The Bible studies I chose to do in answer to the request of my first congregation out of seminary sought to present a serious, somewhat scholarly approach to the interested among my parishioners. In every case, I took a book to study, assuming that it was written to be read from the beginning, and to make sense to the reader in that format. I was most interested in finding what the author or compiler or editor, as the case may be, sought to convey. I have found the studies of value to me personally and felt that they were generally well received as I led them. Revisiting these studies now finds them again of value to me. I hope they prove to be so for you as well.