The Gospel-Centered Life In The Bible (10-Volume Set)

“Nothing is more vital to our intimacy with Christ than spending time with him in his Word. But a lot of Bible studies stop short and only deal with concepts and ideas and never really speak to our hearts. That's why I'm so excited about this series. Each author writes about the unique gospel insights he or she has gained from Scripture and has created a small group study that will help people actually encounter Christ and be changed by the power of his grace. God has used this material powerfully in my life, marriage, and ministry, and that is my prayer for you as well.”

“We talk about being ‘Christ-centered’ when we approach Scripture and yet all too often we default to moralistic patterns deeply embedded in our hearts and heads. This new study on 1 John by Scotty Smith is a master class in Jesus-centered interpretation and application. Not only will students unpack the riches of the biblical text, they will see how to apply this letter from John, the apostle of love, in a way that makes the love from Jesus and for Jesus the deep motivation for life and godliness. Pick this study up, put on the Jesus glasses supplied by Scotty, bask in the light of Jesus’s love, and move out to love others in Jesus’s name!”

“The way Christians become more Christlike is not by our own exertion but by beholding the brightness of God’s glory in Christ. Scotty Smith understands this important and supernatural dynamic of gospel centrality, and his study through 1 John will wisely and artfully walk you through a gaze-lifting beholding of the transforming light of Jesus. Use this study and be changed.”

“Although many centuries separate us from the apostle John's message to the early church, Scotty Smith fans the flames of that message for the church today. The central theme of knowing and relying on the love of God is applied to every nook and cranny of our lives by Scotty's years of pastoral love and care. One would be hard-pressed to find a more faithful under-shepherd that points us to the True Shepherd. Many churches will be well-served by this resource!”

“First John is one of the most misunderstood books of the New Testament. It can throw a person into a tailspin if read apart from the gospel narrative of Scripture. But in light of the gospel, 1 John is a deep mine of gold. Scotty Smith’s book, 1 John: Relying on the Love of God, unlocks this mine. With accessible commentary and with great connections to the gospel of grace throughout, this commentary is a true gift. It will make studying 1 John a joy to the reader.”

“Ecclesiastes is a book for thinkers, and David Gibson’s new study on Ecclesiastes will certainly invite you to think. It takes one of the most challenging books of the Bible and divides up its ideas into bite-size pieces, so you can wrestle with the complex challenge of living a brief life in a fallen world under the eye of an all-powerful God.”

“This is a deeply considered work that lets the book of Ecclesiastes speak in its own strange voice while never losing sight of the big sweep of the Bible's story. In a refreshing way, it applies the text to life with subtlety, wisdom, and insight, offering engaging and revealing discussion questions along the way. Ecclesiastes is deeply liberating and Gibson offers its freedom.”

“Every time my longtime friend and mentor, Scotty Smith gets ahold of good gospel truth, it is only a matter of time before that same gospel truth gets ahold of him. Before you know it, he is gushing about the grace and freedom that are ours in Christ Jesus, because gushing about grace and freedom is what Scotty does. This wonderful, practical work on Paul's letter to the Ephesians is a treasure. Part commentary and part devotional, we learn about the church and also ourselves as seen through the eyes of the One who loved us and gave himself for us. He is the Father, and we are his daughters and sons. He is the Bridegroom, and we are his bride. We were never his choice people because we are sinners, but we will always be his chosen people because he is a God of mercy and grace. Whether you use this book to prepare talks or sermons, as devotional material, or for group discussion, I pray that its effect on you will be contagious, and that the very truths that have gripped the author's heart will also get a grip on yours.”

“Scotty Smith is one of the most gospel-rich men I know, and this book is like having Scotty himself right there in your living room, with friends sitting around and together savoring the gospel riches of Ephesians. That circle of honest fellowship is where God’s grace touches our deepest needs.”

“It is a pleasure to commend to all this new study of my favorite book of the Bible written by my favorite pastor/scholar. My friend and mentor Scotty Smith offers in these pages a captivating and accessible study of Ephesians that fills the heart with gospel joy just as much as it transforms the mind with gospel truth. When I succeeded Scotty at Christ Community the first thing I did was start preaching through Ephesians not only because I knew it would reinforce the message he'd always preached there, but because I knew that every time we catch a glimpse of the beauty of this epistle we grow in our astonishment at God's grace, freshly kindle the flames of our first love for Jesus, and step forward with renewed faith into our calling to love one another. Ephesians is the Swiss Alps of Paul's writing, and Scotty is just the trusted and experienced guide we need to help us appreciate its beauty. I pray that God will be pleased to give this study a wide readership, and that it will strengthen and equip many to walk with Jesus for the sake of the gospel.”

