Kevin Johnson Books

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Sermon Outlines

I've crafted a four-part message series to help congregations learn to pray Scripture. It offers enough structure and content for an extended sermon or teaching progression without stifling your own creativity. Together with the Pray the Scriptures Bible, it can help launch your church into new experiences of prayer.

If you're not a pastor or teacher, give the free document a look anyway. It shows how and why to pray Scripture to draw closer to God.

Message One: How Does Prayer Fit into My Life?

Significant question: What is your experience of prayer right now?

Message Two: What Is “Praying the Scriptures”?

Significant question: Why do you read the Bible?

Message Three: How Do I Pray the Scriptures?

Significant question: How will you bring together the Bible and prayer to pray the Scriptures? 

Message Four: Pray the Scriptures Worship Service

Significant question: How will you make a habit of praying God’s Word?

 

Share this quick link to this post: bit.ly/psb-sermons 

The Pray the Scriptures Bible is an experiential Bible containing more than 4,500 Scripture-specific prayers and other features. It combines the accurate and readable God’s Word translation with a stream of prayers flowing from both heart and mind. It encourages a personal response to Scripture—a daily, constantly deepening conversation with God. Read all my posts about the Pray the Scriptures Bible.

 

Pray the Scriptures: A 40-Day Prayer Experience

Pray the Scriptures: A 40-Day Prayer Experience is my first follow-up to Pray the Scriptures Bible. It energizes prayer by showing how to take familiar Bible passages and pray them back to God. Prayer-starter phrases help you apply the text to your own life and circumstances. Each day's entry includes an introductory thought, a section of Scripture to pray, and concluding questions for reflection, group discussion, and further prayer. Coming in June 2013 from Bethany House Publishers.

 

 

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Resources

Are you a pastor or other church leader? I've developed four sermon outlines for teaching your congregation how to pray the Scriptures. And look for Pray the Scriptures: A 40-Day Prayer Experience in June 2013 from Bethany House Publishers.

Bookmark this post and check back for these resources and more.

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Now Available!

A lifetime and three years in the making, the full Pray the Scriptures Bible is available now. I trust that it will open your mind, heart, and words to the Giver and Lord of Life.

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Most people pray. Many of us struggle. We wonder what to say to God and how to say it. We worry if we will get what we ask for or if we can speak honest questions.

The Pray the Scriptures Bible shows that all of God's Word teaches us to pray. It's a unique experiential Bible. Alongside the full text of the highly readable and reliable God's Word translation, Pray the Scriptures Bible offers a stream of prayers inspired by Scripture. It's an avenue of conversation with the God who speaks to us through his Word. It's a response to Scripture that flows from living, pastoring, and teaching, as well as authoring more than 50 books for adults and youth.

Don't expect prayers too lofty for your real life. My goal was to stay close to the text and find words and themes that fit in everyone's mouth. You can pray these prayers for yourself. You can pray them for others. And you can pray them with others. I hope these prayers help you find your own voice with God.

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott say, “For two decades Kevin Johnson’s writings have led students and adults deeper into the heart of God. Now he shows us how to use Scripture as the ultimate prayer book. We love it. This is powerful spiritual inspiration.”

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Read all my posts on the Pray the Scriptures Bible.

 

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Details

Here’s how my publisher describes the Pray the Scriptures Bible, pointing out a few of its highly useful features. Besides the stream of responsive prayers, there are articles and indexes to help you pray the Scriptures. Most significantly, someone apparently counted the number of prayers I composed. 

 

Your Daily Companion to a Life a Prayer

Making daily prayer a habit in your life is easier than ever with the Pray the Scriptures Bible. This first-of-its-kind Bible combines the full text of the God's Word translation with thousands of prayers to pray alongside the Scriptures that inspired them.

Ideal for anyone looking to grow closer to God through prayer, the Pray the Scriptures Bible includes these special features:

• more than 4,500 new Scripture-specific prayers
• a guide to praying the Scriptures
• introductions for each book of the Bible
• articles based on major categories of prayer
• index of prayers that appear in Scripture
• a topical prayer guide

The Pray the Scriptures Bible opens a powerful avenue of conversation with God as he speaks to us through his Word. You'll learn to pray with more confidence, apply Scripture to your life, and to pray words you know God hears--and answers.

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Kind Words

I'm grateful that co-authors and friends have already offered up some kind words for Pray the Scriptures Bible. Here's what they say:

"I know firsthand that Kevin Johnson is biblically insightful and practical. Pray the Scriptures Bible will help you to pray deeply for yourself, your loved ones, and your world."

