Exploring the Bible through History

Exploring the Bible through History is an excellent resource for those teaching young children in the church. I especially like the 10-foot timeline that has illustrations for keeping the interest of those learners who need visual clues. I actually purchased this timeline years ago and can attest to the bright colors and attractive drawings. The layout of the lesson plans in the book is geared to most every child’s learning style.

The lesson plans are easy to follow and adapt to the age of the student and the size of the group. One of my favorite activities is to encourage children to connect with God through prayer. Too often we as teachers will pray but forget to teach children the importance of prayer and constant communication with God. Memory verses can also allow children to hide the Word of God in their hearts. 

After the introduction and presentation of the story, the activity section gives a number of Bible-centric activities from which the teacher can choose. Another favorite is using wads of paper to illustrate the food needed to feed the animals in Noah’s Ark. Children race to pick up the food and deliver it to the pretend animals. I can see where this activity could get the wiggles out of the children after they sat to hear the story. Being an elementary school teacher, I know how important it is to let the children release their natural energy in an acceptable way. There is one activity that I would suggest caution you. It involves soaking paper in a solution and then trying to burn it. Curious young minds may try to duplicate this activity when they go home. Although I would not use this activity, there is an abundance of different activities for use.

The teaching of the Old Testament is divided into Books of the Law and History with miscellaneous books. The New Testament highlights the Gospels and the Letters of the Apostles, History, and Prophecy using the book of Revelation. It was good to see a lesson on Prophecy especially during this time in our history.

At the end of the book, there are reproducible sheets for the child. Also, a printable timeline is available with dates that are in red at the top of the sheets. Students could help color the sheets. When connected sequentially, these can be mounted on the wall for a visual history through the bible. The major events include Creation, Abraham and Issac, Moses and the Exodus, through the notable Old Testaments characters. Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection is illustrated, as well as the disciples, and Paul, ending with John on the Island of Patmos.

Listed below is an outline used for each of the 25 lessons. Also suggested are 5 ways for the children to apply the lesson. This is a well organized and comprehensive book. I was given a PDF file for my honest and fair review.

Introduce it

Tell it

Pray it

Apply it

Show it

Act it out

Play it

Craft it

Snack it

Talk it out

Basic questions

Going further

Wrap it up

Suicide Prevention by June Hunt

I have reviewed many pamphlets written by June Hunt. They are Christ-centered and useful information for a variety of personal and family issues. Through my volunteer Christian ministries, it is imperative to recognize the early stage of Suicide. June Hunt has clearly listed three stages. The Downcast or Early Stage; the Distressed or Advanced Stage; and lastly the Despairing or Danger Stage. As a retired teacher and grandparent, I cannot stress enough the parents and teachers need to be aware of all of these stages. Each time I hear of another teenage suicide, I wonder where we are missing the mark with our children. I believe we can make a difference in the lives of our friends and family if we intervene early enough.  Repeated conflicts in the home and difficulties at school can signal a need for discussion. Just having the listening ear of someone with a compassionate heart can make a difference in the life of a downcast and depressed person.

I like the many scripture verses that the author used in this short but valuable resource. Many of these are my "go-to" verses in my communication with depressed and hurting women. Over half of the women who I minister to through online evangelism listed struggles with depression. Depression is listed in the Distressed Stage. “Trouble and distress have come upon me. ... Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.”  Quotes from the book of Psalms. I highly recommend this pamphlet as one way to educate others about recognizing stages in Suicide Prevention. I was given this PDF for a fair and honest review by Hendrickson Publishing and Rose Publication.

Rose Guide to the Gospels

As a Bible Study teacher in my women's class and a former teaching director of Community Bible Study, I have actually taught all of the gospels verse by verse, except for Luke. I actually have a book entitled Harmony of the Gospels, which I use in my teaching especially around Easter as I cover the Resurrection. I’m delighted to see Chapter 6 "Evidence of the Resurrection" and Chapter 7 "How We Got the Gospels" included this resource. It makes it convenient to gather all these facts in one place. As an online coach for Christianity Explored, we are working through the Gospel of Mark. I can see myself using this resource quite often to mentor women.


