Quest 52 - A Review

 

Quest 52

by

Mark E. Moore

A Review

Quest 52 is a year-long look at the person of Jesus using a set of 52 devotions including daily readings for throughout the year. The book divides itself four groups of 13 studies based on four different themes:

1. The Person of Jesus
2. The Power of Jesus
3. The Preaching of Jesus
4. The Passion of Jesus

Each of the 52 studies consists of an extended essay (ca. 10 pages), 5 daily devotional exercises, and a collection of “bonus material” available on-lkine. These include videos and PDFs of helpful resources.

The book stands out for a variety of reasons. it is fully grounded in scripture. Scripture permeates both the essays, the daily devotions, and the bonus material. The reader will find himself or herself seeing Jesus in the Old and New Testament. This reader was also appreciative of the interactive nature of the study. The reader is guided as he or she takes a journey through the person and work of Christ - though the author does provide some explicit lessons, the reader is provided questions and material to work through on their own. Finally, the author recognizes that different people learn in different ways. There are plenty of opportunities for the reader to practice visual, aural, and tactile learning styles during each weeks study.

The book could be used as a stand alone study by an individual or as the basis of a small group or classroom study. The resulting volume is well worth the five-stars I am awarding it.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.  

Christian Basics - A Review

 

Christian Basics

by

Robert M. West

A Review

The author has chosen 66 words which occur frequently when Christians discuss their faith. Beginning with “God”, “Jesus Christ”, “Holy Sprit”, and “Trinity”; and ending with “Judgement Day”, “Resurrection”, Glorification”, “Second Coming”, and “Kingdom”. The 66 topics are presented in roughly the same order on would find them in a typical systematic theology.

Though presented in the order one would find them in a systematic theology, this is not a theology book. It might better be termed a laymen’s dictionary or devotional. Each entry occupies one or two pages and divided into five parts:

• A brief, “In Ten Words or Less”, definition of the term.
• This brief definition is fleshed out with a longer layman’s description which incorporates scripture and the author’s personal insigh
• This is followed by two or three key scripture which further help the reader understand the key concept
• Each entry includes a quote from a pastor, theologian, or author.
• The entry ends with an inspirational or devotional thought based on the current word.

One could only hope that the author might have included a “To Learn More” entry for each concept studied which would allow the reader to dig a bit deeper than the relatively light devotional highlights included in the book. A good systematic theology would help with this but one could hope that these kinds of references would be placed at the reader’s finger tips either in the context of each entry or as part of a concluding bibliography.

The material included is well chosen and is a good jumping off point for the new believer or a adequate summary for the more mature church member. I give the book 4-½ -stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Big Truths Bible Story Book - A Review

 

Big Truths
Bible Story Book

by

Aaron Armstrong

A Review

Aaron Armstrong has written a book that is colorful enough for children and detailed enough for an adult audience. The book is well-suited for family devotions. In seminary it was suggested that those of us not brought up with a substantial Christian background take the summer before beginning our studies to read a children’s story Bible. At the same time it could serve as a primer on theology.

The book is divided into 52 weekly stories chosen from both the Old Testament and the New Testament (Genesis to Revelations). Each entry consists of two to four pages of commentary and one page of helpful and thoughtful discussion questions. The book concludes with a two page glossary and a two page summary of the “Big Truths” presented within the book and suggested memory verses for each concept discussed within the book.

Whether used for family devotions, personal devotions, preparation for more formal education, or a discipling program with a new believer, the book gets five stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Wonderful Names of Jesus - A Review

 

Wonderful Names
of Jesus

by
Marilee Parrish

Marilee Parrish has prepared a wonderful collection of 52 devotionals focusing on the various names given to Jesus in Scripture. Though intended (as per the publisher) for children age 8 and above, this senior adult with a graduate school education found encouragement in the comments offered.

