Bread of Life by Abigail Dodds

Bread of Life
by Abigail Dodds

ISBN-13: 978-1433572470
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Crossway Books
Released: September 28th 2021

Source: review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Millions of people have rediscovered the joy of homemade bread making. A quick search on Pinterest or Instagram brings up step-by-step instructions and captivating photos for everything from sourdough to naan. Bread satisfies our bodies, but our spirits cry out for even greater sustenance.

In Bread of Life, Abigail Dodds--an avid baker and mother of 5--invites readers to ponder and celebrate God's spiritual and physical provision in Christ through the hands-on art of bread making. Offering readers easy-to-follow directions for everything from focaccia to chocolate babka along with full-color photographs throughout, this unique book is an enriching blend of devotional meditations and recipes that invites readers to ponder the true bread of life as they bake for their families and friends.


My Review:
Bread of Life is a devotional with a bread theme and bread recipes. There were 11 devotionals with a recipe at the end of each. The author included recipes for a round wheat loaf, focaccia, zucchini bread, naan, cheese bread, sour dough country loaf, popovers, cottage bread, croissants, biscuits, and chocolate babka. Some of the recipes were more complex to make while others were simple. The pictures were primarily decorative (like a picture of people eating bread or the finished bread) rather than illustrations or step-by-step demos. Each devotional started with a couple verse quotes and then her commentary. She talked about something in her life that God pointed out to her, what Scripture says about that problem and why it is a problem, and how she's changed. She ended with three discussion questions and a bread recipe. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God by Bob Hartman

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God
by Bob Hartman,
Steve Brown (Illustrations)

ISBN-13: 9780830781553
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Clever Cub is a curious little bear who LOVES to cuddle up with the Bible and learn about God. Clever Cub wants to give thanks to God but doesn’t know how. So Mama Bear tells the story of Peter and John healing a man—a man who then gave thanks to God in a wonderful way! This engaging picture book tells the story of God's healing in Acts 3 and teaches children ages 3-6 the joy of showing gratitude to God.


My Review:
Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God is a Christian children's book is aimed at ages 3-6. It started with the mother thanking God for something good and teaching her cub to think about what he'd thank God for. She then told him the story from Acts 3:1-10 where Peter heals a lame beggar. The cub asked things like if the "temple gate called Beautiful" was in rainbow colors, and the illustrations showed what he's imagining. Still, the illustrations (while cartoon style) were fairly accurate in giving an idea of what things would have looked like. It's a fun way to teach this important lesson, and my 5-year-old niece enjoyed it. It's a bit wordy for my 2-year-old niece, though.


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.

Known by Aubrey Sampson

Known
by Aubrey Sampson

ISBN-13: 9781641583084
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
Released: September 7th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Names help us know that we belong and to whom we belong. The names you believe about yourself impact how you live, how you love, and how you move and bear witness to the gospel. God has true names that he speaks over you and wants you to hear. But we also carry other names--painful, damaging names that we have spoken over ourselves or that others have branded on us. Too often, in times of low self-worth, grief, or failure, we exchange our God-given identity for those false names. Known invites you to understand and embrace what it means to be created and named in the image of God.


My Review:
Known talked about how accepting God's names for you can free you from the hurtful, untrue names you've been told and change how you live. I appreciate that the author used Scripture both for supporting verses as well as examples of name changes. The author made good points about names and frequently used examples from her own life showing how a new name or a new understanding of a name change her. For example, she felt ashamed about being "Needy" until she realized that we're created to need God. She talked about finding the name at the root of an issue that you struggle with and how you can be transformed and healed when you're renamed. She also pointed out how humankind bears the image of God and our worth comes from God.

I must admit that I'd expected the focus to be on actual names given to all believers in the Bible, but many of her examples were personal names. Things that people hurtfully name you and how God, through prayer, can give you a new name. Unfortunately, the author's wandering style often left me wondering what the main point of a chapter was meant to be. I was also distracted by the author switching to present tense to describe past events (as people usually do that in past tense). Overall, though, 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.

Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel

Mysteries of the Messiah
by Rabbi Jason Sobel

ISBN-13: 9780785240051
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: W Publishing
Released: March 23rd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel reveals the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. He uncovers connections between the Old and New Testaments, connects the dots for readers with details about Jesus, the Torah, and biblical characters, and is written with the unique perspective of a rabbi with an evangelical theological degree.


