erinphillipsauthor's review
5.0
Best Bible study I’ve read for Esther! Will be a lot of studies like to romanticize the story of Esther and keep things has very Sunday School, Lydia Brownback did an excellent job of getting in deep and dirty with the story. I do appreciate how she was honest about who King Ahaduerus really was (not a swoony Hollywood version), and thus the circumstances Esther was put into.
I loved how she tied Esther to the rest of Scripture, both Old Testament and New, and EVERYTHING points to Jesus!
If you are looking to dive deep into the book of Esther, I definitely recommend this study guide!
I loved how she tied Esther to the rest of Scripture, both Old Testament and New, and EVERYTHING points to Jesus!
If you are looking to dive deep into the book of Esther, I definitely recommend this study guide!
readingwithmeredith's review
5.0
When I received this ARC I was thrilled! I immediately could tell it was going to be different than other women’s Bible studies. Now, after completing the study I am incredibly impressed. I normally hate devotional/bible study books. As a seminary grad and undergrad degree in women’s ministry, I struggle with the market geared toward women. The market is filled with fluff and so many women have become dependent on “pre-chewed” studies instead of studying God’s word themselves, and often are left feeling empty. That is not this study.
This 10 week study (could easily be done in less time) through the book of Esther provides in-depth historical context, cross references, and reflection questions for application and bible study. It is easily the best women’s study on a book of the Bible I have found. It provides historical/cultural context in a way that invites the reader into the discovery of biblical truth and depth. It does not do all the work for you, but invites you into the process. Also, I LOVE that this study is not dependent on an audio or video teaching. It also wasn’t not designed to be for a group, it really felt like an individual study. I loved how I was guided to do bible study myself, and I didn’t feel the need to pull additional resources to get a deeper study. That is how a great Bible study is done! I learned so much myself, even with the background I have and that surprised and thrilled me! I have already begun recommending this to the ladies in my women’s Bible study. I am eager to do the other studies that will be coming from this series! This is the first of many!
While I loved this study, I do have a few notes. First, it is heavily influenced by reformed theology, which is to be expected due to the publisher. But I could really feel it with the content in Esther more the other works from Crossway, but it was not overbearing. I don’t fully align with either camp, so it did not bother me too much. Additionally, there were some days that I would finish in five minutes and others were thirty minutes. It felt inconsistent at times, so if there was a short day I would work ahead. I wish it had been more consistent each day. I also liked that it was a study I could work ahead or do a whole week in a day if I wanted to. But I did wish it was more even for each day. Reading content was evenly split, but the interaction each day was not. Third, there were some moments when I would answer the study question (non-application) and then hope for some sort of confirmation that I had gotten what the author wanted me to. This happened more so at the beginning of the study than the end, but it could be more of my personality type wanting to know I had done it correctly. This was a minor thing, but it also may have been intentional to encourage personal study instead of getting a “correct answer.”
I am eager to do more of these studies! Thank you Crossway for allowing me to read this work! Easily, my favorite Bible study! I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
This 10 week study (could easily be done in less time) through the book of Esther provides in-depth historical context, cross references, and reflection questions for application and bible study. It is easily the best women’s study on a book of the Bible I have found. It provides historical/cultural context in a way that invites the reader into the discovery of biblical truth and depth. It does not do all the work for you, but invites you into the process. Also, I LOVE that this study is not dependent on an audio or video teaching. It also wasn’t not designed to be for a group, it really felt like an individual study. I loved how I was guided to do bible study myself, and I didn’t feel the need to pull additional resources to get a deeper study. That is how a great Bible study is done! I learned so much myself, even with the background I have and that surprised and thrilled me! I have already begun recommending this to the ladies in my women’s Bible study. I am eager to do the other studies that will be coming from this series! This is the first of many!
While I loved this study, I do have a few notes. First, it is heavily influenced by reformed theology, which is to be expected due to the publisher. But I could really feel it with the content in Esther more the other works from Crossway, but it was not overbearing. I don’t fully align with either camp, so it did not bother me too much. Additionally, there were some days that I would finish in five minutes and others were thirty minutes. It felt inconsistent at times, so if there was a short day I would work ahead. I wish it had been more consistent each day. I also liked that it was a study I could work ahead or do a whole week in a day if I wanted to. But I did wish it was more even for each day. Reading content was evenly split, but the interaction each day was not. Third, there were some moments when I would answer the study question (non-application) and then hope for some sort of confirmation that I had gotten what the author wanted me to. This happened more so at the beginning of the study than the end, but it could be more of my personality type wanting to know I had done it correctly. This was a minor thing, but it also may have been intentional to encourage personal study instead of getting a “correct answer.”
I am eager to do more of these studies! Thank you Crossway for allowing me to read this work! Easily, my favorite Bible study! I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
More...