Book Review: Sweeter Than Honey, Richer Than Gold: A Guided Study of Biblical Poetry

Sweeter Than Honey, Richer Than Gold: A Guided Study of Biblical PoetrySweeter Than Honey, Richer Than Gold: A Guided Study of Biblical Poetry by Leland Ryken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good study guide for Bible poetry. Ryken gives tools to help interpret poems and poetry in the Bible.

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Book Review: How Bible Stories Work: A Guided Study of Biblical Narrative

How Bible Stories Work: A Guided Study of Biblical NarrativeHow Bible Stories Work: A Guided Study of Biblical Narrative by Leland Ryken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an extremely helpful book. Ryken gives tools and methodology to use in analyzing biblical narratives. This is considered literary analysis, so it is not a full hermeneutical treatment. It’s short and very practical, which is positive and negative. It doesn’t give you everything you will need to analyze biblical narratives, but it will get you well underway.

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Book Review: Writing a Small Group Study

Writing a Small Group StudyWriting a Small Group Study by Richard Sweatman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very helpful and brief book. The author walks through the process of writing a Bible study, with examples and helpful suggestions. The real strength of this approach is that the study is built around exposition of the passage. He touches on various aspects of context, and biblical and systematic theologies. He also give suggestions concerning the use of helps in preparation. Some of the work done will be similar to preparing a sermon, but the end result is a teacher-led Bible study and not a pulpit sermon. He touches on the subject of using pre-written studies versus writing your own studies for your class or group. Though not an extended argument, he does make a case for writing your own. He also gives helpful suggestions for using a pre-written study, should you choose to do so. This book would be valuable to preachers and teachers alike.

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