My Review:
Mysteries of the Messiah looked at how different words add up to certain numbers and how words with the same number point to Jesus as Messiah. The idea is that each letter in Hebrew and Greek has a corresponding number and you can add up the letters in a word or phrase to get the corresponding number. The author feels that it's perfectly valid to connect words and phrases with the same number and these will point to theological truths. He didn't convince me of this as the connection is never derived simply from the words.

He also taught some rather odd ideas from various Jewish traditions. For example, he believes that the Fall happened on day 6 (apparently, of creation week, even though God says that everything was very good on that day). Also, he teaches about a donkey that would have been hundreds of years old, a ram over a thousand years old, the tradition that Isaac was actually killed and was dead for a while before being resurrected, and the belief that Israel shared the same land boundaries as the Garden of Eden (though that old ram was apparently living in the Garden of Eden until needed as a sacrifice instead of Isaac).

However, he did cover some information that is more widely taught. I've read similar information in other (much better) books talking about finding symbolism pointing to the Messiah in the feasts or providing cultural background to various verses in Genesis. The author talked about a couple prophecies that were fulfilled by Yeshua and how his life was reflected in the Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost. He talked about how there were similar events in the life of Yeshua and in the lives of Joseph, Moses, and David and events symbolic of Yeshua's mission in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ruth. He also talked about creation (where he rather freely changed the common translations of various words to translations that better fit his ideas).


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

What Love Is by Kelly Minter

What Love Is
by Kelly Minter

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: LifeWay Press
Released: 2014

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The letters of 1, 2, & 3 John were written to encourage followers of Jesus to remain faithful to the truth. Believers are challenged to look at contrasting themes such as walking in the light instead of darkness, truth versus lies and deception, loving God more than loving the world, and the meaning of true fellowship and community rather than shallowness. This study reveals not only the heart of John but also the heart of Jesus.


My Review:
What Love Is is a 7 week Bible study on 1, 2, 3 John. The format for each week was: an introduction that was two pages long and some group discussion questions if you viewed the video. Then there were five days of study for each week. She started with a story from her life that was somewhat a parable for a point made that day or week. She asked reading comprehension questions on the verses being studied and provided commentary to explain the verses. She also asked questions to help the reader apply the lesson to your life.

There were two comfort-food recipes at the end of each week. To be honest, I felt like my fellow Bible study participants were more excited about the included recipes than the study. The author also repeatedly stated that she found the verses in that section difficult to understand and basically only really understood the simple verses. This made me wonder why she chose to do a Bible study on these letters and not on something that she better understood or had life experiences which could help add depth of understanding and insight to the verses. Overall, though, she did a good job of explaining the verses. She often quoted another person's explanation and said that she thought it was the best explanation. Not a bad study, but I didn't really get anything new from it.


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 Global Flood by John D. Morris

The Global Flood
by John D. Morris

ISBN-13: 9781935587125
Hardcover: 175 pages
Publisher: Institute for Creation Research
Released: January 22nd 2013

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from ICR:
Why does the Genesis Flood Matter? The study of geology is a daunting task, especially when investigating ancient rock, strata, and fossils. What do the rocks and strata tell us about the geologic history of the earth? How do fossils help us unlock the mysteries of the geological catastrophes of the past?

For some, the thought of a worldwide flood is ludicrous. But for serious scientists who research the various formations of the earth and the catastrophic processes that shaped the world we see around us today, the evidence of a global flood is indisputable. The Global Flood presents that evidence in a way that clearly demonstrates why the biblical account of the Flood matters to all of us who want to understand and communicate the truth of the Genesis Flood with confidence.

The Global Flood helps to meet a great need today. It is comprehensive. It is aimed at those who are not experts in earth sciences. People everywhere need to understand the true significance of the year-long, mountain-covering Deluge that buried and fossilized trillions of marine and land animals and plants only a few thousand years ago. Over 95 percent of these fossils - even within sedimentary strata seen in the highest mountains of the world - are marine creatures! We don't need to stretch the creation week of Genesis 1 to allow for this. The fossils were formed after, not before, Adam! There's no need to add millions and billions of years to earth history.


