Best Christian Preaching
Imagine having a team of 30 Moody Bible Institute professors helping you study the Bible. Not many commentaries can do that. This new commentary by the faculty of Moody Bible Institute is a worthy addition to this category of good single volume commentaries. Going through verse by verse at times, the commentary explains the texts, highlights some of the original languages' nuances, and also connects the theme to other passages in the Bible. Issues such as learning to apply timeless principles from Old Testament laws and regulations; contrasting the consequences of godlessness versus the promises of godliness; highlighting devotional material from the Psalms; wisdom from Proverbs with scholarship material from other commentaries apart from their own; a structural framework on understanding the Song of Solomon with an explanation of the different interpretative methods; and many more, making the commentary a very integrated one that aims to bring the central teachings across. Each book begins with some explanation on authorship, approximate dates, who the intended audiences are, the purpose of the book, and how the book contributes to the overall thrust of the Bible. This part alone makes this commentary an excellent primer to begin any in-depth studies of each book. On top of that, the books of the Bible are of different genre and commentary will have to be adapted according to the way and purposes the book are written. That is why it is very difficult to apply any one standard commentary for all the books. After all, students of the Bible learn best not by becoming dogmatic over their own philosophy but to be humble to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit can use anyone to teach us, including using this excellent 1-volume commentary on the Bible. As with the use of commentaries, even though there is an increasing use of electronic references, I feel that having a printed commentary is valuable too. The Moody Bible Commentary, a comprehensive one-volume commentary of the whole Bible, provides an objective look at the historical and cultural backgrounds of each book and help readers interpret Scripture in light of Scripture. The Moody Bible Commentary includes an outline of each book of the Bible, an introduction to each book, and then a more in-depth commentary following the outline given. In the New Testament, charts help readers grasp “The Eight Signs in John” as well as “Jesus’ Seven I Am Claims.” And, readers come to a clearer understanding of the book of James with the chart outlining “Parallels Between James and the Sermon on the Mount.” Of course The Moody Bible Commentary wouldn’t be complete without the Scripture index and subject index at the end, which help readers easily navigate the extensive volume. If you are looking for a one-volume commentary on the entire Bible, The Moody Bible Commentary fits the bill.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The new Moody Bible Commentary (MBC) is a large, handsome, well formatted, brief Bible reference work that includes useful intros, bibliographies and indexes. Believer's Bible Commentary (BBC) by William MacDonald (more devotional, NKJV). The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) by Walvoord and Zuck (more scholarly, NIV). Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (NNIBC) by Radmacher, Allen & House (like Nelson's NKJV Study Bible). Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable (FREE online, more comprehensive, NASB). ILLUSTRATIONS. *** The MBC includes 80 black and white illustrations. HIGH HOPES. Based on a similar work by Dallas Theological Seminary staff, the 2 volume Bible Knowledge Commentary, I had great expectations for this commentary by Moody's faculty. For example: OLD TESTAMENT (OT). In Genesis 6:2, the Moody Bible Commentary discusses 4 viewpoints of who the "sons of God" are. The MBC doesn't mention that the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translates "sons of God" as "angels" and "Nephilim" as "giants." The MBC doesn't mention that "sons of God" in Hebrew (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7) always refers to angels. Even Moody Press's shorter 1962 "Wycliffe Bible Commentary" actually exegetes Genesis 6 with a Hebrew word study and relevant cross references. The MBC on 2 Samuel 15:7 doesn't give the manuscript evidence (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Syrian, Latin) for why some translations say "forty years" (KJV, NKJV, NASB) and others read "four years" (NIV, ESV, HCSB). *** At 1422 pages, the MBC OT commentary is longer than the BBC at 1150 pages, and the NNIBC at 1128, but shorter than the BKC at 1575. Since the MBC is based on the NASB translation, some authors may not discuss alternative translations (e.g. dispensation for stewardship) or the many longer NT readings found in the KJV, NKJV and World English Bible. *** At 580 pages, the NT commentary is shorter than many one or two volume commentaries (BBC 1183; BKC 979; NNIBC 634), but longer than most Bible handbooks. ADVICE. The MBC may be OK as a backup commentary. After many years of use, I can highly recommend: Believer's Bible Commentary (BBC) by William MacDonald (more devotional, NKJV). and. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) by Walvoord and Zuck (more scholarly, NIV). "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.""
"A nice, explanatory commentary."