Each devotional begins with a decorative “title page” offering a quote where the name is used in Scripture. The devotionals are two pages in length - each ending with a brief

one or two-sentence prayer and a question that aims to help the reader apply that days reading. A “Table of Contents” will help the reader find readings on a specific topic. Given that each devotion quotes two, three, or more, Scriptures, I was disappointed in the lack of a more complete “Scripture Index” being included as an appendix. For this reason, I can only give this book four-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

The Bible Recap - A Review

 

The  Bible Recap

By
Tara-Leigh Cobble

A difficult book to classify - one might call it a Devotional, a Bible Reading Plan, a Chronological Bible, or a Bible Commentary. It is actually a bit of all three. The author has taken the Bible and divided it into 365 daily readings in Chronological order. The reader will need to have their favorite Bible handy, the text of the Scriptures are not included in this book. Along with each daily reading is a brief commentary helping the reader understand the underlying text. The day’s reading concludes with a devotional thought (called “Today’s God Shot”) suggesting how the reading might be applied in a believer’s life.

Picking up this book makes this reader want to start (better, restart) a plan to read through the Bible next year. Actually, the reader can start anytime - The 365 daily sections are numbered - not dated. An individual could easily use the book as a guide through the scriptures or a small group could use it as a jumping-off point for a year-long walk through the Word of God.

A local church could use it as a Christmas gift for its members as they seek to study the Scriptures together.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Daily Bible Experience - A Review

 

The Daily Bible
Experience

by

F. LaGard Smith

To be fair, this book must be reviewed, first, as it was intended, and, second, as it stands alone.

The book was intended to be read along with another devotional book, The Daily Bible. The Daily Bible is a devotional version of the NIV Bible presented in chronological order for daily reading. Along with the entire text of the NIV, the author includes devotional and study helps interspersed with the Biblical text. The current book merely adds additional devotional material to the original book. Given its stated purpose, it is not needed.

However, as an independent devotional book, The Daily Bible Experience offers an excellent devotional experience on its own. The current book does not offer the reader a reading of the entire Bible, it does include devotions based on excerpts from the same passages offered in the earlier work. Each daily reading selects a verse or two from the outline found in The Daily Bible. Sadly, it does not provide readings or references to the larger context from which the one or two verses are drawn - for that the reader will need the earlier work. The devotionals are well written and aimed at the daily life of the believer. Each devotional begins by quoting the one or two verses chosen for comment, a one page devotional, and brief, one sentence, asking the reader to apply the day’s thoughts.

The Daily Bible Experience may not be needed for its stated purpose; it does serve well as a devotional book in its own right.

______________ This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

1-Minute Bible Guide 180 Key Ideas - A Review

1-Minute Bible Guide
180 Key Ideas

By
George W. Knight

George Knight has written 180 devotionals focusing on 180 key theological words that are central to the Christian Faith. Though the author at no time suggests that his list is complete - the chosen terms are important to understanding the theological ideas of our faith.

The terms are not presented in any kind of theological order; instead, the author has chosen to present his list in alphabetical order.  The first five entries are:

1. Abiding
2. Abomination
3. Adoption
4. Adultery
5. Advent

The last five entries are:

176. Witness
177. The Word
178. Work
179. Worship
180. Wrath

Each entry consists of a key verse used to begin the discussion. The devotional material then follows, often incorporating additional scriptural support helping the reader to better understand the topic. Finally, most entries end with a “Learn More” section provides a number of scripture selections for the reader to look up on his or her own.

Sadly, at least in the Advanced Readers Copy I received, there is no scripture index or keyword index to find additional places a concept might be mentioned in the book or another concept that might be supported by a given scripture. Alas, no citations are provided for ideas or concepts that are discussed - making the book suitable for devotional use, but less so for the basis of scholarly word or theological studies. It is this lack of indexing and citations that makes this a 3-½ star book. 

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Exploring the Gifts of the Spirit - A Review

Exploring the Gifts of the Spirit
Discovering the Power God Has For You

By
John Michael Talbot
With
Steve Rabey

John Michael Talbot has been known as a Christian singer since the late 60’s and early 70’s. He joined the Roman Catholic Church in the late 70’s. Though his ministry is primarily a Catholic work, he continues to also reach out to the larger church.

