Review: ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible

In Bryan Chapell's classic homlietics book Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapell, a Presbyterian scholar, claims that "Christ-centered" exposition does not necessarily mean magically finding Christ on every page but showing how every passage points to Christ. This is the goal of the ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible (Crossway, 2019). For many, it is difficult to read the story of the Bible—which many argue points to Christ—without understanding its fullness. Enter this new study Bible.

This Bible includes over 375,000 study notes with the sole purpose of pointing toward Christ's work in the New Testament. Additionally, there are over 50 articles written by respected scholars on the nature of covenant and the Gospel. As is standard in most study Bibles, this also includes introductions to each book, a concordance, and cross-references. This Bible is formatted in single-column paragraphs, which makes for a pleasant reading experience; however, one wonders if the margins are too narrow for unencumbered scanning. The text size (9 pt for the Bible, 8 pt for the notes) is the perfect size for most readers.

With a beautiful hardcover quasi-marble design, this Bible is an excellent tool for those who are seeking further clarity into finding how each passage points to Christ. While written from a pan-Reformed position, much of its insights are applicable to a larger evangelical audience. This Bible uses the English Standard Version as its translation, a respected, word-for-word (formal equivalence) rendering. For those who are seeking the Good News through the whole Bible, look no further. The ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible might just be the perfect on-ramp for you.

(A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest review.)

Comments

Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak.

Review: Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age

The advancements of technology and social media are changing what it means to be human, yet religious studies rarely tend to intersect with technological and neurological sciences. In Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age: The Future is Now (Lexington Books, 2018), Kirk A. Bingaman ventures into how technology informs spiritual care. Himself a professor of pastoral care, Bingaman claims that humans are becoming techno sapiens. Rather than retreating from technology, Bingaman sees the unavoidable development of technology as part of God's ongoing work of "doing a new thing." Consequently, he sees positive means for artificial intelligence that can be embraced in pastoral care. For Bingaman, pastoral and spiritual care in a digital age requires preserving humanity through contemplative spiritual practices, preventing technology from overtaking human identity. Bingaman's book is important for many reasons. First, he asserts that technological change is unav

Review: The Four Pages of the Sermon, Revised and Updated

Paul Scott Wilson's celebrated preaching text, The Four Pages of the Sermon (Abingdon, 2018) is now available in a revised and updated edition, with additions that reflect advancements in homiletical scholarship and cultural dynamics. First published in 1999, Wilson challenged the New Homiletic movement to emphasize God's gracious activity within the text and to let it saturate the entirety of the sermon—not to use the Gospel as a tantalizing treat at the end of a well-crafted plot. Today, this text stands as one of the most respected and accessible works for preachers at all stages in their ministry. Wilson argues that there are four main moves, or "pages," in a sermon: the problem in the text, the problem in the world, the grace in the text, and the grace in the world. Like Eugene Lowry's "homiletical plot," Wilson's sermon upsets the listener by exposing a human need and then moves toward resolution through the power of the Gospel. These page

Leitourgia

Search This Blog