For as far back as I can remember I have known who Martin Luther is and have had a vague understanding of his life. However, this wonderful little biography changed that for me! In roughly three hours of reading I gained a brief, yet thorough, overview of his life which began with great fear and ended with strong faith.
This 160 page book is short and easy-to-read, but could be a little challenging for younger teens to read. It might be a challenge worth making them work through since Luther's life is such an encouragement to the "average" person. Not only did I enjoy learning about Luther as a historical figure, but I reveled in learning about how God used an ordinary man to bring such extraordinary change to the church. And this short read lit the spark to read more about Luther and his life - especially his last 20 years being married to Katy!
Anyone who reads this book will walk away with more understanding of who Martin Luther really was, what his life work was all about, and be encouraged by how God an change what seems impossible to change. I highly recommend it to teens and adults both. It would also be a great book to read as a family for those with middle school age children and on up.
This short, 87 page book is an easy-to-read unpacking and explanation of 1 Timothy 2:9-15. It is like a mini commentary in the way that it digs into the passage, yet still flows like an easy reading book. In 4 short chapters John MacArthur explains the Biblical role of women as we find in 1 Timothy.
I personally appreciated the simplicity of this book - it's a "get in and get out" kind of read. In two hours I was able to read the entire book and take notes while really being impacted by it's message. While there are no lists of things to do or steps to take for change, learning the depth of what this passage means is enough to cultivate a desire for growth and/or change if you truly want to apply Scripture to your life. At the end of each chapter there is a short "Review" section that asks questions on what you read and helps you retain more and also would make a great discussion guide for a book club or Bible study.
I highly recommend this book to any woman or teen girl and think that it is a great individual read or perfect for discipleship or Bible study settings. It is a fabulous de-funking of false beliefs on women being second class in the Bible and a wonderful re-building of the high call God has placed on a woman's life.
This wonderful, gospel-centered book is all about how God's love impacts our broken lives. While the title leads one to think that it is about counseling others, there is much in this book that will resonate within the heart of the reader.
I enjoyed the entire book, but especially appreciated the chapters on how the gospel applies directly with our sanctification, emotions, and relationships. After reading other books on the topic of the daily transforming grace of the gospel, these 3 chapters offered new perspective and a fresh look at these areas where I struggle to apply God's grace. The idea that our emotions are a good gift from God is almost mind blowing to me!
Counsel From The Cross is very similar to Because He Loves Me but comes from more of a "counseling" approach. However, while it repeats some of the same material, it also works through it in a different way that I found to be very helpful as I continue in understanding and applying the gospel to my everyday living. It certainly stands alone as a single book, but I would highly suggest reading Because He Loves Me first, especially if you have never read another book on the daily application of the gospel.
This is a deep book, but not so deep that it takes a degree to read it. I highly recommend it to anyone - teen and up - who desires to understand the gospel more and is willing to take the time and effort to study it out using the book as a guide.
This is a book I really wanted to read, but it took me a long time to finally read it because I knew I would be convicted. And, yes, I was.
John Piper eloquently and passionately explains fasting and it's Biblical basis as well as it's secular background. He digs into Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, to learn what place fasting has in our lives and they why and how behind doing it today in our own lives. I walked away having learned a lot, having been challenged immensely, and having been convicted of the fasting that is lacking in my own life. And most of all, I feel that I can now fast with a better understanding and purpose rather than a hastily thrown together desire "because it's the right thing to do".
I listened to the audio version of this book, but think that both print or audio are easy enough to work through. In fact, I may even lean more toward the print version since you can underline, re-read, and digest with greater thought a little easier than through simply hearing. This book is one you will most likely want to reference again and again and is worth buying for your own personal bookshelf.
I would highly recommend this book for older teens (15 and up) and adults to read if you desire to both understand and hunger for God more.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. I invite you to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast: "This much, O God, I want you."
Our appetites dictate the direction of our lives—whether it be the cravings of our stomachs, the passionate desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything besides God can be an arch-enemy. While our hunger for God—and Him alone—is the only thing that will bring victory.
