| The Bible Companion series is a simple, flexible, and compelling Bible Study guide. Short daily readings link God’s story to yours, help you through difficult passages, and highlight the treasures in each chapter of the Bible. In Genesis and Exodus, God reveals Himself as a loving Creator who longs to walk through life with you. Book 1 takes you deep into God’s plan to share His life and wisdom with those who love and follow Him. The storytelling approach of the series will keep you reading, even through the parts that are challenging and hard-to-understand. Find hope in the stories of ordinary men and women in the Bible whose encounters with God transformed them and reversed the direction of their lives. Discover that what God has done for them, He can do for you. Genre: Bible Study Release date: April 16, 2024 Click here to get your copy! |  |
Interview with Karen
#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
My father was a pastor who had a passion for God’s word. He encouraged his congregation to read the Bible, but without tepid success. A lot of people started yearly plans but dropped out when they got behind or when they hit Leviticus. Those who pushed through often didn’t remember or understand what they read. But then he started a small Bible Study with a few folks who committed to reading one chapter a day. He prepared a one-page devotional that gave insight into their daily readings and discovered people were not only absorbing what they read but were experiencing God in exciting ways. They brought their friends and within two years more than two hundred people were meeting together weekly to read through the Bible. It takes about three years and three months to read the Bible through if you read a chapter a day, but people stuck with it. That group read through the Bible 6 times. I saw this. I had already been writing and was on a fiction track but I kept being drawn back to my father’s vision. We had many discussions around how we could help more people discover the treasures in God’s book. I was convinced his approach was a good one. When I graduated from seminary and was praying about how to best use my writing for God’s glory, I realized that I could combine my love of storytelling with my love of Scripture by adapting my father’s template. With his blessing, I took his idea as the foundation and began writing a series of daily Bible readings that were story-driven.
My father was a pastor who had a passion for God’s word. He encouraged his congregation to read the Bible, but without tepid success. A lot of people started yearly plans but dropped out when they got behind or when they hit Leviticus. Those who pushed through often didn’t remember or understand what they read. But then he started a small Bible Study with a few folks who committed to reading one chapter a day. He prepared a one-page devotional that gave insight into their daily readings and discovered people were not only absorbing what they read but were experiencing God in exciting ways. They brought their friends and within two years more than two hundred people were meeting together weekly to read through the Bible. It takes about three years and three months to read the Bible through if you read a chapter a day, but people stuck with it. That group read through the Bible 6 times. I saw this. I had already been writing and was on a fiction track but I kept being drawn back to my father’s vision. We had many discussions around how we could help more people discover the treasures in God’s book. I was convinced his approach was a good one. When I graduated from seminary and was praying about how to best use my writing for God’s glory, I realized that I could combine my love of storytelling with my love of Scripture by adapting my father’s template. With his blessing, I took his idea as the foundation and began writing a series of daily Bible readings that were story-driven.
#2. What new or interesting things did you learn while researching for this book?
That Genesis and Exodus are much more contemporary than we think.
A lot of people hesitate to read the Old Testament because they think it’s not relevant. But Genesis is about new beginnings, something we all have needed at some point. Exodus is about freedom—freedom from external forces and freedom from internal pressures that keep us from flourishing like our mindsets, addictions, and broken relationships. The first two books of the Bible—Genesis and Exodus—identify all that enslaves us and tell us there is a way out. A way that brings life, that offers a chance to begin again, that redeems what we’ve lost. You can’t get more relevant than that.
That Genesis and Exodus are much more contemporary than we think.
A lot of people hesitate to read the Old Testament because they think it’s not relevant. But Genesis is about new beginnings, something we all have needed at some point. Exodus is about freedom—freedom from external forces and freedom from internal pressures that keep us from flourishing like our mindsets, addictions, and broken relationships. The first two books of the Bible—Genesis and Exodus—identify all that enslaves us and tell us there is a way out. A way that brings life, that offers a chance to begin again, that redeems what we’ve lost. You can’t get more relevant than that.
#3. What drew you to take on this topic through non-fiction versus fiction?
Since the book is a chapter-by-chapter exploration of Scripture, it had to be non-fiction, however, what makes the Bible Companion unique is that I combine non-fiction and fiction techniques. I use the techniques of fiction storytelling such as character development and drama to highlight the Bible’s themes and message.
#7. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
#8. How has writing about this particular topic changed your own life?
Since the book is a chapter-by-chapter exploration of Scripture, it had to be non-fiction, however, what makes the Bible Companion unique is that I combine non-fiction and fiction techniques. I use the techniques of fiction storytelling such as character development and drama to highlight the Bible’s themes and message.
#7. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
#8. How has writing about this particular topic changed your own life?
#4. Did you have a specific demographic in mind while writing this book?