My Review:
The Global Flood examines the evidence for the world-wide, biblical flood described in Genesis as the cause behind much of the strata and fossils often interpreted as requiring millions of years to create. The author started by describing some history of the study of geology and how different worldviews affect how the evidence in the present is interpreted. He then examined in detail what the Bible says about the creation week and the Flood which would indicate what we'd expect to see in the rock layers. He then examined the different rock strata: what's in it which would help indicate when and how it was formed, how evolutionist explain it, and how a worldwide flood (or the creation week or post-Flood activity) is a better explanation for how it was formed. The author also talked about things like world-wide flood legends in other cultures, tree ring dating, questions about where all the water came from or how the mountains could have been covered, etc.. The tone was not too technical to understand while still explaining a lot of detailed information. Overall, I thought this was a nice summary of the information, though I've read much of it elsewhere as well.


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 New Testament in Its World by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird

The New Testament in Its World
with N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
Enter the world of the New Testament. A companion to The New Testament in Its World by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, these lectures serve as your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians.

Professors Wright and Bird will guide you through how to read the New Testament, the world of Jesus and the early church, deep studies on both Jesus and the apostle Paul, lectures on every book of the New Testament, as well as how to live the story of the New Testament today.

In addition to numerous studio lectures, on-location sessions will immerse you into the world of the New Testament. Filmed around the world, this series takes you on a journey with Wright and Bird to Jerusalem, Corinth, Athens, Rome, Nazareth, Qumran, Capernaum, and the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

At nearly 13 hours of content, these lectures are the definitive video introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the New Testament.

Watch the Trailer.


My Review:
Length: Around 14 hours of video when including the bonus material.

The New Testament in Its World is a video study about the books of the New Testament. The series was so long that I was not able to complete it before the end of my free trial period. I enjoyed sessions 5 through 15, which gave cultural background and context to the New Testament and the early church. The later sessions focused on specific books of the Bible and tended to focus more on the debates about who wrote the book, who it was sent to, etc. They also summarized the major ideas in the books and suggested applications. Both authors apparently wanted to talk about each book and each summarized the book, so some of it was repeated information.

Some of these sessions were filmed on-location or included brief video clips of the cities where the letter was written or was sent. While the cultural background information was potentially interesting for anyone, I felt like the debated information was much more academic than most people would care about.

Introduction - Welcome to the Study
Session 1 - Beginning Study of the New Testament
Session 2 - The New Testament as History
Session 3 - The New Testament as Literature
Session 4 - The New Testament as Theology
Session 5 - The History of the Jews
Session 6- Jewish Context of Jesus, Early Church
Session 7 - Greco-Roman Context of Early Church
Session 8 - The Study of the Historical Jesus
Session 9 - The Profile and Praxis of a Prophet
Session 10 - Who Did Jesus Think He Was?
Session 11 - The Death of the Messiah
Session 12 - Afterlife for Greek, Roman, Jew
Session 13 - Story of Easter (Apostle Paul)
Session 14 - Story of Easter (the Evangelists)
Session 15 - Story of Paul's Life and Ministry
Session 16 - A Primer on Pauline Theology
Session 17 - Galatians
Session 18 - 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Session 19 - Philippians
Session 20 - Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians
Session 21 - 1 and 2 Corinthians
Session 22 - Romans
Session 23 - The Pastoral Epistles
Session 24 - The Gospel according to Mark
Session 25 - The Gospel according to Matthew
Session 26- Gospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles
Session 27 - The Gospel according to John
Session 28 - The Making of the Gospels
Session 29 - Intro to Early Christian Letters
Session 30 - The Letter to the Hebrews
Session 31 - Letters by Jesus's Brothers
Session 32 - Petrine Letters: 1 and 2 Peter
Session 33 - Johannine Letters: 1, 2, 3 John
Session 34 - Revelation
Session 35- Intro to Textual Criticism of the NT
Session 36 - Canonization of the New Testament
Session 37 - Bringing It All Together
BONUS: What Are "Principalities" in the Bible?
BONUS: Why Study the Historical Jesus?
BONUS: What Is Prayer?
BONUS: How Did Jesus View His Vocation?
BONUS: What Paul Means by "Faith"
BONUS: The Persecution of Christians
BONUS: Why Does Resurrection Matter?
BONUS: How to Understand the Holy Spirit
BONUS: How the Gospel Is Different from Ancient Religion
BONUS: The End of Exile: Daniel, Jesus, and Redemption