Do you have that hunger for Him? As John Piper puts it: "If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great." If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God.
Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is this path of pleasant pain called fasting. It is the path John Piper invites you to travel in this book. For when God is the supreme hunger of your heart, He will be supreme in everything. And when you are most satisfied in Him, He will be most glorified in you.
Maybe it's due to my conservative roots or maybe it's just my personal preferences - I am really not sure - but books full of prayers to pray have always given me an uncomfortable feeling. Like I am plagiarizing on holy ground...or something. However, I highly respect John MacArthur and so when I saw His new release - At the Throne of Grace - I jumped at the opportunity to at least see what it was and maybe just maybe dip my toes into the pool of prayer books.
The first thing that I appreciated about this book was the introduction written by his children who share that they were the ones that begged him to have some of his prayers published into book format. This letter reassured me of MacArthur's humility in this arena and also made me a feel a little more at ease with reading someone else's prayers.
This book is divided into five topical sections with a brief appendix. Each prayer begins with an introductory passage of Scripture written out for you to read before the actual prayer. And I must add here that to my utter surprise I quickly found myself enjoying this book and all these prayers from another person. As I read I began to say the words myself and my heart was drawn into worship of our Almighty God.
So why would I recommend this book? Not because I think you should pray the exact same prayers of others per-say, but because I think as you read John's prayers they help refocus you to worship God more in prayer than just coming with your grocery list of needs for a quick session of begging. You most likely won't read this book in one sitting or straight through, but rather set it on the coffee table and pick it up every now and then and let yourself slip into moments of worship and adoration of the Creator of all.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Bible teacher MacArthur has a passion for honoring God, obeying his Word, and proclaiming Christ as Lord---and he invites you to join him! Bringing together select readings from over 40 years of his ministry, this collection of prayers and Scripture will stir your heart to pursue a deeper, more meaningful communion with God. 208 pages, hardcover from Harvest.
So many times I am find myself wondering how I managed without a cell phone...or how I would contact people without Facebook...or how inconvenient it would be without wifi in our home...and sometimes I even wonder how I learned without twitter. And this is exactly what - and so much more! - Tim Cahllies deals with in this book: The Next Story.
I "read" the audio version of this book and because it was not a book that I wanted to read but rather knew I should read. The audio format was best for me and was easy to listen to.
This is a book that will challenge you, make you think, and give you lots to continue to think about. However, while being deep and probing, I still felt that it was easy to understand and digest the message.
Tim is both gifted and knowledgeable as a communicator on the subject of technology and he brings to the table some very thought-provoking ideas and ways of determining the place for technology in the life of a Christian. I appreciate that, in my opinion, he is balanced - not willing to throw out technology but not glossing over it either - and looks at things from a realistic, and most importantly, Biblical view point. Now I don't mean that I agree with everything he said...er' I mean wrote but I definitely walked away understanding technology better and the desire to make it serve me, not I serve it. This book was both personally and "parentally" beneficial.
I would highly recommend anyone - adult or teen - read this book (or listen to it!) as it will help you figure out the place for technology in your life.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Even the least technical among us are being pressed from all sides by advances in digital technology. We rely upon computers, cell phones, and the Internet for communication, commerce, and entertainment. Yet even though we live in this ‘instant message’ culture, many of us feel disconnected, and we question if all this technology is really good for our souls. In a manner that attempts to be accessible, thoughtful, and biblical, I address questions such as:
How has life—and faith—changed now that everyone is available all the time through mobile phones? How does our constant connection to these digital devices affect our families and our church communities? What does it mean that almost two billion humans are connected by the Internet … with hundreds of millions more coming online each year?
Providing the reader with a framework they can apply to any technology, I explain how and why our society has become reliant on digital technology, what it means for our lives, and how it impacts the Christian faith.
So it’s a book not just for the young and digital, but for all of us.
