Book Review - Gospel Conversations: How to Care Like Christ

Gospel Conversations, by Robert W. Kellemen

Someday, I hope to pursue my master's degree, but my financial situation will not allow me to do that at this time. However, while I was reading this book, I felt like I was taking a course on Biblical Counseling. Yet, this book is not just for pastors or professional ministers, but also for "ordinary" Christians who desire to learn more about counseling others from a Christian worldview. I believe this book is best suited for a layperson or small group of lay people who desire to serve others in a counseling role. The author notes that this book is best used in a small group setting where members can counsel one another to gain hands-on experience in counseling. While book knowledge of how to counsel is good, wisdom and experience can also be gained through real-life practice in counseling.

In this book, the author lays out the qualifications of biblical counselors and provides guidance to help equip counselors as they learn to care like Christ. The book is like a training manual that includes workbook-type pages to be filled in as well as a "tweet-sized" summary of each chapter. This is a good book to work through if you sense God's calling to help others through counseling.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book as part of the Gospel Conversations blog tour with Cross Focused Reviews.

Book Review - Why Easter?/Why Christmas?

The children’s devotional books Why Easter? and Why Christmas? seek to help families remember the true reason for the seasons of Easter and Christmas. Each book provides four weeks of daily devotions for families to share in the month leading up to the holiday to help children discover the events that led to the very first Easter and Christmas.

The books are very visually appealing. Each day’s devotion is given on a two-page spread. The right side contains a full-page illustration related to the Bible story. The left side consists of a page of writing with a suggested Scripture passage to read, a summary and explanation of the Bible story, a one-sentence main point, discussion questions, a Bible verse to memorize, and a classic hymn to sing. I like the emphasis on Scripture memory. However, families would have to adapt the material based on their children’s age, as memorizing an entire verse each day as the book suggests would be difficult for younger children, but might be a challenge that older children would enjoy. 

I like that the book not only encourages reading and memorizing but also encourages parents to help their children comprehend what they are reading and singing through discussion questions and explanation. This is a book designed for families to go through together, not for children to read on their own. While these books provide families with a good guide to read, discuss, and share God’s Word together each day, I would have liked to see some hands-on activities included as well for children such as crafts or games to help reinforce the daily lesson.

Overall, these are great guides to help children and families ground their holiday celebrations in Christ, the true reason for both the Christmas and Easter seasons.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of each of these books as part of the Why Easter?/Why Christmas? blog tour with Cross Focused Reviews.