"Very cumbersome BUT an extremely useful tool to understanding the bible."
"Both Michaels who oversaw this project have done a great job with this commentary."
"I really love this commentary on the entire Bible!"
"Michael Rydelnik is a joy...Moody Bible commentary is an outstanding Bible reference book.Open Line Radio program. with Michael Rydelnik airs on Sat Morning in my area......happy with purchase, the price, the delivery, excellent."
"Paper is average, no photos, but content is head-on, and doesn't avoid difficult passages."
"A solid study help, gives helpful commentary."
“Our goal is to create weekend experiences so compelling and helpful that even the most skeptical individuals in our community would walk away with every intention of returning the following week…with a friend!”. Leaders responsible for ministry programing and production will no doubt love Andy’s discussion of the three essential ingredients for creating irresistible environments . For pastors willing to tackle the challenge of transitioning a local congregation, Andy includes a section entitled: Becoming Deep and Wide . “The most common question I get from pastors is, ‘How do I get the people in my church to be open to change?’ From now on my answer will be, ‘Read Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley’. Deep and Wide is a rich resource to help all of us stay intentional about the main thing - building a church that reaches people who are far from God.”. Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Andy Stanley really knows how to lead a church as well as encourage others to do the same."
"We are heading into a time of re-visioning by the church leadership (with input from the congregation) and I am very excited, praying for the Holy Spirit to lead us in the direction He'd have us to go. I think it would be a great book to study with a small group of church leaders (those not necessarily on the paid staff)."
"I’ve realized something about Andy Stanley is that he holds on to his content, stories, and learnings until the time and format when they can make the greatest impact. Even though I listen to Andy’s sermons, follow his leadership podcast and have read several of his books, there is a lot about the North Point story and his early experiences he seems to have held on to until now. I have already bought a second copy to give to a friend in ministry and do not plan to wait long until I pull this book out again and measure the progress made on what God spoke to me through these pages."
"Often some of these highly popular preachers write a great book or two. But Andy, he continues to write, and produce great material. It is a great story, and he does it to connect you to him, and his desire to teach you about church management. One of Andy’s strengths is creating vulnerability, so that you feel he is talking to you, and not at you. The material is awesome, and the systems that he has produced are measure and effective."
An insightful, entertaining parable that’s an excellent guide for any speaker, Communicating for a Change takes a simple approach to delivering effectively. By knowing your destination before you leave (identifying the one basic premise of your message), using your blinkers (making transitions obvious), and implementing five other practical points, you’ll drive your message home every time! In Communicating for a Change, Andy Stanley and Lane Jones offer a unique strategy for communicators seeking to deliver captivating and practical messages. “Whether you are a senior pastor with weekly teaching responsibilities or a student pastor who has bern charged with engaging the hearts and minds of high school students, this book is a must-read.” -Bill Hybels, Senior pastor, Willow Creak Community Church “A very practical resource for every biblical communicator who wants to go from good to great.” -Ed Young, Senior pastor, Fellowship Church, Grapevine, Texas “To communicate effectively, you have to connect. Andy Stanley Communicator, author, and pastor, ANDY STANLEY founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Andy Stanley puts forth some good ideas about narrowing focus and producing a one point message."
"But from the first few pages I was finding principles that I can use in my everyday work and I have a deeper understanding of what it takes for my Pastor to prepare each week."
"Some have suggested that to follow the principles lined out in this book is simply to try to imitate Andy Stanley's style. If anything following (or adapting) this methodology allows for your own personality to come out even more, helping to make you more relatable to your audience and more genuine in your messages. Preaching a one point sermon actually requires more study time and the willingness to cut the fluff and filler."
"The first half of the book is an extended metaphor written by Jones to illustrate the principles of communication that Stanley presents in the second half."
"I don't accept Andy Stanley's insistence that the sermon template in this book is the ONLY effective way to preach."
"But, I would rather work harder to craft one really good point that affects life change than have my audience get all the way through my outline and ask, "So what was the point?" And if you're communicating God's Word to anyone and you really want to see life change, Communicating for Change is book you should definitely consider."
Best Christian Sermons
The essence of his dynamic ministry is relived through the complete volume of his life teachings.Sermons have been gathered from archives around the world to create this unequaled treasure. Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947), known as the Apostle of Faith, had an international evangelistic and healing ministry.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Really impactful of knowing God's presence and His glory in the Holy Spirit!"
