The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide by N. T. Wright; Michael F. Bird

The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video, Updated Edition by N. T. Wright; Michael F. Bird

ISBN-13: 9780310147046
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
Released: Jan. 20, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
In this eight-session video Bible study, well-known Bible scholars N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird team up to take you on a tour of the New Testament. You will discover things you never knew about Jesus' baptism and journey in the wilderness, the meaning behind his parables and miracles, the significance of his death and resurrection, the incredible expansion of the early church into the Greco-Roman world, and how the transforming mission of Jesus can still turn the world upside down today. Through reading the New Testament we continually discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don't always look like what people expect.

This study guide includes individual access to eight streaming video sessions, group discussion questions, Bible exploration, and video teaching notes, and personal study and reflection materials. Sessions and video run times:

The Books of the New Testament (23:00)
The World of Jesus and the Apostles (20:30)
The Life and Death of Jesus (25:30)
The Resurrection of Jesus (24:00)
The Ministry of the Apostle Paul (25:30) The Early Christians and the Church (23:00)
The Mission of the Church (26:00)
The Creation of the New Testament (23:30)



My Review:
The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide is an 8-week-long study providing an overview of the New Testament. This is an updated version and came with online streaming video. You start each session with the group/video. The video was about 20-25 minutes long and showed Bible locations while Wright and Bird provided commentary on that session's topic. The written study guide started each week with a short intro (your choice of one of two questions to discuss for 15 minutes), then there were spaces to write notes under the main topic headlines given in the video with important bits from the video recapped in sidebars. You then discuss the video for 40 minutes with provided questions for group discussion. You finish with 10 minutes for prayer on various prompted points. For each of the 5 days after the group study, you're provided with related verses to look up and asked 2 questions about those verses. You are also provided with a few paragraphs of application at the end of that session. This study covered:

Session 1 - The Books of the New Testament
Session 2 - The World of Jesus and the Apostles
Session 3 - The Life and Death of Jesus
Session 4 - The Resurrection of Jesus
Session 5 - The Ministry of the Apostle Paul
Session 6 - The Early Christians and the Church
Session 7 - The Mission of the Church
Session 8 - The Creation of the New Testament

While this study generally provided a good overview of the New Testament and how the books of New Testament came to be a part of the New Testament, they made a few claims that I didn't agree with. For example, they said that John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River near Jericho because he wanted people to see his ministry as a new Exodus. Well, Exodus refers to leaving...in this case, leaving Egypt. By the time Joshua lead the Israelites across the Jordan, only a few people were left that had been a part of the Exodus. Crossing the Jordan River was entering the land of covenant promise. Also, John preached in other locations as well. Anyway, the visuals chosen for the video were interesting, especially if you knew what they were showing (as they didn't label where every visual was located).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City by Jason Borges

Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City
by Jason Borges

ISBN-13: 9781540968852
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Baker Academic
Released: February 17, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From lively agoras to magnificent temples and luxurious baths, civic buildings were more than just physical settings for everyday life; they were spaces imbued with social and political meaning. Informed by Jason Borges's research and his experience leading tours to ancient sites, this book explores how early Christians interacted with and understood their urban environment. The result is fresh insight into the cultural background of the New Testament and other early Christian writings.

Each chapter explains a specific structure (agoras/forums, temples, baths, prisons, theaters, libraries, and cemeteries), provides an extant example, and discusses its significance for reading the New Testament. The book includes black and white images, informative diagrams, and a foreword by David A. deSilva. This helpful book illuminates the architectural and civic background of the New Testament and early Christianity so that readers can better understand the writings and theology of early Christians.


My Review:
Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City is Bible background book which explains how understanding the public spaces that New Testament events occurred in can bring insight into NT writings. For example, an agora might be translated as "marketplace" in our Bible, but it was so much more than we'd envision from the word "marketplace." Knowing what activities happened in an agora and how people interacted in these spaces helps readers to better understand references to these spaces in the NT.

