Great Adventure Catholic Bible Indexing Tabs (Review)
An essential tool for reading the books of the Bible is the Great Adventure Catholic Bible indexing tabs.
These self-adhesive tabs are unique to the reading plan and timeline that Fr. Mike Schmitz is following in his "Bible in a Year" podcast.
With 73 books in the Catholic Bible, it can be an intimidating library of books.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed when picking up the Bible, you’re not alone! It’s natural to feel uncertain about how to start. The Bible can be confusing!
Thankfully, it can feel a lot more manageable when you add Bible tabs (at least in my personal experience).
If you’re still on the fence, check out our post: Should I use Bible tabs?
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The Great Adventure Bible tabs are a great addition to any full-size Bible, especially if you’re reading along to “The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast.
Table of Contents ▼
1. Why buy the Great Adventure Bible indexing tabs?
I love Bible tabs so much that when I led a group of sixth graders, the first thing I did was make an upfront investment in Bible tabs!
Most of them didn't know the books of the Bible or where they were located, and we were spending way too much time trying to find the reading.
I wanted to encourage their faith, not discourage it. Reading the Bible is confusing, especially if you’re new to the Christian faith.
I didn’t want these girls to lose confidence as they floundered through the Bible’s thousands of pages.
The real struggle to find a passage of Scripture was distracting from the big picture of why we were there: To read God's message and to understand the Biblical story he gave us.
After we spent a few sessions indexing their Bible, I noticed their confidence grow.
They were more likely to open the Bible when we were in a large group, and finding and highlighting the passage we were discussing became a breeze.
These helpful tools:
Remove the embarrassment of not knowing how to find a specific book
Make the Bible feel manageable and accessible
Allow for "multitasking" as you flip between readings or look up Bible passages
Help you learn the books of the Bible as you use the Bible
Make a great First Communion gift!
➡️ Explore Fr. Mike Schmitz “Bible in a Year” resources.
➡️ Tutorial: How to put on Bible tabs (with photos and tips)
2. What’s inside the Great Adventure Bible Tab package?
When my husband and I decided to read along as Fr. Mike Schmitz read the Bible in his podcast, I knew these Index tabs would come in handy. When the package arrived, I discovered the Great Adventure Bible tabs:
Can be added to any full-size Bible
Colors correspond with each of the 12 narrative periods in the Great Adventure Bible Timeline
Each tab is laminated, making it more durable than other Bible tab options
Additional tabs are included so you can easily flip to charts, documents, articles, and maps in your Bible
It comes with a positioning guide to measure and evenly space the tabs in your Bible (a nice bonus missing from many Bible tab options — see below for pictures and steps on how to apply them).
3. What is the Great Adventure Bible Timeline?
Jeff Cavins developed a Bible study that allows you to read God's word according to its Biblical narrative, which follows the story of God's people.
It's the big-picture story of the Bible, and I've been enjoying following the story of God's people and seeing the grand picture.
These color-coded tabs reflect the colors of the 12 narrative periods in Jeff Cavin's Great Adventure Bible Timeline.
If you’re listening to the Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast or watching his YouTube Channel, this is the reading plan he’s following.
He interviews Cavins on special episodes to explain each narrative period.
These periods aren't a linear reflection of the biblical books. You aren't reading the books in page order.
Instead, you’re reading the narrative books about God’s people and then supplementing with other biblical books.
Remember, the Bible is a collection of books — a library — that includes various genres, such as history, law, wisdom, poetry, and biography.
That also means these specific Bible tabs, when you get them, don’t look orderly. (Scroll down for a recommendation on tabs with a uniform design)
They aren’t meant to. Instead, they’re designed to help you understand the different narrative Biblical periods, helping accentuate your understanding of the narrative story of the Bible.
4. Are the Great Adventure Catholic Bible tabs worth buying?
Here’s my assessment of the Great Adventure Catholic Bible Tabs so far:
Pros: Durable, laminate, specifically designed for the Great Adventure Bible study and “The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)” podcast. I can tell their quality when I use them.
Cons: Because these tabs are laminated, they are a little trickier to apply than less-durable tabs I’ve used before. Also, they aren’t as visually appealing as other Bible tab options because of their purpose in reflecting the 12 narrative periods of the Bible.
Is it worth it? Yes. They aren’t necessary for the study, but a wonderful tool to make your Bible reading experience better.
A nicer-looking option is these laminated Bible tabs, which come in black, cream, gray, and various color assortments. They offer a more uniform look, are also laminated for durability, and I appreciate how they’ve labeled the genre of the book under the book title.
➡️ Tutorial: How to put on Bible tabs (with photos and tips)
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➡️ Tutorial: How to put on Bible tabs (with photos and tips)
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Mackenzie Ryan Walters is the author of “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” which shares Christian testimonies and stories, as well as curated lists about Christian books, gifts, and more. A national award-winning former journalist who’s covered a presidential campaign, been inside NASA, and reported on education and schools, Mackenzie now edits the Faith Storytellers website and is passionate about lifting up and sharing the story God is writing in the world.
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