Book Review: The Case for Faith, Student Edition

The Case for Faith, Student Edition
By Lee Strobel
Zondervan, 2014
English, 112 pgs

Description:
Based on the bestselling Case for Faith, author Lee Strobel, along with Jane Vogel, present students with a fascinating journey, discovering insights that will reshape the way they view faith.
Lee Strobel knows how important it is to find answers that ring true. With his background as an award-winning journalist, asking tough questions has been his business. And while his search for the truth convinced Lee that Jesus is real, it also confronted him with some particularly knotty, gut-level questions about Christianity that teens have likely asked as well.

In The Case for Faith Student Edition, students will gain powerful insights that will reshape their understanding of the Bible. And they'll read true stories of people whose experiences demonstrate that faith in Jesus not only make excellent sense, but a life-changing difference.

Review:
I'm really enjoying the Strobel books. I've previously read and reviewed The Case for Christ, Student Edition. Just like that one, this book is well researched and written. Strobel is a former athiest and journalist who wanted to find reasons to discredit his wife's new faith in Christ. Instead, he met the Lord and committed his life to Him.

This one is written a little differently than the previous book. It's more like transcripts of conversations. Strobel tackles really tough questions, like suffering, hell, evolution and doubt. These are questions the kids in our church youth group are asking my husband, the pastor, so I know they're real concerns and real questions that people have about our faith.

The answers are very clear and on the right level of understanding for students. There are extra resources listed for going deeper in the study as well as an excerpt from The Case for The Real Jesus. Each of Strobel's book is noted and presented at the back as well.

I received a copy of the book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: Making Sense of the Bible

Making Sense of the Bible
By David Whitehead
Bethany House, 2014
English, 176 pgs

Description:
I Want to Read the Bible, but Where Do I Start?
The Bible can seem like an intimidating book, but it may be easier to understand than you think. Making Sense of the Bible will teach you how to enjoy studying it on your own.

David Whitehead has been helping people engage with the Bible for years, including through his popular website, The Daily Bible Verse. The Bible is an incredible gift from God to you, and this brief "user's manual" will teach you how to get the most out of it. Perfect for individual or group use, this book answers basic questions like how to know which Bible version is right for you, and from there introduces you to its stories, people, and major themes.

In the end, reading the Bible isn't just about knowledge, it's about connecting with the God who speaks through His Word. Let this engaging book help you hear what He wants to tell you.

Review:
This is a very basic, introduction to the Bible. This is something for someone who has struggled with reading the Bible or who is new to Christian faith and doesn't know where to start.

The chapters are fairly short and quite packed with information. It covers topics like the neverending differences between translations, the writing styles in the Bible (letter, poetry, history) and gives a brief overview of the topics of the books.

It covers the stories of Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus in separate chapters. These are central figures in the Bible after all and they are handled in a concise and informative manner.

The chapters on the general books really help to see a quick overview of each book. This is a starting point and really isn't overly academic. It has a nice section in the back for other resources.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.

Book Review: The Case for Christ, Student Edition

The Case for Christ, Student Edition
By Lee Strobel
Zondervan, 2013
English, 112 pgs

Description:
Based on his award-winning bestseller The Case for Christ, journalist Lee Strobel, along with Jane Vogel, presents his journey from skepticism to faith, written for students.

There's historical proof Jesus walked this earth, but was he really who he claimed to be? Or are all the stories in the Bible just that-stories? In The Case for Christ Student Edition, teens will join former investigative journalist Lee Stobel as he searches for objective answers, including those that brought him from skepticism to faith.

In The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith student editions, Lee Strobel unfolds the compelling evidence that turned him from an atheist to a Christian. This leader’s guide gives youth leaders and volunteers everything they need to take their youth group or Sunday school class through both books.

Five riveting sessions per book (ten sessions total) will equip teens with persuasive reasons for their faith in Christ.

These powerful studies will boost the faith of teens, and their confidence to share it, to a whole new level.

Review:
This is a very well written argument for the existence and truth of Jesus. Using historical evidence, Strobel clearly spells out and debunks many myths that people (like the author himself) have used over the years to claim that Jesus was neither who He said He was nor that He did what the Bible claims He did.

This edition is written toward a younger audience, but I found it pretty challenging too. There are clear divisions for group study. This has 9 chapters, divided into 3 parts.

The parts are Who Is This Jesus?, How Reliable is the Information about Christ? and Can a Dead Man Come Back to Life?

There is also a short explanation at the beginning of the author's background and process toward belief. The book has a short synopsis of each of the author's other available books at the back too.

The reason I wanted to read and review this book is that our youth group at church has been asking really good questions and I wanted to present this as a potential study for them. I highly recommend it, without any reservations.

I received a copy of the book from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of a review on this blog and a commercial bookseller site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.