The Right Tools: Finding Good Books for Less

A few weeks ago, when Philly got hit with 18" of snow, we made it through the storm and its aftermath quite comfortably.

Why? Because we had the right tools (like the snowblower in this photo).

Teaching Bible study or leading small groups can feel like a blizzard sometimes: too many thoughts and ideas and theologies and questions swirling in our minds and in the minds of our students/group members.

We can navigate these blizzards safely and comfortably, however, if we have the right tools.

Nearly a year ago (February 18th, 2005, Essential Bible Study Resources post), I provided a list of non-negotiable, absolute-must-have-resources for Bible study teachers and leaders, so I won't repeat the list here.

What I've learned recently is that you don't have to spend a fortune to get these things. Here are a few places on-line you can find Bible study resources inexpensively:

1. eBay (in books, go to the non-fiction, religion, and Christian sub-categories, then search your title)

2. Amazon.com (use the used-book seller option). Take Zondervan's NIV Nave's Topical Bible (hardback) for example. Amazon lists this book for their discount rate of $29.99. BUT new and used booksellers at Amazon list the same book for as low as $9.00. I've used the new and used option for many, many books at Amazon without incident. I highly recommend this avenue for acquiring discounted books.

3. Use BookFinder.com. You can search by author or title and BookFinder will yield lists of sellers and their prices, many of which are unbelievably low.

Also, beyond the Internet, don't forget about your Public Library's used-book sales, second-hand or thrift shops, discount book warehouses, and other discounters like Ollie's Bargain Outlet
I buy a LOT of my teaching resources at Ollie's, as do many of my teachers and students. Check their web-site store locator to find a store near you.

Whatever you're teaching or leading, having the right tools can make your job easier; they may even help you survive a teaching storm. Some tools you can find on-line (see right-hand margin of this page), and some electronically (see my Thursday, February 16, 2006 post), but I like the printed page.

There's just something about books. And it doesn't have to bankrupt you to add a few good, hard-copy resources to your library.

Happy resource hunting! May you find what you need.

'Til next time,
Joan