The four Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were writing to different audiences, emphasizing different aspects of Jesus life and ministry.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as synoptic gospels. Synoptic means the "same view" or "to see together". These three gospels have different audiences but basically the same viewpoint: Focus on a man who was from God. John’s Gospel views Jesus from the perspective of God becoming a man. The Gospel of John shows Jesus is the eternal, divine, incarnate Word. He came to show the world what God is like. One chart of the four Gospels is color-coded and includes the author, the date written, the primary audience, the focus, the link, the keywords, the unique features, and key verses. This would be a great sheet to duplicate for the class.

Chapter 2 The Life of Jesus, is one of my favorites. The Old Testament gives many scripture verses for the many prophecies about the coming of Jesus, his ministry, and his sacrifice. This is a great tool when sharing with nonbelievers.
There are colorful charts and sidebar notes. Photographs of Jerusalem and paintings by famous masters are sprinkled throughout 160 pages. The miracles of Jesus give biblical references from the different Gospels. The page showing Jesus' mission step-by-step is very useful. Special emphasis is given to Jesus' final week on earth. Three pages share the prophecies and scripture reference in the Old Testament and the New Testament. This is a very good resource for Bible study teachers of the gospels. Colorful map with great details is included.
Chapter 3 Harmony of the Gospels will probably be the most useful chapter. I have a separate book. There are numerous charts about the events in Jesus' three years of ministry. Parables and Miracles list the reference in each of the gospels.

Chapter 4 is the Who’s Who in the gospels listing of 67 characters in alphabetical order beginning with Andrew pg. 74 and ending with Zachariah.pg 93. A brief paragraph in the biblical reference highlights each character.
Chapter 5 Understanding the World of Jesus gives the historical background of the empires, dynasties, and rulers before and during Jesus' time. An additional bonus was the inclusion of the Maccabees. Also included in this chapter mentions the importance of the religious leaders in the world of Jesus, as well as a chart showing the major differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

Ch 6 Evidence of the resurrection shares seven objections nonbelievers have about the resurrection and very thorough answers for each one. There are four theories along with an explanation of why the theories are not true. This chapter includes an extensive page of references. I have several references for this information, but it is nice to have a compact inclusive resource.
Ch 7 How We Got the Gospels was very informative and detailed. It is very detailed and discusses oral traditions, and testimonies; scrolls and original manuscripts. This chapter covers the canonization of the gospels. Most impressive are five pages of references. The details in this chapter are concise and I appreciate not having to dig through my other resources for this info. This will definitely be one of my favorite resources. The pdf allows me ready access using the search and find features on my computer.
Hendrickson Publishing and Rose publication provided a pdf file of this resource for a fair and honest review.side by side charts and overview.

Conquering Fear: 52-Week Devotional

Conquering Fear: 52-Week Devotional This 320-page book covers 52 Weeks of devotions for youth ten to twelve. The Super Hero theme will be entertaining for students with speech bubbles and cartoon words bubbles. Each week provides an short story that illustrates a possible event or crisis typical in the life of a modern youth. At the bottom of this page is a "Fear Buster" that shares a biblical truth that will encourage students and can easily be understood. A short scripture accompanied by a biblical scene taken from Jesus' life on earth is followed by a "Prayer Prompt," suggesting how a student could pray in a given situation. There is often a place to write their thoughts or a place to illustate scenes. Acostic puzzles, Word Finds, mazes, and matching games liven up the devotion while teaching Biblical principals. One activity I really enjoyed was the garbage can illustrating the scripture in Ephesians 4:22-23. Discussing cleaning up their room and deciding what needs to go in the trash. The page ask readers to choose from the word bank habits or attitudes they need to get rid of in their life.

 

My grandson just turned 12 and he is in his second year of middle school. The text of the stories and writing assignments are appropriate for ages 10-12. However some of the activities seem kind of young for middle schoolers. The photos of the children on the pages seem way younger then the targeted age. If I had a suggestion for improvement, it would be to use preteens in the photos. Not many middle school kids wear superhero capes.