"Just as described and came well within the time limit."
"Awesome book."
"Any minister or Christian , who desire to work in faith and power should read this book."
"It's a wonderful book full of insight and inspiration to a closer walk with our Lord!"
"Excellent book great inspiration for all."
"I am in the beginning of reading this book and am inspired to draw closer to the Lord at every reading."
Best Religious Sermons
The essence of his dynamic ministry is relived through the complete volume of his life teachings.Sermons have been gathered from archives around the world to create this unequaled treasure. Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947), known as the Apostle of Faith, had an international evangelistic and healing ministry.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Really impactful of knowing God's presence and His glory in the Holy Spirit!"
"Just as described and came well within the time limit."
"Awesome book."
"Any minister or Christian , who desire to work in faith and power should read this book."
"It's a wonderful book full of insight and inspiration to a closer walk with our Lord!"
"Excellent book great inspiration for all."
"I am in the beginning of reading this book and am inspired to draw closer to the Lord at every reading."
Best Christian Discipleship
According to Pastor Mark Batterson in this expanded edition of The Circle Maker, "Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn't just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. Mark Batterson is the New York Times best-selling author of fifteen books, including The Circle Maker , In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day , and Chase the Lion .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"great book...we use it for our nightly devotional...got 2 and gave the other as a gift!"
"God is challenging us to step into the roll of Senior Pastor."
"This book really challenges us to pray for everything and to not put God in a box."
"Life changing book."
"This book helped me to see how small my prayers were and spurred me to take several giant steps forward."
"My coach reccommend this book to read."
"Anything we can do to pray for our children is worth 5 stars."
"Some may call it "gimicky" but if you read the book thoroughly, Batterson shows that this is not a gimick, it is persevering in focused and intentional prayer."
Best Christian Pastoral Counseling
In Through the Eyes of a Lion, Pastor Levi Lusko shares the eye-opening truth of the power of hope in a world that is often filled with pain, suffering, and loss. Part memoir but all overtly instructive and deeply inspirational, Through the Eyes of a Lion gives readers the tools they need to face their fears and turn their journey into a roar story. -Max Lucado Pastor and New York Times bestselling author. 'Levi has framed up some practical thoughts and shares some experiences that can help us not only to cope with the pain of loss but to... thrive as a result.'.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"From "cue the eagle" to "pain is a microphone" and "run toward the roar" the pages are full of tidbits of wisdom and key phrases that will stick with you long after you finish reading. Whether you're struggling under the weight of seemingly unbearable pain, or facing the everyday difficulties of life, this book offers renewed hope--for both your present and your future."
"Through the Eyes of a Lion reflects Levi's strength of character with authenticity of his voice - if you read this book with an appreciation and understanding of the richness of his enthusiasm and care for you that exudes from his preaching pulpit, you'll spend less time thinking about a critical literary review or dreaming up book club questions and more energy running to a God that soothes and heals your pain."
"Levi Lusko and his family endured anguish yet they are using it to help others and glorify God."
"Just started the first chapter and can already tell this book is a life changer."
"This author writes from his heart concerning a great loss in His life!"
"Levi Lusko has an amazing ability to connect to his readers a d draw them in, even through the pain."
"Such powerful book in understanding pain and grief and how through the most tragic moments of our lives the Lord never leaves us or forsakes us."
"Wonderful book by a wonderful author."
Best Adult Christian Ministry
From a state of fear, weakness, and insecurity, Gideon emerged as Israel's hero, filled with God's presence and His passion for deliverance. Instead of ignoring, neglecting, or trying to escape your weaknesses, see them as the gifts that they are, given specifically and strategically by God to unlock the door of God’s strength. In other words, anyone and everyone See your weaknesses as God’s greatest strengths Instead of hiding from your weaknesses, find the God-given strength to face your fears and do what God is calling you to do Challenges participants to see God in a much bigger way, experience Him more fully, and tap into His power and presence in a fresh way. Priscilla Shirer, maestra de enseñanza bíblica y conferencista, tiene un diploma de Master en Estudios Bíblicos del Seminario Teológico de Dallas. También actúa como personaje principal en la película “Cuarto de guerra” ( War Room ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent study on the life of Gideon."
"Love this study."
"Good quality would purchase again."
"Love the deep Bible study in this series."
"the womens group loved it!"
