Better Ways to Read the Bible

Transforming a Weapon of Harm into a Tool of Healing (Four New Lenses for Making Sense of Scripture)

By: Zach W. Lambert, Sarah Bessey -foreword by

Narrated by: Zach W. Lambert

Zach Lambert has seen the Bible used countless times as something far from the "Good Book"—both in his own life and in the experiences of others. He has seen the Bible weaponized to subjugate women, justify racism, bash LGBTQ+ people, cover up abuse, and exclude people who speak out against these injustices.

In Better Ways to Read the Bible, Lambert calls listeners to a more Christlike interpretation of Scripture. Lambert has created this accessible guide to help listeners dismantle four common lenses for reading Scripture that lead to harm—Literalism, Apocalypse, Moralism, and Hierarchy. Instead, he offers four new lenses—Jesus, Context, Flourishing, and Fruitfulness—that promote wholeness, inclusion, and flourishing for all people. This book transforms the Bible from a weapon that condemns, oppresses, and excludes into a tool that helps and heals.

Better Ways to Read the Bible, which includes a foreword by Beth Allison Barr, welcomes all Christians to reengage Scripture in life-giving ways.

©2025 Zach W. Lambert (P)2025 Christian Audio

This book is 100% worth reading (listening to)!

Read this book!! If you have even an inkling of curiosity about its contents, please do not hesitate to grab a copy.

Listening to this book felt like meeting someone and instantly becoming best friends. Zach wrote (much more cohesively and with more evidence to back things up) everything that I have come to learn and believe during my faith journey over the past 4 years. While I don’t share all Zach’s experiences, I felt my soul saying, “Amen!,” over and over again to the truths being shared about the Bible (I feel like I probably highlighted my entire Kindle copy).

I have been feeling like a wanderer these past few years, trying to find spiritual community in places where the Bible is still read through some harmful lenses. This book reminded me that finding Christians I can feel at home with isn’t too far-fetched an idea and that community is important.

While I was familiar with most of the concepts in this book, I still learned a lot while reading it. The pages of this book are full of real life examples, facts and academic research, and words of wisdom from authors, teachers, and pastors. Even if you disagree with Zach’s (and my) viewpoints, there is plenty to think about and look into deeper. Even if your beliefs remain unchanged after reading, it may help you understand a friend or family member’s beliefs. If your interpretation of the Bible has helped you justify causing harm towards others, you may find that this book lives up to its name. If you are open to it, you may walk away with better ways to read the Bible.

In his closing, Zach says that he hopes the book is a balm for others. It certainly was for me.

The perfect book to help me love the Bible again

Zach did an amazing job at presenting a well organized and thorough description of the various lenses we can use to read and interpret scripture. If you’ve ever been confused, scared or intimidated by the way the Bible (and faith) have been presented to you, this book will help you in every way. He intersperses real stories of real people in his own life that helped me relate to various harmful, and helpful lenses. I’ve read and listened to it twice in the last few weeks. Very thankful for this book!

Changed my life

Hung on to every word. As an evangelical reconstructing parent of a gay son, this book tied the bow on 7 years of seeking the truth. I will be forever grateful for Zach’s wise gentle, Christlike wisdom, and his zeal for Jesus and his truth.

Helpful personal stories

Easy to follow and comprehend. A great listen for laypeople to understand seminarian like concepts.

Love it

This book has given me a whole new outlook on somethings I’m currently dealing with in my own home.