Planning Small Groups With Purpose by Steve Gladen
In just a few weeks, students will be packing up their things and heading to campus for another school year! The fall is such an exciting time of year to be in campus ministry- new freshmen looking for a place to fit in and returning students looking for another year of friends and memories. Once classes begin, I find myself counting down the days until the first freshman Bible study. It's probably my favorite day of the school year actually. We pack freshmen women into the dorm's study lounge, and they all look so nervous because they just want to find a place where they belong on this big college campus. Little do they know that by the end of the year, the women in that study lounge will become their future roommates, bridesmaids, and best friends! In that first Bible study meeting we clearly lay out the Gospel: that God loves them and has a plan for their life, that they cannot experience that plan because of sin, that Christ came to forgive our sins and bridge the gap between man and God, and that they can have a personal relationship with Him if they repent and accept Jesus as their Savior. It's exciting to watch their faces light up as many of them hear this good news for the first time in their life, or maybe they grew up hearing the Gospel but it finally makes sense to them! Yes, I love Bible study time. I love meeting with women and helping them develop a passion for God's Word. If you can point someone to God and help her cultivate a heart that treasures His Word, then I believe you've given her the foundation she needs to follow Christ for a lifetime! It's through the power of the Holy Spirit (not my own strategies and techniques) that ultimately gives the heart a passion for the Bible, but there are practical things we can do to help people along that track! Planning Small Groups With Purpose is a practical guide to help ministry leaders plan small groups that will foster deep community while pointing people to God's Word. It is laid out like a workbook, giving the reader ample time and space to process and apply the content to their own ministry (so helpful)! I loved how straightforward and easy-to-read the writing is, and the flow of the content. Steve Gladen begins the book with helping the reader identify and articulate their vision and mission statement, which sets the foundation for developing a mission and purpose for small groups. If you've received training before on developing and planning small groups, you may not find much of the information in this book to be new. But the practicality of the content is fantastic regardless, and can help even the most experienced Bible study planner lay out their thoughts clearly and succinctly. My rating? 4/5 This is a great tool for anyone who is involved in creating content or setting up small groups within the church or a parachurch ministry! There is so much room to write down thoughts and ideas, and practical steps for turning those ideas into action! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* Revelation Everyday Bible Commentary by Charles C. Ryrie
Ask a group of college freshmen to name one thing they'd like to ask God. I guarantee among the variety of responses you'll gather, questions such as "When is Jesus coming back?""When will the world end and suffering be over?" and "Can you explain the book of Revelation to me?" will be frequent. When asking my freshmen this question, I've even received the response of just "Revelation"...and I chuckle because we both know that isn't even a question, just a statement. It makes sense in this culture we live in why the women I work with on campus have so many questions about the end times. With news and media becoming every more dramatic and urgent, it can seem like the world is ending every day. Things feel chaotic and messy, and they desperately are seeking answers to these big life questions. And as I am being asked these questions with increasing frequency, I thought it would be productive to take time this summer to study Revelation in more depth than I have in the past. So when Moody Publishers began releasing books from the Everyday Bible Commentary Series this summer, I picked up a copy of the commentary on Revelation and let the learning begin! I was first attracted to this commentary because of its length. At a brief 175 pages, I knew that the content would likely be more of a helpful survey of Revelation than an intense, in-depth, more traditional commentary. And with so many thoughts, ideas, and opinions circling around the theology, symbolism, and views of Revelation, I certainly wanted something simple and not overwhelming. Charles C. Ryrie does a great job of offering a relatively general overview of each section, chapter, and passage of Revelation. And while general, the content was still extremely helpful and insightful. Overall, the author does a great job of clarifying between things the Word actually says and things that Christians throughout time and history have had different opinions on. While he has pre-tribulation, dispensationalist, and premillenialist views on Revelation, I felt he overall put effort into explaining different view points of different schools of thought. For the most part I felt he didn't over-interpret the symbolism in the book or attempt to assign undue and unsupported specific meaning to verses (because we've all heard statements such as "so-and-so is the AntiChrist" or "this location is actually in my backyard" or "the bowl of wrath will be poured out this Tuesday" etc.). This commentary did a great job of pulling the reader away from trying to over interpret events and symbols and towards focusing on the glory of God and victory of Christ. The emphasis on God's attributes causes the reader to worship the Lord and to be in awe of His greatness! Although he does stay generally unbiased throughout the commentary, I would always caution anyone reading a commentary to make sure they are focusing on the Word of God as the ultimate source of truth. Without this focus, we run the risk of elevating the words of man above the words of God. There were several instances where the author provided content or insight about a passage that I just didn't see when I looked at the Word itself. The way he interpreted a few passages just didn't always seem to line up with what I was reading in that passage in the Bible. So while his expertise was certainly helpful, it is critical to remember this book as a resource and not a flawless interpretation. My rating? 