Peter Witkowski Book Reviews, Christmas

Five Great Resources For Helping Kids Keep Christ in Christmas

kids-christmas-resourcesThe Biggest Story: Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung covers the entire Bible in ten amazingly succinct and beautifully illustrated chapters. DeYoung created the book to be the one resource you use to tell your family about how Christ came to us as a baby to bring us back to Eden by dying on the cross. I encourage you to read this book with your young children during the days leading up to Christmas or to cuddle up by the fire and read the entire volume in one sitting with kids of all ages. All members of your family will enjoy reading The Biggest Story. And if you want to watch the story, you can buy the animated video of the book.

A Family Christmas Treasury: Adrian Rogers

Adrian Rogers desires for everyone to experience the joy of Christmas found through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He begins each devotion with reflections on a Bible verse and ends each devotion with a family activity such as writing a Christmas card to someone you love or creating a jar to collect money for church. Each devotion is designed to engage both you and your children. If you are looking for a Christmas devotion for you family, I encourage you to try A Family Christmas Treasury.

The Expected One: Scott James

Scott James wrote this great little book specifically with your kids in mind. Each devotion contains a Scripture passage, a small explanation of the verse(s) and 2-3 questions (with answers) to prompt some family discussion. The chapter also feature a small question to help you apply the passage to your life. This book begins on December 1st and ends on the December 25th so it does not follow the traditional Advent calendar and does not come with song suggestions. But if you are a touch creative and have young children with short attention spans, I think you will really like The Expected One.

 

Prepare Him Room: Marty Machowski

Marty Machowski shows your kids the beauty of the Christmas story by having you light candles, look at nativity scenes, and reflect on Scripture. He built each devotion around part of the biblical Christmas story and around the story of thieving orphan. In addition to being biblical and easy to understand, the devotions are also infused with object lessons, Christmas carols, and crafts. Marty Machowski has helpfully planned out your entire family’s Christmas devotional calendar. Moreover, you can download the music mentioned in the book here. And you can buy a teacher’s guide here if you want to bring this study into your Sunday school class room. If your family likes Christmas traditions, grab a copy of Prepare Him Room.

All Is Bright: Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Gurthrie created a devotional that your kids can do. Each day features a one page devotion and a coloring page that accents the lesson. If you have a child who loves to color and who wants to explore the Christmas season on their own, you will want to grab a copy of All is Bright.

Peter Witkowski Book Reviews, Christmas

Five Resources That Help Adults Keep Christ In Christmas!

five-great-resources-for-ChristmasThe Christmas season can be a stressful time filled with a barrage of parties, shopping trips, and community events. The Christmas season is often crazy busy for families, but it can and should also be a time of great refreshment.

Is there better news than Christ has come to save us from our sins?

If we hope to focus on spending quality time with our families and reflecting on the gospel this Christmas, we must first focus our hearts on the beauty of Christ. We must first bolster our walk with the Lord and then bolster our family worship times. In Deuteronomy 6:1, parents are told to keep God’s word in their hearts. To teach our kids about God, we must be learning about God and growing in our faith.

Finding good devotional resources for Christmas can be taxing. Below I are five great options.. While not an exhaustive, I hope my reviews will get you started in the right direction.

If you have a favorite Christmas devotion, I encourage you to mention it in the comment section below.

Come Let Us Adore Him: Paul David Tripp

Paul David Tripp masterfully interacts with the Christmas story, providing his readers with a wealth of practical applications.  His book seeks to help keep us from losing sight of Jesus during the holiday season. Derived from a series of Christmas tweets, each devotional includes a scripture reference, and ends with parent’s section that will help mom and dad bring the devotional into family worship times. If you are seeking to warm your heart and your family’s heart towards the gospel, I encourage you to grab a copy of Come Let Us Adore Him.

From Heaven: A.W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer’s book reflects his love for the Lord and for poetic expression.  The author masterfully paints pictures and shares illustrations that help readers understand that the Scriptures associated with Christmas are plum with meaning. The devotions which have been compiled from Tozer’s sermons and editorials cover all 28 days of the Advent season. I encourage you to read From Heaven this Christmas.

