Book Review: John - Life Application Study Series
This slim study guide features the complete text and study notes from the New Living Translation of the Book of John. I was pleasantly surprised when I first opened the book and realized what a wealth of information it contained. Since John's Gospel was the first I read after becoming a Christian it has always held a special place in my heart. It has also always been set apart from the "Synoptic Gospels" and can present a variety of challenges in study. The authors of this Bible study did a great job presenting the proper balance of Scripture, interpretation and application. Each of the thirteen chapters in this study each has sections that encourage the reader to reflect on the passage and respond with action. I found this to be the most valuable aspect of the guide considering Bible study is only useful if applied to the student's life.
Although I didn't get the opportunity to use this book in a small group setting, I believe it would be of great use for a group of eight to ten people who are looking for the chance to dive into the Gospel of John.
It should be noted that this study guide is a reprint of the guide that can be found in the Life Application Bible (New Living Translation) and is not meant to supplement that text in anyway. After reviewing this guide; however, I am now considering up Life Application Bible to add to my library.
Note: This review was completed as part of the Tyndale Blog Network and a complimentary copy of the guide was provided to me for review.
Very nice Bible study
This book has multiple parts. Before you get to the Bible study, which starts on page 63, there are several sections that help you get get the most from an "application" study as well as a section introducing the NLT.There are time allotments for 60 and 90 minute studies.
Pages 3-62 are the book of John from the NLT with notes making this a one stop Bible study.
There are 13 chapters, and each chapter has sections labeled:
* Reflect on your life
* Read the passage
* Realize the principle
* Respond to the message
* Resolve to take action
* More for studying other themes in this section
Nice, compact Bible study.
I would have liked to have had this book last year when I was teaching the Life of Christ to teens. Some of the questions were excellent, like In what ways does God prune a fruitful believer? What kind of pruning experience have you had over the past few months? (p107) Or What changes might you make in your life to reflect more clearly Christ's divine authority over your life? (p83) All in all, this is a very good little study. I think it would be much, much better as a group study verses individual.
Excellent study guide for the Gospel of John
There is no question that the Gospel of John is a highly theological book. John's treatment of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are quite unique when compared to the Synoptics. The writers of the notes on the text leave no doubt in the reader's mind-Jesus is indeed God and man, without separation or division in nature. They state:
"When Jesus was conceived, God became a man. He was not part man and part God; he was completely human and completely divine...The two most common errors people make about Jesus are to minimize his humanity or to minimize his divinity. Jesus is both God and man" - p. 7
Expectedly, this view carries throughout the study guide.
The notes that occupy roughly half the page through most of the book give more-detailed information on verses that either make important theological claims or refer to historical and/or cultural events and customs that might be unfamiliar to modern readers. These notes also offer commentary on verses throughout and seek to make application to the reader's modern context.
One of the features more prominent in this volume are the character profiles. Given that John wrote a narrative, it is characteristically smattered with accounts of different people and their interactions with Jesus. These profiles provide a variety of information such as strengths and accomplishments, lessons from his/her life, vital statistics, and key verses in which they are addressed or mentioned. The important people in John's Gospel profiled are John the Baptist, Nicodemus, Lazarus, Caiaphas, Mary Magdalene, John, and Thomas.
The one downside to this volume (and likely others in the series) are the occasional clichés that find their way into the notes. For example, on page 11 in Nicodemus' character profile, the authors state "God specializes in finding and changing people we consider out of reach." While this statement is true, it just seems a little simplistic.
That minor criticism aside, I would, as with the previously-reviewed Hebrews volume, recommend this study of John, especially to those who study in small groups or privately and do not have the time for more lengthy treatments of this most glorious Gospel.
Wonderful Study
I found this to be a very helpful study. Included is the complete Life Application Study Bible Book of John. All the commentary, maps, notes and profile articles. Great introduction into how to use the study bible. It is an all in one package. Very thought provoking questions. Not your average cut and dry study. I highly recommend it.
helpful study tool
This is my first Bible study guide to review. I did not know exactly what to expect when I received it. I do not recall having ever used a Bible study guide in my studies.
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I truly appreciated the attention to theologically important points such as the deity of Christ, His eternal nature, and His being Creator.
The Bible study guide seeks to bring out the meaning and application of the text so that the reader can better understand how God's Word is relevant to his life. I think that this particular guide will be successful in its aim.
I liked the fact that the guide showed maps so that the reader could have an idea of where the events were occurring. There is also a timeline so that the reader can see when these events occurred. There is a sort of running commentary on the passage as well as a sidebar of notes in the introductory writings. The guide gives an outline of the section that is being studied, shows great themes that run through that particular section as well as mentions the people involved. It also gives to the reader pointers to understand how the Word of God should be applied to us today. Finally, in the back of the book there are thirteen lessons with pointed questions to help the reader in his study.
For a book of its size, this book contains a wealth of information. I believe I shall purchase more of these as time goes on.