This pdf was given to me for a review of the material by Hendrickson Publishers and Rose Publishing.

"J's Diner" is a seven-week study of Psalm 23. lower elementary

"J's Diner" is a seven-week study of Psalm 23 for lower elementary children. J’s Diner is a flashback to the 1950 diners. The theme has an eye-catching black and white checked border, with red, green, and yellow banners and signs. It is attractive and makes me want to pick it up and read the lessons. Using the 23rd Psalm is powerful and familiar. It was one of my first and favorite passages of scripture.
This 112-page leaders guide will help keep your children in Sunday school and Bible school actively engaged while teaching the Bible passage for scriptural knowledge and real-life impact.
I like that the crafts are included in the lessons where they make sense and can be helpful to children as they learn. Psalm 23 is the focus of the lessons. The first verse “the Lord is my shepherd” is coupled with John 10. Games repeat the theme of the good shepherd taking care of the sheep.
In the resources section, there are seven reproducible placemats to be printed in grayscale. Decorated in the diner’s theme they use word games and puzzles for children to color and learn. These include a Word-find, Fill-in-the-Blank for Psalm 23, TicTacToe, Connect the Dots and several others. This is activity quick and easy to prepare and keeps the children focused and engaged.
Cute 8 x 11 colorful posters use the phrases from the 23rd Psalm. Examples are: The Lord is my shepherd with the yield sign; the Lord is my provider with a rest area sign.
I would recommend this leaders guide for Sunday school teachers for meaningful and easy lessons. This resource was given to me by Hendrickson Rose publishing company for a fair review.

"J's Diner" is a seven-week study of Psalm 23.

"J's Diner" is a seven-week study of Psalm 23. It is part of the 28nineteen p. This upper elementary leaders' guide is beautifully crafted with a black and white checkered border. Bright red, yellow, and green is an attractive color scheme that is pleasing to the eye. The resource displays the directions in an easy to read format. J's Diner includes "Today's Special" which would be the memory verse and "The Pantry," which supplies large and small group activities. The Leader's Devotion is insightful and gives you wonderful prayer prompts.
In the past, I have been subjected to small print and difficult to follow directions. But this instructional guide makes you want to pick it up and read it. Each page and each section is highlighted by a bright colored banner.
Every activity has a specific purpose and connects to the Bible lesson and the main point for the day. Psalm 23 is broken down into easy to memorize sections. Small Group activities ask questions to break the ice and introduce the topic.
The main reason I like this resource as it talks about the Bible being the best part. In the "What did God say?" section, the memory verse is only one verse or passage during each day's session.
The Bible lesson is introduced, then the children actually read the Bible. The text is from Psalm 23. With each lesson, the gospel is presented in a clear and age-appropriate method. The lessons end with an application of how the children can focus on Jesus in their daily lives.
Large group activity includes materials and directions for games prepared especially to integrate the theme of the memory verse. "The Lord is my shepherd" uses sheep in the game.
The reproducible pages are a plus. They are attractive and allow the children to have a bookmark size instructions for the activities.
As an elementary school teacher, I would say these lessons are fun and easy to plan. Psalm 23 is one of my first and favorite scriptures as a child. I agree that these lessons are scripturally sound. They are also adaptable to small churches such as where I attend.
I received this PDF in exchange for a review of the material the Hendrickson Rose publishing company