Best Youth Christian Ministry
Featuring a new introduction by Neil T. Anderson, this freshly re–covered edition of his bestselling book The Bondage Breaker (more than 1.2 million copies sold) leads readers away from the shadows and shackles in their lives and toward the freedom that comes when they. Dr. Neil T. Anderson , Founder and President Emeritus of Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM), is the bestselling author or coauthor of more than 60 books, including The Bondage Breaker ® (more than 1.3 million sold).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bondage Breaker is the must have book."
"Excellent!"
"This book was wonderful and it really helped me to become free and to know who I am in Christ."
"Positive book."
"What a great book about our identity in Christ and the reality of the battles we face."
"Great book, easy read, great helpful information for prayer warriors, counselors, intercessors."
Best Children's Christian Ministry
Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. Richard H. Schneider has been a journalist and author for more than 50 years and has written more than 20 books for adults and children.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you're like me you want to expose your kids to a good story and a good moral...this has both and nice pictures."
"Beautiful story of what it means to give for the good of others and a wonderful Christmas story at the same time."
"I wanted to find a story with a Christmas theme."
"It's great for making children as well as adults understand the spirit of giving."
"This is my favorite Christmas story,"
"I used to read this to my son when he was little (he's now 30 with four kids of his own)."
"Beautiful artwork, lovely story with such wonderful meaning about charity and giving."
"I am usually not a complainer and have ordered many items I have been happy with but, I was so disappointed in the size of the books."
Best Christian Missions & Missionary Work
After spending over six hard years doing relief work in Somalia, and experiencing life where it looked like God had turned away completely and He was clueless about the tragedies of life, the couple had a crisis of faith and left Africa asking God, "Does the gospel work anywhere when it is really a hard place? The gripping, narrative account of a personal pilgrimage into some of the toughest places on earth, combined with sobering and insightful stories of the remarkable people of faith Nik and Ruth encountered on their journeys, will serve as a powerful course of revelation, growth, and challenge for anyone who wants to know whether God truly is enough. At times you will weep for our suffering brothers and sisters around the world who experience persecution for King Jesus as normal Christianity. At other times you will weep for joy at how the gospel continues to run wide across the globe in spite of demonic opposition. And, you will also weep as the anemic and tepid “Christianity” of the American Church is exposed for the shameful counterfeit it too often is. If you want a front row seat to the raw, potent, heart transforming power of Jesus, this book is a must read. You will fall under conviction as you read about the commitment of Christians in dark places who risk their own lives to share the good news of Jesus. In the end you will come away with a renewed sense of faith in God who truly is enough, even in the face of extreme persecution. In his book, The Insanity of God , Nik Ripkin takes us on a journey of extreme emotional highs and lows to demonstrate that our limited understanding of events in our lives is only one piece of God’s larger puzzle of fulfillment and salvation. This book puts our daily struggles into perspective and leaves us inspired and ready for the next challenge. We are in danger of rapidly losing what it means to feel compassion for those held in the grip of sin on this broken planet. Now Nik Ripken takes you on a personal, real life journey with Jesus into the dark, back-alleys of human depravity where only Christ’s love can overcome. With remarkable clarity, this gifted writer transports you into a world where, through the blood-stained glass of persecution, the light of Christ shines brightly. In The Insanity of God we are reminded of the power of the gospel to save using biographical sketches that most of us in the American church will struggle to comprehend. Deeply moving, intensely powerful and challenging describes the stories contained in these pages. This book will help you walk closely with Jesus and challenge you to take great risks for the sake of His name. Nik and Ruth Ripken have long been heroes of mine as I have watched and admired them from afar, drawing personal inspiration from their passion, faith, and resilience that comes from the Resurrection Lord they serve. Around the world, I have met countless young missionaries who trace their pilgrimage back to the influence of Nik and Ruth. The Insanity of God merges the Ripkens’ story with those of hundreds of other heroes of the faith who did not consider their present sufferings worth comparing to the glory that will one day be revealed in them. I pray that they will do for you what they have done for me: encourage you to shake off your slumber and press on to the high calling that is ours in Christ Jesus. This book rekindled my passion to do all that God is leading me to do for the nations, to expect and attempt great things. To the list of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, we may add our contemporaries who took God’s Word seriously, and at any cost! Nik Ripken has told a great story, and in doing so he has made it clear that the question every believer must answer is whether we have the courage to bear the consequences of obediently exercising our freedom to be salt and light to all peoples, wherever they live. After multiple occasions of participating in the Ripken’s persecution workshops with our team at East-West Ministries, I thought I was prepared for what I was about to