Bible Gateway Plus has dozens of resources for all kinds of Bible readers from beginners to experts. One group it’s especially designed around is helping pastors and Bible teachers prepare for sermons, classes, Bible studies, and other events.
Bible Gateway Plus makes it easy for you to quickly compare multiple resources for any passage you’re working, teaching, or preaching through. You can even prep your lesson on the go: if you can read this, you can access an entire library of Bible study materials with just a few taps — no need to carry around all your commentaries and study Bibles.
If you’re just getting started with Bible Gateway Plus — or have been using it for the same two or three resources for a long time and want to expand your repertoire — here are some of our top picks for pastors and Bible teachers to gain and share both quick insights and deeper understanding of Scripture.
First, two quick points to remember:
- Once you find your favorite resources, you can pin them for easier access.
- You can use any resource with any Bible translation. So if you want to use the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible notes with the NASB, ESV, or NKJV, you are free to do so!
Now, let’s look at the resources.
Top Resources for Historical Background
When you want to bring your listeners into “Bible world” and plant their feet in the context of the place, time, and culture where the books were written, these resources will give you the quick facts you need to get them there.
NIV/NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
This study Bible brings the ancient world into focus with notes, articles, charts, and more from John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener. It highlights cultural, historical, and religious practices that shaped how the original audience would have understood Scripture.
How to use it: This tool will help you avoid reading modern assumptions into the text, move beyond vague, “at the time” generalities, and equip you to explain passages in their original world so your people hear them as the first hearers would.
NIV First-Century Study Bible
Edited by Kent Dobson, this Bible emphasizes Jewish traditions, customs, and first-century context. It’s designed to help you hear the words of Jesus and the apostles as their earliest listeners would have.
How to use it: When you’re working on a sermon in the Gospels or Paul’s letters, check this resource to highlight the Jewish roots that you and your congregation might otherwise miss. It will also enrich their understanding of how the New Testament fulfills the Old.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old and New Testament)
This multivolume set combines archaeological data, cultural studies, maps, and images to explain the background of each verse. The full-color visuals and commentary bring texture to the biblical world, whether you bring them to your Bible study or use them for your own research.
How to use it: Your congregation may never visit Israel or study archaeology, but you can bring those worlds to them. This series — more robust and thorough than study Bible notes — helps you preach and teach with rich detail that captures the imagination.
Top Resources for Theological Exegesis
As a pastor, you’re called not just to explain words but to proclaim God’s truth. These resources help you trace theological themes, connect passages across the canon, and you translate complex themes into digestible concepts.
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible
Edited by D.A. Carson and featuring contributions from over 60 trusted commentators, this study Bible highlights theological themes that run across the storyline of Scripture. It helps you see and articulate how every part of the Bible connects to God’s larger plan.
How to use it: Use this when preparing to show your people how a text points to Christ or fits into the gospel story. It’s especially helpful for tying together Old and New Testament passages.
NIV Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible
This indispensable, classic tool organizes more than 100,000 biblical references into topical chains, allowing you to trace ideas like faith, love, or holiness across the entire Bible. It should be in every pastor and Bible teacher’s repertoire.
How to use it: If you’re planning a sermon series on prayer or want to study a theme in depth, simply follow the chains. It gives you a ready-made structure for tracing God’s truth through Scripture.
NKJV Evangelical Study Bible
This study Bible combines detailed notes, theological articles, and word studies from a clear, conservative evangelical perspective. It’s designed to help you stay Christ-centered and doctrinally grounded.
How to use it: When you need a reliable companion to keep your exegesis faithful to evangelical convictions, use this to steady your study. It provides a trustworthy lens for weekly sermon prep.
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (Abridged)
Is your Greek a little on the rusty side? A condensed version of the classic multivolume work, this dictionary offers accessible studies on Greek words and New Testament themes. It brings scholarly insight within reach of everyday use.
How to use it: When you’re preparing a sermon and want to go deeper with a key word — without getting lost in technical detail — this gives you a balance of accuracy and usability.
Top Resources for Pastoral Insights and Exposition
Your people don’t just need information; they need transformation. These resources help you bridge the gap between exegesis and exposition, equipping you to deliver sermons that are faithful, practical, and Spirit-filled.
