Ecclesiastes has much to say to any thinking person who seriously questions the meaning and purpose of life in a universe that has little or no place for the God who created it. The writer leaves no stone unturned as he pursues his quest. Philosophy, power, politics, pleasure, and education are all carefully explored. Here is a man who appears to have everyt… Read more…
The Book of Proverbs has one central message (how to gain wisdom) and deals with an extensive array of practical topics including vocation, financial stewardship, moral purity, and how to have successful relationships. Here, Jim Newheiser guides the reader through all the main aspects of the teaching of Proverbs while also emphasizing how these great, life-t… Read more…
The Psalms, the longest book in the Bible, has been described as the national hymn-book of the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Full of emotion, expressing the believer's response to various experiences, and full of theology, these psalms give wonderful counsel to us today, both in our day-to-day life and in our worship. Roger Ellsworth competently… Read more…
The Book of Ruth tells a true, simple, engaging and well-crafted story. It teaches us about God's sovereign control of history and his transforming kindness to individuals. In this heart-warming study, Jonathan Prime opens up the message of Ruth, applying it practically to our lives in the 21st century.
Although the Bible can seem inco… Read more…
The book of Ezra, tucked away in the Old Testament, is often overlooked, yet it is remarkable for its relevance to the modern world. Ezra the scribe is a warm hearted man who exercised a powerful ministry of spiritual, practical leadership to the Jews who had returned to Israel after the exile in Babylon. Love for God's word is a hallmark of his life, an… Read more…
A man slain by a tent peg; a superman dispatching his enemies with the jawbone of a donkey; yet another man carving up a woman. It is all in the book of Judges, and it is all covered by Simon J Robinson who leads us through the book, opening it up and applying it powerfully and relevantly to readers today.
Although the Bible can seem incom… Read more…
By the time we have read through Exodus we have learned the basic vocabulary of the Gospel - words like blood, redeem, sacrifice, glory, law, tabernacle and passover are all here, part of the great drama in which God saves a people for himself. To study Exodus, therefore, is to come to the heart of the message of redemption, to see God as the Saviour of his … Read more…
The Jewish people had been called by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after their years of captivity in Babylon. After starting well, they laid the work aside. But then they heard a voice that emphasized the sufficiency of God for his people. That voice, belonging to Zechariah, was never more encouraging and stimulating than when it proclaimed the comi… Read more…
Most people don’t know the book of Obadiah even exists, let alone what it contains. In fact, you would be hard pushed to find a Christian who could tell you anything about it. You could make a good case for Obadiah being the least among Bible books—it’s certainly the shortest. It isn’t quoted in the New Testament and, to be honest, it isn’t very q… Read more…
Who was Joshua? He was the man who succeeded Moses and led the ancient nation of Israel during its conquest of the land of Canaan. The book of Joshua tells us the story of this conquest. But how is such a book relevant for us today in the twenty-first century? In this warm and engaging study, Roger Ellsworth demonstrates the importance of the book of Joshua … Read more…
Right at the end of his Gospel, John tells us why he wrote it: that we may 'believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing [we] may have life in his name'. John therefore filled his Gospel with carefully selected evidence to encourage our belief in Jesus. In this detailed yet easy-to-read commentary, Andrew Paterson examines … Read more…
Is God responsible for natural disasters? Some would say that he punishes us by sending storms and floods. In Joel's time, Judah was suffering the after-effects of a severe plague of locusts. Joel was in no doubt that God had sent the locusts to chastise the people of Judah for their sinful lifestyles, an indication of the coming 'great and dreadful … Read more…