Recently I was asked about the tools we use in our home to train our kids in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord." Over the next few weeks I intend to highlight some of the resources we've found helpful and the kids have enjoyed, for we've discovered that one without the other is often useless. Some of our absolute favorite resources are the Herein is Love Children's Commentaries by Nancy Ganz. The following is a book review of these texts that I wrote for another website in September 2006:When my mother picked up the first three books in the Herein is Love series for us, I figured it was an easy answer to my quandary of what Bible curriculum to study with the children during this school year. Little did I know the blessing these books would bring and the wonder they would inspire not only in my kids' hearts, but in mine.
Nancy Ganz hasn't written another story Bible. She hasn't simply retold stories from long ago and far away. She's mined the depth of the Old Testament and extracted huge chunks of doctrinal gold that sparkle in the light of the Son by bringing to life the people and situations of the Pentateuch and artfully matching them to their fulfillment in the life of Christ and letters of the apostles.
We've spent these last few month bathing in Genesis. Our awe has been renewed in God's glorious acts of creation. Our hearts have been wrenched by the first Adam's fall and the Last Adam's stand. Our consciences have been quickened by Cain's refusal to return to the Lord, and our fear of the Lord heightened as he "went out from the presence of the Lord."
Currently Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers are available from Shepherd Press. Mrs. Ganz intends to continue the series through the book of Joshua. We highly recommend this series, not for simply learning the "stories" of the Old Testament, but for meeting your great and glorious God face to face.
Since then we've read from Genesis to Leviticus and are now devouring Numbers. We're hoping Deuteronomy becomes available soon, but if not, we intend to go back to the beginning and start again!
5 comments:
I just had out our Genesis and Leviticus yesterday! Sean read it to them before bed and they loved it. It truly is a great resource.
Do you know of her husband Rich Gantz? He's a pastor in our denomination but also a physiologist. Talk about self help books that really make a difference:) Very Scripture centered.
Monica--
I do know of Richard Ganz. He's been the keynote speaker at the benefit dinner for my husband's ministry. He was trained as a clinical psychologist and now speaks and writes about how Jesus succeeds where psychology has failed. See his bio hyperlink here.
What ages/grades are these suited for? Just from the excerpt you shared, this seems a little too complicated for my 6-year old?
TFS!
Rebecca--
we have a 5, 7, and 9-year-old audience and have been using them for a couple of years now, but we read aloud a lot and at a fairly high reading level. You'd be surprised what kids can pick up! I will be talking about some resources geared to younger listeners next.
I do indeed have your Ganz Exodus study! We loved it! Wow what a powerful study.... I don't think we finished it, but it was fabulous! I will get it back to you when I get back to town. One more reason, WE HAVE TO GET TOGETHER...
Wanna come over for a Don Aslet video day?
Post a Comment