4/5 Overall, this commentary was easy to understand and read! It offered great information into different views and opinions on Revelation while overall remaining fairly unbiased to the author's own views (although not completely). It helped give me a great, basic understanding of the events in Revelation without going so in depth as to be overwhelming. I would definitely recommend it as a starting place for learning more about this last book of the Bible! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman It's baby month! We couldn't be more excited that little miss Baby Long will be here any time now. The past nine months have been a journey of preparing to welcome this little human into the world- of praying that she would grow into a strong woman of the Lord, seeking wisdom from other parents who have raised children that became Godly adults, and learning as much as we can about this thing called parenting we have the privilege of entering into. When seeking book recommendations from women at church, Don't Make Me Count to Three came up in conversation and I was intrigued. A few weeks later I was perusing a used bookstore and saw it sitting in the parenting section. Amazon showed fantastic reviews, and I'm a sucker for books at bargain prices, so I purchased it even though I'm fully aware it'll be several months before this knowledge will be able to come fully into play in my life. I loved this book so much it took me less than a week to read. Don't Make Me Count to Three is an easy-to-read, practical guide to Biblical parenting with a specific focus on the love and how-to's of discipline. The author uses personal stories that are humorous but support the points she makes well. Before reading this book, I felt intimidated by the idea of discipline...what does it mean? What does it look like? How do we discipline well? What exactly does it entail? The author clearly answered all of these questions and more! I loved her emphasis on love within discipline. The purpose of disciplining our children is to help them live lives glorifying to God. We are all born sinful, and as parents we have the responsibility of rooting out sin in our children's hearts when we can and helping them turn their eyes towards Christ. Will it be hard to discipline our little girl? Absolutely. But in the midst of those hard moments, reminding her of how much we love her, why she is being disciplined, and the importance of letting Christ transform her heart to help her better love Him. It is obvious that the author has a deep love and reverence for Scripture. She is passionate about teaching her children the Word and helping them also develop a love for knowing the Bible. I want our little lady to know Scripture, and learning how to integrate those teaching moments into everyday life just made so much sense! My rating? 5/5 I can't wait to implement the concepts I learned from this book into everyday life as a parent. The guidance within it is Scripture based over opinion based, and I loved how Christ-centered the parenting tips and advice within it are! Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
It's not a secret that I love to read. I remember, even from an early age, being intrigued and enthralled by the pictures, stories, and adventures I could experience through the power of words. Before I could read, my parents would read stories to me and I still get sentimental when I see one of those early books and look at the colorful pages. As I grew in my reading ability, my mom would take my sister and I to the library and let us each pick out books to read (they were usually stressful outings...I could never decide which book I wanted). I loved learning about puppies (especially golden retrievers), ponies, and any other topic that sings to a little girl's heart. By high school I was reading old classics and learning etymology to help me better understand the challenging words I came across. AP English my 12th grade year found me reading books that stretched my brain power by great authors like Jane Austen, Dante, and Oscar Wilde. And as I grew in my faith and love for Christ throughout college, I began venturing from the realm of fiction into non-fiction Christian books. But this love affair with books started well before I even knew how to read. I am excited to dive into stories and adventures with our little one after she arrives. Thanks to family and friends, her little library is already expanding! Of all the books on the shelf in her room, one of my favorites is Guess How Much I Love You. The story is cute and the illustrations are great, but what makes this book special are the handwritten notes left inside. It was a baby shower gift from the women on our campus ministry staff, the students I have the pleasure of pouring into weekly on campus, and a few close friends who live in our neighborhood. Each colorful page is covered with short handwritten reminders from these women who love the Lord. Reminders to our little lady of how much she is loved by her community and the Lord. Reminders of her true identity in Christ. And reminders of how great the God is that we get to serve each day. I cannot wait to spend time reading this story and these encouragements to her throughout the years and that some of the first words she learns to read will be sweet reminders from sweet friends of who Jesus is and how much He loves her. Prayer: Communing with God in Everything by A.W. Tozer
