About the Author
John F. MacArthur is the pastor and teacher of Sun Valley, California's Grace Community Church. He is also a featured teacher at Grace To You ministry. MacArthur is the author of several best-selling books such as Slave, The MacArthur Study Bible, and The Gospel According to Jesus.
My Review
The Gospel was presented in simple age-appropriate language easily understood by children. MacArthur tells the story of salvation in picture format in this beautifully illustrated book. The spiritual message is profound as it discusses the importance of Jesus, Our Savior, and how much he loves us. We are encouraged to trust His plan and remain faithful.
We first read the book during our morning devotional time. It began with the Creation story. The beginning of the story discusses how God created the entire world. Then, the book further explores temptation, disobedience, and Adam and Eve's sin and their removal from The Garden of Eden. The story continues with the birth of Jesus in the Bethlehem stable and revealed his Godly character and perfect actions growing up. His death and resurrection was gently and appropriately discussed.
The book offers occasional reflective questions for children to ponder such as "How can God forgive me like that? Will it take a long time for God to forgive me?" Each section of the story indicates referenced Bible verses. On several pages additional referenced verses are given to further explore the concept. The book ends with a prayer where the child proclaims their belief in Christ and receives Him. They apologize asking God for forgiveness and thank Him for all He has done. The book also inspires children to share this Gospel message with their friends and welcomes them into God's family.
The author makes it clearly evident that we are ALL sinners and that sin is present today. He is also quick to point out that our God is loving and forgiving so we must ask for His forgiveness. The book explains God's love for us all and how he saved us when he died on the cross for our sins.
The Scripture quotations were taken from the International Children's Bible. The Bible verses reinforce the message and are applicable to life. The referenced verses enable the child to dig deeper into the Bible to further study the Word at their leisure. It seamlessly incorporates and explains Biblical truths such as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
My Daughter's Review
"I think the illustrator did an outstanding job. I also love how at the end it encourages you to say a pray. The book talks about creation, Adam and Eve, sin, Jesus's birth, and His resurrection. I think that the author did an amazing job writing. It also encouraged me to look up verses in the Bible."
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| Fantastic Illustrations |
Overall Thoughts
I Believe in Jesus is an exceptional book for children to read and learn about salvation. The topic is pertinent for children to hear. This well-written book is a great way to introduce children to Christ. It's easy-to-read and seems doctrinally sound.
I am grateful we had the opportunity to review this book, because this resource is helping my daughter understand salvation and God's love better. Thankfully, she made the decision to believe in and receive Christ as Our Savior years ago. Her faith grows every single day and books like this support and reinforce what we believe. The powerful message will help guide her decisions in the future. I am impressed with this book.
Price
The book can be purchased for $14.99 at the Thomas Nelson store or through Amazon for $10.91.
Note: All prices are subject to change without notice.
Recommendations
I recommend this book to Christian families, churches, Sunday schools, private Christian schools, and non-believers seeking more information about Jesus. It would make a perfect Christmas or Easter gift. I would say that this book is suitable for children ages 3 and up.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers Review Program in exchange for an honest, unbiased review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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