A discipleship guide in 56 chapters
A Journey through Scripture, Theology, and Life
Know what you believe, why you believe it, and how to live it.
Both companions are free for churches, small groups, and anyone studying on their own.
Every chapter of the book asks questions, and the best answers get written down. These two companions are my gift to you and your group. Download them, print them, and share them with the people you lead.
Room to write for every chapter: the discussion questions, Scripture exercises, application exercises, and case studies, all numbered to match the book.
Download the JournalTwo facing pages for each of the 56 sessions: how to prepare, a short recap for anyone who didn’t get to the reading, where to start, and how to care for your people.
Download the Leader’s GuideRooted in the Word is a 56-chapter journey through Scripture, theology, and life, written as a conversation, not a lecture. From how to read the Bible well to the gospel, the church, prayer, suffering, doubt, and the hope of resurrection, every chapter is anchored in the text and built for real use: discussion questions, Scripture exercises, practical application, and a case study from everyday church life.
It speaks with settled confidence where Scripture is plain, and fairly, the way each side would state it, where faithful Christians differ. Its goal is the one Paul named:
“the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5)
For small-group leaders, new believers, and anyone hungry to go deeper.
Brian K. Bauer met Jesus in a small Black congregation in Austin, Texas. Married fifty years to his wife, Meredith, he spent forty-two years in technology without a college degree, retiring as a vice president in cybersecurity at IBM. He has led mission teams into Mexico and served on worship and prayer teams. His journey through legalism, the shepherding movement, and the prosperity gospel shaped this book: the guide he wishes he’d had.
These are topics I’m praying about for a second volume. Which would help you or your church most? Or is there something I’ve missed? I’d truly like to hear.
I’m not a trained theologian, and I’m still learning. If something in the book helped you, confused you, or seems wrong to you, I want to know. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). I read every message, though it may take me a little while to answer.
About a chapter, a passage, or how to lead a group through the material.
Ask a questionA typo, a wrong reference, or a quote that doesn’t match. Please include the page number.
Report a correctionOr write to me directly at brianbauer.rootedintheword@gmail.com.
Email isn’t the place for anything urgent. If you or someone you love is in crisis or thinking about self-harm, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.), or call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger. Then reach out to a pastor you trust.
When a correction is found, it’s listed here and fixed in the next edition of all three books together.
| Edition | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | October 2026 | Current edition of the book, the Participant Journal, and the Leader’s Guide. Cover art refined; the free companions now carry a clear permission to download, print, and share. No corrections to the text listed yet. |