The Chronology of Israel's Kings and Prophets

This pamphlet "The Chronology of Israel's Kings and Prophets" is a must for anyone studying the Old Testament. As a student of the Bible, the New Testament was always easier for me. First and Second Kings and First and Second Chronicles seemed repetitive and confusing. The Old Testament books labeled the Major and Minor Prophets took more historical training. When I studied the Divided Kingdom, I was a novice and struggled to line up the prophets and the kings with the Upper and Lower Kingdom. The fact that different prophets could serve different kings during the same time period was the key to make a timeline. As a participant in Community Bible Study, I enjoyed entering pertinent facts on a table or chart. Trying to make create my own chart was time-consuming and tedious. When I became a bible study teacher, I searched for a resource to share with others. Hendrickson Publishers and Rose Publishing have the perfect tool: "The Chronology of Israel's Kings and Prophets." The facts are organized in a clear and concise manner throughout this pamphlet using a color. Starting with the book of First Samuel the people demanded a king. Saul and David were anointed by Samuel, chosen by God. Prophets names are written in red. The key events for the King and Prophets are listed in the table with the chapter of the book included. The reign of King Saul is noted with a yellow stripe running vertically on the chart. The reign of King David is shown with the dark green band and King Solomon is denoted with the lighter green band. After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided, his descendants ruling Judah in the south and other kings ruling Israel in the North. The color key for the Divided Kingdom: PROPHETS are in red; KINGS OF ISRAEL (Northern Kingdom) are in gold; KINGS OF JUDAH (Southern Kingdom) are in blue. Key events are listed by chapter (CH). The boxes sprinkled throughout the pamphlet contain relevant information about the kings and prophets. It was a privilege to review this resource from Hendrickson Publishers and Rose Publishing. I received this PDF for a fair review.

100 Days of Peace

This collection of devotions by Stephen Arterburn is appropriate for this time in our lives. So many people are seeking peace. The only true peace can be found through Jesus Christ in the Words of the Holy Bible. I enjoyed the format of the devotions. A simple title with a key verse and two or three paragraphs offering encouragement.  Also included are three or four quotes from famous biblical writers including Billy Graham, Oswald Chambers, and C.S. Lewis. My favorite part is “For Further Reflection“ listing four or five additional scripture verses. As a discipleship coach and a Sunday school teacher, I am is always on the lookout for a relevant Christian reading. Scripture is the basis for all of my teaching and I am so glad Stephen Arterburn has included multiple selections of scripture.  Each day ends with a simple prayer. Several topics of interest include; Turbulent Times Build Character, No Problems are Too Big for God, The Right Priorities, Controlling Your Emotions, Facing Fears, Trusting God. There is a listing for almost any type of anxiety. This is a good resource for those who are seeking peace.

 This resource was offered to me for an honest review by Hendrickson Rose  publishing company. 

Evidence for the Resurrection

The booklet, Evidence for the Resurrection, was well written listing the objections and the theories skeptics offer to dispute the truth of Jesus resurrection. This resource is visually attractive and written in a manner easily presented to nonbelievers. Skeptics Theory number 2: “Jesus did not die on the cross,” was the best-documented evidence using historical data about the Roman technique for death by crucifixion.

This booklet uses 12 notable references from trustworthy authors. Many scripture texts were used to prove the evidence for resurrection. While I certainly believe the infallibility of God’s Word there are many skeptics that do not believe the Bible is true. However, Josephus was a notable historian of Jewish history. The historical information noting the unlikely use of women as witnesses was very convincing. Peter W. Stoner writes a compelling document on the probability that Jesus fulfilled the many prophecies in the Old Testament. While I have actually researched and studied at least one-third of the references, I appreciate an accurate and simple condensing of the information. This is a great witnessing tool to share facts on the  Resurrection. I was given a free copy of this PDF from Hendrickson Rose publications for an honest and accurate review of the information.

World Religions made Easy

This summer as an extension of my Internet Evangelism, I took an online course about bridging our communication with Muslims. We discovered areas in which Muslims and Christians can agree and the things we have in common. The study showed me topics that I can safely discuss with Muslims. The information in this booklet shares information about thirty world religions. While I was familiar with more than a few of the religions, but there were many groups of which I had never heard. During my experience sharing Jesus with women around the world, I was introduced to Santeria. I gained some valuable information from this resource.  Also, I had read an article about a doctor in our county that is proud of his belief in Sikhism. There were many particulars about reincarnation, karma, and the 5 K’s of this religion. My main purpose in a resource of this type was how each religion dealt with Jesus and what happens after death. This book was very clear on both counts. I was astonished at the number of men who basically founded their own religion and wrote the religious texts. It seems kind of egomaniacal on the part of the founders. I marvel that “man” has such a problem believing in Jesus and God’s plan of salvation. I did notice that several religions were covered more thoroughly and included six or seven pages of information. My suggestion would be to include more in-depth writing about Judaism and Biblical Christianity. I found this resource to have much valuable information and was given this pdf from Hendrickson/Rose Publishers for an honest review.