encounter in The Insanity of God. In The Insanity of God, these stories literally come to life, carrying the reader on a dramatic, life-changing missionary journey with Nik and Ruth—across Africa and eventually around the world. Reading The Insanity of God led me to a wonderful, fresh encounter with Jesus—and with His calling upon my life to “go and make disciples of ALL nations,” especially those in greatest spiritual darkness where persecution of witness for Jesus is most intense. As I read these compelling stories of resurrected faith, I laughed out loud and I wept aloud as well. Men and women whose extraordinary faith in the resurrected Jesus enabled them to endure unspeakable persecution and yet not lose heart. Yet, this is also a book that is immensely personal as it challenges us all to consider the cost of complacency as compared to the reward of sacrifice. The Insanity of God tells an incredible story of faith lived out in the most difficult of circumstances. It showcases the power and glory of God no matter the context, challenge, or opposition. The Ripkens haven’t just lived this story, they have been students at each step of the way, learning from those who have suffered most and sharing those lessons with all of us. You will be struck anew with the unquenchable power of a great God to build His kingdom and bring glory to His name. Join a journey of discovery how God is spreading his kingdom in the midst of adversity, suffering and even the most atrocious persecution. It shares the experiences made in gathering the wisdom of 700 followers of Christ in 72 countries who are walking with Jesus in hard places. Just as a pearl is formed from a simple grain of sand with layer upon layer of deposits until it becomes a large and lustrous thing of beauty, God has worked in Nik’s life to reveal the beauty of His ways and thoughts which are different from our own. Few Christians take the call literally, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility given the current state of the persecuted church. Insanity of God is not for “safe” Christians, or those interested in pursuing comfort over the cross. Its message is one every believer needs to hear, and for those who are looking for evidence that God still loves this world, you’ll find it here. In some of the darkest places on earth members of the persecuted church experience a fellowship with Christ and life in abundance that few of us have known. As a follower of Christ, a husband, a father, and a missionary I was alternately encouraged and convicted by what I read.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wether individually or globally a call to KNOW God is at work in even the darkest places. Inspiring, challenging and tear drawing...You think you have challenges and problems that are insurmountable?"
"This book was inspiring beyond words."
"What a gift this book is. Truly these melodies from the heart to the Lord actually shake the unseen realm and do more than we know."
"Have you put God in a box where He makes your life comfortable and easy?"
"I recommend this book to anyone."
"This is a great book for all people to read not just a select few."
"In the end this book answers the question, is following God's will really worth it?"
"Loved this book!"
Best Evangelism
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, now expanded with bonus content, Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with friendships, investigations, and supernatural dreams along the way. -- Mark Gabriel, , Author and former lecturer, University of Cairo. Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi’s story is worth a thousand textbooks. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. This book gives westerners a glimpse of the richness of family and love in a devout Muslim home; it is an enviable picture of respect, devotion, and society. But Christians and Muslims alike are told stories about their religions when they are young, while few have ever personally researched the writings of their founding fathers to assess the validity that undergirds their respective faiths. But it is also a deeply personal heart-wrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person “sees” and “feels” in a devout Muslim home. It reaches both East and West, teaching Christians about Islam from an insider’s perspective and helping Muslims understand the love and truth of Jesus. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the Gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fear-mongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today’s sensationalist world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For myself, I was reliving the search I had pursued forty five years ago, when my embrace of existentialism had left me so empty and purposeless that I had to reconsider the claims of Christ, just in case they might be true. I found myself anticipating each next step in Nabeel's intellectual journey, as each critical aspect of the truth of Christianity was substantiated by his investigations. I even experienced to a degree Nabeel's family conflicts, though for me it was my mother's amazement and bitter disappointment with my choice after college of seminary instead of medical school."
"The dedication at the beginning of the book, read by the author himself, had me bawling like a baby. I was unaware of how much disagreement about doctrine that there is within different Muslim beliefs and Qureshi walks through them carefully and respectfully."
"I have to say that as a Christian, before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of the Muslim faith and how Muslim children are raised."
"Nabeel’s testimony, the description of his journey in life as a young Muslim and the crisis of faith he experienced all impacted me strongly."
"He pursues the documented evidence with the commitment that whatever he finds he will believe in the God that is truth - even if he finds that the teaching that was a part of his life since birth may or may not be truth."