The author spent a chapter on each of the following environments: agoras/forums, temples, baths, prisons, theaters, libraries, and cemeteries. He explained what they looked like (both the ideal and an example from archeology), what activities were done there and how people interacted there (using writings from the time), and then examined references to these spaces (or activities done there) in the New Testament. He showed how the original audience would have understood the passages, either adding nuance or showing how we may have misunderstood the main intent of the passage. The writing style was easily understandable and interesting, not highly academic. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting book to those intrigued by the subject.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Journey with Jesus by Bob Goff

A Journey with Jesus
by Bob Goff

ISBN-13: 9780830791293
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With immersive teaching filmed on location in Israel, this 8-week video-led Bible study from New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff invites you to walk where Jesus walked, engage Scripture with fresh eyes, and follow Him with greater love and purpose. Join Bob Goff on a journey across Israel—not as a tourist but as a follower of Jesus. From Capernaum, where community took root, to the Sea of Galilee, where joy met calling, each session includes stunning video, fascinating biblical and historical insights, reflection opportunities for personal or group study, and Bob’s joyful storytelling.


My Review:
A Journey with Jesus is an 8-week long Bible study on the Gospels. Each week had a video portion that was filmed in Israel, showing a location where Jesus spent time, and then the author talked about several events that happened there and what we can learn from them. In addition to the commentary, there were also study questions, some maps in the book, and some recipes for local food. Unfortunately, the videos and other extra content can only be accessed using QR codes (no URLs were provided). As I don't use a smart phone, I wasn't able to view that material. I felt like I was missing half the content, but the book portion was still informative and insightful.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

God, the Great I AM by Sydney Ann Johnson

God, the Great I AM
by Sydney Ann Johnson,
Thais Mesquita Silveira Cunha (Illustrator)

ISBN-13: 9781640704169
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
I AM...
I am the God of gods and Lord of lords, and my love will last forever
I created you for a reason, with a special purpose


God, The Great I AM is a love letter from God’s heart to yours. Through lyrical language and vibrant imagery, Sydney Ann Johnson invites you and your child to explore who God is, what He does, and how much He cares for you. This beautifully illustrated picture book helps children ages 4 to 8 see God’s beauty in creation and feel His presence in their everyday lives. Whether your child is feeling joy, fear, sadness, or wonder, they can turn to the Great I AM with confidence. With diverse characters and gentle truths woven throughout, this story encourages every child to embrace their God-given identity and find comfort in His never-ending love. Scripture is included in the back to help parents and caregivers further explore the Bible with children.


My Review:
God, the Great I AM is a Christian nonfiction, exploring who God is for children ages 4 to 8. The book follows two girls (black, asian) and two boys (white). While the title says who is speaking, the text in the book just says "I am..." The text listed things God created and controls and explained only He can create out of nothing. That He has always existed and never changes. He's the giver of all good things and all He does is good. He makes plants grow and season's change. He wants us to talk to Him about anything. He's everywhere at once and keeps watch over you. He designed how various things look and work, including "I shaded people in magnificent varieties of brown, with melanin in every hue." He created us and how we look, and "Before the beginning of time, I knew you."

"I created you for a reason with a special purpose: to reflect my image--bright, creative, and compassionate. To care for my world--the big and small. To bring honor to my holy name." "I will be your helper and your friend, your God and your Savior. Place your hope in me and I will show you I AM who I AM."

The illustrations are stylized rather than more realistic in style. They illustrated what's being talked about in the text. Overall, I'd recommend this book.




If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Draw Close to Jesus by Heidi Chiavaroli

Draw Close to Jesus
by Heidi Chiavaroli

ISBN-13: 9780800746544
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 20, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It is hard to imagine a more needed and desirable invitation than "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The Gospel accounts are full of stories of Jesus noticing, meeting, and walking alongside people who were weary, worried, and wondering what to do about the challenges they faced. People a lot like you. Jesus intentionally drew close, spent unhurried time with them, and changed their lives forever.

Through imaginative retellings, Heidi Chiavaroli brings to life the stories of 40 people who encountered him in the pages of Scripture. As you journey alongside them, you will gain new appreciation for the beauty of repentance, the power of redemption, and the incredible intimacy we get to experience with the One who stepped into our sin and shortcomings to offer forgiveness, abundance, and rest for our weary souls.


My Review:
Draw Close to Jesus is a 40 day devotional for Lent built around "imaginative retellings" of people who encountered Jesus in the New Testament. Each day started with the fictional account, written in first person present tense ("I cry"). After this, the author suggested some questions or comments to ponder, followed by a short prayer. She also included the Bible verses that inspired her story.