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament/New Testament
This perennially popular, two-volume abridgment of the classic set gives verse-by-verse exposition from trusted evangelical scholars in a concise, accessible format.
How to use it: Keep this one handy for quick reference when preparing a sermon. It’s a dependable commentary that saves time while giving you sound insight — the ideal balance between the snippet-sized notes of a study Bible and the depth and detail of a complete commentary.
NIV Application Commentary (selected books)
Intended both for personal study and for teaching preparation, this comprehensive commentary and background provides insights into the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context — while also providing a bridge from the world of the Bible to our lives today.
How to use it: Pull this one up for a quick and easy one-two punch that will provide contextual background to a passage while also providing some ideas for how you can encourage your people to bring its lessons into their everyday life.
Story of God Bible Commentary (selected books)
Edited by two prolific evangelical scholars, Tremper Longman III and Scot McKnight, this commentary emphasizes the grand narrative of Scripture, interpreting each passage as part of God’s unfolding story of redemption.
How to use it: You’ll want to preach or teach from this when you want your congregation or Bible students to see how their own lives fit within God’s bigger story. It helps you frame each text within the gospel narrative.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary
A trusted tool for decades, Vine’s dictionary explains key Greek and Hebrew terms in clear, accessible language.
How to use it: Use this for word studies when you want to clarify meaning in a sermon without boring your listeners by diving into technical lexicons. (Don’t worry, we know it’s interesting!) It will add depth to your preaching without overwhelming you or your audience with detail.
Additional Inspiration From Favorite Pastors
When you’re stuck, sometimes the best help is listening to another pastor. These study Bibles let you sit with faithful preachers who have been in the trenches, learning from their insights and borrowing from their wisdom.
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible
Tony Evans, longtime pastor and founder of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, preaches with a strong focus on “kingdom living.” His style is energetic, practical, and often filled with memorable illustrations.
How to use it: Lean on Evans when you want to connect deep biblical truth to everyday issues like family, justice, or perseverance. He’ll help you make your sermons vivid and actionable.
NASB/NKJV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible
Charles Stanley, a Southern Baptist pastor best known for his decades at First Baptist Atlanta and his “In Touch” ministry, emphasized steady discipleship and personal holiness. His style is calm, clear, and relentlessly focused on God’s faithfulness.
How to use it: Look to Stanley when you’re preaching on spiritual growth, faith in trials, or the basics of walking with God. He’ll remind you how to feed your flock with simple, timeless truths.
NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible (Albert Mohler)
R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a Reformed Baptist theologian and cultural commentator. His style is intellectually rigorous, doctrinally precise, yet pastoral in tone.
How to use it: Draw from Mohler when you’re preaching texts that require careful theological framing. He’ll help you ground your sermons in solid doctrine while holding grace and truth together.
NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible
Max Lucado, nondenominational minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most widely read inspirational writers today. His preaching and writing style is warm, story-driven, and full of gentle encouragement.
How to use it: Use Lucado’s insights when you want to speak comfort to hurting people. His gift for telling simple stories will remind you how to communicate hope without unnecessary complexity.
NKJV MacArthur Study Bible (2nd ed.)
John MacArthur, former pastor of Grace Community Church in California and leader within the conservative Reformed Baptist movement, was (and remains) known for his detailed expository preaching and firm theological convictions. His style is thorough, uncompromising, and verse-by-verse.
How to use it: Look to MacArthur when you want to drill deep into a passage and guard your preaching against shallow interpretations. His approach will push you to be precise and bold.
NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible
Warren Wiersbe, a Baptist pastor, radio teacher, and author of the “Be” commentary series, was beloved for his ability to make Scripture clear and practical. His style was devotional, pastoral, and always focused on life application.
How to use it: Turn to Wiersbe when you need help simplifying a complex passage. He’ll remind you to keep application front and center so that your sermons meet people right where they live.
Conclusion: ‘Feed My Sheep’
As pastors and Bible teachers, you are doing some of the most important work in the world — and we know it can be taxing. Bible Gateway is here to support you as you labor to spread the gospel throughout the world. We pray these resources will provide a solid theological library for your sermon prep, lesson planning, and many other responsibilities as you fulfill Jesus’ commandment to Peter: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-19).
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