BOOK REVIEW - "THE INSPIRATIONAL STUDY BIBLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (NKJV)" BY MAX LUCADO

"The Inspirational Study Bible" by Max Lucado does a great job of being Inspirational. But as a study Bible? Not as much.

This book has an introduction to each book of the Bible. As you go through it, you will see on the margins a life lesson or two developed from the Scripture covered on the two pages you're looking at. This volume is strong on giving applications to God's Word. 

But what do I expect in a Study Bible? 

• A column containing cross references so you can see how a topic is dealt with through Scripture. This edition does not have cross references.
• Notes that deal with exegesis of the original languages, a look at the culture of the Bible time, and an explanation of difficult passages (though study Bibles and Commentaries all too often skip those tricky passages, because the author doesn't know the answer any more than you do).  This edition has some applications, but not the same kind of study notes.

I would call this a devotional Bible, but definitely not a Study Bible. This doesn't mean it lacks value. But if you want to study Scripture, I'd recommend other Study Bibles like the Scofield Bible, the Geneva Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, the Ryrie Study Bible, or the International Inductive Study Bible, all of which have cross references and notes.