Rebecca Davis

AFA Journal staff writer

June 2018 – “It will give you an overview of the whole Bible and equip you with answers to help defend your faith,” said Answers in Genesis president Ken Ham about The 10 Minute Bible Journey.

Written by Ham’s colleague Dale T. Mason (photo, right), vice president of AiG, The 10 Minute Bible Journey is designed to take readers from the beginning to the end of the Bible in 52 brief but thorough accounts that include explanatory notes, illustrations, devotional passages, and facts. The book contains an illustrated foldout timeline from creation to eternity.

The systematic storyline is gospel-centered and filled with apologetics. It highlights more than 200 strategic biblical events that help Christians gain a deeper understanding of their faith. It is also adaptable for use in a variety of settings.

“When we experience and understand the Bible chronologically – in the order that everything actually happened – and we get some basic ‘faith facts’ along the way, the Word springs to life,” Mason told AFA Journal.

Here is what else he had to say about The 10 Minute Bible Journey:

AFA Journal: How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Dale Mason: The idea was born out of my own struggle to really know how the big events and the big names of the Bible all fit together. I’d put off getting deeper in the Word for far too many years. It was as I blew out the candles on my 50-year birthday cake that I committed silently to God to get to know Him and His Word better than ever.

AFAJ: How long did it take you to write it?
DM: Five years. Our “nest” was empty; I suddenly had more evening and weekend time on my hands.

After I decided what the 52 big accounts were going to be, I started reading related Scriptures over and over, gathering the most amazing parts, and including facts that people like me – who had attended church all their lives – would still be surprised by. My goal was to boil each account down to 600 words. With the key Scripture passage and the prayer at the end of each, they really are perfect for daily or weekly personal devotions of about 10 minutes each.

AFAJ: Who is your target audience?
DM: My target is adults and teens. But from the moment the book was released last fall, people started using it with their young kids. There is some grown-up and frank wording in the 52 accounts, so if a parent or grandparent uses it with kids under about 10 years old, they’re going to need to paraphrase on the fly. But I’m hearing many great testimonials from all across the age spectrum. It’s just so Bible-based that God is using it in ways I never dreamed or imagined.

AFAJ: What makes it different from other devotional books?
DM: I’ve never been much of a “devotional book” reader myself, but what I hear from men, women, and teens over and over is that by reading this book, they are getting the big-picture overview of the Bible and seeing the “scarlet thread” of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation like never before.

AFAJ: What do you hope others experience through using this book?
DM: It is my earnest desire that people will fall in love with Jesus Christ more deeply than ever before, and that as they see how the story of His life and our future comes together, they will honor the Scriptures and acknowledge the Bible as the final word on every subject it touches – and it touches on everything!   

The 10 Minute Bible Journey is available at online and retail booksellers, and at answersingenesis.org or
800-778-3390.