The Big Picture Story BibleDavid Helm
Crossway Books (September 17, 2004)
In short: Pointing to Christ throughout, with an emphasis on the importance of Scripture, and with “God-focused” illustrations this Bible for children is highly recommended.
I am a little leery of “condensed” Bible versions for children. It seems, at least to me, that they often talk down to kids, focus on moralism instead of grace, or are so fragmented as to lose sight of the big picture. In other words, I would have never picked this book up myself. I would have missed a gem had this not been graciously provided to me by Crossway Books.
Focusing on the narrative, or the “big picture”, this Bible points to Jesus throughout. With an underlying theme, as stated in the acknowledgements of, “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule”, this is, as Tim Challies calls it, a Christ-centered telling.
“This stone temple wasn’t God’s place anymore.
Jesus was God’s special place.
His body was God’s holy temple.
His blood would pay for sins.
He was better than the places
built by Solomon, the Israelites, or Herod.
But on that day no one understood Jesus,
although there was a man who thought he did….
Jesus explained
that Nicodemus had not been
born into God’s kingdom.
Instead, God’s kingdom had to be born in him.”
This is one book where the illustrations truly enhance and emphasize the text. Drawn from the perspective of looking down at the earth, they capture the fact that this is God’s perspective and thus focus on God and how He sees rebellious man.
Even the choice of “stories” to include brings our focus back to God instead of ourselves. How many times have you seen the prophet Jeremiah and king Zedekiah mentioned in a children’s book? They are mentioned here, and very effectively, as, once again, the focus is on God’s people under His rule. I was pleased to see the flood portrayed in a manner appropriate to children but, at the same time, focusing on the true reason for the flood – God’s judgment. It was not a cheery scene, as it is often portrayed, with smiling animals, heads sticking out of the ark and a rainbow overhead.
With an emphasis on the importance of Scripture, and seeing Jesus throughout, and wonderful illustrations I can heartily recommend this Bible version for your toddler, or even as an overview of the story of the Bible for your tween or teen.
“Do you see the Lord?
painted on the pages of Israel’s
hard and happy history is the
big picture of God’s forever king."
I am a little leery of “condensed” Bible versions for children. It seems, at least to me, that they often talk down to kids, focus on moralism instead of grace, or are so fragmented as to lose sight of the big picture. In other words, I would have never picked this book up myself. I would have missed a gem had this not been graciously provided to me by Crossway Books.
Focusing on the narrative, or the “big picture”, this Bible points to Jesus throughout. With an underlying theme, as stated in the acknowledgements of, “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule”, this is, as Tim Challies calls it, a Christ-centered telling.
“This stone temple wasn’t God’s place anymore.
Jesus was God’s special place.
His body was God’s holy temple.
His blood would pay for sins.
He was better than the places
built by Solomon, the Israelites, or Herod.
But on that day no one understood Jesus,
although there was a man who thought he did….
Jesus explained
that Nicodemus had not been
born into God’s kingdom.
Instead, God’s kingdom had to be born in him.”
This is one book where the illustrations truly enhance and emphasize the text. Drawn from the perspective of looking down at the earth, they capture the fact that this is God’s perspective and thus focus on God and how He sees rebellious man.
Even the choice of “stories” to include brings our focus back to God instead of ourselves. How many times have you seen the prophet Jeremiah and king Zedekiah mentioned in a children’s book? They are mentioned here, and very effectively, as, once again, the focus is on God’s people under His rule. I was pleased to see the flood portrayed in a manner appropriate to children but, at the same time, focusing on the true reason for the flood – God’s judgment. It was not a cheery scene, as it is often portrayed, with smiling animals, heads sticking out of the ark and a rainbow overhead.
With an emphasis on the importance of Scripture, and seeing Jesus throughout, and wonderful illustrations I can heartily recommend this Bible version for your toddler, or even as an overview of the story of the Bible for your tween or teen.
“Do you see the Lord?
painted on the pages of Israel’s
hard and happy history is the
big picture of God’s forever king."
This book was provided for review by Crossway Books.
Rating: Hardback
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