Customer Reviews

The One Year Christian History (One Year Books)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I stumbled on this book while surfing the web and bought it. Within a week I had bought a copy for my pastor and my parents. My pastor in turn bought several copies for the church, all which have sold out. I have it right next to my bible and read it after I do my devotions. No other book will give you such a broad grasp of God working in history in the lives of people and no other book will challenge you to live your own life as faithfully as have believers through history. Buy it, you will not be sorry.

Yes, it is one of the books I have been searching for since my graduation from the seminary 20 years ago. It offers day by day stories from church history which are inspiring for devotions and sermon preparations. If you are a biblical scholar, seminary professor, pastor, Sunday school teacher, school teacher, or parent, you must buy this book.

Mike & Sharon Rusten have done a superb job of making biblical and church history appetizing by delivering mentally bite-sized morsels to the reader in a "daily devotional" format.

That's just how I use "The One Year Book of Church History," as a devotional heart and mind-starter. It takes me, a ponderously slow reader, about three minutes to read each day's entry. These consist of a two-page (left hand & right hand)layout of the day's event in history, then a short paragraph of reflective/application questions that infer something from the story, and finally a well-chosen passage of the Bible . . . all to "spiritually chew on" and get your juices flowing in a Godward direction for the day.

I'm halfway through the calendar year and have found fewer than a dozen of the Rustens' seletions a "stretch" to include . . . so that I reacted with a "surely, something more crucial must have happened on that day than this." And okay, sometimes even what they include has a date attached to it that is chronologically remote from the climactic highpoint of the story they're recounting.

But by and large their judgment is excellent and their scholarship is enlightening. It's also fun to jump around to look at what happened on your birthday or to search for a historical illustration for a presentation you're preparing to make. The topical and personage indexes at the back add to its value as well. If you wish you knew more church history, start here . . . start today!

For someone who enjoys History, this devotional puts the two things together that I love most: God and History. This book gives the reader an inside look at what Christians throughout History have done with their faith. It is an inspiring work and filled with new facts for everyday. I recommend it to everyone who wants to further their faith and grow in their knowledge of history.

I received this book as a gift from my parents last year and I'm about to purchase a couple of copies for friends in my small group from church. This book shows how the rubber meets the road, how everyday men and women throughout history have LIVED their faith.

It's easy to say you believe and to be a believer in a relatively peaceful environment. It's another thing altogether to turn your beliefs into action when faced with adversity, including death. In all of the 365 stories, there is proof that God can use any circumstance for his glory. And it's a reminder that all we need to do is have faith that He can do anything and use anyone.

Following each daily segment is a question or two that's thought-provoking and then a bible verse that brings the point home. The fact that these stories are about real people and real events dating back from before Christ was born to the 1900's shows how timeless God's message is and how it applies to each and every one of us, regardless of circumstance.

I have had this book for almost a year and have found it extremely inspiring. I highly recommend it!

I love this book! It has some eye-opening passages, all of which have touched me. I encourage all who look at this book to order a copy; it will really touch you.

My favorite passage is the one that talks about the tragedy that struck Colombine High School. It will leave you speechless!

Wonderful, please keep our American heritage going.

Most of our public schools don't have heritage about

our faith roots of this nation; & our founding fathers

& mothers. Please get accurate heritage books from:

http://wallbuilders.com Thanks you, Jennine

I gave this book to several friends, of mine, who tell me they are thoroughly enjoying the book, and the information they are gaining. I purchased the book, after having read a daily excerpt, about Christians being discriminated against, in centuries past. The reading seemed quite relevant, in relation to current events, and I thought it would be beneficial to learn more about Christian history.

An eye-opening look into significant historical events in Christianity as a daily devotional. Painstaking detail is researched by the authors, but each day's entry is crisp and concise. The presentations seem generally very fair, but Reformed readers will like this much more than Arminian readers. A few respectful accounts of Roman Catholics are given, but that church does not fare well overall in this selection (unsurprising to this reviewer). Some days are devastatingly moving. Good daily Scripture verses and questions to the reader for further consideration.