For many people raised in the church, familiar Bible stories like Noah's ark or David and Goliath are ingrained from childhood. Yet fewer can explain how Ruth connects to David or why Revelation ends in a garden the same way Genesis started. That gap in understanding—between knowing isolated stories and grasping the Bible as a single, cohesive narrative—is what Doug Kroeker addresses in his new book, A Walkthrough of the Bible, released by Writers of the West on July 4, 2026.
Kroeker, who has taught the Bible for most of his adult life, wrote the book for those who may have never opened a Bible as well as for those who have been reading it for decades. "I wrote this book because I came to realize that understanding the Bible is not always as easy as those of us who grew up in the church might assume," Kroeker said. "Not everyone has grown up in church. They were never taught the stories that we take for granted. When they hear a reference to the Exodus or Promised Land, they may have little idea where those events belong in the Bible or why they even matter."
The book covers all sixty-six books of the Bible across eight chapters, treating them as one story rather than separate islands. Kroeker begins with structure—how the library holds together, its more than forty authors spanning roughly fifteen centuries, and why the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament arrange the same material differently. He then moves through major biblical eras: Creation, the Patriarchs, the Exodus, the Conquest, the Kingdom, the Exile, and the return. The prophets, the four Gospels, and Paul's letters are examined as complementary parts of a unified whole, and doctrine—sin, salvation, and the church's mission—is presented as a continuous arc rather than standalone topics.
This approach matters because it addresses a widespread lack of biblical literacy. Many people encounter biblical references in literature, politics, or culture without understanding their context or significance. By providing a map from Genesis to Revelation, Kroeker aims to equip readers with a framework for understanding the Bible's overarching message. As Sarah Davis, lead editor, noted, "Anyone who's tried to read the Bible cover to cover and stalled out by Leviticus will find, here, a map worth following to the end." Chad Malvo, production manager at Writers of the West, added that the book "reads less like a reference book and more like a companion for the long haul."
Kroeker's background informs his accessible approach. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, he came to faith as a young believer and turned to studying and teaching the Bible in his thirties. His goal is to reach people still seeking answers and to leave a legacy of faith for his children and grandchildren. A Walkthrough of the Bible is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats. For more information, visit Amazon or the publisher's website at writersofthewest.net.