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.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth with Douglas Stuart and Mark Strauss

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
with Douglas Stuart and Mark Strauss

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
Understanding the Bible isn't for the few, the gifted, the scholarly. It's for everyone. the Bible is meant to be read and comprehended by everyone from armchair readers to seminary students. A few essential insights into the Bible can clear up a lot of misconceptions and help disciples of all kinds grasp the meaning of Scripture and its application to your twenty-first century life.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, taught by scholars and professors Mark Strauss and Douglas Stuart, covers everything from translation concerns to different genres of biblical writing. In clear, simple language, sessions will help you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible and their implications for both ancient audiences and humanity today, so you can uncover the inexhaustible worth that is in God's Word.

By completing this series, you will gain greater familiarity with and appreciation for the Bible as a whole, insight into the ten basic genres in the Bible and how to correctly interpret each, and a deeper understanding of how to apply God’s Word to your own life today.


My Review:
Each episode was 21-29 minutes long.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth is a video series that explains how to understand and interpret the different genre of the Bible (narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophetic, etc.). I've read a similar book in the past and found it helpful, and this series covered much of the same information. It was a good review. It's for laymen level, so the speakers were easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1 - The Need to Interpret
Session 2 - A Good Translation
Session 3 - Epistles: Think Context
Session 4 - Epistles: Hermeneutics
Session 5 - Old Testament Narratives
Session 6 - Acts: Historical Precedent
Session 7 - Gospels: Many Dimensions
Session 8- Parables: You Get the Point?
Session 9 - Law: Covenant Stipulations
Session 10- Prophets: Enforcers
Session 11 - The Psalms: Prayers
Session 12 - Wisdom: Then and Now
Session 13- Revelation: Judgment & Hope


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 Christ Files with John Dickson

The Christ Files
by John Dickson

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
In The Christ Files, historian Dr. John Dickson sets out to discover what we can know for certain about the life of Jesus. In a captivating journey across the globe, this series examines ancient documents and consults the world’s most respected historians and scholars. Filmed in seven countries, the documentary reveals the earliest and most important manuscript evidence for Jesus of Nazareth, including the writings of Josephus, Tacitus, the apostle Paul and the controversial Gnostic Gospels. The Christ Files provides viewers with a front row seat to the facts behind Western civilization’s most influential story.


My Review:
Each episode was 21-22 minutes long.

The Christ Files is a video series that examines the question of how certain we can be about the accuracy of the accounts about Christ in the Bible. The host went to different places around the world to talk with experts about this topic. The series examined ancient documents that mention Jesus and what we can learn from them about Jesus. We learned about writings from various cultures, and the host explained how cultural aspects further build assurance in the biblical account. For example, several sources showed that it would be hard to convince a Roman (among others) that someone who died on a cross was worth worshiping, yet Romans became Christians. The speaker was easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1: Gnostics and Romans: How the ancient world viewed Jesus of Nazareth
Session 2: Jews and Christians: Jesus according to his own people
Session 3: Lost Sources and Oral Traditions
Session 4: Archaeologists and Artifacts: Piecing together the world of Jesus


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.

EPIC: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History by Tim Challies

EPIC: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History
by Tim Challies

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
The Epic documentary series takes you on a journey with Tim Challies to twenty-four countries, visiting dozens of museums, cemeteries, libraries, houses, monuments, and more. From pulpits to paintings, the labor of monks to the martyrdom of missionaries. Through thirty-three carefully selected objects, author and pastor Tim Challies introduces learners to the history of Christianity in a unique and creative way. It's a story that tells us what God is accomplishing in this world, whether through princes or peasants, triumph or trial.

Watch the Trailer.


My Review:
EPIC is a travelogue video series looking for historical objects around the world that tell the story of Christianity. Each episode is 25 minutes long. The host went to museums, historical sites, churches, etc. Sometimes he was allowed to film inside, showing the object that he talked about, while other times he simply described what he had seen while standing outside of the museum. He explained how the object told an important part of Christian history. There were also scenes showing him traveling, eating, taking photographs, etc. Sometimes the video was jerky, which I find difficult to watch. I enjoyed seeing the video of some of the sites in Germany and India that I've never seen pictures or video of before.

