God’s Marriage Blueprint

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Carl Simmons

Learning to become one . . .

David Hazelton, with Nancie and Bill Carmichael. God’s Marriage Blueprint: Restoring the Beauty of God’s Original Design. 125p., $14.99, Morgan James Faith.

David Hazelton, with the mind of a high-powered lawyer and the heart of a Sunday School teacher, dives into God’s plan for marriage. 

With clarity and conviction, David explores God’s divine blueprint for marriage at the dawn of creation. The Bible’s opening chapters explain that men and women are created equally in God’s image and are given responsibilities that can only be accomplished together. In the sanctity of marriage, the two are to become “one,” which involves a spiritual, emotional, and physical union.

But sin has a devasting effect on marriage. It introduces shame, fear, and guilt that can divide a couple. Instead of oneness, there is a competition for control that distorts God’s creation plan. These issues are beyond human capacity to resolve, requiring divine intervention and guidance.

In God’s Marriage Blueprint, Hazelton presents a restorative vision for marriage. This vision is not a human invention but is built on the life and teaching of Christ. God’s Marriage Blueprint offers insights into the original design for marriage and practical pathways for couples to reclaim their relationships as beautiful, harmonious partnerships intended by the Creator. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Evangelism and the Great Commission

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Carl Simmons

On sharing the Word. . . .

Shane Pruitt and Bobby Worthington. Evangelism and the Great Commission: Reflections on Sharing and Cultivating the Gospel. 192p., $24.99, Kregel Ministry.

Evangelism and the Great Commision provides the right kind of help for churches, organizations, and individuals struggling with evangelism. Showing how evangelism can become a regular part of prayer, teaching, modeling, and practice, this book points out the path faithful evangelists tread and prepares readers for the terrain.

Shane Pruitt and Bobby Worthington have compiled a theological, biblical, practical, and inspiring evangelism guide. Contributors representing distinct evangelism experience, research, and study convey the simple yet complex reality of reaching out with the truth of Christ, covering topics such as:

Grasping the content of the gospel Christians share.
Filling the distinct biblical roles of evangelism.
Reaching diverse people groups effectively.
Keeping both a multigenerational and an eternal perspective.

Evangelism and the Great Commission highlights why evangelism must be a primary focus for believers and outlines how to make that happen. Pruitt, Worthington, and others share valuable resources to sharpen your own, your organization’s, and your church’s evangelism and reach key groups of people who often miss Christian gospel efforts.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Faith-Affirming Findings

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Carl Simmons

The archaeological stories behind the biblical stories. . . .

Paul D. Weaver. Faith-Affirming Findings: 50 Archaeological Discoveries that Validate the Historicity and Reliability of Scripture. 360p., $46.99, Kregel Academic.

If the Bible is inspired and inerrant, then the archaeological record will affirm it. And it does. In Faith-Affirming Findings, Bible scholar and Dallas Theological Seminary professor Dr. Paul D. Weaver examines fifty of the most important archaeological discoveries that confirm the historical reliability of Scripture.

Each discovery—from ancient inscriptions to burial sites—sheds light on the biblical narrative and reinforces the trustworthiness of God’s Word. In this intricately designed, 360-page hardcover volume, Dr. Weaver discusses findings such as the “House of David” Stele, the Moabite Stone, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Lachish Relief, the Cyrus Cylinder, and more.

Inside you’ll find

  • detailed descriptions of each artifact, site, and its biblical significance,
  • over 100 full-color photos that bring the findings to life,
  • the locations of museums where these artifacts can be viewed,
  • extensive bibliographical resources for deeper study,
  • over 450 footnotes, a glossary, and a biblical passage index, and
  • links to supplemental study material.

This comprehensive volume is an interactive learning experience for everyone, whether you are a pastor, teacher, student, or simply someone seeking stronger confidence in the reliability of Scripture. Faith-Affirming Findings will inspire your faith and deepen your understanding of God’s Word by demonstrating how archaeology consistently supports the Bible.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Kerux: 1 Corinthians

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Carl Simmons

Rubber, meet road. Headstrong church, meet Paul. . . .

Michael H. Burer and David B. Kieffer, 1 Corinthians: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Kerux Commentaries. 360p., $29.99, Kregel Academic.