Ten Keys to Spiritual Growth

I am so delighted to find this resource. The Bible Study I attend suggests the book of Acts can be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. I am enjoying learning all I can about this relationship. The illustration of a tree representing Spiritual Growth is right on. I am so excited! I can hardly wait to share at church tonight and with my CBS group. Water representing the Grace of God is perfect. He fills me us and my love can overflow to others. The soil is the Word of God enriches our lives by nourishing us, the Root is Jesus, how perfect, He is the reason for our salvation and our resurrection. The trunk of the tree represents our habits and actions. We need the living presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit for growth. Our relationship with others is represented by branches and the more we grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God we will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. The 10 Keys listed below each appear with scriptures to Read; truths we can Know and questions we should Ask ourselves about our spiritual life. There are suggested activities to Do that will promote our Spiritual Growth. Many of the activities are habits in my life, but there is always something we can do to improve our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This pamphlet is filled with helpful suggestions.

1.      Focus on your relationship with God.

2.      Pray for growth

3.      Memorize and meditate on God‘s word

4.      Seek wisdom

5.       Obey God‘s word 

6.      Commit to community

7.      Serve others

8.      Give generously

9.      Be thankful

10.   Trust in God’s promises

Henderickson/Rose provided this pdf for my review.

Understanding the Holy Spirit Made Easy

As a child, I cannot remember much teaching of the Holy Spirit other than the mention in our Hymns. It has been my quest to learn more about the Holy Spirit and release control of my life over to Him. Understanding the Holy Spirit Made Easy seem to call my name. This Wednesday I began a 30-week bible study of the book of Acts. Although I have taught the Act of the Apostles verse by verse this past year to my women’s class of fifteen. I am excited to hear the Teaching Director refer to Acts as the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” This resource has many excellent charts of vital information and comparisons. “We are not called to live for God in our own limited strength. The Holy Spirit is our infinite power source.” This week in my teaching in Ephesians 3, Paul is urging the church to access the power that we have been given as children of God. How wonderful that God to connect all these teaching at this time. One thing that I had never thought of is the illustration of the “Spirit is something like clothing. Without clothing, we are naked and vulnerable. When we try to live without the power of the Spirit, we are spiritually naked and vulnerable.” Repeatedly we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is not a thing. He is a person-equal standing in the Trinity with Father God and Jesus Christ. The proof was give through scripture passages. He can be lied to. He can be grieved. He has a name. My favorite name is Advocate before the Father. He can interpret my unspoken cries to My Abba Father.  Yes, He gives each of us special gifts. But I suppose my favorite gifts are the Fruit of the Spirit that He gives to all Christians. The answers to Frequently Asked Questions are most helpful in my role as a Discipleship Coach in Internet Evangelism. This is a much-needed book and I think I will order one in print to share with others. Hendrickson Rose Publishing gave me this pdf free of charge for a fair and honest review.

Christmas Cradle Picture Book

Christmas had become a time of stress for my family with all the shopping and decorating and giving of token gifts not really needed or appreciated. It was then that I simplified the holiday season by focusing on Jesus, God’s greatest gift. Acts of service in His Name gives me a peace and joy lacking in the secular holiday. Now any gifts I give are made by hand with love.  For eight years, I have volunteered during Christmas at the Library to read Christmas books to children who come from all countries to celebrate Jesus’ birth at the Billy Graham Library. One book was similar to the Christmas Cradle, but I much enjoyed the fact that children and adults can put “cards” recalling the loving service they performed for others inside a cradle. The “gifts” placed inside the cradle brings the Christmas story of Jesus full circle. It reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas, our gift of Salvation. The book is very colorful and the vivid colors are sure to attract the attention of young children. The sweet story of celebrating Christmas in Aunt Jenny’s farm turns into an opportune teaching moment to share the story of the Christ child born in a stable. Molly forgets about Santa and elves and reindeer this night and gives her heart to Jesus. Truly a much-needed reminder for our children to remember why we started celebrating Christmas. Maybe this could become a book that deserves regular reading at Christmas. The book was offered for review free of charge by the Hendrickson Rose Publishing.

