The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (NKJV) by Max Lucado

Review

The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (NKJV)
by John MacArthur

In the past, I have never owned a very good study Bible. However, I think The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible might have just changed that. My parents have always been big fans of Max Lucado, and though I’ve never read any of his books, this study Bible piqued my interest.

I have to say that am pleased with The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible. For starters, the overall layout of the Bible is very appealing to the eye. The font size is neither too small to strain the eye, nor so big that it looks obnoxious. Each book starts out with an introduction that contains many bits of information. It starts off with a small piece of text—either a small scenario to consider or just a few sentences and a question, all correlated to the topics covered in the chapters. There is also a section about the author (or authors, or anonymous authors!) of the book, as well as the main themes and a condensed table of contents.

On the margins of this Bible are lessons that pertain to a section of scripture within the current book. These lessons contain a small “devotional” that pertains to the scripture, as well as some further readings elsewhere in the Bible if one wishes to dig deeper. All of these lessons are laid out in the front of the Bible in a two-year plan to read and study the entirety of God’s Word. Also, scattered throughout this Bible, there are some themed lessons that take up a single page. These are more focused on specific themes (such as Grief, Vengeance, Peace, etc.), and give you a “study guide” to really dig in to their importance.

There are other features of this Bible that I enjoy. For instance, there is a Devotional Index, which is in the front of the Bible instead of the back—a “plus” in my opinion, so I can flip the Bible open and immediately start searching for a topic I need instead of digging through the back. And speaking of the back, the Index of this Bible is very nice. It includes a small section called “He Did This Just For You Verses,” which contains a list of topics and verses evidencing how great God’s love is for us and how He cares for us in every situation. Following that section, one of my favorite parts is the “New Believer Studies.” This section is a few pages long and contains a 30-day study devotional for new believers in Christ who want to learn more about God, Jesus, prayer, facing temptation, and all of the other topics that new Christians are curious or confused about.

All in all, I find this to be a fabulous study Bible. Max Lucado did an excellent job shaping this Bible into something that all ages and all maturities can utilize. There are many, many more features in this Bible--too many to list without making this review lengthy--that add to its usefulness in studying God’s Word. Naturally, the Bible is the number one book on my reading list, and I will always give it ten stars out of five. However, my review is judging Max Lucado’s crafting of the study guides and devotions this Bible offers. But even in that aspect, I must say, Lucado still gets top marks. He did a marvelous job.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity In Christ by John MacArthur

Review

Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity In Christ
by John MacArthur

So many times during Sunday School class and even while sitting in the sanctuary listening to the sermon, we will hear verses of servitude being preached. What we never realize is that “servant” is not the word that God wanted us to hear--we are not supposed to be choosers of our faithfulness to God. No, the original Hebrew translation, ‘ebed, means “slave.” John MacArthur shows us in his book, Slave, that a simple change in translation can lead to very different views of our dedication to Christ. We are not meant to follow him by choice. God will call us, and we will relinquish everything to serve him on this earth as his wholly committed slaves.

MacArthur walks the reader carefully through his explanation of this “slave” word. After all, in today’s society (particularly in America), the word holds a bad connotation. Slave explains to the reader what the word originally meant for the common Roman society during Biblical times. A slave was bound to its master, to be faithful and loyal in every task. In return, a slave was cared for; they were provided with shelter, provisions, and other basic needs that even the free poor people of the times were not assured. MacArthur shows the reader that God is our good and benevolent master, who will care for us and provide for us, while we dedicate our lives to pleasing him as his faithful slaves.

I enjoyed Slave thoroughly. I was a bit weary to the idea of viewing Christians as slaves--no matter how true and right it is, it can be hard to understand (and explain to others!). But John MacArthur explained it in a way that made sense, by guiding me through the actual meaning of the word in Biblical society and showing me how it applies to my life now. Slave provides the foundation for much deeper studying and research with annotations in its pages for further readings. It is a good read that provokes a lot of thought and intrigue. I read this book in one sitting in front of a fire in my living room, and enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand and appreciate the paramount paradox of being a Christian: that there is ultimate freedom in being a slave of God.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”