Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again

By: Rachel Held Evans

Narrated by: Rachel Held Evans

If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she embarked on a journey to better understand what the Bible is and how it's meant to be read. What she discovered changed her--and it can change you, too.

Evans knows firsthand how a relationship with the Bible can be as real and as complicated as a relationship with a family member or close friend. In Inspired, Evans explores contradictions and questions from her own experiences with the Bible, including:

• If the Bible was supposed to explain the mysteries of life, why does it leave the reader with so many questions?
• What does it mean to be chosen by God?
• To what degree did the Holy Spirit guide the preservation of these narratives, and is there something sacred to be uncovered beneath all these human fingerprints?
• If the Bible has given voice to the oppressed, why is it also used as justification by their oppressors?

Drawing on the best in biblical scholarship and using her well-honed literary expertise, Evans examines some of our favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, and even a short screenplay.

Undaunted by the Bible's most difficult passages and unafraid to ask the hard questions, Evans wrestles through the process of doubting, imagining, and debating the mysteries surrounding Scripture. Discover alongside Evans that the Bible is not a static text, but a living, breathing, captivating, and confounding book that can equip us and inspire us to join God's loving and redemptive work in the world.

©2018 Rachel Held Evans (P)2018 Thomas Nelson

Breathing life back into Christians

Inspired is both practical and applicable in a world where debate seems to be a tenet of society. With a fresh perspective of how the Bible and its stories breathe God’s intentionality into action, this book turns what seems divisive into tools that make its readers more decisive in how we live the Word of God in our everyday lives.

Insightful and Inspiring

I wasn't sure what to expect but already knew id love it! Rachel didn't disappoint, I was challenged to see scripture in a whole new way and i love it.

Truly Inspirational

Another eye-opening, thought-provoking, inspiring book. I highly recommend it to all, especially those who have put God in a box.

Reassuring, Challenging and Encouraging

I have just recently opened my mind and heart to Rachel and her writings. I had heard of her a few years ago but had not yet journeyed as far as I needed to out of my 40+ years of conservative, evangelical faith. Over the past few years I have wrestled with many of my previously accepted core theological beliefs while not losing my love for God or allegiance to King Jesus. As I have devoured two of Rachel’s books I have found comfort that I am not alone. She also challenges me to hang on and to truly live like Jesus and the way of life in the kingdom that he inaugurated. Now my heart is saddened that Rachel is no longer with us. How I wish that I could have met her and talked over wine and cheese as she used to do.

great book!

I loved this book. it makes me sad that I wasn't exposed to her writings before her death. Such a great person she was!

love!

I'm very sad we will never have another story from RHE on this side of eternity. But wow. This book is incredible and it challenges you to dig into Scripture and the Christian life in ways that are deeper than most of us do and new in the sense that most of us have probably not studied the ways Jewish rabbis interact with Scripture or the various cultures of the cities Paul wrote his famous letters to. RHE loves Jesus deeply and lays the first stones on a path to His Kingdom that is narrow in the sense that it is hard and humbling, but wide in the sense that it is a path for as many different kinds of people as possible.

Brilliant

The voice, and thoughts, and stories, and words, and questions, and reflections, and considerations, and challenges, and scriptures that I desperately needed to hear. Thank you!

A celebration of Rachel’s life

I have had Inspired in my queue since it’s release a about a year ago. After the tragic news of the author’s, Rachel Held Evans, too soon death, I downloaded it. Hearing her voice is encouraging while listening to the words I know she labored over throughout her faith journey. Inspired is, in many ways, a culmination of her dedication to seeking, while shining a light for us to follow. This book is full of gems regarding doubt, speaking truth to power, loving our enemies, telling her son about God, and then some, written all in the beauty of her own inspired story telling. I will miss her. I am saddened that she is no longer here to write books. Yet, I am so very thankful for this one.

Beautiful book

This book helped me counter the narrative of an unforgiving, judgemental, and exclusive Christianity that I see all around me, on a daily basis. It helped me remember that there's nothing wrong with questioning and has helped me interpret the Bible in a more open and empathetic way. I will definitely be reading more of Rachel heard Evans. Thank God for her life, for her wisdom, and for her writing.

Life changing!

This book was insightful, riveting and convicting. It brought to life the context and truths of the Bible in a non threatening way through storytelling. Brilliant!!