Instant Bible Lessons for Preschoolers: A to Z Thru the Bible

Instant Bible Lessons for Preschoolers: A to Z Thru the Bible

By: Lindsey Whitney

As Sunday School teachers, we are always looking for instant lesson plans. This book has 208 pages and offers 26 lessons with reproducible pages. I like the alphabet format for organizing notable characters found in the Bible. It is full of ready-to-use lesson plans with a short introduction and opening activity for children that arrive early. Each character representing a letter of the alphabet includes scripture references where the story is found. Each Bible story has several paragraphs and includes an “I wonder” section. These encourage students to use their imagination, express their feelings about the story, and spark some interesting conversations. Instant Lessons provide about seven pages for teacher instructions, coloring, handwriting practice, art and craft activities, or dramatic play. These optional extra activities which utilize age-appropriate preschool skills There are plenty of different activities to keep children engaged, no matter what their preferred learning style. Included is a page of the corresponding alphabet letters to trace -these are really "balloon letters" to color. These are not the manuscript letter the children will be taught to write in public school.
“J is for Joseph” shares the story of the rainbow-colored coat that Joseph received from his father, Jacob. One activity is a coloring book outline of Joseph’s coat. Students will use small bits of paper to glue them on the coat. Another activity with Goldfish crackers utilizes skills of pouring. This helps in understanding concepts of sharing with others, concepts of little and much, and more than and less than. 

This resource can be used "in an instant" when you have a substitute at church. Thank you to Hendrickson/Rose Publishing for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this resource.

100 Days of Prayer, a Daily Devotional,

100 Days of Prayer, is a Daily Devotional, written by Steve Arterburn fills 207 pages. The table of contents takes 3 pages to list the one hundred titles which include: Attitude of Gratitude, The Fullness of Christ, Too Busy, and Life Eternal. Each day presents an important thought, one bible verse, and a short explanation of the idea, followed by three or four quotes from notable authors. These quotes from famous Christian authors or historical figures are poignant and thought-provoking. This resource would be useful for someone who has limited time and desires a brief devotion. Since I mainly pray scripture promises back to my Heavenly Father, I wish there were more Biblical content for deeper enrichment. The daily prayer itself is short maybe five sentences at the most. I was disappointed that this devotional prayer guide did not provide some advice for those who do not know how to talk to God or are ill-equipped to approach Him with their problems. As a discipleship coach, the women who I guide through our Bible course do not really understand the purpose or the power of prayer. Some people may need a prayer devotional to offer instructions on how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer or other prayers from the Bible could be included. This book was given to me as a pdf file by Rose Hendrickson for an unbiased review.