Episode 1 - Israel & Italy
Episode 2 - England
Episode 3 - Ireland & Scotland
Episode 4 - France & Switzerland
Episode 5 - Germany & Ecuador
Episode 6 - Australia & New Zealand
Episode 7 - Zambia & Zimbabwe
Episode 8 - India
Episode 9 - China, Philippines & South Korea
Episode 10 - USA



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

The New Testament in Antiquity with Gary M. Burge and Gene L. Green

The New Testament in Antiquity
with Gary M. Burge and Gene L. Green

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
The New Testament in Antiquity skillfully develops how Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures formed the essential environment in which the New Testament authors wrote their books and letters. Throughout the video lectures, presenters Gary Burge and Gene Green provide windows into the first-century world and discuss issues of interpretation derived from cultural observations. You will learn how understanding the land, history, and culture of this world brings remarkable new insights into how we read the New Testament itself.


My Review:
The total series takes nearly 9 hours to watch.

The New Testament in Antiquity is a video series about the cultural background to the New Testament. The speakers provided information about the cities (Corinth, etc.) and cultures (Jewish, Roman, etc.) being addressed in the various letters, providing insights to Biblical text. They also provided commentary on who wrote the book, to whom it was sent, and summarized the main points of the letter or book. There were brief snippets of video taken on location at the modern ruins of some of the mentioned cities. The speakers were easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1 - Studying the New Testament
Session 2 - The Historical Setting of the New Testament
Session 3 - The World of Jesus in His Jewish Homeland
Session 4 - The Mediterranean World of the Apostle Paul
Session 5 - Sources for the Story of Jesus
Session 6 - The Story of Jesus
Session 7 - The Teachings of Jesus
Session 8 - The Gospel According to Matthew
Session 9 - The Gospel According to Mark
Session 10 - The Gospel According to Luke
Session 11 - The Gospel According to John
Session 12 - The Acts of the Apostles
Session 13 - Paul of Tarsus: Life and Teachings
Session 14 - The Letter to the Galatians
Session 15 - 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Session 16 - 1 Corinthians
Session 17 - 2 Corinthians
Session 18 - The Letter to the Romans
Session 19 - Colossians and Ephesians
Session 20 - Philippians and Philemon
Session 21 - The Pastoral Letters: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus
Session 22 - The Letter to the Hebrews
Session 23 - The Letter of James
Session 24 - 1 and 2 Peter and Jude
Session 25 - The Letters of John
Session 26 - The Revelation of John
Session 27 - Preservation and Communication of the NT


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

Encountering the Holy Land by Carl Rasmussen

Encountering the Holy Land
by Carl Rasmussen

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible is a unique, on-location visual overview of the lands of the Bible designed for students, Bible study groups, adult learners, travelers to the lands of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and all lovers of the Bible. Viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for the Bible by understanding the land and culture in which it was written.

The first lesson introduces the "playing board" of biblical history, followed by lessons arranged historically that begin with the Patriarchs and trace the historical progression of the Old and New Testaments. The video study provides an engaging, accurate, and faithful companion to God's Word--illuminating the text with footage filmed in the Holy Land and Egypt. This set of lessons provides an in-depth visual overview that will help viewers experience the geography and history of Scripture with unprecedented immediacy and clarity.

Throughout Encountering the Holy Land, scholar Carl Rasmussen leads viewers through the Holy Lands to illuminate the geographical and historical context of biblical events. Destined to become a favorite guide to biblical geography for students of the Bible, this accessible set of video lessons will invite you into the world of the Bible as never before.


My Review:
The total series takes about 4 hours to watch.