Do you want to update to a new Bible that has study notes and commentary included but don't want to let go of your notes and marks from the years past? An easy solution is to buy a single volume Bible commentary.
Regardless of the Bible you have - unless you have the MacArthur study Bible! - this whole Bible commentary is a valuable addition to your study as you dig into the Word of God. While thick and heavy physically, this book is thorough and easy to use and understand. MacArthur's verse-by-verse approach is very helpful to deeper study of any passage. There are also plenty of sidebars with topical notes and outlines as well as maps and timelines. This is a great resource for any home library and for all ages 10 and up.
While slightly difficult to read - and probably not best for readers under 12 - this book is a short biography of John and Betty Stam. It begins with an introduction to the history of missions in China and ends with the legacy their lives left behind. This book is a brief 128 pages, but filled with their short and impacting testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness in all things.
I was significantly blessed by their continuing trust in God in all things - small and large. Their lives - as short as they were - were such bright lights for Christ and truly brought glory to God both in life and in death.
This book is a great overview of their lives and an encouraging testimony of God's work in the lives of those who have gone on before us. You will be encouraged by their faithfulness and challenged by their dedication.
I began reading this book about 5 months ago via the audio format from Audible downloaded to my Kindle. I listened to the first chapter and never touched the book again. I had heard rave reviews and chatter from bloggers and non-bloggers both about how this book changed their perspective and what a wonderful author Ann Voskamp is. However, I just could not get into it and the first few pages had me loosing focus and interest. It felt wordy and drawn out and frankly, I just couldn't see the point clearly enough.
However.
Yes, however, I picked it back up because I knew there had to be something good in there that I was missing. After all, not every book has an app to go along with it! So I once again plugged it in and this time confined myself to baking for a whole day while I listened to this book being read by the author.
I am not quite sure why this happens, but at times there is just "a right time" to read a certain book and until that time arrives one just never appreciates such a book. This was finally the "right time" because this time I found myself absorbed into the flowing words and vivid descriptions of ordinary moments in life that - seen through the lens of grace - were extraordinary, life altering moments.
While the book could be so much shorter, and the point a lot more clearer at the outset, it would be too easily read and forgotten - leaving no lasting impact and thoughts to ponder. It was a challenge to get into at first but quickly became pure enjoyment. The more I read the more I was encouraged, challenged, convicted, delighted, overwhelmed, and in awe. Ann Voskamp paints a beautiful picture of what it is like to live in every moment - what we deem good and bad - with a heart that seeks God's gifts to us. She strips us of our idea of "good gifts" and invites us and walks with us on a journey to see every moment as a gift from God.
I feel like no words I possibly write could do justice to describing this book. At first if felt like a hard read, but now I stand at the back cover realizing it was hard because sometimes life is hard and yet there is a deep beauty that comes from hard things.
One Thousand Gifts is a perfect read for anyone no matter what your stage or phase of life is. We all need to be dared to live life more fully right where we are.
I got to review this book in kindle format, but this is a book I really want in a black and white print edition! Each chapter addresses a topical issue with key verses one should memorize and then insight into how each of those verses applies. I like it because when struggling with a specific issue this is easy to use in not only finding out what the Bible says, but also exactly how that applies to the problem. This book is easy reading and encouraging. I would recommend it for anyone - teens, adults, families, etc. Also, because it has study questions at the end of each chapter it makes a great simple Bible study or group program for memorizing together.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
After Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of the Moody Church, and his wife, Rebecca, realized that memorizing Scripture has nearly become a lost pursuit today, they decided to create this practical, relevant resource filled with powerful verses and insightful explanations to help stimulate a spiritual hunger in readers’ own lives. With more than 35 topics and questions for reflection and further study, readers will discover how God’s Word will:
sustain them in times of need comfort them in seasons of sorrow strengthen their hearts in times and areas of weakness direct their steps and decisions toward God’s will
These handpicked verses provide a foundation of wisdom and hope to show readers who God is and what He has done for them, as well as who they are and how they can successfully live the Christian life.
