Dive In: Bible Study Simplified
Maureen Odubeng | Friday May 4, 2018 12:57
Ashley Thaba is an American, currently residing in Botswana. She has written three books, Conquering the Giants, Healthy Eating Cookbook, and Dive In.
Many will remember Ashley Thaba from her Conquering the Giants, which is a heart-breaking story of her son’s traumatic birth. Many also follow her Mom to Mom: Parenting Consultations Facebook page.
Many of us have the Holy Bible or two in our houses, but we hardly ever consult it, and some get overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. Ashley Thaba’s latest book Dive In is an in-depth Bible study guide guaranteed to simplify bible study for study groups or individuals, who may have been struggling with reading scriptures contained in the Holy book.
The author in her five chaptered book, begins by sharing her ‘personal journey of Bible studies’. While not necessarily criticising authors who write books about the Bible, Ashley, in her book, encourages people to actually study the Bible. The chapter chronicles her rich and interesting journey of moving away from reading books written about, into reading the ‘one book written by God’.
“As a high school student interning at a church in Southern Florida one summer, I decided to ditch the books ABOUT the Bible, and just teach the youth to study the bible,” (page 5).
The author goes on to show why it is important to study the Bible rather than studying modern day Christian authors writing on spiritual topics.
“My aim is not to bash or discredit these authors, as many of their books have encouraged and challenged me over the years, but rather to spell out some benefits, which may lead you to a paradigm shift in how you choose your Bible Study material,” the author explains in her introduction, (page 5).
The book promotes self-reliance in establishing and growing one’s relationship with God, it also re-emphasis that contrary to perceptions held by some people that it is not everyone who can read and understand the Holy Bible.
The fourth chapter of the book contains different verses from the Bible.
“After promoting the Bible as a book worth studying, I dive in and take you verse by verse through a book of the Bible in order to practically teach you HOW to read the Bible for yourself and get something out of it,” the author explains.
The chapter includes a student’s study and a facilitator’s study, ‘which include notes that would help a facilitator guide the conversation of a study group by giving talking points after each verse.
People interested in purchasing the book, who don’t reside in Gaborone, can order the book through the author’s Facebook page Mom to Mom: Parenting Consultations.