Encountering the Holy Land is a video Bible study series on how understanding the geology of the Holy Land can bring insights into the actions taken by people in the Bible. The speaker was filmed on location at various locations being described in the series and there were also videos of the geography of other places that he referred to when explaining the history given in the Bible. For example, he described why a battle took place in a certain spot or why the trade routes went through certain areas and not others. Though I have been to Israel, I enjoyed seeing the videos of the various areas and gaining insights to the Bible narrative. He took an "earlier date" view of aligning Egyptian and biblical history (making the first Hyksos king the one that didn't know Joseph), though he did explain other views. (Personally, I think the Hyksos came right after the Exodus.) The speaker was easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1 - Introduction to the Middle East
Session 2 - Patriarchs and the Egyptian Sojourn
Session 3 - Exodus and Conquest
Session 4 - Settlement in the Land of Canaan
Session 5 - Transition to Monarchy: Samuel and Saul
Session 6 - The United Monarchy: David and Solomon
Session 7 - The Divided Kingdom and Judah Alone
Session 8 - Exile and Return
Session 9 - Greeks, Hasmoneans, and Roman Rule
Session 10 - The Life of Christ
Session 11 - Church Expansion and Paul's Journeys
Session 12 - The Seven Churches of Revelation
Session 13 - Jerusalem and Historical Geography


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.

Ephesians by Mark D. Roberts

Ephesians
by Mark D. Roberts

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
This series on the book of Ephesians features author and professor Mark Roberts teaching through the book in eighteen engaging and challenging lessons. Based on Roberts' Ephesians commentary in The Story of God Bible Commentary series, lessons tackle the historical distance between the New Testament and contemporary culture. Roberts offers a clear and compelling introduction to the entire book of Ephesians, guiding viewers in creatively and faithfully living out the book's message in today's context. Using a story-centric approach, these lessons are ideal for formal and informal students alike, and for anyone who wants to better understand Ephesians today.


My Review:
The total series takes about 7 hours 20 minutes to watch.

Ephesians is a video Bible study series on Ephesians. The series is based on his Ephesians commentary in The Story of God Bible Commentary series. He talked about the cultural background to the verses and also explained the meaning where the translation from Greek to English doesn't capture the full meaning. He ended each session by describing modern day examples of how to apply what we learned in the verses. He was easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1 - Introduction
Session 2 - Ephesians 1:1-2
Session 3 - Ephesians 1:3-14
Session 4 - Ephesians 1:15-23
Session 5 - Ephesians 2:1-10
Session 6 - Ephesians 2:11-22
Session 7 - Ephesians 3:1-13
Session 8 - Ephesians 3:14-21
Session 9 - Ephesians 4:1-6
Session 10 - Ephesians 4:7-16
Session 11 - Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Session 12 - Ephesians 5:3-14
Session 13 - Ephesians 5:15-20
Session 14 - Ephesians 5:21-33
Session 15 - Ephesians 6:1-4
Session 16 - Ephesians 6:5-9
Session 17 - Ephesians 6:10-20
Session 18 - Ephesians 6:21-24



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.

Survival Guide for the Soul by Ken Shigematsu

Survival Guide for the Soul
by Ken Shigematsu

MasterLectures Video
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Source: Free month offer from MasterLectures.

Video Series Description:
We live in a society that pressures us to achieve professionally, socially, and through the constant acquisition of material possessions. Drawing on a wide range of sources including Scripture, church history, psychology, and neuroscience, as well as a rich variety of stories from his own life, author and pastor Ken Shigematsu demonstrates how the gospel redeems our desires and reorders our lives.

The Survival Guide for the Soul Video Study, along with its accompanying book, Survival Guide for the Soul, offers fresh perspective on how certain spiritual practices help orient our lives so that our souls can flourish in the midst of a demanding, competitive society. Lessons conclude with a liberating and counter-cultural definition of true greatness.

This video study will appeal to anyone who longs to experience a deeper relationship with Christ in the midst of the daily pressures to succeed, as well as to those on the borderlands of faith seeking to transcend the human tendency to define ourselves by our production and success.

Watch the Trailer.


My Review:
The total series takes just about 3 hours to watch.

Survival Guide for the Soul is a video series about redefining true greatness by using God's definition instead of the world's. The speaker also explained some spiritual practices that help us stay on track. He talked about taking on the yoke of God's love for us, our tendency to strive to 'be enough,' and things we can do to grow closer to God, like meditation on Scripture, doing the Sabbath, practicing gratitude, giving money to help others, serving others, being a good friend, and through the job that we choose. He was easy to listen to and understand. Overall, I'd recommend this series.

