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Review: 10 Questions About the Bible

ByHeather Morris

Kids love to ask questions, don’t they? 

As a parent and someone who has worked in children’s ministry for 15+ years, I witness this propensity to ask questions firsthand. But let’s be honest: many of the questions that kids ask are ones that plague us adults as well. Questions like “How did we get the Bible?” Or “Why are certain books in the Bible, but not others?” Or “Is the Bible really God’s Word? And how does that work?” Often, we don’t admit that we are wondering the exact same things. And then, it can be tough to admit that sometimes we don’t know the answers to our kids’ questions about God, about faith, about the Bible. 

10 Questions About the Bible by Todd R. Chipman, part of the “10 Questions Series” published by Crossway, provides a solid starting point for exploration and discussions of hard questions surrounding the Bible. Designed specifically for kids, teens, and families, each main question comes with three accompanying devotionals. Beginning with a short reading that unpacks part of the answer to a question, the devotional includes a specific prayer and a question for reflection. As I read through the book, I found that the stories and structure of the devotionals and reflection questions will resonate more with pre-teens.

Each day in a section builds upon the last, adding more to the answer to that question. For example, the very first question addressed in the book is “How did we get the Bible?” Day one focuses on God’s heart to be in relationship with people, leading to the answer “God chose to reveal Himself personally in his word.” In the devotional section, Chipman writes:

When you meet someone new, how do you introduce yourself? You might describe your family, hobbies, and favorite foods…How does God introduce himself? God wants you to know him in several ways. The Bible tells us what they are.

His easy-to-follow prose continues through day two as the text addresses the doctrine of the Holy Spirit working through people to write each biblical book. Day three emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s specific inspiration of the writers. After three devotionals, the full answer to the question reads “God chose to reveal Himself personally in His word by appearing to men and guiding them through the Holy Spirit who inspired the Scripture they wrote.”

This small book does not shy away from difficult questions, which I appreciate as a parent. A few of the questions addressed include “What is the point of the Bible?” “How do we apply the Bible today?” “How do I know I can trust the Bible?” and “What about the Bible and other religions?” My family read many of the devotionals together and had lively discussions about what we read, which led us to dive deeper into the doctrines of our faith. The other two books in the series are 10 Questions About Salvation and 10 Questions About Pain and Suffering, which I would also like to read. Some of the answers given in 10 Questions About the Bible may differ from what is taught by specific denominations, but I believe that those differences could be a fantastic setup for even more family discussions—and for diving back into God’s Word itself.

Sometimes kids ask tough questions. Sometimes they echo whispers that bounce around in our own minds as adults. Graciously, God provides resources like this book, which can serve as a stepping stone to learning and further conversations. As a parent, as an author of books for kids, and as someone who has taught in children’s ministry for years, I found this Crossway nonfiction resource to be thoughtful, honest, and a great starting point for discussion.

Most applicable for ages 10+. Available now from Crossway. 

Heather Morris
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