want the Bible to say from what the Bible really says. That's why Explore the Bible digs deep into the biblical, cultural, and archaeological context of Scripture, utilizing every trustworthy tool available to help us understand the original intent of each passage. The historical and archaeological evidence presented for all ages in Explore the Bible studies illuminates the very real people, places, and events in the Bible to help us fully understand God’s Word.

Deeply Encounter God’s Word

Our study of the Bible shouldn’t be seen as a box we like to check off or a boring obligation, but rather, a way our hearts gain a better understanding of God’s heart. The 66 books that are bound together as God’s Word are living and active, still speaking to us, inspiring us, and compelling us today. Explore the Bible shows the importance of encountering God’s Word through Bible Skills activities for preschoolers and kids and the new Daily Discipleship Guide for students and adults.

Live Out Biblical Truth

In a culture grasping for any truth, it is more important for us to know God's Truth than ever before. Yesterday, today, and forever, the truth found in the Bible stays the same, guiding us in our daily decisions and actions. Explore the Bible is committed to helping Christians of all ages develop a deeper knowledge of the Bible, what it tells us about God, and what He is asking us to do. From the “Talk It Out” feature for students to the Question section for adults, Explore the Bible guides participants to go deeper and put each session’s truth into action.

Through Explore the Bible, a deeper study of the Bible reveals the original intent of each scriptural passage and helps us to encounter the Bible in a way that propels us to live it out.

We invite you to learn more about this resource with a free one-month preview for all age levels. Download now.

Olivia Dear is a production editor at LifeWay Christian Resources. Originally from Madison, Miss., she recently graduated from the University of Mississippi. Olivia enjoys writing, interior decorating, spending time with friends, and exploring Music City (also known as Nashville, Tenn.).

With Explore the Bible, every age level follows a book-by-book study plan at their own age-appropriate depth and pace.