With the school year finished for the semester and life change on the horizon with Baby Long, Jake and I took a week to get away and retreat to be alone with one another and with the Lord. We wanted to take time to reconnect, spend time with God, and pray through where He may be leading us in the future. We drove out into the countryside of Southern Indiana to a retreat center on a pond nestled back in the woods. It was so peaceful and quiet! But it's amazing how challenging it can be to truly rest and be still when we live in a hyper-connected, overstimulating world. By 10am on day one, I remember thinking "I am so bored...how am I going to do this for five days!" Thankfully, the Lord is gracious, and helped me still and calm my heart so that, by the last day, the time was flying by and I could truly savor sitting and spending time with Him. One of my goals for our retreat week was to learn more about prayer, and to be diligent in making it a daily habit instead of something I often forget to do until laying in bed at the end of the day drifting off to sleep. The words of Tozer in this book of his collected insights on prayer were incredibly encouraging, motivating, and helpful in diving deep into the topic of prayer. Each chapter is so short (as in five pages or less) but deeply thought provoking- including an excerpt from Tozer, brief commentary from the book's author, and several reflection questions. Although each chapter could easily be read in 15 minutes or less, I found myself needing to stop and process each chapter throughout the day instead of continuing reading. The content is convicting, challenging, and encouraging...personally I needed time to digest the deep insights of each chapter! Why is prayer important? Why does God seem to answer some prayers and not others? How can I grow closer to Him through prayer? Tozer tackles these questions and more using the authority of the Word. My rating? 5/5 I love Tozer. His writing has such substance and doesn't sugar-coat topics that should make the reader feel convicted. Reading this book led me to change the way I value prayer and communing with God through prayer, and it helped me feel more equipped to answer my students' questions about prayer. I would highly recommend this as a personal devotional for any Christian, and for any person looking to better understand the nature of prayer! I will probably read this book more than once! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* Read the Review
"The ironworker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers, and works it with his strong arm."
Outside the dusty bus window, I watch the men in their small garages as they pound lifeless idols into the shapes of gods. "The woodworker stretches out a measuring line, he outlines it with a stylus...He makes it according to a human form, like a beautiful person..." The bus chugs along, passing men sweating in the morning sun as they carefully carve the gods that will be sold at the local temple. (Isaiah 44) This week was full of nostalgia feels as the warm heat and sweet smells of summer hit home here in the Midwest. I was reminded of this time last year when Jake and I packed our suitcases and led 16 college students around the world to East Asia for a summer of sharing the Gospel, learning a new culture, and becoming professionals at charades until we could learn some of the language. When I look back on that summer, I think the thing I cherish the most is the way God deepened my love for His Word. This is a place where we had to disguise our Bibles in wrapping paper and keep them tucked away in our backpacks. When I was able to spend an hour or two in the Word, I typically sat tucked away in the back corner of a coffee shop where what I was reading wouldn't draw attention. Because the country censors the internet, it was impossible to look up verses (which Psalm was that in again? what chapter in Matthew is that story?) or use Google (which doesn't even exist there). In America, I took for granted the easy access we have to the Word of God and resources that can help us study it further. So when that ease of access was taken away, I quickly learned to cherish these Holy words in a way I hadn't before. Scripture came alive for me in a sweet, rich way and I gained a deep appreciation and reverence for His Word during that summer. Which is why I now love reading books about Scripture, as well as Scripture itself! Finding the Love of Jesus is quite possibly my new favorite book. Within the first chapter I found I couldn't put it down! This is a book about reading the Word the way it is meant to be read: less about me and all about God. If on the Emmaus Road after His resurrection, Jesus took time to explain how the Scriptures- beginning with Moses and the Prophets- were about Him (Luke 24:13-35), then how should this influence the way we read the Bible? I am asked all the time from my students what Jesus was doing before He was born in Bethlehem. My response is always that He has forever existed, but I've had trouble giving specific examples of where we see Him in the Old Testament. This book clearly shows and explains where we see Him. It was encouraging and exciting to read...it felt like I was seeing things in the Word for the first time! Elyse Fitzpatrick's writing style is easy to read and understand, but doesn't compromise the deep theological richness that so many other modern Christian books for women can do. The chapters are short and make it easy to follow along in the Bible. I love that she marketed this book for young believers or women who have trouble desiring to read their Bible...it will most certainly motivate you to start reading! Even for someone who loves reading the Word, this book is fantastic for learning more about Jesus in the Old Testament and knowing how to help new believers develop a passion for the Word! My rating? 5/5 I will suggest this book to all of the women I lead on campus, and I also plan to read it again to be better equipped for building them up in excitement for reading the Bible. And don't be fooled by the somewhat girly cover- I would highly recommend this book to both men and women who either have a love for the Word or want to grow in their desire to read the Bible. *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review! Links provided through Amazon Associates* Why Her? by Nicki Koziarz
