|
A Life Better Than I Deserve
Nov. 3, 2009
Review: A Family Guide to the Bible
Recently I was provided a free copy of A Family Guide to the Bible from Crossway. I did not receive any monetary compensation in exchange for providing my honest review, and the opinions expressed represent my own opinion about this product. Those interested in purchasing a copy may purchase A Family Guide to the Bible from Crossway for $15.99.
I have been highly pleased with this recent Crossway title. Christin Ditchfield, author of more than fifty books including A Family Guide to Narnia, recently traveled the United States sharing with Christian parents how they could use C. S. Lewis' Narnia tales to reveal Biblical truths with their children. On this tour, she realized that for many Christian adults they either came to faith later in life or grew up in churches which only focused on the main stories of the Bible like Noah's ark or Daniel in the lion's den. Sadly, these parents lacked confidence in sharing the truths of Scripture with their own children. Determined to help these parents disciple their own children, Ditchfield decided to write this newest book, 304 pages of basic Biblical education with a good measure of encouragement and exhortation included.
As I have read this title myself, I have greatly appreciated Ditchfield's format and style of writing. On the one hand, as a Christian for twenty-seven years and a minister's wife, I found little which I did not already know. Yet as I kept reading, I decided this author has developed a tone and style which should greatly appeal to the average church member while building his faith in bite-sized amounts. I found this book readily accessible for the layperson while keeping today's busy parents and families in mind. With all essential information covered in only a few short pages per Biblical book and yet written in an engaging style, this resource could easily be used by parents, grandparents, and even Sunday School teachers. Here is what you can expect to find in the real "meat" of this book--each synopsis of the sixty-six books of the Bible:
- The Book's Name
- The Author
- The Audience
- The Setting
- The Story (simplified)
- The Message
- Key Verse or Passage
- More on This Story in the Bible (how the different biblical books may be inter-related, especially historically)
- Words to Know (Vocabulary)
- Making the Connection, Did You Know?, and Think About It sections (one or more of which may not be included when discussing shorter biblical books, but all of which are devotional in nature or application-related).
Other helpful sections of Ditchfield's book include:
- a brief history of the Bible
- a brief apologetic on the authority of the Bible
- the core message of the Bible simplified
- tips on choosing a Bible translation
- using a Bible dictionary, encyclopedia and concordance
- study tips for personal Bible study
- study tips for family devotions
- Bible reading plans
- stories from the Old and New Testaments everyone should know
- Bible heroes
- Jesus' miracles
- Jesus' teachings
- verses to help you share your faith
- verses to help you guard your heart
- verses to help you face your fears
- maps of the Bible lands
- and more!
I would have no hesitation about handing this book to one of my older children to read, in recommending it to Sunday School teachers in my church, using it in a church Bible study group, or even recommending it to newer converts or giving as a gift to families of young children. Discover more exciting titles and other Crossway news at the Crossway blog.
|
| • Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
