Review/Giveaway: The Apologetics Study Bible

Tweet

Pin It

How do you answer the hard questions?

• If God is real and we can’t see Him, why don’t you think mermaids are real?
• If angels can become invisible, why can’t humans?
• I know God created the world, but what do I tell other people who insist science and Creation are not compatible? Why do they think that?
• How is Christianity different than other religions? Are the differences important?
• My friend isn’t a Christian because her dad thinks it’s stupid, and he’s an atheist. But she’s a nice person. What should I say to her?
• Why were people killed in the name of Christianity?
• Why does God allow people to get sick and die? Doesn’t He want us to be happy?

One of the challenges of raising Miss Esmé has been getting bombarded with such questions since she was 3yo. I love that she thinks about such things, but I don’t always have ready answers.

That’s where the Apologetics Study Bible for Students HCSB comes in handy!

Synopsis of Book

The Apologetics Study Bible for Students anchors younger Christians in the truths of Scripture by equipping them with thoughtful and practical responses for whenever the core issues of their faith and life are challenged.

Multiple research studies have shown that spiritual focus often weakens among teenagers as they head into the attention-dividing realm of young adulthood. Up to 66 percent of them leave church altogether. The Apologetics Study Bible for Students works against that trend by helping this audience begin to better articulate its beliefs. In addition to the complete HCSB text and dozens of articles collected from today’s most popular youth leaders, including editor Sean McDowell, this new study Bible also includes:

Two-color design-intensive layout on every page for the visual generation Sixty “Twisted Scriptures” explanations, fifty “Bones & Dirt” entries (archaeology meets apologetics) Fifty “Notable Quotes”, twenty-five “Tactics” against common anti-Christian arguments Twenty “Personal Stories” of how God has worked in real lives Twenty “Top Five” lists to help remember key apologetics topics.

Age Recommendation: High school/college 
Genre:  Study Bible 
Physical Description:  Formats available include black/tan, steel blue, or dark brown/coral imitation leather, as well as hardcover and paperback
List Price:  For Indexed Hardcover: $44.99. Currently on sale for $31.49 (30% savings)
To Buy: http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/The+apologetics+study+bible+for+students
For More Information: www.apologeticsbible.com

Mom’s Review:

• The Translation. I found this to be a very “readable” version. This was an introduction to the Holman Christian Standard Bible for me. It is a modern language translation that combines word-for-word with thought-for-thought philosophies to allow for a smooth reading experience. In the instances where it veers from a literal translation, footnotes allow the reader to still access that literal translation.
• Articles, Twisted Scripture Notes (60), Challenges and Tactics (25). These segments, interspersed throughout the Bible, are the parts that answer all those questions Esmé pops up with. There is an index at the front if you’re looking for a specific topic, but it’s also fun to just start up a discussion on whatever shows up on the Bible section we’re reading. These are written by a variety of authors, and it’s interesting to see similar topics addressed from different angles.
• Bones & Dirt Notes (50). If your student is into history, these are interesting to read. You can see how current events and places relate to the Bible text.
• Personal Stories (20). This would probably be Esmé’s favorite aspect. Twenty personal stories make scripture obviously applicable to today’s youth.
• Book Introductions. These are narratives in a conversational style meant to reach the student in a modern culture. The “What in the world is going on?” section is my personal favorite as it pulls together historic details from around the world. For example, while Psalms were being written, not only was the Iron Age beginning, but the “chiefs of the Olmecs, a pre-Columbian people group in southern Mexico, play an extremely violent, ritualistic ball game juego de pelota.”  It just intrigues me.
• Index Tabs. The format of the book we have includes index tabs to help Bible students find the books of the Bible. We found that quite useful.
• Formats. Speaking of formats, look at this pretty Espresso/Coral cover! Lots of format choices to meet your student’s preferences!

Some Precautions:
This isn’t a fit for everyone. If you fall into one of the following categories, think seriously before purchasing.

• Politically Correct. The notes are mostly written from a socially conservative perspective. They tackle abortion and homosexuality pretty directly, for example. One of the articles that was most pertinent to me was “Do Christianity and Politics Mix,” and I agree with the point that trying to keep secular and sacred separate essentially pigeonholes God.
• Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness. There are sections that take on the biblical veracity of Mormon and Jehovah’s Witness beliefs head-on.

The notes go into doctrinal issues in depth, and there were a couple here and there with emphasis that didn’t exactly line up with my personal beliefs, for example, on the topic of hell. Overall, however, I found the notes to be insightful and a great resource for strengthening my daughter’s Christian beliefs and positions in a world that seems less and less tolerant of those positions every day.

Giveaway!

Yes, I can offer one blessed reader an Apologetics Study Bible for Students HCSB! We’re going simple with giveaway entries here: just enter a comment of any kind on this post, along with your email address or other way for me to contact you. A winner will be randomly selected on August 19. You must have a US or Canada mailing address to win.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Free Weekly Resources!

The good stuff isn’t over yet! There are some great video resources available to you for free! Maybe you’re interested in how to answer the accusation that the Bible demeans women. Or you’re not sure what to say to the media-favorite question: should abortion be allowed in the case of rape? Or perhaps you have a smarty-pants kid like mine who wants to know if God can make a rock so big He can’t lift it. You’ll find all these topics and more at http://www.apologeticsbible.com/.

You’ll also have a chance to win the Confident Faith Sweepstakes – a free Bible, a mini Apologetic Library, or even a free trip for two to hear some Christian apologetics at NCCA!

---------------
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for coordinating this book for review and providing the giveaway prize. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win this giveaway!