My main problem was that the author sometimes didn't stick to what's told in the Scriptures. For example, She had Judas leading Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus when the Gospels do not mention Romans, only Jews: "chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders." She had Jesus leave all but three of his disciples outside of Gethsemane while the Gospels portray them as in the garden with Jesus and Jesus withdrawing 'about a stone’s throw beyond them.' And so on.

The author also sometimes got too imaginative. For example, she described Gethsemane as a garden of fruit trees, with Jesus sitting under a fig tree with pomegranate trees nearby. "Gethsemane" means "an oil press" and is on the Mount of Olives, but she departed from the traditional view that the garden largely held olive trees. Also, she described leprosy as an intensely painful disease where the flesh literally rotted off the body and involved a fever (so an infection) that caused death. This is not what leprosy (now called Hansen's disease) is like.

The author also didn't seem to know some basic facts, like she gave a person "linen robes" and another person a "flax tunic." But linen is cloth made from flax. In another place, she stated that newborn lambs were sacrificed on "its eighth day of life," but (when the age is mentioned), lamb sacrifices were to be one year old. And some things just didn't seem normal for the culture, like she had James think that the smell of Passover lambs roasting over the fire was a "foul odor" when they would have considered it a festive treat.

While some of the stories were well-written and drew out good points, I can't really recommend the devotional due to the amount of creative license the author took.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts by Beth Guckenberger

The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts by Beth Guckenberger

ISBN-13: 9780830786015
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The party looks so fun! Full of party food, games, and people! But one little cowboy is uninvited and oh-so-unhappy. Bad thoughts threaten to carry his heart away, but God helps him learn to lasso those thoughts with thankful prayers. See how the power of gratitude can help us all fight off envy and discontentment with hope and joy.

Parents and teachers looking for ways to help kids navigate big feelings will love the StrongHeart Stories, a series of illustrated spiritual tales by Beth Guckenberger and Irina Mileo. In The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts, based on 2 Corinthians 10:5, children learn how to be thankful for the good all around them instead of being carried away by negativity. Let’s train an emerging generation to grow strong hearts and sound minds and be free from the power of the enemy!


My Review:
The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts is a children's hardback picture book about combatting bad thoughts with God's truth and with gratitude. A young boy (and his heart) sees kids having fun at a party that he wasn't invited to, and negative thoughts start to ruin his mood. "'People are mean and the world is bad. There's absolutely no good thing to be had. Everyone has better, bigger, and more. What have YOU got to be thankful for?' But the heart knew these rumply thoughts were not true." The heart then repeats Scripture (in a kid-understandable version and with the Bible reference provided) to counter these and other arguments, like "You are not wanted" or "You mess up everything." It's a wonderful, child-level guide to taking every thought captive (lassoing it) and focusing on what is true and good. I'd highly recommend this fun, important kid's book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Compassionate Christ by Sherri Hughes-Gragg

The Compassionate Christ
by Sherri Hughes-Gragg

ISBN-13: 9781400253340
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In The Compassionate Christ author Sherri Hughes-Gragg invites you to embark on a transformative journey to witness firsthand the abundant and welcoming love of Jesus. Through emotive storytelling, a form of fictional narrative that mixes biblical history with Scripture, Sherri transports you back in time to vividly bring to life the biblical stories of Jesus' interactions with people. For thirty-one days you will walk alongside the Savior, witness miraculous healings and events, and experience His compassion and mercy by thinking and feeling along with the people whose lives have been instantly transformed by His love and grace.


My Review:
The Compassionate Christ is a 31-day devotional. For each day, we're asked to read a passage in the Bible, then the author wrote a fictionalized account of that passage, showing Jesus' compassion toward the hurting, the outcast, and sinner. The author ended each devotional with a short prayer regarding a truth learned from the biblical account.

The author did a lot of research into what life would have been like at the time of Jesus and included information that helped draw out the full impact of what was happening in each biblical account. She stayed true to what's actually in the Bible, simply filling in Bible background details to make the setting come alive and adding some motivation for why people might have acted the way they did. For example, the background information helped show why the woman with the issue of bleeding tried to hide that she'd touched Jesus. Overall, I'd recommend this well-research and interesting devotional.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.