The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies Book Review

SUMMARY:  CLEAR, CONCISE, AND ACCURATE DEFINITIONS OF MORE THAN 500 BIBLICAL TERMS AND TOPICS.
     When it comes to the realm of biblical studies, students of the Bible are often overwhelmed, both with the sheer volume of information and with all of the unfamiliar terms, concepts, and topics. Like any other field of study, the serious study of the Bible has developed a specialized vocabulary. The key terms in this important field are defined in The Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies. It provides clear, concise, and accurate definitions to help students of the Bible make sense of the specialized language of biblical studies.

REVIEW:  If you want to learn more about the bible but are intimidated with all the resources out there and the sizes of the books available (some of them are HUGE!!!), this might be the book for you.  The authors have defined common, and not so common words, used by Christian theologians, pastors and bible studies leaders.  Scholars of the Old and New Testaments and other men and women who have shaped how we study and interpret scripture are noted along with their contributions to the study and understanding of the bible.  Also included are words not found in the bible but are used to help understand the culture, times and customs of the Old and New Testaments.  It's nice to have something I can throw in a bag with my bible and notebook that can help me in my pursuit of a better understanding of God and His Word.  If you want to expand your knowledge, this would be a great place to start.

This book was provided by Baker Books for review without any compensation.

Tremper Longman, III (PhD, Yale University) is Distinguished Scholar of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.  He has authored or coauthored numerous books, including An Introduction to the Old Testament and How to Read Proverbs.

Mark L Strauss (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is University Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary.  He is the author of several books, including Distorting Scripture? and Four Portraits, One Jesus.

Israel's Mission DVD and Discovery Guide Review

Becoming a Kingdom of Priests

in a Prodigal World

SUMMARY:  WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?  God gave an assignment to His people thousands of years ago:  Bring "lost sheep" back into the love and safety of His kingdom.  It's still our task today.  In this 13th volume of That the World May Know, you'll glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace.  Discover the mission that can give your life - and the lives of those around you - greater meaning that you ever imagined.

Five Episodes filmed on location in the Middle East

1. Abraham and Sarah and Three Strangers (Negev, Israel)
2. Israel at Sinai: The First Great Commission (Timnah, Israel)
3. Jesus Renews His Mission:  Seeking the Lost (Qatzrin, Israel)
4. The Lost Son:  In a Far Country (Jerash, Jordan)
5. The Seeking Father:  The Lost Son Returns (Qatzrin, Israel)

      This Discovery Guide will take you on an interactive journey.  Each session . . . 

• Focuses on passages of Scripture explored in the film.
• Includes sidebars, maps, photos and other study tools.
• Features questions that facilitate discussion and inspire personal reflection.

That the World May Know
     Join renowned teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan as he guides you through the land of the Bible.  In each lesson, Vander Laan illuminates the historical, geographical and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures.  Filmed on location in the Middle East and elsewhere, the That the World May Know film series will transform your understanding of God and challenge you to be a true follower of Jesus.

REVIEW:  Having seen some of Ray Vander Laan's  That the World May Know videos in the past, I was excited to see this opportunity come across my desk.  The author and teacher of this video series gives you details based on cultural views, historical context and geography that has gotten lost in our modern day Western culture to help you understand what the biblical writers meant in a deeper, most eye-opening way.  In this series, Mr. Vander Laan focuses on our mission - bringing others back into the family fold - and how this assignment was given to the Israelites in the desert and again to the followers of Jesus.  The details given about how the patriarchal society the Hebrews were familiar with is a representation of the family of God.  The parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son are seen in a different light when you look at the context of the patriarchal family - the beth ab - and shows us just how God keeps pursuing us, even when we don't want to be found.  The Discovery Guide gives you more details and focuses on other stories in the bible in greater detail that also support this idea of redemption.  Maps, side bar notes and "Did You Know" sections help bring the reader to a deeper understanding of the passages covered.
     This is a wonderful series and lives up to the memory of the ones I've seen previously.  This series is great for a small group, Sunday school class, Bible Study group or even an individual who wants to dig deeper into the bible.  You will not be disappointed.

This DVD and Discovery Guide was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Zondervan 

for review without compensation.

Ray Vander Laan is the founder of That the World May Know Ministries and creator of the That the World May Know video series with Focus on the Family.  An ordained minister, he holds the chair of biblical cultural studies as a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan.  He and his wife, Esther, have four children and 16 grandchildren.  ThatTheWorldMayKnow.com

Steven and Amanda Sorenson are founders of Sorenson Communications and have cowritten many small group curriculum guidebooks, including the entire That the World May Know film series.

The God Puzzle Book Review

How the Bible Fits Together to Reveal God

as Your Greatest Treasure!

*Presents the Bible as one seamless story

*Share deep truths in a way kids will understand

An easy to use workbook for kids ages 7 - 12

SUMMARY:  God is not something to study . . . He is Someone to Know!

Parents:  Finally, the resource you've been looking for to teach your child about God!

• any parent, knowing little or a lot, can teach their child with no preparation
• deep theology and themes of the Christian faith presented so a child can interact with and understand
• deeply Biblical, each lesson points to Christ and a personal relationship to Him
• can be done at any pace that works with your family
• each lesson connects the pieces so the child understand their faith

Here, at last is a resource:

• perfect for parents who may not have a strong background in the Christian faith as well as those who have been Christians a long time and are looking to build a solid foundation for their own children
• written by a Children's Ministry Professional, Sunday school teacher and mom with years of hands-on experience working with children

 www.leadmetoGod.com

REVIEW:  My three kids fall right in the suggested ages for this workbook.  Always looking for new ways to teach them biblical ideas and foundation, I jumped at the chance to look at this book and see what it offered.  

     My 12-yo daughter and I worked through one lesson on our own; my two boys (ages 10 and 6) and I did one together; and the three kids and I worked on two as a family.  The material we looked at was easy enough for my youngest to understand but not so easy that my oldest was bored.  As the summary mentions, you do not have to prepare anything to do these lessons with your kids.  Most of the time, I just decided to do a lesson, picked up the book and a bible and started teaching.  My 6-yo enjoyed it so much he asked if we could do another exercise together.  The presentations are laid out in an orderly fashion with lots of scripture verses to look up.  It also provides activities for the kids to do, like a crossword puzzle, fill in the blank, search a word, and coded puzzles to name a few.  At the end of each lesson, the children are encouraged to write down what they've learned, their thoughts and a prayer.  

     This is one children's bible study that I will gladly share with others (or at least the name, not necessarily the book  :-)  ).  I can't wait to do more lessons with my family.  

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

 

Valerie Ackermann has a BA in Theology and has been a full time Children's Ministry Director for over 10 years. She is also a weekly Sunday school teacher, wife and busy mom of two boys ages 9 and 11.  She has hands-on experience as a children's ministry professional, teaching and leading children of all ages.