You want to study the Bible because you want to know God better. Yet it is not always easy to understand, and it is not always easy to see how some passages connect to others. So you turn to devotional materials. But where do you begin? There is a wide variety of devotionals out there, with some organized around topics and others around Bible passages or whole books. Some are written by pastors or Bible teachers, but how do you know who to trust? Not all of them are of the same quality.
The Planted in the Word series is intended for people who are longing to be the sort of person described in Psalm 1—the one who wants to be “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season” (Ps 1:3). Series editor Benjamin L. Merkle says the series had its origins in a coffee shop, when he was meeting with a friend who was lamenting the dearth of solid devotional material. In that moment, he began to think of a way to meet that need. “My vision is to produce Christ-centered Bible study material written by scholars who have devoted their lives to studying and teaching God’s Word. Oftentimes, however, the fruit of their labor does not directly reach the serious Christian in the pews. The goal of this series is to bridge that gap by producing solid material in an accessible format.”
The series will come in a planned twenty volumes covering the entire New Testament. Each volume begins with an introduction that helps readers get their bearings when it comes to the author, original audience, and main themes. Then the study itself is divided into forty chapters that are intended to be read daily. Each day includes a Scripture reading, a meditation on the text, a reflection on what the text tells us about Christ, a section on ways to apply the text, a prayer, and suggestions for further study. The 20 volumes and their authors are as follows:
- Matthew – Charles Quarles – December 2, 2025
- Mark – Brian Vickers – Available now
- Luke – Alan Thompson
- John – Miguel Echevarria
- Acts – Dennis Johnson
- Romans – Jarvis Williams
- 1 Corinthians – Brian Rosner
- 2 Corinthians (TBD)
- Galatians – Matthew Harmon
- Ephesians – Benjamin Merkle – December 2, 2025
- Philippians – Andy Davis – Available now
- Colossians–Philemon (TBD)
- 1–2 Thessalonians (TBD)
- 1 Timothy (TBD)
- 2 Timothy & Titus – Sam Storms – Available now
- Hebrews (TBD)
- James – Robert Plummer
- 1–2 Peter & Jude – Greg Forbes
- 1–3 John – Ray Van Neste
- Revelation – Alan Bandy
Merkle hopes that the series will be helpful to churches that preach through books of the Bible: “As the sermon series walks through a particular New Testament book, the collective church can study that book together.” He also believes that small-group Bible studies will find it draws them deeper into the Word: “This series provides reliable material that is exegetically responsible, meditative, gospel-centered, application-oriented, and prayerful. My hope is that this series will exalt Christ and strengthen the church.”
“I cannot think of a greater gift to the church than a biblically rooted devotional series, which spans the entire New Testament. The Planted in the Word series—which works through the Bible book by book, chapter by chapter, and line by line—will nourish the faith of Christians in a profound way for many years to come.” —R. Albert Mohler, president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kentucky
“The Planted in the Word series delivers biblical understanding in an outstanding way. The level of scholarship throughout is truly exceptional, and I have great trust and respect for each of the contributors. I’m excited to place these valuable tools in the hands of our church members, knowing they will be well-equipped to grow in their faith.” —Jason Dees, senior pastor, Christ Covenant, Atlanta, Georgia
