Explore the Life of Jesus

These books are a lifeline for me. I have a master's degree (plus 60 credits), so I don't buy these because of the simple language and sentence structure. Rather, I use them because I am short on time. These contain the scripture for the day and a prayer. Sometimes when I lack my own words, these prayers and scriptures are so helpful to me who is a teacher and caregiver to a disabled relative.

Please keep them coming! :)

Explore the Life of Jesus is a plain and simple devotional written by Chris Dalton. The 30 very short Bible reflections are easy to read, concise, and accessible. This book looks at 7–8 passages from each Gospel to give a big-picture view of Jesus.

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of the Bible is used—a simpler and shorter version of the NIV. Each devotion is about two pages long and includes things to notice, questions to think about, and words ...to pray.

Sovereignty and Sin

I was most moved to reflect on whether I ever feel that evil is winning in the world, and whether I worry that some things might be more powerful than God. Remembering the stories of Jesus casting out evil spirits is a powerful reminder of our all-powerful God.

The book presents theological concepts in a straightforward way. At the cross, I was struck by how the crown of thorns reminds us of the thorns and thistles that first appeared when God cursed the ground in response to Adam and Eve’s sin. Sin is the reason Jesus went to the cross.

This book is perfect for children and youth who want to begin the habit of daily devotions. It also works well for adults who find reading to be a challenge. Explore the Life of Jesus will help open eyes, hearts, and minds to God’s Word.

I received a media copy of Explore the Life of Jesus and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep

I’m very excited about this new “Plain and Simple Devotions” series from The Good Book Company. They are just that - plain and simple - without being shallow or fluffy. It’s great for kids and teens and those new to the faith. It would also be good for family devotions with kids or those just looking for a simple devotion. This book includes the Bible verses which is helpful to take with you or use on the go.

This devotional focuses on the life of Jesus, drawing the reader into a deeper understanding of who He is and what He’s done. This helps build such a vital foundation to any Christian’s life - young or old.

I love this excerpt from the author’s bio on the website: “passionate about making gospel truth clear, using everyday language and ideas”. Honestly, that’s exactly what this book does. This reminds me of faith like a child. We don’t need to know and understand all the nuances of Hebrew and Greek, all the complexities of doctrine. The gospel is plain and simple for those who believe.

This book starts with introduction and why to read this book. It also gives a brief overview of the 4 gospels and the context for how this book is written, using passages from each of the gospels to look at the life of Jesus from different angles.

This devotional has a two page spread for each of the 30 days with various ways to engage with the Scripture. There are also pages at the end to jot down your own thoughts and prayers.

The only small negative I can think of is that the Scripture is NIrV and I’d prefer it to be ESV or CSB. I understand NIrV is probably used because it’s “easier to read” but it can be oversimplified. Layout wise, there’s no space to write answers to the questions in that section. You’d need to use the blank pages throughout the book. Very minor, but I’d have preferred if they allowed space within the question section.

I received a complimentary copy as a reviewer and all opinions shared are my own.