Session 1 - Introduction
Session 2 - The Divided Self
Session 3 - The Whole Self
Session 4 - Spiritual Practices
Session 5 - Meditation
Session 6 - Sabbath
Session 7 - Gratitude
Session 8 - Simple Abundance
Session 9 - Servanthood
Session 10 - Friendship
Session 11 - Vocation
Session 12 - Redefining Greatness


"And our sense of being 'enough' isn't something we achieve, it's something we receive. It's not something we create, it's something that's confered upon us by another." God.
from Session 2, Survival Guide for the Soul by Ken Shigematsu


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

Philippians by Joyce Meyer

Philippians
by Joyce Meyer

ISBN-13: 9781546026181
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: FaithWords
Released: March 2nd 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Paul's letter to the people at Philippi serves as a reminder that if we search for joy in possessions, places, or people, we will always come up short. True, lasting joy comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, living in harmony with His followers, and serving others in the name of Christ. The life lived by the Philippians is still attainable today. In her comprehensive approach, Joyce Meyer takes a deep dive into well-known and beloved verses, identifying key truths and incorporating room for personal reflection.

Joyce's Philippians provides a key study tool that will help you develop a stronger relationship with God. If you take time to examine His word, you'll see how much He loves you and how much He desires that you live a joyful, content life on earth!


My Review:
Philippians is a Bible commentary on Philippians that can be used for personal Bible study. The author printed the verses at the start of each section, doing one to seven verses at a time and working her way through Philippians. She talked about each group of verses and brought out insights to improve our understanding. She stayed focused on the verses rather than telling funny stories, but it wasn't highly academic or difficult to follow. It's written at a layman's level and contained short enough sections that it could be used for daily devotional reading. She included questions for personal reflection along with space to write in your answer. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to better understand Philippians.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Unlocking the Bible Story: Old Testament, Volume 1 by Colin S. Smith

Unlocking the Bible Story: Old Testament Volume 1
by Colin S. Smith

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Released: December 6th 2016


Source: review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Unlocking the Bible Story, Colin Smith moves gradually through portions of the Bible to explain how it all holds together. He tells God's one grand story of salvation and reflects on major themes along the way. In volume 1 he moves through the Pentateuch and Historical Books of the Old Testament, which tell the story of God creating the world, choosing a people for Himself, and loving them despite their continued sin.


My Review:
Unlocking the Bible Story is the first volume in a series and covers Genesis through Nehemiah. The book includes a Bible reading plan based on the One Year Bible published by Tyndale House. Each chapter covered a group of verses but didn't cover every verse in that part of the Bible. The author mainly focused on verses critical to understanding the New Testament, and he pointed out how things in the Old Testament were fulfilled in the New Testament. His commentary was casual in tone and easy to follow. He didn't focus on controversy but on understanding the main points made in that group of verses. For example, for creation, he talked about how God created us, how we are made in the image of God, how Adam and Eve used to walk with God, how marriage is established by God, etc. At the end of each chapter, he had a section that focused on Christ in these passages, what we learned in these passages, and a prayer based on what we learned. At the end of the book, there's a study guide for each of the chapters with questions to answer.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to Christians who are unfamiliar with the Old Testament. However, I was disappointed in the sections covering the kings as I felt the author sometimes summarized things in a way that misrepresented the truth. He said that Saul put the ark of the covenant in storage (because it was not in the city where he ruled?), making it sound like Saul halted the worship of God. Yet for most of his rule, the ark was in the tabernacle and priests performed sacrifices. The author also made it sound like David only had two wives. He described David as humble because he accepted God's declaration that David's son would build the temple and only gathered all the materials for the temple (and planned how the priest would do their duties, gathered the money needed, etc.). However, David did this because he didn't feel that Solomon was up to the job (1 Chronicles 22:5), which seems rather prideful rather than humble, in my opinion. Anyway, the author made many good points, just be sure to read the text for yourself.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Tim Grissom

Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival
by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Tim Grissom

ISBN-13: 9780802414564
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Released: October 1st 2019


Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Revival isn’t just an emotional experience. It’s a complete transformation. It can happen in your heart, in your home, in your church, and in your world. Restore your first love. Develop a heartfelt desire for God’s Word. Resolve conflicts. Repair relationships. Remove bitterness, fear, and worry. Refresh your spirit. Renew your mind. Reenergize your life. You can get back your passion and zeal for the Lord. Begin by Seeking Him!


