“For God so loved the world . . . “Many of us could finish that sentence in our sleep. John 3:16 is a beautiful Scripture that neatly and simply sums up the message of the Gospel. But what do all the other 3:16s in the Bible have to tell us? The words of the Bible weave a tapestry of love, particularly the love that our Heavenly Father has for His children. But a love so deep and so wide cannot … cannot be contained in one memorized phrase. It takes multiple authors of sixty-six individual books to begin to explore the mystery of God’s care for us.The Other Three Sixteens by Malinda Fugate examines each third chapter and sixteenth verse in the Bible and invites a fresh, new perspective to help readers uncover surprises or remind them of forgotten truths of a faith that has become routine. Through Genesis to Revelation, we can soak in its depth, wonder at its intricacies, and be moved at how much the Lord truly does lavish upon us. Together, we discover God’s love under the weight of Eve’s sin in the garden. It’s there in front of Moses, burning in a bush that is somehow not consumed. God’s love sits in the dark with Job, rebuilds a wall with Nehemiah, and encourages a young pastor named Timothy. Together we will find a deeper understanding of the way our Heavenly Father cares for each of us today.Discussion questions suitable for individual or group use included.
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MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I think my parents were teaching me John 3:16 before I could hardly talk, so I have been quoting this verse from a very early age. But I have never thought of the other 3:16’s in the Bible until I saw this book. And I was intrigued by the title so I had to read and review it. This is not a book you can sit and read in one setting. This is more like a Bible study, because author Malinda Fugate not only gives us the verse, she gives her take on what she believes it means. Which is excellent! It takes a while to take it all in, to digest it. I was in awe as I read the other 3:16’s throughout the Bible. What a clever book! And I thank Malinda Fugate for thinking about this, and creating this wonderful Bible study.
I will sure be going through the Bible more and reading all of the 3:16’s and what God is saying in these verses. I think this book can be for anyone. It is especially great for a Sunday or Wednesday night Bible study. Or for a Sunday school class. Or any small group study. I highly recommend you check this one out. And for me, this one gets 5 stars all the way!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
A unique approach to studying the Bible, Malinda Fugate’s “The Other 3:16s” considers the universally-known John 3:16 and the Bible’s resounding message of love and explores the third chapter and sixteenth verse of the other books of the Bible that have them. She bases her analysis on the fact that God is love and that He has an overwhelming love for all of His children. Proceeding in order, she begins with Genesis and moves through both the Old and New Testaments, ending with Revelation and John. Not only is this logical and easy to follow, but I love that she includes the Old as well as the New Testament. The former tends to be written about less often, and it is challenging reading. I am impressed with the effort that the author has put into the organization and presentation of this book.
“The Other 3:16s” offers the big picture of the Bible in the form of a continuing narrative related by the author. As such, it can be read as one would a regular book, or it can be used as a devotional. This latter option is bolstered by the discussion questions that the author has graciously provided at the end of the book; they are merged with a Bible reading plan and formatted into either 6-or 10-week time spans, although this could be adjusted to the reader’s preference. Along these same lines, Fugate has arranged each chapter to discuss a book of the Bible. The verse corresponding with chapter 3 verse 16 is written out, and then she explains the setting and historical background, which is so important of any writing, but especially to a text as sacred as the Bible. In order to gain an understanding of the Lord and His workings from the earliest times through the book of Revelation, it’s necessary to have at least a basic knowledge of the individual Bible books and also be able to put them together as one cohesive narrative. Also, Fugate ties in the most-often-quoted verses from the Bible book from which they come, which is also helpful in bringing everything together. With an e-book copy, when I pulled up my notes section to read the passages that I highlighted, I was surprised and delighted to find that each one had the Bible book noted above it.