Sermon on the Moun

Several years ago, I taught 30 lessons on the Gospel of Matthew. It was then I learned that Matthew is the only gospel that speaks of the “kingdom of heaven” instead of the kingdom of God. Primarily his readers were Jewish people who avoided pronouncing or writing the name of God out of respect and fear. The Sermon on the Mount covers Matthew chapter five through seven.  This teaching takes place early in Jesus ministry after he had been tempted by the devil in the wilderness. I really like the visual on Page 2. A bulleted list showing the many different areas Jesus taught during this preaching on a mount in Galilee. One of my favorites is what we call the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. “The beatitudes are not commands the believer must fulfill to enter the kingdom of heaven; rather they are rewards” we shall receive at of the coming of God’s kingdom. A chart on page 5 gives the text of the beatitude, explains the meaning of the phrase, and identifies the reward in the coming kingdom. Verses 13 through 16 in chapter 5 explain the essential elements of salt and light. As followers of Jesus, we must make a difference in the world pointing unbelievers to the true source of the light and life. Page 10 has a good chart on the model prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew six. The prayer is broken into phrases helping us see the focus of every phrase in the prayer and listing God’s attributes. This is a compact teaching tool in fourteen pages. Solid ideas are found in this resource that would be useful for teachers and pastors alike. Henderson Rose provided this pdf for a fair and honest review.Several years ago, I taught 30 lessons on the Gospel of Matthew. It was then I learned that Matthew is the only gospel that speaks of the “kingdom of heaven” instead of the kingdom of God. Primarily his readers were Jewish people who avoided pronouncing or writing the name of God out of respect and fear. The Sermon on the Mount covers Matthew chapter five through seven.  This teaching takes place early in Jesus ministry after he had been tempted by the devil in the wilderness. I really like the visual on Page 2. A bulleted list showing the many different areas Jesus taught during this preaching on a mount in Galilee. One of my favorites is what we call the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. “The beatitudes are not commands the believer must fulfill to enter the kingdom of heaven; rather they are rewards” we shall receive at of the coming of God’s kingdom. A chart on page 5 gives text of the beatitude, explains the meaning of the phrase, and identifies the reward in the coming kingdom. Verses 13 through 16 in chapter 5 explain the essential elements of salt and light. As followers of Jesus, we must make a difference in the world pointing unbelievers to the true source of the light and life. Page 10 has a good chart on the model prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew six. The prayer is broken into phrases helping us see the focus of every phrase in the prayer and listing God’s attributes. This is a compact teaching tool in fourteen pages. Solid ideas are found in this resource that would be useful for teachers and pastors alike. Henderson Rose provided this pdf for a fair and honest review.

Bible Study on the Book of James

This small book of James is a hard-hitting, “tell it like it is” letter written by the half-brother of Jesus, James the head of the Church Council in Jerusalem.  One of the first letters written in the New Testament, in AD 49, letter written mainly to the Jews scattered throughout the Roman Empire. An epistle is about practical Christian living, the style is pointed, insightful, and remarkably similar to the wisdom of the Old Testament. Some of my favorite phrases are from the Book of James: “Count it all joy”, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,” “be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.”  When I became a teaching director of the women’s bible study class, James was the next book to be taught. Every penetrating truth I shared was reflected back at me. The lesson of the tongue was so true and authentic, I felt like I needed to teach to a full-length bridal mirror to highlight my transparency. James is a book about the realities of life. Following the format of the other bible studies in this series, this book has six sessions focusing on the six tests, that, according to James, reveal how healthy and mature our faith is. These are the tests: Trials, Favoritism, Good works, Speech, Relationships, and Prayer.  A leadership guide is included to help teachers present this wealth of information for today’s Christians living the world. Thank you 

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle is one of my favorite topics to study. The Tabernacle was an actual part of Israel’s history. The precise directions and measurements were given to Moses by God Himself.  Each piece of the Tabernacle can be compared with the coming of the Messiah. The format of this book will be easy to teach because it divides the study into 6 Parts. Each part follows the same format beginning with reading the Word of God: Read It, Know It, Explore it, and finally Live It. Life Application Questions to help us draw meaning from the traditions of the Old Testament and using it in our daily lives. The various treasures in the Holy of Holies are divided into groups and discussed in detail. Part 1 God with Us, concentrates on the Temple in the wilderness. It was a place where God would actually come down and enter the Tent of Meeting. Several artist rendering and even a scale model of the Tabernacle help us understand the dimensions. The timelines and cutaway diagrams were very detailed. Part 2 Sacrifices and Holiness, explore the altar where the animals were sacrificed and the laver. The Laver was a magnificent piece where the priests must purify themselves before they performed their duties. The surface of the laver was said to be highly polished so the priests could see their own reflection as they washed in the water. One of my favorite illustrations is the colorful shaded chart showing the various four different kinds of offering in the Old Testament. It supplies appropriate scripture and detailed descriptions. Part 3 The Lampstand, shares how light is viewed in the Bible. The subtitle is light in a dark place. Our world is definitely in darkness but Jesus is the light of the world. Part 4 God’s Invitation, details the Table of Bread and Altar of Incense. Part 5 Drawing Near to God, teaching the importance of the Veil that was ripped from top to bottom when Christ died on the Cross. The Ark of the Covenant is a holy and sacred and was a crucial part of the Tabernacle. Part 6 Finding  Mercy, the demonstrates a paramount issue of our faith. The garments of the High Priest is depicted and explained. A glorious picture of the Mercy Seat also called the Atonement Seat. In order to understand the pageantry and details of the Tabernacle, we must realize the sacrificial offering that Jesus made on the Cross. The mention of Jewish holidays, comparing of Old Testament and New Testament, a chart showing the contents of the Ark listing the items, their symbolism and describing how Jesus fulfills every need, makes this resource very complete and useful as a teaching tool. Hendrickson Rose, provided me this wonderful resource in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Life of Paul

