The Woman's Study Bible (NKJV) Review

About the Bible:

The NKJV Woman’s Study Bible (Thomas Nelson, March 2017)

The Woman’s Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation.

Special features designed to speak to a woman’s heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman’s identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, The Woman’s Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman’s Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.

Features Include:

—Beautiful full-color design throughout
—Detailed biographical portraits of over 100 biblical women
—Thousands of extensive verse-by-verse study notes
—Over 300 in-text topical articles on relevant issues
—Insightful essays by women who are recognized experts in the fields of theology, biblical studies, archaeology, and philosophy
—Book introductions and outlines
—Hundreds of full-color in-text maps, charts, timelines, and family trees
—Quotes from godly women throughout history
—Set of full-page maps of the biblical world
—Topical index
—Concordance

Learn more and purchase a copy.

 

 

About the Publisher:

In business since 1798, Thomas Nelson is one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world and the largest publisher of the King James Version. Their mission is to inspire the world by using our talents, assets, opportunities, and influence to engage and equip people with Scripture and draw people to a deeper study and understanding of God’s Word.

Find out more about Thomas Nelson at https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com.

Margie’s Comments:

While getting ready to review the updated NKJV Woman’s Study Bible, I decided to look at the two books of the New Testament that I’m studying in my personal study right now: Ephesians and 1 Peter. And I have enjoyed the pertinent, short articles that accompany the text and help to bring more light on the subject of women in the Bible.

In Ephesians the article that “hit home” with me was on Women’s Ministries and how women serve the local church body. “Jesus’ desire is that each woman yield herself to him in utter dependence, recognizing that “without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), and relying on His Spirit to fulfill the special ministry He selects for her—a ministry appropriate to her talents and effective in her generation. . . . Each woman is hand-picked by God, situated in Christ’s body just as He desires, and is indispensible in reaching her particular sphere of influence for Christ.”

Submission, especially to husbands, is a topic that can spark controversy in the church. Yet it is a topic that both Paul and Peter address in their letters to believers. In 1 Peter the compilers of The Woman’s Study Bible put together an article and a chart that thoroughly explains biblical submission. I especially love the chart and will use it often as I teach/lead women’s Bible studies. The definition of submission is one of the clearest I’ve come across: “to put all of yourself—understandings, knowledge, opinions, feelings, energies—at the disposal of a person in authority over you. This never means subjecting yourself to abusive tyranny, nor does it suggest mindless acquiescence to the whims of another. It is the yielding of humble and intelligent obedience—without suggestion of inferiority or worthlessness.”

I chose the leather cover on the Bible Thomas Nelson sent me in return for an honest review. The full-color interior as headers for the articles and other information used for study really set this particular Bible for women. I will continue to use it in my Bible study for a long time to come.

The NKJV Woman’s Study Bible Grow in the Word Giveaway

You’re invited to receive God’s truth for balance, hope, and transformation in the fully revised and redesigned The NKJV Woman's Study Bible. The new edition features a beautiful, full-color redesign and poignantly reveals the Word of God with Scripture insights and the contributions of more than eighty women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Special features designed to speak to a woman’s heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman’s identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.




This spring, cultivate your heart's spiritual roots and enter to win the Grow in the Word Giveaway!







 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The NKJV Woman's Study Bible (winner's choice of design)


• A decorative plaque


• A rose gold Tree of Life necklace

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on April 27. The winner will be announced April 28 on the Litfuse blog.

Getting Jesus Wrong by Matt Johnson

About the Book:

We all want something from Jesus, whether that’s help to get through life, a new job, a new direction, a new exercise plan. Learn why that approach doesn’t result in real faith or love in Matt Johnson’s new book, Getting Jesus Wrong. Whether we’ve followed a false Jesus or attempted to coopt the real Jesus, Getting Jesus Wrong ultimately offers us hope because it helps us see Jesus as he is. Getting Jesus right gives us more than spiritual vitamins or a blueprint for living; it gives us a full, rich life spent exploring the depths of gospel love together.

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Getting Jesus Wrong (New Growth Press, February 2017)

Jesus is not a life coach, a movement leader, a cultural visionary, or a blessing dispenser—but you might not know that by listening to many Christians talk about their faith.

Feel-good slogans promote a caricatured Jesus made in our own image who cannot save us and leave us feeling guilty for not saving ourselves. Following the wrong Jesus disappoints us and produces anxiety, pride, and despair.

The first half of Getting Jesus Wrong recounts pastor and author Matt Johnson’s personal encounters with a string of false saviors—false saviors that many, especially young adults, will recognize. Johnson’s humor and transparency in recounting his own painful experiences will appeal to those who have tried a “brand” of Christianity and found it lacking.

The truth is, we all want something from Jesus. Some are just hoping for a little help to get through life—a new direction, a purpose that will get us up in the morning, an exercise plan, a way to get organized. But that approach to Jesus doesn’t result in real faith or love.

Whether we’ve followed a false Jesus or attempted to coopt the real Jesus, Getting Jesus Wrong ultimately offers us hope because it helps us see Jesus as he is. Getting Jesus Wrong shows that the message of the Bible is about Jesus coming to us as we are—which is good news for exhausted and disillusioned disciples. It shows us that getting Jesus right means a whole new way of thinking (the way up is down) and a whole new way of life (daily dependence on the one who knows the beginning from the end). Getting Jesus right gives us more than spiritual vitamins or a blueprint for living; it gives us a full, rich life spent exploring the depths of gospel love together.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the Author:

 

Matt Johnson is a husband, father to two little girls, and is an armchair student of theology living in Seattle. He is also a freelance writer and editor. Until recently, Matt spent 7 years as an associate volunteer pastor in counseling and recovery ministry.

Find out more about Matt at https://www.therealmattjohnson.com.

Margie’s Comments: Getting Jesus Wrong by Matt Johnson is an interesting read—one that I needed right now. We all want Jesus to be the person we need Him to be, but as humans we tend to focus on the aspect of Christ that we see ourselves needing most. And because of that we tend to limit Him by putting Him into a “box” of our own making. After a time we wonder what went wrong, why Jesus isn’t doing what we want Him to do. While I identified with many of the false Jesus persona the author presents, I think checklist Jesus was the one that convicted me the most.

Not only does the author talk about the “false Jesus” but he also includes a section of who the true Jesus is and how we can learn to depend on Him alone daily and in every situation. While reading Getting Jesus Wrong, I kept thinking of the discussion Jesus has with His disciples in John 15 about abiding in Him, especially verse 5: “In am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (emphasis added, NASB). God is using this book and circumstances in my life right now to teach me this lesson: without Him I can do absolutely nothing!!!

If you are frustrated with your limited faith in Jesus, I highly recommend this book. Even if you aren’t, but wonder if you’re “getting it all,” read this book. Don’t just read it. Study it. Check out the verses the author quotes, and pray for God’s direction and understanding.