Mary: Devoted to God's Plan (Studies in Faithful Living) - Softcover

Vince, Elizabeth; Grigoni, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1577995791 ISBN 13: 9781577995791

Publisher: Lexham Press, 2013

Synopsis

Chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Mary played a singular role in God's plan of redemption. And her life, relationships, and faith continue to hold significance for believers today. By responding faithfully to God's call, Mary began an extraordinary journey of transformation from Jesus' loving mother to one of His devoted followers.

In this 8-week study, authors Miles Custis, Michael R. Grigoni, Douglas Mangum, Matthew M. Whitehead, Rebecca Brant, John D. Barry, and Elizabeth Vince help you discover new meaning in the life of Mary. Each chapter of Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is structured to maximize your study by exploring the themes, context, and background of events Mary's life, as well as offering biblical parallels, extra-biblical references, and insights into how Mary's experiences are relevant to your journey of faith. Walk through life with Mary, learning along the way how her story is like your story.

Contents

Each chapter of Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is structured to maximize your study:
Theme: Introduces the meaning and relevance of an event in Mary's life
Literary Context: Illustrates the conditions surrounding that event
Historical and Cultural Background: Presents relevant data about the ancient world
A Closer Look: Gives a walk-through of the event while exploring issues of interpretation, original language, and theology
Throughout the Bible: Examines discussion of the event elsewhere in the Bible
Beyond the Bible: Treats references to the event in ancient documents and extracanonical texts and references and by theologians, the church fathers, and contemporary thinkers
Application: Concludes the chapter by exploring the event's relevance to your journey of faith

You'll also find Quick Tips offering insight into difficult passages, historical information, original language wording, and ancient thought.

About this title

About the Author

Michael R. Grigoni previously served as Logos Bible Software's managing editor of Bible reference and as the Studies in Faithful Living series editor. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.

Miles Custis is the author of The End of the Matter: Understanding the Epilogue of Ecclesiastes. He is a Faithlife Study Bible contributing editor, the coauthor of Lexham Bible Guides: Genesis Collection, and the coauthor of the Studies in Faithful Living volumes. He holds a Master of Arts in biblical studies from Trinity Western University.

Douglas Mangum is the general editor of the Lexham Bible Guides and the Lexham Methods Series, a contributing editor for the Faithlife Study Bible, and an associate editor for the Lexham Bible Dictionary, all with Lexham Press and Faithlife. He has also taught courses on the Bible, Judaism, and religion.

Matthew M. Whitehead is co-author for the Studies in Faithful Living series and a contributing editor for the Faithlife Study Bible. He is also a regular contributor to Bible Study Magazine and the Lexham Bible Dictionary.

Rebecca Brant has developed content for Connect the Testaments, Faithlife Study Bible, and the Lexham Bible Dictionary, and she is a regular contributor to Bible Study Magazine. Rebecca previously developed content for Willamette University.

John D. Barry is the publisher of Lexham Press, general editor of Faithlife Study Bible and Lexham Bible Dictionary, and the former editor-in-chief of Bible Study Magazine. He is also the volunteer CEO, President and Founder of Jesus' Economy, a non-profit charity dedicated to creating jobs and churches in the developing world.

Elizabeth Vince has developed content for Lexham Bible Dictionary, Faithlife Study Bible, and Connect the Testaments. She is also a regular contributor to Bible Study Magazine.

Review

The study of Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is not for the faint of heart. Take this study seriously--embrace the young teenager Mary as your role model--and you have embarked on a journey that requires courage and self-sacrifice and may mean standing alone. An unflinching determination to follow Jesus comes at a price, so proceed at your own risk. But know for certain that when kingdom issues are at stake, holding back will cost you more.
--Carolyn Custis James, founder and president, Synergy Women's Network, Inc.

What a fascinating journey into the life of a girl who faced many of the same problems troubling teenagers today--unplanned pregnancy, fear, and peer pressure. While we'll never experience Mary's exact circumstances, we will have times when God calls us to follow Him into the unknown. In this practical study, Mary's surrendered life offers life-changing inspiration for us all. A great study for churches, small groups, and personal devotions.
--June Hunt, founder and CEO, Hope For The Heart

Mary's story is familiar to most Christians and can inadvertently be limited to a manger scene at Christmas. Yet there is so much more to ponder and learn from her life as you will see in this study. Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is a thorough guide which can be used to delve deeper. It's perfect for personal or group study, or for any pastor who needs great Biblical content for Sunday mornings or mid-week meetings.
--Arlene Pellicane, speaker, author, and blogger

Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is an informative and inspiring study of the life of one of the great servants of God in the New Testament. Filled with interesting and relevant historical information, the study helps the reader explore more deeply Mary's life and her journey from mother of Jesus to child of God and disciple of Christ. The study does a wonderful job of integrating historical information and application to help the reader see how the story of Mary fits in the larger context of Scripture, while also providing valuable guidance for how we can follow her example of devotion and humility.
--Michelle Lee-Barnewall, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, BIOLA University

About this edition

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1577995791
• ISBN 13: 9781577995791
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 112