I’ve been a preacher for half my life, but until 10 years ago, I didn’t comprehend the full richness and beauty of the Bible. Sure, I knew what the Bible said and what it was about, but it had never truly come alive to me. Have you experienced this disconnect?

This text is full of confusing, challenging, and downright weird stuff. It can even seem – dare I say – boring. But it only seems boring because we don’t understand what the Bible really is or how to read it.

I had always assumed the Bible was a mix of a how-to manual, a science textbook, and a self-help book. But it’s none of those things; it’s not even a book! The Bible is a library of books that capture a divinely inspired conversation between God and his people. It’s a story. And when we understand how to approach it and the context of the biblical world, we discover it’s far more interesting – and life-changing – than we ever imagined.

Talbot Davis was born and raised in Dallas, Texas.  As a teenager, he was the two-time Texas state champion in tennis for boys’ 18-and-under.  After graduating from high school in 1980, he attended Princeton University in Princeton, NJ, where he played varsity tennis for four years, served as team captain, and graduated with honors in English in 1984.

Talbot is a 1990 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY.  In 32 years of full-time United Methodist ministry in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, he has served two appointments: Mt. Carmel-Midway (1990-1999) and Good Shepherd (1999-present). Since 1999, Good Shepherd’s average worship attendance has increased from 500 per Sunday to 2,000 per Sunday.  The church is known for its modern style of worship, ethnic and racial diversity, and radical impact projects. Prior to the Come Alive series, Talbot published six works, all with Abingdon Press: Head Scratchers, The Storm Before The Calm, The Shadow Of A Doubt, Solve, Crash Test Dummies, and Simplify The Message; Multiply The Impact.

Talbot has been married to Julie since 1984 and they have two adult children.