“Scotty Smith has a distinct calling to help men and women explore the heights and depths of the gospel in sermons, seminars and books. This guide to the gospel in Ephesians is clear, concise, compelling, biblical, and emotionally resonant. It also leads you to think and act on the gospel with a group of friends. The questions are wise and penetrating enough to occasionally make you uncomfortable, but it will be a godly discomfort that leads you to the greater comfort of God’s grace and direction in Christ.”

“Christian teenagers can sometimes wander and whine just like the Israelites of old. But the great I AM of Exodus is still their God who picks them up where they are and guides them through the wilderness of life to their heavenly home. Kristen Hatton's resource on Exodus will serve parents, pastors, and youth workers well, as they seek to bring God's Word to bear on the lives of teenagers in their families and churches.”

“With our students teetering dangerously on the edge of biblical illiteracy—and many already deep into that chasm—Kristen Hatton has provided us with a resource that takes Scripture seriously, leading students into a deep understanding/application of the biblical text, which honors both the unchanging nature of scriptural truth and its relevance in a changing youth culture landscape.”

“As a father and pastor, I am always grateful for resources that effectively communicate God's truth to students. This is especially true when said resources demonstrate how all Scripture—in both New Testament and Old—is central to God's unfolding plan of redemption through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Kristen's The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus for Students is such a resource. Whether you are a pastor, a youth worker, a parent, or a teen, I encourage you to discover Jesus through the pages of Exodus. For the God who brought Israel out of physical slavery then, is also the God who brings us out of spiritual slavery today.”

“Any youth worker or parent should pick up this helpful resource Kristen has produced. The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus can be used in one-to-one ministry, small groups, or large group settings. It's very user-friendly and, most importantly, points students to Jesus Christ. At Reformed Youth Ministries, our passion is passing the faith on to the next generation, and this resource will greatly assist us to that end!”

“All the important questions for life face us in our teen years. What better way to engage with God, truth, sorrow, and reality than in the story of Exodus? Hatton has written a reflective guide through the foundational story of deliverance. She asks students to grapple with the text by providing twenty-first-century illustrations and discussion-provoking exercises. My favorite: what would be in your jar of remembrance? Perhaps this book!”

“Kristen has taken an ancient text and made it accessible for today. It is clearly written, theologically rich, and gives us the gospel of grace that every teenager needs. The study uses a variety of methods to communicate how the book of Exodus points to the great redemptive story of love found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the answer to the longings we all have. This is a great resource for anyone who works with high school or college students!”

“Jesus puts the cookies on the lower shelf. He spoke directly: 'Who do you say that I am?' He spoke simply: 'You serve either God or money.' He spoke personally: 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Similarly, in this book, Iain Duguid puts the cookies on the lower shelf. He connects the Bible and your life with directness, simplicity, and personalness. You will be blessed.”

“Be warned: This may be the most uncomfortable Bible study your small group has ever tackled. Look honestly at the ugly heart of the prophet Jonah—self-righteous, explosive, sulking, despairing, compassionless, resentful, self-focused—and you will see yourself reflected in that mirror. Be encouraged: Jonah's patient, gracious, and merciful God sent Jesus into death's depths and raised him again to extend amazing grace to Nineveh, Jonah, and you.”

“This slender volume contains everything needed for a life-changing study of the book of Jonah. First, it is rigorously biblical as it comes from the careful pen of Iain Duguid, distinguished Old Testament scholar and pastor. Second, it is redolent with Christ-centered application. Third, each chapter is structured with a uniquely wrought format that maximizes the application to the heart. Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints is a one of a kind and will grace the life of the church!”

“Studying the Bible is all about listening: listening to the text, listening to the life situation surrounding the text, listening to the community that comes together around the Word, and most of all, listening to the silence of the Spirit, the chief Interpreter of the text. Iain Duguid's Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints is the first study I've ever seen that takes into account this entire range of engagement.”

“Nothing is more vital to our intimacy with Christ than spending time with him in his Word. But a lot of Bible studies stop short and only deal with concepts and ideas and never really speak to our hearts. That's why I'm so excited about this series. Each author writes about the unique gospel insights he or she has gained from Scripture and has created a small group study that will help people actually encounter Christ and be changed by the power of his grace. God has used this material powerfully in my life, marriage, and ministry, and that is my prayer for you as well.”