—Josh McDowell, speaker; bestselling author of More Than a Carpenter

“I strongly recommend Pray the Scriptures Bible. It launches and guides your prayers with the highest-octane fuel and most precise compass in the world: the living Word of God. Your prayers and your world will never be the same.”

—Ken Sande, president, Peacemaker Ministries; author of The Peacemaker and Resolving Everyday Conflict

“Even seasoned students of the Bible need help to make the living Word come alive again. Pray the Scriptures Bible brings together two tough spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and prayer—in a way that brings life to your soul. This is like rain on a parched field. Drink it in.”

—Bob Merritt, senior pastor, Eagle Brook Church; author of When Life's Not Working: 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow

“God has spoken and does speak in his Word. We respond in prayer. To listen without responding is rude, and to speak without listening is presumptuous. This tool will prove immensely in encouraging intimacy with God through hearing and responding.”

—D. Stuart Briscoe, minister-at-large, Elmbrook Church; founder, Telling the Truth

“For two decades Kevin Johnson’s writings have led students and adults deeper into the heart of God. Now he shows us how to use Scripture as the ultimate prayer book. We love it. This is powerful spiritual inspiration.”

—Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, founders, RealRelationships.com; authors of Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts

 Thanks much!

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Sample

You can now flip through a 16-page online sample of the full Pray the Scriptures Bible, coming in late October 2012. It includes spreads from Exodus and John plus my introduction. The sample looks like the finished product with a bonus of animated page turns. And you can always see more in the already-published Pray the Scriptures Bible: Psalms and Proverbs.

The Bible will release in three trim styles and a Kindle edition and is already available for preorder. This first-of-its-kind project combines the full text of the readable and reliable God's Word translation with thousands of responsive prayers. It also includes book introductions, articles on authentic prayer, a topical index, and a second index of every prayer in the Bible. 

Learn more about Pray the Scriptures Bible.

Crazy | A Range of Writing

I remember agonizing on the couch about a dozen years ago. Right after seminary I had pastored a group of several hundred middle schoolers, a rare and amazing privilege. I started writing books during that time. After five years I left to oversee the adult nonfiction line at a major publishing house, another stretching opportunity. By day I signed, developed, and edited überserious adult books, and by night I continued to write thoughtful and occasionally funny books for youth. After five years as senior editor of adult nonfiction I so badly missed working with youth that I took a position as an executive at a non-profit serving at-risk teens.

A few months later when that job didn't unfold so well I sat wondering what I was supposed to do with my life. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to expend myself working with adults... or students... and I hated being torn between the two. In the end I decided I was done trying to make that decision. I was crafted to work with both adults and youth, and I was going to keep living in both worlds as long as I could.

My work includes projects for adults, students, and kids. After twenty years of writing and more than fifty books published I've done contemplative prayer Bibles and practical books aimed at adults... youth books that gently jab at minds, hearts, and hormones... children's products splashed with color, cartoons, and computer generated art... and multimedia intergenerational projects mixed in too. I work hard at all of it. I love all of it. Whatever the target audience, I don't take any chance to write for granted. And I hope to never stop doing any of it, even if the crazy assortment doesn't make sense to anyone else.

 

Cover | Pray the Scriptures Bible

My snap of a unbound sample cover of the upcoming Pray the Scriptures Bible doesn’t begin to capture its look. The title on the binding is stamped in gold, with the Lord’s Prayer cut into the front cover. It appears it's either etched by lasers or masterfully chisled by gnomes. The Bible comes wrapped in brown or teal “duravella” (imitation leather) or hardcover. Bethany House Publishers says finished copies will arrive by November 1, and it’s already available for preorder here.

 

 

Pray the Scriptures Bible: Psalms and Proverbs | GOD'S WORD Translation

When I concepted Pray the Scriptures Bible I envisioned a stream of prayers alongside an easy-to-read translation. I wanted a fresh yet accurate version that makes people stop and think, whether they're new Bible readers or folks who've worn out Bibles with frequent use. I looked for a translation that fit with the style I aim for in the prayers--warm and personal, yet clean and journalistic.

I'm happy to partner with Bethany House Publishers to use the God's Word Translation, "the Holy Bible in clear, natural English." GW accurately translates the meaning of the original texts into everyday language. It's readable...reliable...living...active...life-changing.

Here's what Billy Graham says: "GOD'S WORD is an easy-to-understand Bible translation. It is a wonderful version."

More at God's Word Translation.