Have you ever wanted to understand the Bible better? To grow in your relationship with God? To be able to share your faith more easily with those around you?
By mastering the core, you’ll build a firm framework for being an ambassador of Jesus Christ to a world hungering for truth that transforms.
Mark E. Moore
Mark E. Moore is an acclaimed author and teaching pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona. He previously spent two decades as a New Testament professor at Ozark Christian College. Whether by helping people make sense of Christianity or teaching students to understand the Bible, Mark’s life passion is to make Jesus famous. Mark and his wife, Barbara, reside in Phoenix, Arizona.
Core 52 is a resource every believer needs! Pastor Mark Moore breaks down key scriptures to help you deepen your faith and feel more confident in sharing it with others. Mark is so passionate about equipping people to grow in their faith that he also provides a free app and additional resources to help you understand and memorize scripture. This is a great book for individuals, groups, and churches to go through.
I had the opportunity to interview Mark to learn more about his heart in writing the book, as well as some fun things most people don’t know about him. Check out the interview below:
Author Interview
What inspired you to write the book?
Research has shown that Bible reading is the single greatest discipline for spiritual growth. In addition, we know that people have an intense hunger for knowing the Bible better. 80% of people in church want to know the Bible better. Even more stunning is that 60% of the people who say they want to know the Bible better don’t go to any church. So, if so many people want to know the Bible better, why don’t they? The answer is twofold, and you probably already know: (1) the Bible is a big book; (2) the Bible is an old book. Consequently, we don’t know where to start and we get lost along the way. Core 52 is a tool that removes both of these barriers by identifying the most powerful passages for spiritual growth and providing simple guidance along the way. That way people can go further faster when they engage the Bible without getting discouraged or distracted along the way.
What do you hope readers will gain from it?
My greatest desire is that Core 52 provides a fast pass for people wanting to move from curiosity to confidence in the Bible. Because those who engage in the Bible four times a week or more have significantly improved statistics in their lives around issues like drinking, pornography, sexual abuse. This is because those who engage the Bible have a higher self-esteem by 30%, 30% less self-destructive thoughts, 30% less isolation and loneliness. Knowing the Bible better makes you better.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing it?
The greatest difficulty I had was reducing the most powerful versus to just 52. But I wanted a tool that can take people through a year of the spiritual discipline Bible engagement. After 20 years of teaching at the university level, training pastors for churches as well as decades of preaching in local churches, I feel confident that these 52 verses consistently provide people the greatest growth in their faith and practice.
If you could give your readers one piece of advice, what would you want them to know?
I guess I would say that I hold those who engage in core 52 feel called by God to be pastors in their own struggle of influence whether that is their home, a sports team, at work, or in a volunteer organization. If you are God’s child, you were called to make a difference in this world. And knowing the Bible better will give you the internal fortitude and guidance by the Holy Spirit to live out your gifts and calling for God’s purpose.
What’s the best piece of life advice you have ever received?
I’ve never been involved in business per se. So, I’ve always had a kind of infatuation with successful businessmen and women. One of my most important mentors was a great businessman who said, “If you help enough people get what they want, you will always get what you need.”
Can you offer any guidance for aspiring authors or leaders?
If you are an author, you write because you are an author; you are not an author because you write. If you are a leader, you lead because you are a leader; you are not a leader because you lead. Do what God has called you to do long before you are recognized for doing it. Being who you are is the intrinsic reward that drives your behavior.
What Bible verse has had the greatest impact on your life? Why?
John 3:30, “he must increase; I must decrease.” John the Baptist originated this quote. It is so significant to me, that I have it inscribed on my preaching Bible in the place where many have their names. Ultimately, every time I preach or teach, I need to be reminded that I do this only for Jesus’s is glory not my own.
What are your top three must-read books?
Well, since I train pastors, I will focus on that narrow reading list. A Tale of Three Kings, by gene Edwards. Mere Christianity, by CS Lewis. Jesus in the Victory of God, by NT Wright.
What podcasts do you recommend?
Jordan B Peterson, Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History, and Hard-Core History.
What do you do when you aren’t writing or teaching?
I am a closet carpenter. It is made from wood I want to make it. My Sabbath almost always includes making sawdust.
Favorite movies?
For me watching movies is a mindless distraction so I go to gravitate (embarrassingly) to Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible, Ocean’s Eleven.
Favorite music?
I was 70s guy with an affinity for the Eagles and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Favorite food?
Mexican food is my favorite ethnic cuisine but anything that comes off my Big Green Egg. My wife and I both are foodies so we love the food scene in Phoenix.
Biggest pet peeve?
Unnecessary incompetence can nearly eradicate my Christianity.
Quirkiest thing about you?
Although there are many! For instance, I lineup my M&Ms by color and number and eat them in order. I also organize my day by a to do list that is categorized by priority and divided into 15 minute increments.
Most embarrassing moment?
Well, let’s just say it involved in eighth grade literature Class, the reading of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, a spitball or with Larry Taylor in the back of the room that resulted in an undeniably sonorous episode of flatulence.
Top 5 items on your bucket list?
Hand gliding, rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon, flying in an F 16, cycling Highway one the length of the West Coast, becoming a New York Times best-selling author.
One thing most people don’t know about you?
I am an introverted people pleaser. Both are kind of a problem in my role.
How would you describe yourself using three words:
driven, compassionate, loyal.
Where can people connect with you?
markmoore330 on Instagram and Twitter.
Be sure to grab a copy of Core 52 today and let me know your thoughts.
Blessings,