If I'm honest, I've been dreading writing this review. Yikes, a heavy way to start off. I am thankful that in my time book blogging I have rarely left a negative review for any book I have read. Unfortunately this one will have to be an exception. Which is hard, because I love being positive! Positivity is even one of my top Strengthsfinder strengths! But being a book blogger means giving honest reviews, even if they aren't always positive. Let's start with the things I liked about this book: Why Her? is an easy-to-read, relatable, culturally relevant book about the "comparison struggle" women so often find in their lives. We have a tendency to let jealousy, pride, and comparison infiltrate our lives and friendships in a way that leaves us feeling dejected, down, and depressed. The author's writing style reads as if she is sitting across the table from the reader, making her feel relatable and trust-worthy! I loved the vulnerability of the personal stories and struggles she shared about her own journey with this topic, and the way she spoke about the negative effects social media and our culture can have on us when we begin comparing ourselves with others. The cover of the book is also lovely! I wish I had more positive things to say, but unfortunately let's move on to the things I wasn't crazy about. Distilled into one sentence: This book does not address the heart issue behind comparison, and I am concerned that readers will take the advice within it to fight this sin struggle in their own power without even thinking about Christ. Throughout the book, the author gives specific ways to fight this comparison struggle, yet Christ is rarely mentioned as a way to fight this sin. "Honesty is what gives us the chance to become hopeful that we can overcome this struggle" (19). I disagree. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." Confessing and repenting of our sin of jealousy and covetousness to God and rejoicing in the new identity Christ has given us is the way we can be hopeful of overcoming this struggle. "We need to train our minds to 'get it'-to see it like it really is." I disagree. We need to turn our minds to Christ. He is the one who is able to transform and renew our minds. Some of the practical advice given is not rooted in Scripture, and I feel could actually be harmful to women fighting the battle of comparison. I have the privilege of working with college aged women for a living, and I know that the comparison struggle is real. Grades, looks, finances, boyfriends...this sin of covetousness is personal and close to home. But when I came across the advice the author gave for fighting the why her struggle, my heart sank. Because when I think of my women, who also struggle with "doubting my gifts," "those little fears of 'why not me?' digging in," and "feeling jealous as I watch 'her' scoot off to this and that opportunity," I cannot imagine sitting across from them at a table and giving them the advice the author gives herself in these moments: "Stop it" (69). We cannot just "stop it." Without Christ, we are slaves to sin. I think of Paul in Romans 7 as he cries "For in my inner self I delight in God's law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" As Paul acknowledged the sin in his life, he didn't tell himself to just "stop it." Instead, he turned to the One who has rescued us from sin and death- the one who has set us free from condemnation. Later the author goes on to share "15 ways to care for your soul." Number one is to eat something refreshing. Number four is to drink a cup of tea. Number six is to drink a glass of water. These things are certainly not wrong, and I do feel great after doing them! But the only way to truly care for my soul is to seek after Jesus. To read the Word (which is mentioned as way number 9). If I seek caring for my soul in things that cannot fill and heal my soul, I set myself up to be frustrated and confused. Although marketed as a Christian book, Jesus is mentioned only a handful of times. The "6 Truths We Need to Hear" are all me-centered, but I know that "when measuring up leaves [me] falling behind" the truth I need to hear is that Christ has died for me and I am seated in the heavenly realms with Him (Ephesians 2:6). I need to know that I am forgiven. I need to know that Jesus is who He says He is- the Savior of the world. My rating? 1/5 Although marketed as a "Christian Life" book, it would be easy for someone of any religion to read and agree with. Which isn't a bad thing! But when a book is marketed as Christian I think I'd expect there to be more Christ-centered content). With other books out there that focus on the heart issue and sin of comparison and covetousness, I can't say I would recommend this book to somebody looking to read on the topic. *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* In His Image by Jen Wilkin Every spring when the weather warms up and the grass returns to life from a long, cold Midwestern winter, I love to go on a picnic. It's slowly becoming a tradition with the women I disciple on campus- I pack up our wicker picnic basket with strawberries and angel food cake and meet them at the busy green on campus to celebrate the end of the year! And we had so much to celebrate this year- seeing the freshmen mature in their faith and step confidently into adulthood while the sophomores took the Gospel into their dorms and workplaces. Deep friendships were formed as they did life together and lifted one another up through the joyful times and the challenging moments