Absolutely. I write for two audiences:
Absolutely. I write for two audiences:
- the person who wants to read through the Bible, believes every word of it has been given for our benefit, but has been unable to read it all the way through;
- the person who struggle with their faith, hopes the Bible can help them, but feels too overwhelmed and ill-equipped to tackle it on their own.
#5. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
That God is present and active in our lives, creating, rescuing, and transforming us for His glory and for our flourishing.
That God is present and active in our lives, creating, rescuing, and transforming us for His glory and for our flourishing.
#6. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18.
Working in the Bible all the time, it’s easy to slip into learning ABOUT God rather than experience Him. This verse helps me remember why I wrote the Bible Companion. I’m praying that I and those I write for will find Jesus in the Bible, the beautiful book He’s written and preserved for us. Jesus is there, in the stories—the law—the warnings—the celebrations—but unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we won’t see Him. “Open my eyes” can mean a lot of different things such as: “make me aware,” “shake me out of complacency,” and “open my heart.” Every time I go to the Scriptures, I pray that God will open my eyes to what He is saying. That I will see myself and my problems from His perspective. That I will see Him for who He is. That I will see His words as wonderful, even they’re it’s hard. I’m changed when I meet Jesus in Scriptures. That transformation is what I try to tell others is possible.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18.
Working in the Bible all the time, it’s easy to slip into learning ABOUT God rather than experience Him. This verse helps me remember why I wrote the Bible Companion. I’m praying that I and those I write for will find Jesus in the Bible, the beautiful book He’s written and preserved for us. Jesus is there, in the stories—the law—the warnings—the celebrations—but unless the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we won’t see Him. “Open my eyes” can mean a lot of different things such as: “make me aware,” “shake me out of complacency,” and “open my heart.” Every time I go to the Scriptures, I pray that God will open my eyes to what He is saying. That I will see myself and my problems from His perspective. That I will see Him for who He is. That I will see His words as wonderful, even they’re it’s hard. I’m changed when I meet Jesus in Scriptures. That transformation is what I try to tell others is possible.
More from Karen
A Father-Daughter Legacy: The Bible Companion Series
In 1993, my father, Pastor Floyd Westbrook challenged a group of men and women from his weekly Bible study to join him in reading the Bible from cover to cover. He found if he wrote short daily lessons for each chapter, people stayed engaged and were transformed by the Scripture they read. His work, though enjoyed by hundreds, was never widely published.
I shared his passion for making God’s word accessible to people who found it hard to understand parts of the Bible, couldn’t keep up with the schedule, or couldn’t relate Scripture to their journey. Later, after I completed degrees in theology and creative writing, we realized combining storytelling with his format could help people overcome the most common barriers to Bible reading. With his blessing, I began working on The Bible Companion. The result is a story-rich study which is simple, flexible, yet rich in content.
The Bible Companion Book 1 Genesis–Exodus is the first of twelve books that tracks God story from creation to the end of time. God, who tells His story through families, has graciously given me the privilege of carrying on my father’s legacy through The Bible Companion series.
In 1993, my father, Pastor Floyd Westbrook challenged a group of men and women from his weekly Bible study to join him in reading the Bible from cover to cover. He found if he wrote short daily lessons for each chapter, people stayed engaged and were transformed by the Scripture they read. His work, though enjoyed by hundreds, was never widely published.
I shared his passion for making God’s word accessible to people who found it hard to understand parts of the Bible, couldn’t keep up with the schedule, or couldn’t relate Scripture to their journey. Later, after I completed degrees in theology and creative writing, we realized combining storytelling with his format could help people overcome the most common barriers to Bible reading. With his blessing, I began working on The Bible Companion. The result is a story-rich study which is simple, flexible, yet rich in content.
The Bible Companion Book 1 Genesis–Exodus is the first of twelve books that tracks God story from creation to the end of time. God, who tells His story through families, has graciously given me the privilege of carrying on my father’s legacy through The Bible Companion series.
Father and daughter, Pastor Floyd Westbrook and Karen Westbrook Moderow ministering together.
2004 Christ Church of Westminster
2004 Christ Church of Westminster
 Karen Westbrook Moderow | Karen Westbrook Moderow is a Bible teacher and author who brings a storyteller’s perspective to Scripture. She graduated magna cum laude from California State University at Long Beach with a BA in English Literature. She also holds an MFA from Chapman University in creative writing and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary. She has been published by numerous Christian periodicals and authored two previous books. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
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Godly Book Reviews, May 20
Lots of Helpers, May 21
Simple Harvest Reads, May 22 (Author Interview)
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, May 22
Texas Book-aholic, May 23
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 24
For the Love of Literature, May 25 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 28
Cover Lover Book Review, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 30
Vicky Sluiter, May 18 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19
Godly Book Reviews, May 20
Lots of Helpers, May 21
Simple Harvest Reads, May 22 (Author Interview)
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, May 22
Texas Book-aholic, May 23
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 24
For the Love of Literature, May 25 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 28
Cover Lover Book Review, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 30
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