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This review copy was provided by NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers but the opinion expressed is my own.
Elizabeth George has been encouraging and challenging women for years and now we get great resources from her husband to use with our sons. Just like the teen girl's series, this book for teen boys is Biblical and applicable. It walks a guy through making decisions about sleep, reading God's Word, how to treat family, clothing, speech, and more. Each chapter is interactive and sends you to God's Word to find the final answer rather than just relying on a man's opinion.
I like the down to earth approach of this book. It meets teen guys where they are rather than expect them to get things together before they pursue growing in their walk with Christ. I personally think this book has a lot of appeal for young men, too, because it's not just reading - it's interactive with questions and things to do now to apply what they are reading. While this book is probably targeted for teens between 14 and 17, I think any teen boy from 7th through 12th grade will benefit from this book. It is great for individual use but also perfect for mentoring or Bible study groups. It is easy to use and relevant to today's teens. And what makes it even better is that you could split guys and girls and to the girls study on choices with the girls while the guys go through this book!
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This ARC copy was provided by Harvest House but the opinion expressed is strictly my own.
If anyone - anyone! - would ask me what the number one book is that I would recommend, this book would be my answer. There are not enough words to describe this book!
Elyse is a great communicator, but beyond that is what she shares. In this book she takes you back to the basics that we so easily and quickly gloss over, and in some cases, we never pay attention to in the first place. In twelve chapters you are either are reminded or discover for the first time how the gospel applies to your daily life not just to a one-time decision. Reading this book is like putting together a puzzle and while you may first be confused, by the time you reach the end you will be very encouraged and on some things be quite convicted.
I personally love this book because for it was the first book I had read that really explained how what I knew should actually change my moment by moment life. It is deep enough to make you re-read some portions as you allow the meaning to really sink in, but easy enough for any person to read who is willing to give it their attention. For me, this has been the one book that has helped my dig into the Bible with excitement and passion as I understand more and more how it really applies to my life on a daily basis.
While the cover of this fabulous book showcases some pretty flowers and a butterfly, it's intended audience is for anyone, including men. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and quickly encourage you to put it at the top of your list to read. If you are a guy, then cut up a brown paper bag to make a book cover...but read it! It will change your thinking!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
God’s love has the power to change lives. Christians, then, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God’s love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished his love on them.
So why do we so often struggle to exhibit God’s love? Biblical counselor Elyse M. Fitzpatrick asks one simple question: “In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?” We need to be rescued from our “identity amnesia” and pointed to our true identity as God’s beloved children—adopted by the Father, united with the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Fitzpatrick shows how a genuine transformation of identity leads to a transformation of our daily lives. Those who struggle with either legalism or lawlessness will find encouragement to return to God’s love, the source of authentic and lasting change. Study questions and invitations to further discovery conclude each chapter. Now available in paperback.
Just as it's title suggests, this simple book is meant to teach adults and teens of any age the simple, yet profound truth of the gospel on a daily basis. It is broken into four sections, one of which is Vincent's testimony of what brought him to write this book. The other three are the gospel in various forms that you can read through quite easily in one sitting. While this book is certainly beneficial as a one-time read, it would be even better as a daily or weekly aid in helping you to refocus your thinking on the many glorious truths of the gospel and what they mean to you today - not just "yesterday" as a new believer.
I personally really enjoyed this book and it's simplicity. I could read it quickly yet soak in the rich depth. If you are looking for a book that will help you understand the glorious and daily implications of the gospel in your life then I would highly recommend this book for you to read. It's a simple beginning to an endless topic.
I always approach books on this topic with a bit of anxiety - wondering if I will walk away with more questions than when I begun. However, this book ranks first in the several I have read on this topic because it not only answered all my questions, but did so with great clarity. McKinley does not beat around the bush and present pages of lengthy explanation, rather he takes you back to Scripture for the answers. This book is a 140 page handbook for those who are willing to ask themselves the hard question of: "Am I really a Christian?".