The current work is an exploration of the Spiritual Gifts. He begins by exploring the history of the Spiritual Gifts within the church and the author’s own journey as he sought to understand their role within the church. He also explores the role of the Holy Spirit within Jesus’ own ministry and within the church.

It is unclear to this reader how the author chose the order to discuss the various gifts. He begins with what appears to be an historical order - “speaking in tongues” and the “interpretation of tongues,” as found in the book of Acts. He then begins to explore the gifts in the order listed in I Corinthians 12:4-11:

• Words of wisdom
• Words of knowledge
• Faith
• Healing
• Miracles
• Prophesy
• Discernment of Spirit

Each of these chapters is heavily grounded in Scripture using the NIV (along with quotations from the ESV, The Message, and the NRSVCE). He also borrows from his lifetime of music to occasionally illustrate his thoughts. The insights John Michael Talbot provides are not only teachable concepts but also practical.

The final two chapters speak about, what the author calls, “lesser known gifts”: Administration, Rest, Tears, Ecstasy, Laughter, and Stigmata. These six topics are covered in less detail and in a single chapter. The author completes his study by looking at the “better way”: LOVE, giving it the same detail that he gave the earlier discussion of the gifts. He concludes by providing instruction for the Christian as they make their own spiritual journey. Important words for all believers, wherever they may be in that journey.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

101 Important Words of the Bible - A Review

101

Important Words

of the

Bible

by

Len Woods

The author presents a set of 101 devotional readings based on keywords found in the Scriptures. The entries are listed in somewhat Biblical order based on the key verse for each word as chosen by the author. The first word is God. “In the beginning, God …” (Gen. 1:!). However, these are not in a logical order. For example, “Day” is word number 48 and is associated with Joel 2:31 “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” Each devotional entry is two pages in length. They are devotional in nature - their purpose is not scholarship but discipleship. They are helpful and designed to help the believer’s faith to grow. Following the 101 devotionals are a group of discussion questions allowing the reader to apply the devotional in some way.

The major problem with the book is accessing the words. If the reader wants to see if something is said about a particular word, he or she will need to scan the entire list - not long, but time-consuming - particularly if the word does not exist. A quick scan might easily lead to missing an existing entry. An electronic copy would make searching the book a bit easier.

The book would easily serve as a daily devotional for three months and would fit well into a church library.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Who Is Jesus? - A Review

Who Is Jesus 

by

Paul Kent

The book provides a nice set of 66 devotionals centered on the various names given to Jesus in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Each entry is one or two pages in length and consists of five elements: 

• IN TEN WORDS OR LESS: A “nutshell” glance at the name or title.
• DETAILS, PLEASE: A longer explanation, incorporating information from throughout God’s Word.
• ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES: One, two, or several other key scriptures.
• WHAT OTHERS SAY: A memorable quotation from a pastor, theologian, or Christian author.
• SO WHAT? An inspirational or devotional thought as a personal takeaway. 

(Kent, pg. 5)

The entries are devotional and practical in nature - not scholarly, per se. Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version, but the devotional entries would work as well with any modern translation. The layperson should be satisfied with the book as a month’s or two for daily devotions.  However, the preacher should see the book as a starting point while planning to consult more material (dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, etc.) while preparing a sermon or teaching material. The book will likely find a place in the church library for general use by the congregation.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

10 Minutes in the Word : John - A Review

10 Minutes in the Word

John

A nice devotional focused on the Gospel of John. Though it does not cover every verse of the book, 48 entries provide comment and insight to most sections of the gospel. Each entry consists of four parts:

1. A verse or two of the current text is quoted.
2. A 1-½ page devotional is included - reflecting on the passage and its meaning in context.
3. A brief prayer 3-4 sentence prayer related to the content of the devotional is available.
4. Each entry concludes with a reflective question or two allowing the reader to apply the passage to his or her life.