Each volume uniquely combines the insights of an experienced Bible exegete (trained in interpretation) and a homiletician (trained in preaching). These two authors work together to explain the essential message for the original listeners or readers, unpack its timeless truth, and then provide a contemporary restatement and communication insights for the key biblical concept. Every book is written with the real needs of the pastor and teacher in sight, providing many ways to creatively express the principal thought of a biblical passage.

The Corinthian church was home to a wide array of different ethnicities, cultures, and social classes. Consequently, the church had numerous problems living out its proper identity as the body of Christ. Authors Michael H. Burer and David B. Kieffer show how, with deep theological reflection and application, Paul addressed the factionalism, social stratification, theological issues, and harmful behaviors that had been imported into the church.

Based on the Big Idea preaching model, Kerux enhances the reader’s ability to deliver a message that is biblical, cohesive, and dynamic.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

40 Questions About Mormonism

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Carl Simmons

What does Mormonism get right, and what does it get wrong? And what do outsiders get wrong about Mormonism?

Kyle Beshears. 40 Questions About Mormonism. 40 Questions Series. 352p., $26.99, Kregel Academic.

Many Christians struggle to form an accurate picture of the beliefs, practices, and attraction of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 40 Questions About Mormonism addresses how the Mormon faith developed, what it teaches, and how it differs from traditional Christianity.

Author Kyle Beshears draws on years of dialogue with LDS church members to ask and answer the most pertinent questions for understanding today’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, covering history, sources of authority, doctrines shared with Christianity, unique doctrines, and more. Among the questions addressed, these are included:

  • Is Mormonism just an American religion?
  • How do Latter-day Saints view the Bible?
  • What is the origin of the priesthood?
  • What is the Latter-day Saint view of Jesus Christ?
  • Why does Mormonism have temples?
  • What are concerns Latter-day Saints have about traditional Christianity?

The historically and biblically discerning answers allow readers to better understand both traditional Christian faith and the distinctive elements of Mormonism. Readers will feel more confident forming friendships with LDS adherents, viewing them as neighbors whom God loves and witnessing to them as such. Instructor resources are available at 40questions.net.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Sheep Follow Me

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Carl Simmons

On the importance on perseverance . . .

Jonathan R. Pratt. My Sheep Follow Me: A Study of Perseverance and the Threat of Antinomianism. 176p., $22.99, Kregel Academic.

Christian teaching is often clear about justification—how God saves his people—but murky about sanctification, or perseverance—how believers grow in closeness to God over time. Jonathan R. Pratt explores what progress toward holiness looks like and how it takes place.

My Sheep Follow Me begins with an investigation of the New Testament’s teaching on perseverance:

  • Jesus’s metaphors, including the “fruit” of belief, obedience, and love;
  • Paul’s demonstration of believers’ righteous responses to the Holy Spirit
  • belief as evidence in the letters of Paul and others;
  • promises of God’s help in perseverance; and
  • God’s use of his Word, suffering, the church, and prayer to assure his people’s perseverance in faith.

Pratt then surveys how antinomianism, common Protestant Christianity both historically and today, threatens biblical teaching. He shows how a biblical doctrine of perseverance squelches the devastating effects of ignoring God’s spiritual gifts to believers. My Sheep Follow Me offers important cautions of distorted teaching and valuable encouragement in the process of Christian growth.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Kerux: Joshua

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Carl Simmons

Entering the Promised Land was just the beginning. . . .

Randall L. McKinion and Jason K. Lee. Joshua: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Kerux Commentaries. 256p., $28.99, Kregel Academic.

Kerux Commentaries enable pastors and teachers to understand and effectively present the main message in a biblical text. Each volume uniquely combines the insights of an experienced Bible exegete (trained in interpretation) and a homiletician (trained in preaching). These two authors work together to explain the essential message for the original listeners or readers, unpack its timeless truth, and then provide a contemporary restatement and communication insights for the key biblical concept. Every book is a resource designed and written with the real needs of the pastor and teacher always in view, providing many ways to creatively express the principal thought in a biblical passage.

