Marc Webb: Before I entered the ministry, I was pursuing a degree in Communication. I was also working as a Station Manager and DJ for two different radio stations. My goal was to enter into radio broadcasting upon graduation. However, the Lord had much different plans for my life. Right after college, I entered the ministry and dedicated myself to serving Him full-time.

Since then, I have been able to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I received both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry. I have also been blessed to serve as the Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Kentucky since 2012.

"A Theology of Sleep" is my first published book. It has been an honor and joy to dive into the writing process. I am hoping to write and publish more works in the future.

Marc: There were two main inspirations that led me to writing this book. First, sleep is something that I am intimately connected to, much more than the average person. In the book's introduction, I describe numerous health difficulties that I suffered through in high school and college. These challenges caused intense fatigue and forced me to sleep 14 to 15 hours a day for multiple years.

In 2023, I started reflecting on the course of my life and the previous challenges that I had experienced. This led to a number of questions within my mind. I thought, "Is sleep described in the Bible? How often is sleep a part of God's story, and what role does it play within His grand purposes?" As I researched these questions and sought specific answers, the outline of my book began to take shape.

Second, I was also inspired to write because so few authors have covered this subject. In stores and websites today, there are a myriad of books on the health benefits of sleep and how to get a good night of rest. However, I was not aware of any books that seriously engaged the reader with the theological and biblical nature of sleep. I wanted my book to hopefully play a large role in filling this gap.

Marc: You are correct in recognizing my approach. In "A Theology of Sleep," I do in fact talk about sleep; that is the focus. But I also walk the reader step by step through the Bible. For example, in chapter 1, I begin with creation and Adam sleeping in the Garden. From there, I trace the reality of sleep through the Old Testament and then through the New Testament.

In using this type of approach, my prayer is that individuals can begin to expand their grasp and knowledge of the Bible. Sadly, in the modern world, so many rarely read the Word of God and, as a result, know very little about Scripture. With the biblical stories that I cover, yes, I talk about Jesus resting on a boat, Uriah sleeping in the palace, and Joseph having a dream. But I also reveal the truths that are found within the context, history, and interconnectivity of Scripture. By the time readers reach the conclusion, they should have a deeper knowledge of the Bible and a newfound appreciation for it.

Marc: Yes, this was an intentional choice. Sometimes, when people hear the word, theology, they instantly tense up or they put a book down because they believe that it is too deep for them or too academic. I did not want people to have this reaction.

My desire is for as many as possible to read "A Theology of Sleep" and be blessed by it. This is why I made the chapters short, as most of them are around 8 to 10 pages. People can read one chapter a day much like a devotional. Or, if they have more time available, they can read a couple of chapters. The choice is theirs.

I also made the chapters brief in order to encourage the audience. If you have been a follower of Christ for 50 years, then, this book may show you things from the Bible that you never knew or thought about. On the flip side, I hope this work will be shared with family members and loved ones who do not know Christ, so that they can be introduced to the existence of God, the beauties of salvation, and the importance of trusting in the Lord alone. I fully recognize how an unbeliever might be willing to pick up a book that has short chapters on sleep, over and above a 1,000-page academic work.

Marc: When I first started my research, I was preparing to do maybe 10 or 11 chapters. The more I studied and searched the Scriptures, the more I discovered how sleep is actually an integral part of the entire Bible. It is inherently tied to multiple individuals, significant events, key conversations, spiritual truths, and overarching periods in time and history. There is not a single section in the Bible that is left untouched by the reality of sleep. I was surprised in how prevalent this topic actually is.

Marc: That's a good question. I will be honest; there's a piece of me in each of the 25 Scripture passages that I walk the reader through. But probably the one that I connect with the most is chapter 20. This is where I describe the story of Lazarus from John 11.

Throughout the book, I share quite a few personal elements from my life, especially my many health struggles and daily battles with fatigue. These challenges have caused me to sometimes be like Lazarus' two sisters, Mary and Martha. As I describe in chapter 20, both of them have faith in the Lord and trust in Jesus. But, time and time again, their faith is intermingled with doubt. In my life, doubt can so easily creep in, especially when I am going through intense trials. These two sisters have taught me profound lessons, especially in facing doubt and furthering my reliance upon the Lord.

Plus, within this chapter, I walk through Jesus' promises related to a future, bodily resurrection. Every person, who has been saved and given their lives to Christ, will experience the everlasting joys of eternity and will be given resurrected bodies. I greatly look forward to the day when I receive this new body and my ongoing health challenges are behind me for good.

Marc: I did not cover every single mention of sleep within the Bible. However, I was able to include the vast majority of verses on sleep. I am grateful to my publisher and copy editor, as they allowed me the freedom to write and publish the totality of what was on my heart.

Marc: First and foremost, I recommend simply reading the Bible. Nothing can replace the daily study, memorization, and reading of Scripture. The Bible is an immense gift and blessing that we have been given. It is meant to be poured over. The more you diligently read, the more you will see, understand, and cherish all parts of the Bible, including the sections on sleep.

I also encourage readers to take advantage of the Scripture passages that I list in the book. I want you to spend time reading texts that I introduce like John 11, Genesis 2, and Luke 9. Plus, throughout the book, I repeatedly list passages in parentheses as reference points. I include these so that the reader can look up these passages on his/her own.

Then, for other resources, sadly, I am not aware of any other books which focus on sleep, through the lens of the Bible, as I do. Hopefully, more will be published in the future.

Marc: When I started "A Theology of Sleep," my goal was to write in a fresh and engaging way. I wanted the book to be accessible and an easy read for everyone, regardless of whether you are an expert on the Bible or you know absolutely nothing about it. In the future, I want to write even more theology books that are engaging for everyone. I have outlines for about five or six works. I hope that these can be released and published in the future.

Marc: I am a big fan of Christian rock music. As I mentioned earlier, I was a radio DJ for a number of years. At one of the stations, I hosted a late-night Christian rock show on the weekends. I still miss those days and having this type of platform to share my love of Christian rock with the world.

Growing up, my first introduction to this style of music was the Newsboys. To this day, 90s era Newsboys is still my all-time favorite. I love classics such as "Shine," "Entertaining Angels," and "Breakfast" to lesser-known songs like "Beautiful Sound," "Cup O'Tea," "Live in Stereo," and "Spirit Thing."

Then, in listing some more modern groups, I am a big fan of Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Family Force 5, House of Heroes, Anberlin, The Wedding, and Lacey Sturm. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I could share so many more groups that I follow, love, and support.

Marc: I will admit; I had a good laugh in reading this question and thinking through the answer. For me, I would be perfectly content enduring the long months of travel. I enjoy times of solitude and rest. I do not mind being alone at all. As a pastor, you don't get very much alone time. I always try to take advantage of it when it comes. With this type of travel, I could easily spend the long months enjoying some good books, listening to Christian rock, and taking some naps along the way too.