Though no specific author is credited, the material is helpful. The only concern that I have is that the chosen font is not suitable for senior citizens, my target audience. A larger and bolder font would have been preferred - especially given the amount of white space on each page.
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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Purpose of Christmas - A Review

The Purpose of Christmas

by

Rick Warren

A Review

Howard Books presents a new edition of a short, 4 chapter, book originally written in 2008 by Rick Warren, founding pastor of the world-famous Saddleback Church in Irvine, CA. The author is best known for the classic The Purpose Driven Life. I suppose this reviewer should be open and honest by saying he has never read that classic or any other book by Rick Warren until the publisher dropped the current book in his mailbox for review.

The current book presents three purposes for Christmas:

1. Celebration 
2. Salvation 
3. Reconciliation 

I suspect that the author does not mean to say these are the only three purposes for Christmas, but they are three purposes for Christmas. Along with an introductory chapter, the author makes each purpose into a chapter. The chapters are then subdivided into shorter sub-points focusing on these three purposes. I felt like I was reading the transcript of a 20-year-old sermon series – with the thesis statements and their sub-points being clearly stated in the text and its subdivisions.The book is readable and not hobbled by sermonese. What is missing are solid references for much of the material – scripture references are well-documented, but other content is not. This makes it hard to distinguish between opinion and fact.

I appreciated the suggested “Birthday Party for Jesus” found at the end of the book – appropriate for families, adult, youth or children’s groups. The idea is presented early in the book, but the details are laid out in the final pages of the volume.

The book may make a great gift for the church to give to its members as a pre-Advent gift. It might also find a home in the church library for families to borrow for the Christmas season. 

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Hidden Treasures - A Review

Hidden Treasures

by

Robin Bertram

A Review

We are all going to die. It may sound like I will be reviewing another cozy mystery, but you would be wrong. Hidden Treasures is a wonderful collection of devotionals focusing on the topic of death — not gruesomely, but as one looking forward to a joyous homecoming. It comes with the heart of a chaplain — though the author is not one. The stories are warm and encouraging.

The book is designed to help those who are dying, those who will walk alongside those, and those who have lost a loved one. The book is partly memoir, partly devotional, and partly self-help — all focusing on preparing us for our own death or the death of a loved one

The author has done this well – so well that as I look forward to Christmas, I am planning to make a gift of this book to each of the members of my small congregation of senior citizens living in community at a senior apartment complex. The book will be a blessing to those who choose to read a single entry or the entire book.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Family Bible Devotional - A Review

The Family Bible Devotional

by

Sarah M. Wells

A Review

The subtitle describes this book well:”Stories from the Bible to help Kids and parents engage & love scripture”. What the author has done is to compile a set of 50+ devotionals for parents to share with their children.

After briefly giving some brief suggestions on using the material found in the book, each of the 52 devotions follows a similar pattern:

1. A one-paragraph description of the setting for the chosen text. 
2. The week’s scripture is quoted using The Message 
3. Some suggested Bible study questions and provide an opportunity for each member of the family to ask their own questions 
4. “A Closing Thought” summarizing the lessons that may have come from the passage 
5. A “Prayer Prompt” based on the lesson is provided 
6. An activity is suggested to help all participants cement the lesson 
7. Each lesson concludes with a “Pop out” - a bit of trivia, from scripture, history, culture, etc.

Though my kids are long gone from home, this year’s collection of studies is among the best I have seen for use in family worship. It would make a great gift for a church to make to families with middle school or junior high school students. With a bit of work and patience, it might even be used with a younger family. Though not designed for a church setting, it might also be used as the basis for the weekly study with a small youth group.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

A Chronological Tour Through the Bible - A Review

A Chronological Tour
Through the Bible

by

Ron Rhodes

A Review

Mr. Rhodes has provided a 365-day devotional taking the reader through the entire Bible in chronological order. Readings are approximately of the same length (there are exceptions – some shorter some longer). The author makes no statement about whose chronology he has chosen to follow; but, rather, makes the following general statement, “My personal view is that so much study has been done on all this through the years that it’s now possible to put together a chronology with a strong confidence that we are ‘in the ballpark.’”

