The Bible is full of surprises.
This book is a valuable asset for pastor and lay person alike, to make Advent rich in understanding and meaning." - Maxie Dunnam, author and chancellor of Asbury Theological Semin.
Tom does that exceptionally well.
Rarely is one able to communicate solid scholarship with effective \'popular\' writing.
He writes as he preaches, with clarity and compassion. "Tom Fuerst is one of the most effective communicators I know.
The weekly focus emerges from the chapter content and encourages the readers to engage a spiritual practice or do something specific that will help them grow in faith.
In addition to the main content, each chapter offers questions for reflection and discussion, a brief prayer, and a focus for the week.
This Bible Study is designed to be used by individuals and small groups during Advent.
Through the Old Testament Stories the Gospel draws upon, Matthew reminds us to look for God in unexpected places during this Advent season.
By learning about these Underdogs and outsiders, readers will uncover new dimensions of the story of God\'s people and how that story comes into focus in the hope for the Messiah.
This Advent Study explores the Stories of each of these five women, showing how they all played a pivotal role in God\'s purposes.
Matthew names five women in the family tree of Jesus: Tamar, a forgotten daughter-in-law and widow
Rahab, a prostitute
Ruth, a foreigner; the wife of Uriah, an adulteress; and of course Mary, a young virgin.
As if to remind us of this, the Gospel of Matthew presents a genealogy of Jesus before telling the story of his birth, including subtle references to the times God worked through unlikely people.
During Advent, remembering this strange history of God working in our world helps us look forward to the birth of God\'s Son, Jesus.
At every turn, from the beginning of the Old Testament right through the end of the New, we find God working in unexpected, even strange ways to bring about God\'s purposes.
The Bible is full of surprises