The Book of Acts chronicles the life of Paul: from his conversion on the Damascus Road, his unique calling to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, and details of his arrests, trials, and prison. For the past eight months, our women’s class has been studying the Acts verse-by-verse. As we moved through the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Paul were key players. This book on the Life of Paul would have been a great help to me as I prepared my lessons. The 120 page Bible study of Paul’s life is divided into six sessions. Each session has maps, a timeline of Paul’s missionary travels, life application questions, and plenty of space for answering study questions. Beautiful photographs of the area give credence to the study. The charts are neatly organized and easy to read. Interesting commentary on Paul’s missing years, and “the curious case of John Mark” adds depth to the study. A two column chart parallels between Jesus’ and Paul’s final entries in Jerusalem.

A special section entitled “Leaders Guide” is filled with helpful suggestions and cautions for leading a group. There is a list of do’s and don’ts, as well as group guidelines of behavior. Several schedules are provided with the breakdown in time for 30-minute sessions, 60-minute sessions and 90-minute sessions, also included are very helpful group guidelines. This 6-week inductive study guide is very well-planned and in an easy to use format. Thank you, Hendrickson Rose, for providing me this wonderful resource in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Armor of God

As a Bible Study teacher and an Internet evangelism coach, I was excited to acquire another resource on the Armor of God. Ephesians six has always been my “go to scripture” when explaining to Christians about the enemy. I have a small book entitled “What to Wear to the War,” plus I have posters and pamphlets labeling the many pieces of armor. This resource is special because it is in the form of a bible study course with 6 sessions. The mature ladies in my Sunday school class have just now started to dig into the word of God. It is taking them years to discover the treasures of wisdom and God‘s holy Word. This will be a great tool to teach the sobering reality of spiritual warfare. I really like the clarity and organizations of charts and this 120-page book many charts through the book. The full-color photographs of each piece of armor are detailed and eye-catching. A chart in the second chapter gives scriptural insights to the protection God has provided for us. It lists our responsibility of faithfully dressing for battle every morning. Quotations and insights are gleaned from notable authors and historians. A beautiful prayer on page 36 would be a welcome addition to any morning meditation. Chapter 3 introduces us to our greatest enemy, Satan. The deceiver whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. Many women I have encountered believe the lies of Satan.  They cannot be forgiven. That no one loves them. Once a person is so devastated by abuse and abandonment, it is hard for them to believe the everlasting love, the infinite mercy, and the amazing grace offered by our Lord Jesus Christ. This book teaches us how to effectively use the weapons of war: Prayer and the Sword of the Spirit, the infallible Holy Bible. A wonderful treasure trove of scripture and thought-provoking questions are included. A special section entitled “Leaders Guide “is filled with helpful suggestions and cautions for leading a group. Several schedules are provided with the breakdown in time for 30- minute sessions, 60-minute sessions, and 90-minute sessions, also included are very helpful guidelines for group interaction. This 6-week inductive study guide is very well-planned and in an easy to use format. Thank you, Hendrickson Rose, for providing me this wonderful resource in exchange for an unbiased review.