of the school year. It is amazing to sit and enjoy yummy desserts on a big picnic blanket with them and to reflect on the ways I have seen God move in these women's lives this year! So how perfect to celebrate the end of the year by reading a book I have been looking forward to for quite some time! I fell in love with Jen Wilkin's writing after reading None Like Him last summer during our time in East Asia. Spending such intentional time learning about the attributes of God while in a place where the spiritual climate can feel so dry and God so distant was incredibly encouraging and helped me gain an even deeper appreciation of the God who is present everywhere and all the time no matter where in the world I may be! So you can imagine my excitement when I learned that Jen Wilkin would be releasing a similar title, In His Image, this year! In His Image focuses on the characteristics of God (those things that, as humans, we can express as well). The author examines ten different ways that we are able to reflect God's character- all laid out in short chapters that are easy to read yet deeply theological. Using a mix of personal experiences, the authority of passages of Scripture, and challenging practical application, this book is a fantastic, God-centered read. I loved the reflections at the end of each chapter that provide the reader with an opportunity to meditate on Scripture highlighting the chapter's characteristic, examine the reader's own heart with thought-provoking questions, and pray for the Lord to bring out this characteristic in our own lives. My rating? 5/5 I love that this book maintains simplicity without sacrificing depth of content. It seems like the author took sufficient time and energy to ensure every word written has a purpose, points to Christ, and is rooted in Scripture. I would highly recommend this book for a devotional, group study, or anyone simply looking for writing that focuses less on the reader and more on the Creator. *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.* Who Do You Say That I Am? by Becky Harling
It's hard to believe April is already here as we rush towards the end of spring semester! I have always found the spring semester of ministry more challenging than the fall: the beginning of the year excitement in students has dwindled and the stress of exams, grades, and the reality of school often becomes overwhelming for them. Throw in a lack of sunshine and fresh air, and anxiety and depression among students becomes rampant. At times it can be challenging to help them refocus their gaze of Jesus, especially if I don't make the time to ensure I am refocusing my own gaze on him! So when I saw that Moody released another Bible study, I was so excited! I have loved every study I have done through them, and have been so impressed by the depth of the content Moody produces in their women's studies. Who Do You Say that I Am? is an eight week study focusing on the I Am statements of Jesus found throughout the Gospels. Each week is devoted to exploring different I Am statements, with each lesson offering a time of meditation, worship, prayer, and reflection. Overall, I really love the theme! It was sweet to spend time in the Gospels focusing on these foundational truths of Jesus' identity. I found the lessons easy yet refreshing. Compared to other studies I have done by Moody, this one certainly had the shortest and easiest daily lessons. Personally, it didn't seem like the content was quite as in-depth as other Moody studies like Unexplainable Life or Included With Christ. The author gave minimal context to the passages (I'm a nerd for cultural context!) and little teaching. Typically the lessons were structured as a more of read the passage, answer a few basic questions, and reflect on how to apply it to your life. The layout is beautiful, and I loved how much room the author gave for journaling and answering questions. My rating? 3/5 For someone looking for a less intense study focused more on personal reflection and passage meditation, this study is perfect! I think I personally prefer more in-depth, challenging studies, but I would still recommend this to any of the women I lead who are looking to refocus their eyes on Jesus and His identity! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* Great & Small Bible (CSB) Last week my mom and sister threw Baby Long her first baby shower! It was perfect- surrounded by friends and family, laughing at games like the guess-which-melted-chocolate-is-in-the-diaper game, and being showered with little clothes, toys, and necessities for Baby's arrival. It's hard to believe she'll be here in just a few months, and that this pregnancy journey is already halfway over! And although we are so excited to meet her, I've been trying to not wish away this time of preparation and to enjoy these weeks of feeling little kicks and watching my belly grow as she gets ready to make her entrance this summer. The Great & Small Bible is a keepsake Bible for little ones of any age. It is a normal, two-column, small print (really small...as in you'll definitely need to wear your glasses if you have them) CSB Bible, but has several inserted sections centered around Baby. The inserts have drawings of animals on them with fun, sentimental questions to answer for Baby to read someday such as "we named you _______ because _______" and "this is our prayer for you: ______." There are also places to record details about Baby's birth and first milestones as well as information about the family! I love the small size of this Bible, and that it comes with a protective box to keep it safe! My rating? 5/5 This will make such a cute addition to Baby's nursery, and would make a sweet little gift for a baby shower or birthday. It'll be awhile before she can read from it, but I look forward to being able to read it to her until then! *I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!* |
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