The book of Joshua acts as a hinge within the biblical text: it connects the promises of God to Abraham and their initial fulfillment through Moses to the stories of the judges, kings, and exilic communities. Likewise, the themes of covenant, law, land, and obedience provide a theological framework for understanding the narrative arch of the book, the larger story of Israel’s relationship with YHWH, and the coming promised seed of Abraham. Through Joshua, then, the believer is given a view into God’s faithfulness in past times and a vision for his faithfulness in the future.

Based on the Big Idea preaching model, Kerux enhances the reader’s ability to deliver a message that is biblical, cohesive, and dynamic.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Instructional Strategies for Christian Teachers

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Carl Simmons

Teaching the Bible better . . .

James Riley Estep Jr. and Jay L. Sedwick, eds. Instructional Strategies for Christian Teachers: How to Teach the Bible and Theology in the Church and School. 360p., $28.99, Kregel Academic.

The best teachers in any discipline use diverse instructional models to foster all aspects of learning. Instructional Strategies for Christian Teachers combines theological and biblical insight with tested teaching methods, providing a targeted guide for those preparing to teach within environments such as churches, ministries, Bible colleges, Christian universities, and seminaries.

The editors and other expert educators systematically address teacher training and focus on planning strategically for various learning outcomes. Contributors address uniquely Christian topics alongside vital instructional approaches.

Complete with reflection questions, video supplements, graphics, diagrams, and distinctly Christian examples, Instructional Strategies for Christian Teachers offers a strong and promising foundation for those already teaching or planning to teach in a Christian context.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Carl Simmons

There’s more than you might think . . .

Claude F. Mariottini. Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith: A Survey of the Heroines of the Old Testament. 272p., $25.99, Kregel Academic.

Believers today are facing a profound spiritual poverty—an ignorance of the women who shaped their faith and, as a result, an incomplete understanding of the God those women faithfully served.

The inspired writers of the Old Testament mention more than one hundred women by name and countless others in passing. Yet, how many of us know the stories of these women and the God who wrote them?

• Sheerah built three cities and had one named after her.
• Jehosheba executed a covert operation to preserve the Davidic line.
• Miriam left us a legacy of worship that persists to this day.

Then there are the women who proclaimed the good news of God, prophesied truth to power, protected Israel from her enemies, relentlessly interceded for God to act, and passed along a living faith in the God who did. Each of these women and their stories find a place in God’s redemptive plan for his creation.

In Ancient Israel’s Women of Faith, Claude Mariottini introduces readers to a fresh reading of Scripture that takes seriously these stories. In doing so, he challenges anachronistic, modern readings of the text by providing helpful contextual information, including nuances in the original language, histories of translation, and observations on the cultural, political, legal, economic, and religious landscapes of their time.

Readers of this title will walk away with new insights, questions, and areas for research, but, more importantly, they’ll walk away with a new understanding of the God of ancient Israel’s women of faith.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Holiness in the Old Testament

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Carl Simmons

A closer look at a critical—and often misunderstood—directive of God. . . .

Matt Ayars and John N. Oswalt, eds. Holiness in the Old Testament: A Textual and Thematic Analysis. 320p., $25.99, Kregel Academic.

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

The holiness of God and Israel’s call to be holy are arguably at the theological center of the theological vision of the Old Testament. Thus, a careful and thorough analysis and evaluation of the theme of holiness is critical for understanding both this God and this call.

In Holiness in the Old Testament, thirteen respected Old Testament scholars come together to provide a cohesive view of Scripture’s testimony to the nature of holiness. They explore the historical and cultural context of the Hebrew terms related to holiness and aptly argue that any definition relating to God must include both his incommunicable and communicable attributes—those qualities that belong to him alone, such as his eternality and transcendence, and those qualities that he expects his people to emulate, such as his steadfast love and ethical purity.

Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that human holiness must be understood “not just as a response to God’s holiness but as the restoration of the image of God in humanity—a key notion for the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes for the creation as a whole.” By surveying the notion of holiness in each major section of the Old Testament and how this notion relates to other critical Old Testament theological themes, the authors provide a comprehensive biblical and theological study of holiness in the Old Testament. The careful student will walk away with both a deeper understanding of their holy God and of their holy call.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment