31 days of warming up to the holidays: {day 5} the jesus storybook bible

Looking for a great Bible to read through with your kiddos during this Christmas season?  The Jesus Storybook Bible is perfect.

The Jesus Storybook Bible isn’t your typical Bible in that it is written as more of a story, with each “chapter” leading to the next.  You won’t find books/chapters/verses, but this Bible doesn’t leave anything out, in fact it points children to the Big Story. As author Sally Lloyd-Jones says in the introduction:

“…the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne – everything – to rescue the one he loves . It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this Story is – it’s true. There are a lot of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.”

The Jesus Storybook Bible is recommended for ages 4 and up. I would encourage you, as the parent, to read through each story before you read it to your child. Not because you’ll have to censor anything in the story, but because it’ll give you a totally different perspective on a lot of the “stories” we’ve heard growing up. In fact, Dr. Tim Keller (of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City) suggests,

“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian--from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning--a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.”

The illustrations are amazing, the words remind us that Jesus is the center of the Story, and that all of the stories whisper his name…in fact, here’s a little excerpt of the Bible as it tells us about Jesus’ birth:

“And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change the world was born.  His baby Son.

Mary and Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm.  They made a soft bed of straw and used the animals’ feeding trough as his cradle. And they gazed in wonder at God’s Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

 Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, “Emmanuel” – which means “God has come to live with us.”

Because, of course, he had.”

**The people behind the Jesus Story Book Bible have no idea who I am…I’m not being paid to share my opinions.  I just love this resource for my family and think it is a wonderful gift for the child in your life.**