Hidden Christmas: Timothy Keller

Timothy Keller beautifully helps men and women think the both the dark and the bright side of Christmas in this 145 page book. Though not designed as a devotional, the book will help you grasp the major themes of the Christmas story and will fit nicely into your devotional life with heart warming gospel reflections. If you want to refocus your heart this Christmas or desire to be a better witness during the Christmas season, I encourage you to read Hidden Christmas.

The Dawning of Joy Indestructible: John Piper

John Piper helps his readers grasp the important themes of the Christmas story by focusing the secondary or theological texts of Christmas found in Acts, Hebrews, and the Pauline Epistles. It is a great resource, highlighting the beauty of our savior in short, two to three page devotions. My wife and I have found Piper’s works encouraging and though provoking. You will greatly benefit from reading The Dawning of Joy Indestructible.

God is in the Manger: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoffer’s words point the readers’ hearts to the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring the martyr’s sermons, poems, and personal letters, the book challenges readers to grapple with the Christmas story for the purpose of knowing God more. Arranged according to the traditional church calendar, the first four weeks are devoted to the themes of waiting, mystery, redemption, and incarnation. The final section features devotions for the twelve days of Christmas. If you are looking for a new and thought provoking devotion, I encourage you to grab a copy of God is in the Manger.

Peter Witkowski Book Reviews

5 Great Resources For Celebrating the Reformation 

LutherLuther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer

A Stephen McCaskell Film

product-image-luther_39c180e1-0f8a-4a73-9220-a6ac43ee9b02_2000xThis colorful documentary was shot at the locations that defined Luther’s life. It also features striking illustrations. Great theologians ranging from Steve Lawson to R.C. Sproul drive the content of documentary exploring all parts of Luther’s legacy including his view of salvation, the church, and Jews. If you want to know why the Martin Luther and the Reformation is important, I encourage you to watch this 1.5 hrs. film.

Click here to get your copy!

 

Luther

Stephen McCaskell and Aaron Armstrong

mockup01_854ba26b-34b4-430b-8fbc-60adda5809df_2000xThis striking picture does a great job of introducing older children to Luther through engaging black and white illustrations, through quotes from Luther and other reformers, and through and easy to read text. Children and homeschool families seeking to study and learn more about Luther will love this book that praises Luther for rediscovering of the doctrines of Grace and that wrestles with his noticeable character flaws.

Calvin recognized in the Luther what we all would be wise to remember: Even the greatest servant of God will continue to struggle with sin until the ends of his days. (81).

Click here to buy your copy!

 

 

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther

Here I stand

Roland H. Bainon

Though written for adults,  this biography of Luther could easily be read by junior high and high school students. The short chapters often feature quotes, pictures and an easy to read text. This book one of the best Luther biographies around chroniclaling the events and culture that lead Luther to turn the world upside down.

“He [Luther] was a priest responsible for the eternal welfare of his parishioners. He must warn them against spiritual pitfalls, no matter what might happen to the Castle Church and the university.”  (56)

Click here to by your copy!

 

 

Freedom Movement: 500 Years of Reformation

Michael Reeves

freedom movementThis  great little book starts with Luther and then traces the effects of the Reformation to the present day. Children will be exposed to the Luther’s profound life and belief that salvation is through grace alone. They will also get introduced to John Bunyan, William Wilberforce and many other people who have been influenced by Luther’s great proclamation that

Martin Luther was concerned with people’s happiness. In fact, he would come to believe that he had found the secret of happiness. And that, at its heart is what the reformation is about. Not moralizing. Not self-improvement. It was a discovery of stunningly happy new – news that would transform millions of lives and change the world. (5)

Click here to buy your copy!

 

 

Bonus Find: 

The Nine Marks Ministry has devoted their latest journal to covering the theological and practical issues surrounding the Reformation! There are essays on what church services where like before the Reformation, on whether or not the Reformation is purely a white evangelical movement and on a host of other topics related to the Reformation! This amazing journal is free!  Click here to get your copy!