Speaking of the content itself, aside from a few isolated instances, this nonfiction book follows Scripture and provides information and clarification about the historical and cultural milieu, which helps readers to more fully understand what is transpiring and how it is significant. This, in turn, draws readers closer to the God who “welcomes questions from His children when they come from humble, reverent hearts.” I appreciate that Fugate acknowledges the tough questions that we all ask at some point, the answers to which we will probably never fully know on this side of eternity, concluding that we simply need to trust God because He always has everything under His perfect control, and His plans for His children are always for our good and for His glory. And so, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
An interesting concept—to explore all the 3:16s in the Bible. The author has done a remarkable job relating each of those verses to the context of the chapter and the book from which it comes as well as to biblical principles. It’s obvious she has put much study and thought into this teaching. This is a book I will use as a resource in the future. It would be great for discussion in a Bible study or Sunday School class or handy for sermon material. It made me want to dig into Scripture more. I love to find connections, and this connects concepts from throughout God’s Word and relates it to life too. The text contains forty-two chapters because not all books of the Bible have sixteen verses in a third chapter. Every chapter opens with the verse in focus then offers comments and digs into Bible study. It is informative and easy to understand. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
John 3:16 is one of those foundation verses in the Bible. It’s one that most people can quote from memory and it’s usually the verse people reflect on when they think about the love of God. But can we learn about the love of God chapter 3 verse 16 of other books in the Bible? That was the concept of The Other 3:16s and man, it’s a doozy.
Malinda Fugate takes us on a slow walk from Genesis to Revelation highlighting the way God has loved His people from the beginning of time and how He loves us still. But don’t think she’s just pulling the verse out of its context to prove a point…oh no, she gives you the context so you can understand what it meant historically before giving you the spiritual references.
I found The Other 3:16s to be a great addition to my Bible study time. By first reading the related chapter and meditating on it, I was able to see new wonders in God’s Word. I received an advanced reader’s copy through the publishers and Celebrate Lit; a positive review was not required.
I think this is a very interesting and neat way to study the Bible. Going through each book and reading the same chapter and verse to see what they are and how they can apply. It’s amazing how words written so long ago can impact our lives today.
When I first saw this book I was sceptical. What are we going to learn? It’s all going to be a jumble! But it wasn’t! They all made sense and it was amazing how it was always something that I’d looked over and studied before but never quite with that bit popping out like it does if you’re just randomly grabbing each verse.
A great study that I recommend you check out.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
The Other Three Sixteens is an in depth look at other chapter three, verse sixteen of each of book in the Bible. I remember memorizing John 3 : 16 when I was six or seven years old and I can still say it without hesitation to this day. I have never thought about looking at the same verse in the other books of the Bible. I found this concept to be quite unique and I appreciate Malinda Fugate putting them into book form. It is so interesting to read each one and loved her commentary to them. There are only a few pages long, making it easy and quick reading for busy readers.
I give The Other Three Sixteens a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for other readers.
I received The Other Three Sixteens from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Ms Fugate has put the cookies on the bottom shelf. So many times Biblical based books can be heavy, hard to read, and quite frankly, unapproachable to the common person. But Ms Fugate has written something that is completely enjoyable, readable and understandable without needing a theology degree. The concept behind looking at the “other 3:16’s” is such a fresh, novel approach to the Bible. The central theme of the Bible is Gods love for his children, but Ms Fugate beautifully explores how that love is evident throughout these unique scriptures in a new and refreshing way. This would be a great book for a small group study.
Malinda Fugate has taken the entire bible and has made it more assessable. Her love for God is evident in every page as she exposes God’s love for His people. A great book for a new believer and seasoned believer alike.
Author Malinda Fugate takes us on a journey through each chapter 3, verse 16 of the Bible and highlights how each points to the vast love of God. This serves as a sort of cross-section of the Bible, so we see many different portions and themes but Malinda ties them all together into a cohesive testament to God’s love and our belovedness. She does a great job of providing context for each verse, tying it with the immediate context of verses around it but also pulling in relevant passages and stories that add meaning to the text. She recognizes the limitations of the scope of the book and does not shy away from difficult questions.
This is the book we need today. Or any day, really. Even in “good times” bad things happen, and it’s easy to lose sight of God’s love in those difficult days. Malinda Fugate searches for God’s love through all the chapter 3 verse 16s in the bible. And she tackles some very difficult subjects! Many of the verses covered in the book are not a walk in the park. But through Malinda’s words, we discover that God’s love is always with us…in dark times, in happy times, on our down days, through tragedy, through triumph…always. It’s easy to feel God’s love when all is right in our worlds. And many of the verses she explores celebrate those times. But what about the not-so-good times? Malinda skillfully guides us on a journey through the difficult passages to find God’s love there, too. And those are lessons we can apply to our own lives. The book is filled equally with inspiration, humor, insight, and understanding that make it a joy to read. And the discussion questions make it perfect for a bible study. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants an inspirational good read, and to learn more about seeing God’s love.