A typical entry will give a feel for each entry:

The entries are divided into five sections:

1. Key concepts
2. The big picture
3. Transformational truth
4. A verse for meditation
5. A question to ponder

Though the entries do answer the questions, they are brief. Having a decent one volume commentary at hand while reading each selection might help might fill in gaps created by the brief entries.

Having traveled through the Scriptures chronologically, the book ends with a very quick synopsis of each book of the Bible in canonical order.

The book should have a place on the bookshelf of any believer trying to find a fresh way to read through the Bible. Changing the order of the reading (which is not considered to be inerrant) may open up new insights to the meaning and purpose of the scriptures. This text would also have a place on the reading shelf of the Bible student – whether in college or seminary – seeking to understand the whole of God’s word.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation - A Review

Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation

by

Robert J. Morgan

A Review

Robert J. Morgan has a reputation for compiling material suitable for personal or corporate devotions. In the past these have included collections of sermons, hymn stories, and church history. This book serves a similar purpose, but also guides the reader toward developing the spiritual discipline of Biblical Meditation in his or her own life.

At one level the book is a guided look at the Biblical principle of meditation. It does this by guiding the reader through examples - both from scripture and by guiding the reader through key scripture passages. Chapters demonstrate the principles, states them explicitly, and provide opportunities for the readers to put these principles into practice.

The middle portion of the book contains suggested meditations based on each chapter. This of course requires the reader to review, again, the principles discussed in the book. Plenty of blank space is provided for the reader to make his or her own personal comments.

The book concludes by gathering the key Biblical passages used as examples throughout the book. This allows the reader to use the tools and guidelines provided throughout the book without the intrusion of the author’s commentary.

I found the authors approach helpful. Having spent much of the early years as a believer using Bible study materials developed by other publishers, this book takes that approach one step further - by using the Bible Study material to teach the reader to develop skills that can be used independently of a publisher’s pre-printed manual. Part of discipleship is teaching believers to study and apply the scriptures for themselves. This book does that well.

This reviewer would recommend this book for use as an individual’s personal study or as a unit in a small group study. It would make a handy gift for a new believer who is ready to study scripture independently. I would also recommend that it be placed on the shelves of a church library, making it available to a larger audience over time.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Classic Prayers for Every Need - A Review

Classic Prayers for Every Need

Edited by

Donna K. Maltese

A Review

Prayers are difficult. Well, they feel difficult. Sometimes it is good to have a collection of prayers that have server believers in earlier times to begin with - whether as sermon illustrations, for use as encouragement for others, or just for personal meditation. This book can meet those needs.

The reader will find prayers dating from the middle of the 2nd century (Origen) to the end of the 20th century (Michel Quoist). Some are well known (John Newton), others less so (Ashton Oxenden); but each is a look at the heart of the author and his or her relationship to God.  

The provided prayers are not long.  Grouped into 57 different topics (e.g. Forgiveness, Grace, Rest, Stress, Vision, etc.), there are normally five or more prayers for each topic:

O Lord our God, safe under the shadow of your wings, let us hope.

You will support us both when we are little and when we are old.

When our strength is from you it is real strength,

when it springs from us it is weakness.

Leaning upon you we can find our way back to you,

who are our refreshment and true strength.

Amen.

Saint Augustine

The introduction explains that the author has collected 280 prayers from over 140 different Christians who have lived a life of faith throughout the centuries.  The Table of Contents lists the topics in alphabetical order. However, though a list of authors is provided near the beginning of the book, there is no index that allows the reader to locate the prayers associated to a specific one. Thus, there is no easy way (unless one has an electronic copy of the book) to find prayers by Mother Theresa. The prayers are thought provoking and meditative. They serve as devotionals in their own right for the believer seeking to follow the Savior. Whether in the home, the pastor’s desk, or in the church library, this volume may serve believers around the world.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.