Advent for Everyone - A Review

 

Advent for Everyone
Matthew

by

N. T. Wright

Most of what I see from N. T. Wright is more scholarly than devotional, but this book is definitely different. Designed around the four weeks of advent, this book presents four weeks of undated devotions centering on the advent season borrowing on the book of Matthew.

The 28 devotions are selected from passages scattered throughout Matthew. The first two weeks draw more from the later chapters of the book; as the dates draw closer to Christmas, they draw more heavily from the advent story found in Matthew. The individual devotions are lengthier (three pages) than most devotional writings - but they are good, deep, and practical, as would be expected from a writer such as N. T. Wright.

This is a reprint of a book originally published in 2016 and it is one of three advent devotionals prepared by the author - the others are based around the Gospel of Luke (2018) and the writings of the apostles (2019). The book would easily find a place in a small group or a family setting. It would also make a fine set of readings for individual devotions during the four weeks of advent.
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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.

God Winks Christmas Stories - A Review

God Winks

Christmas Stories

by

Squire BushnellLouise Duart

A Review

Devotions based on true-life stories – it was a new concept to me, but husband and wife Bushnell and Duart carry it off well. Each entry consists of three parts:

1. A brief story (four or five pages in length)– some have been previously published, but all were new to me
2. Some brief devotional thoughts (“Reflections”) based on the story and asking the reader to reflect upon their own busy life.
3. A Scripture verse (a possible memory verse?) which again strengthens the lessons inherent in the stories.

The 30 parables serve to remind the reader that God can work in remarkable ways in a world full of broken people. Whether the brokenness is the result of loss, consequences, illness, etc., God can be ready to meet those needs in unexpected ways, if we will let Him.

The book will serve as a great gift (or stocking stuffer) for a couple, a young family, or a senior citizen. It could easily serve as an early Christmas gift for the members of a small group. Be sure to grab an extra copy for yourself as well. It would be worth 30 days of devotions.
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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.

Build the Altar - A Review

Build the Altar
A Personal Worship Retreat

by

Paula Wiseman

A Review

Paula Wiseman has become one of my favorite Christian fiction writers.  She is now, slowly, building a reputation for none fiction works as well.  I earlier purchased a copy of her 56 Tips To Help You Get the Most Out of Every Book in the Bible and appreciated her insights and thoughts. Her latest book at 42 pages uses the various altars found in scripture as tools for teaching about worship.

Ms. Wiseman uses five altars built by men and women from both the Old Testament to help the believer understand the purpose and role of worship in his and her life. Noah, David, Elijah, Hannah, and Mary, provide are the individuals used to build her argument.  Each chapter is divided into two sections: “Consider the Context” and “Connecting to Christ”. The first section focuses on the story of the character and the altar he or she builds. The discussion is both exegetical and practical - questions are used throughout to make the discussion personal for the reader. The second section builds parallels between the history discussed in the first section and life of a 21st-century believer. The two sections provide sufficient depth to be of interest to both the new believer and a mature believer looking for something to help renew their faith.

This book/booklet could serve as a guide to personal devotions for as short as a week or a month or longer. Another way I might find this guide useful would be to spend the first day of the week using this guide as a tool in a personal retreat setting (park, zoo, mall, etc.) and then use the remainder of the week using the insights found during that alone time to guide the reader's personal devotions for the next week. Finally, the book could serve as the foundation for a six-week study for a small group - the small group covering the material in the book, while encouraging the members to use the material to guide their devotions in the time between meetings.

However the book is used and whoever uses the book, it is likely to be a blessing to the reader.

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