One of my favorite books to review is the Bible. The
latest is the ‘New International Version Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens.’
Here is the synopsis of this (Holy) book:
Feeling uncertain about
your life? The world? Your future? Looking for something secure to hold onto in
turbulent and confusing times? Wanting to know more about God?
Address your questions and
build a steadfast foundation for your faith with the NIV Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens. Find traction for your
beliefs and promises for your future. Discover constant and concrete truths
rooted in the unchanging love and promises of God.
Features include:
·
Rock Solid TRUTHS: examine Christian
beliefs and explorations of other religions
·
Rock Solid PRINCIPLES: applies the Bible to
daily decisions and challenges
·
Rock Solid PROMISES: calls out what is (and
is not) promised in the Bible
·
Rock Solid PLANS: explores God’s plan and
will for your life
·
Unshaken PEOPLE: provides scriptural
examples of overcoming difficulties
·
Unshaken GOD: points out God’s unyielding
attributes
Reading plans, 8 pages of
color maps, book introductions, and more!
I decided to focus on a favorite book of mine from the
Old Testament and from the New Testament – Ecclesiastes and Romans. Here is the
introduction to Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes studies the meaning
of life. The Teacher looks at wisdom, pleasure, work, power, riches, religion
and other things. All of these have some value and are useful in the proper
time and place, but they have lasting value only if God is at the center of a
person’s life. Reverence and respect for God and a real devotion in serving God
are the most important to make life meaningful. Without God, the Teacher says, “Everything
is meaningless” (1:2) (p. 784)
Each book includes all of the ‘Rock Solid’ and ‘Unshaken’
components. In Ecclesiastes, in the ‘Unshaken GOD’ section is helpful for
people of all ages:
God is satisfying.
Solomon would have fit
well in our world. The richest guy of his day (1 Kings 3:13), this king of
Israel wrote about nonstop pressure to get more. And you know how it goes. You
buy something…anything…and before long you realize there is a must-have list of
accessories, add-ons, and upgrades. That pressure to get more often comes from
your surroundings, but much of it starts inside of you. Once you fall in love
with money and material stuff, you won’t ever be satisfied with what you have.
The problem isn’t owning or enjoying things, but is instead loving them more
than people and God, the most important things ever.
So…How can you tell the
difference between enjoying things … and loving them too much? (p. 789)
Very thought-provoking!
Here is the introduction to Romans:
This letter was written by
Paul to the church in Rome in AD 56 or 57 as he was finishing his third
missionary journey. Since Paul hoped to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome and
Spain, he probably wrote this letter in preparation for his visit.
The theme of this letter
is righteousness. Paul teaches in this letter that: (1) no human being is
righteous; (2) Jesus Christ is perfectly righteous; (3) if we have faith in
Jesus, we are freed from the power of sin, given a new life, and returned to a
right relationship with God; (4) we should live Christian lives that are “holy
and pleasing to God.” (p. 1331)
Under ‘Rock Solid PRINCIPLES,’ there is a good point
that is made:
Show
respect.
Garrett thought his
safety-freak shop teacher was as dumb as a stump, like the blocks of wood he
and his classmates were crafting into little foot stools. Garrett had spent
endless hours with his dad sawing and hammering to renovate their old house,
and he still had all his fingers. Even though Garrett hadn’t used all the big
machines in the school shop, he didn’t feel any need to listen during his
teacher’s demonstrations. One day Garrett dropped a plank of wood on a table
saw and shoved it toward the blade. An instant later the wood shot back like an
overgrown spear, barely missing him before it cracked loudly into a wall.
You know it is right to
submit to people in authority over you, from parents and police to teachers and
bosses. That doesn’t make obedience easy. So remember it was God who created
the chain of command and put people over you. You can count on them to help
you, even if they don’t seem to deserve your respect. Every authority in your
life “is God’s servant for your good” (Romans 13:4) (p. 1347)
Overall, I found this particular Bible to be terrific
for teens – perhaps even for pre-teens. The version I reviewed is hardcover; it
would make a great gift! And the NIV translation is reader-friendly, so it will
be easy to digest for a young person. Overall, I give it a glowing recommendation!
This book was published by Zondervan Publishers and
provided by The B & B Media Group for review purposes.
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