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.

Romans by Alan F. Johnson

Romans by Alan F. Johnson ISBN-13: 9780802418265 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Moody Publishers Released: June 5, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Martin Luther said Romans was so important that every Christian should memorize it. Romans outlines many of the basics of the faith and has been a favorite of Christians throughout history. But reading Romans without knowing the historical background is like watching an old comedy without knowing the cultural references—still enjoyable, but not nearly as vibrant. Encounter Paul’s crowning epistle in full color through Romans from the Everyday Bible Commentary series. In it you’ll receive enlightening verse-by-verse commentary from Alan F. Johnson that’s both straightforward and insightful. You’ll gain cultural and historical backgrounds, insights from the original language, and help with the difficult passages


My Review:
Romans is a commentary on Romans. The author gave some background information about the book and then commented on the verses as he worked verse-by-verse through Romans. It works best if you read the passage and then read his comments. He provided word studies, background information, and preaching-style insights into the meaning of the text. He also talked about various interpretations of certain verses why he thought a certain interpretation was stronger than the others. I thought he did a good job of helping explain potentially confusing verses and bringing out insights from the text. Overall, I'd recommend this useful Bible-study tool.


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.

Psalms by Robert L. Alden

Psalms by Robert L. Alden ISBN-13: 9780802419040 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Moody Publishers Released: March 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
There is nothing that can speak to the Christian’s heart quite like the Psalms. These cherished songs lead us into worship, guide our lament, and teach us to pray. But they are even more vibrant when we understand the context, author’s intent, and recognize what this means for our lives today. This is what the best preachers do, but you don’t have to wait until Sunday’s sermon. Encounter the beautiful depth of Psalms through an enlightening chapter-by-chapter commentary from Robert L. Alden that’s both straightforward and insightful. This single-volume commentary is helpfully divided into three thought-provoking sections: Songs of Devotion, of Dedication and of Discipleship.


My Review:
Psalms is a commentary on Psalms. The author did a good job of commenting on each of the psalms and bringing insight to them. He urged that his comments be read with your Bible open to that psalm. He talked about the structure of the psalm, similar words (and contrasts) that aren't immediately obvious in the English translations, and otherwise brought out useful and insightful points to help the reader better understand the psalms. His comments were not difficult to follow even though some of the terms were more academic (but he clearly explains them). Overall, I'd recommend this useful commentary.


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.