Despite the sober subject and deep content, Mike helps ease the tension with his sprinkling of humor throughout the book. At first this may seem out of place, but as you read you feel as if you are having a personal conversation with a trusted mentor. He also provides great word pictures that take some difficult concepts and make them so much easier to understand. The book is also hands-on and interactive due to the "How To Respond" section at the end of each chapter. It is a good blend of book and Bible study combined into one cover and is suitable for individual or group use as well as appropriate for both teens and adults.
I was convicted and encouraged by this book. It helped me see some weak areas of my life and direct me to passages in the Bible that helped me determine my answer to the question: Am I Really a Christian? Whether you can answer that question without thinking about it or not, I highly recommend this book. Anyone who reads it will walk away benefiting from it...it's just that they may not benefit from it as they first expected. It's short, it's easy to read, founded on the Bible, and Christ centered. It is a great stand-alone read or a fabulous follow-up read to Because He Loves my, or Living the Cross Centered Life, or books of like kind.
Am I Really a Christian? is more than what meets the eye at first glance. This is a "really should read" book that packs quite a punch.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Wheaton IL¬—Some stats indicate that nearly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Mike McKinley has noticed a concerning trend: There are far too many people who think that they are Christians, but aren’t actually in Christ. He likens it to people who claim to be “huge Yankees fans” but don’t watch games, don’t know the lineup, or the stats, and only ride the team’s glory around playoff time for the exciting World Series victory. In Am I Really a Christian?, McKinley argues that there is much at stake in the decision to follow Christ, and it is crucial to know where you stand and what it means for your life. McKinley writes with a genuine love and concern for those in the church. He asks tough questions in order to plead with readers who may not be running the race marked out in God’s Word to change course. Emphasizing the importance that Jesus and Paul placed on this issue, McKinley guides readers through Scripture to show what the Bible says about genuine faith.
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The review copies were courtesy of Crossway and Amazon.com. The opinion expressed is strictly my own.
One of the endorsements I read for this Bible said that this is the "Gold standard" in Bibles. I agree.
This Bible is the best study Bible I have yet to use. It is the flowing and easy-reading ESV version which is accurate and eloquent. On top of being a superb version, it contains wonderful study notes, articles, and commentary that make it not only a Bible, but a study tool. My favorite part is that this study Bible highlights the Word of God rather than any man's opinion as the contributors share insight based on a cross centered view point. While I use several other study Bibles in my personal study, I appreciate this one the most for coming back to the heart of the matter - the gospel - from start to finish. The features in this study Bible will help you learn more for your cross centered life.
This study Bible is a wonderful, easy-to-use, and simple tool for teens and adults both. It's a must-read and must-use!
BOOK OVERVIEW:
Widely considered one of the best tools available for Bible study and previously only available in the New King James Version, the Reformation Study Bible (RSB) has been updated to the readable and accurate English Standard Version (ESV).
Respected theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul, founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, served as this study Bible's general editor. "The Reformation Study Bible contains a modern restatement of Reformation truth in its comments and theological notes. Its purpose is to present the light of the Reformation afresh," stated Dr. Sproul.
The thousands of in-depth study notes included in the RSB were compiled from over 50 distinguished biblical scholars, including Drs. J.I. Packer, James Boice, and Wayne Grudem. In addition to the comprehensive study notes, the RSB offers readers extended discussions on the authority of Scripture, the atonement, and other key aspects of biblical theology.
The RSB is intended for use by anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. The reader will appreciate book introductions, an extensive cross-reference system, and illuminated words and terms within the Bible that are crucial to an in-depth understanding. This new edition in the ESV is published by Ligonier Ministries and produced and distributed by P&R Publishing of Phillipsburg, NJ.