My Review:
Seeking Him is a 12 week Bible study on seeking personal revival. Each week had five days of study. The first day focused on a testimony of someone who went through personal revival. The next days examined a "truth encounter" found in an account of God reaching out to his people in the Old or New Testament. The last day(s) were making it personal (personal application). While the book did remember to stay focused on our holy God, there were many questions and lists designed to help the reader see where they have sin problems (with the help of God's prompting). The study questions were either reading comprehension, about what you learned from what you just read, or personal application. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about seeking revival. It's primarily meant to be read privately, but it can be used in a group setting. They include some group questions at the end of each week.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

This I Know by Laura Dingman

This I Know
by Laura Dingman

ISBN-13: 9780802415967
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Released: January 2nd 2018


Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Do you worry often about what the future holds? Do you long for peace but don’t know how to have it? Do you know factually that God is trustworthy, but not practically how to live that out?

This I Know is a 6-week Bible study for those who want to walk upon the water. It guides women into biblical truths about the character of God so they can step faithfully into the unknown, confident in the God they do know. Corrie Ten Boom said it best, “Never be afraid to trust your unknown future to a known God.”

Join Laura Dingman as she journeys through Acts 17, James 1, Habakkuk 3, Psalm 46, 2 Chronicles 20, and Joshua 3, diving into subjects like abundance in Jesus, the goodness of God in trial, and the value of remembering God’s past faithfulness. Each week offers opportunity for prayer, interaction with the biblical text, journaling, and group discussion. Using Scripture, insights from her own life, and prompts for reflection, Laura points readers continuously to the unchanging character of God, helping them surrender their lives to Him and give Him all their trust.


My Review:
This I Know is a six-week Bible study. The first week was about the importance of experientially knowing God, the second week was about what you really believe about God, the third week was about Jesus being the cornerstone of your life and decisions, the fourth week was about keeping your eyes on God, the fifth week was about trusting God even things aren't turning out as we expect, and the six week was about things we can do to remember God's goodness. Each week has a several-page-long introduction that should count as a day, then five days of study on the theme introduced for that week.

The introduction had a lot of commentary about the theme for that week and provide some verses to read. Each day had some commentary, had you read some verses, and ended with the prayer and journaling prompt. Day one was usually reading the main verses and putting yourself in the scene using your imagination. The other days would use different study methods to look at certain verses related to the theme. For example, sometimes you would read the verses four times but look at it for different things each time. Other times, you read Scripture, wrote down what observations you made about text and what stood out to you, and came up with an application for your life. I thought she brought out important, impactful points in her commentary. Overall, I'd recommend this Bible study for personal study.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Unexplainable Jesus by Erica Wiggenhorn

Unexplainable Jesus
by Erica Wiggenhorn

ISBN-13: 9780802419095
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Released: June 4th 2019


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When’s the last time you were captivated by Jesus? Crowds clamored, women wept in awe, disciples dared to do the impossible—all because of Jesus. Somewhere in the overly familiar we’ve lost our fascination. Whether you’re worn thin, filled with questions, or desperate for more of God, come encounter Unexplainable Jesus. Experience the culture and customs of His day and follow Him into a life unimaginable.

This study features in-depth study of Luke (40 lessons over 8 weeks), historical and cultural insights, soul-searching questions, and access to online resources. Step into the streets of Jerusalem and encounter the Jewish Rabbi who turned the world upside down. After rediscovering Jesus on the pages of the book of Luke—or maybe discovering Him for the very first time—you’ll see there is no other plan, goal, ambition, or Person worth following but Jesus.

Plus, check out the Unexplainable Jesus DVD, which contains hours of all-new video teaching content from Erica Wiggenhorn.


My Review:
Unexplainable Jesus is an eight week Bible study of Luke. Each week started with an introduction and then five days of working through the verses. Each day covered a new chunk of verses, and she slowly worked through all of Luke. Each day started with the Bible reading and a lot of commentary about the verses, including cultural background and word studies. She included some questions about what you read which help bring out important points. She provided commentary about the answers to the questions after asking them, so you have some idea of the answer she was looking for and why they were important. She also had several personal application questions at the end as well as a summary of what we learned. I felt like she did an excellent job of bringing out insights from the text to help the reader to better understand what was going on. Overall, I'd recommend this excellent Bible study to individuals, though I think it could also be adapted to be used as a group study.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.