When the first volume (Hebrews) of The People’s Bible series was released by Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) in 1986, it quickly became a favorite Bible commentary series for Christians hoping to enhance their understanding of God’s holy Word.

Developed gradually over the following two decades, the series gained notoriety among pastors and laypeople alike as an accessible, informative Bible commentary that provides accurate historical context, maps, illustrations, and even archaeological research. Since its inception, The People’s Bible series has sold more than 700,000 copies across its 41 volumes.

When NPH looked to expand the line, the team asked a simple question: What if readers could pray and meditate their way through the whole Bible?

“The hearts of God’s people hunger to worship him in prayer and meditation,” explains Chris Cordes, vice president of publishing at NPH. “What if we could provide devotions that walked readers through the Scriptures?”

That idea grew into People’s Bible Devotions. Each volume in this new series will offer meditations and prayers designed to carry readers through a section of Scripture. Cordes explains, “These devotions walk people through the great chapters of the Bible, giving them a chance to hike alongside the great heroes of faith, pause at the gates of important cities, face stormy temptations—all with a personal perspective as they ponder their place in our loving Creator’s plans.”

Nearly every volume of People’s Bible Devotions will be cowritten by authors who are related to one another—sometimes from the same nuclear family and sometimes through marriage or extended family.

The inaugural volume, From the Beginning: God’s Salvation Plan, has been a family project. Michael Seifert, pastor at Living Hope, Midlothian, Va., and his brother, Joel, pastor at Beautiful Savior, Marietta, Ga., were initially invited to coauthor the work, which focuses on the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.

When Michael was elected to serve as the North Atlantic District president and his responsibilities intensified, the brothers invited their father, retired pastor and former Michigan District president, John, to join the project.

For all three men, the project was a chance to revisit powerful sections of Scripture and reflect on their message for today. “So much of this section of the Bible is focused on God working through the broken and hurting family line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” Joel explains. “It’s a chance to be honest about our own challenges and remind others that we don’t need to hide these things. Instead, we can marvel together at the way God brings healing to and through the most broken of families.”

Their work together allowed the Seiferts to understand and appreciate one another’s strengths and insights in a new way. But at the end of the day, it was John who was left marveling at his sons’ work. He expresses his appreciation for “the depth of their understanding of God’s Word and their ability clearly to apply God’s law to life and comfort sinners with the good news that God in love sent his Son Jesus to take away their sins. . . . What a joy to call them not only my sons but also my brothers!”

The first two volumes are being released this October. Additional books will follow every six months.

Learn more at nph.net/pbdevotions.

Read a review.

The Pentateuch speaks

Michael Seifert comments on the Pentateuch and its beautiful illustration of God’s grace—then and now.

The Pentateuch provides the historical framework that is essential to understanding the rest of the Scriptures. But I hope people realize that it is so much more than that. It’s the curse of sin and the grace of God in action. And God always wins. If God’s promise of salvation had hinged even the slightest bit on the faithfulness of Adam and Eve or of the patriarchs or of the Israelites, it would have foundered a million times over. But there’s only one hero in this story. Only one. Almost every word in the Pentateuch testifies to that. And just as there is only one hero in the Pentateuch, so also is there only one hero in our own stories.