Features:
Theological Notes index In-text maps index Charts index Section introductions (Pentateuch, History, etc) Book Introductions Passage headings Double-column format Center-column references Black letter edtion Concordance 8 pages of full-color maps
Never did I think I would say "You HAVE to read this!" about a fictional book...but neither had I read Safely Home. This book is about two men who were roommates and friends in college but now are two worlds apart and haven't been in-touch for twenty years. When their paths finally cross once again they realize that they are two worlds apart spiritually speaking. As the story unfolds you find your self face-to-face with the persecuted church of China and the amazing love of a Savior and King.
I absolutely loved this book. My stomach churned at the thought of reading about people being persecuted, but once I began, I could not set it down. This thick fiction read gives you an eternal perspective on God's love and why "bad things" happen. While it seems trite to say, it's the simple truth - when I closed the cover on this book I was a different person. It brings to life before your eyes the power of prayer, the possible encouragement we have on a daily basis, and the powerful love of our God. You'll be left thinking about the profound question: "Is this the day I die?".
I highly - HIGHLY - recommend this book for teens and adults alike. While some of it won't be easy to read, you NEED to read it.
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This review copy was provided courtesy of Tyndale but the opinion expressed is my own.
The intriguing title and cover are the first things to draw you into an intense, yet exhilarating probe of our freedom in Christ in the so-called gray areas of life. Brent has done a fabulous job at writing a book that sticks to the point, isn't full of big words and hard to grasp ideas, and stays true to the Word of God. In the first few chapters He presents the ground work of our freedom in Christ and in the last chapters he provides examples and "case studies" of what it all looks like fleshed out. In chapter five He presents sixteen questions as tools to aid you in establishing your freedom in Christ in gray areas.
Overall I really liked and appreciated this book. It's a comprehensive, yet simple and straight-forward book that the average person can both understand and enjoy. I was reading it in review before our teens in youth group begin to read it as part of this year's selected reading and while I think it's a great book, I do think it's possibly a little on the older side for some teens. However, that said, I still encourage them to at least try to read it as it does get easier as you go along. Brent has taken a hard issue and made it manageable - like eating an elephant one bite at a time! - and so I highly recommend teens and adults read this book and that parents work through it with their teenagers for maximum impact. It doesn't hold "all the answers" but it does give you food for thought that will help you think through gray issues using Scripture as your guide.
Ric Garland and Mike Calhoun join forces to give us a book that addresses 8 attributes of God - omniscience, immutability, faithfulness, sovereignty, love, wisdom, omnipresence, and mercy/justice - through the lens of hard questions like "Where was God when...?". Not only do they probe hard questions but do so in a teen-relevant approach that is easy to understand without being watered down and vague.
I appreciated this book for how relevant it is to the youth of today. Where Was God When...? doesn't just offer opinions but truth from the Word of God and hands-on application of how each attribute can and will change a person's life. I liked the straight-forward chapters that are short and filled with not just theory, but also with personal stories from the lives of the authors and others.
Not only will teens benefit from this book, but also adults looking how to answer the hard questions for teens or even for themselves. If you want to understand God's sovereignty, or faithfulness, or any of the other 6 attributes without reading a very long theology text, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults both.
The Call is split into two sections - the first being about God's call on your life and the second is a series of interviews with well known Christians about God's call in their lives. It is a very practical "how-to" book as well as very encouraging, inspiring, and full of great advice. It is easy to read and easy to understand and digest. Each chapter can stand alone, but the book flow well with an overall theme of knowing God's call.
I appreciated this unique book and it's intent on helping the reader know and understand God's calling on their life. While I think it's geared for teens and young adults, it's a great read for any age and there is much wisdom to be gleaned at any stage of the journey. There is humor sprinkled around - especially in the interviews - that makes this book personable and real. The first half, which is more "hands-on", is very simple yet very thought-provoking as you apply it to your life. I really enjoyed the second half as it was a window into the lives of so many whom minister to us as they shared wisdom from following the call of God in their lives.
This book is perfect for the 16 to 21 age bracket, but definitely beneficial for younger teens and older adults as well. I highly recommend this book to all teens - especially those wanting to know what God's call is for their life.
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Martin Luther by Mike Fearon
