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Pleased to Dwell: A Biblical Introduction to the Incarnation
At the centre of heaven is Christ, lovingly adored as the forever Lord of all. At the centre of Christmas is Christ, frail and cradled in the tender arms of a young mother. How can the two be put together? Heavenly glory and human frailty? That is the real wonder of Christmas. Pleased to Dwell is an energetic biblical introduction to Christmas. It is an invitation to ponder the Incarnation, and a God who was please to dwell with us.
For more information, please visit http://www.trinitytheology.net
Building anticipation with the great themes of the Old Testament, enjoying the remarkably distinct birth narratives of Matthew, then Luke, before surveying some great New Testament passages, Pleased to Dwell is an engaging introduction to the wonder of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. This book offers a wealth of ideas for preachers, an easy access mini-reference tool for Bible students, and an enjoyable cover-to-cover read for everyone. Twenty-four short chapters would make a great advent devotional, but this book is not just for Christmas. God's Son stepped into our world and that changes every day of the year!
For more information, please visit http://www.trinitytheology.net
Building anticipation with the great themes of the Old Testament, enjoying the remarkably distinct birth narratives of Matthew, then Luke, before surveying some great New Testament passages, Pleased to Dwell is an engaging introduction to the wonder of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. This book offers a wealth of ideas for preachers, an easy access mini-reference tool for Bible students, and an enjoyable cover-to-cover read for everyone. Twenty-four short chapters would make a great advent devotional, but this book is not just for Christmas. God's Son stepped into our world and that changes every day of the year!
- GenresTheologyBiblical Studies
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 13, 2018
I know that Christmas is practically a month gone, and probably the majority of you are done with it now for 11 months (though why would you ever want to be done with Christmas – it’s so wonderful?! :D), but I’m going to recommend that you read a Christmas book. Specifically, ‘Pleased to Dwell’. Yes, I read it in December, but it’s such a good book that I would say you could read it any time of the year! And before I actually talk about why I liked it, I will just add a small caveat in that the author is my father. So that amplifies my appreciation for it, but it does not influence my liking of it. :D I would like it even if it was written by another person.
So why do I like this book? Well, simply put, the writing is clear and the message is incredible, beautiful and oh so needed. The message of the Incarnation life changing – God became flesh so that flesh could know God. But the Christmas story doesn’t begin and end with Jesus being born. It began in the garden of Eden when humans fell into sin, and it ended with the Son of God stretched out on a cross, bearing the sins of the world. And in between? Well, it’s an epic story, full of twists and turns as God revealed more and more of his rescue plan to his wayward children. And the story that is told in the Bible is explained incredibly well in this book. Each chapter is dedicated to a different part of the Incarnation story, beginning in Genesis 1 and going through the whole Bible!
The writing is clear and accessible, not too academic at all! And the message of this book is oh so encouraging. I loved going more into depth into the Biblical texts about the Incarnation and I was so encouraged by the permeating message of hope that comes through this book. Because ultimately the true wonder of Christmas is the truth that God stooped down to earth, humbly becoming a helpless baby boy. Why? Because of love. Because of his deep, powerful and merciful love for all of humanity. And that my friends, is incredibly beautiful, wonderful and very good news!! So yes, go read this book – I promise you’ll come away having learnt something new, having a deeper appreciation for the Bible, and most of all, a stronger love for Jesus.
So why do I like this book? Well, simply put, the writing is clear and the message is incredible, beautiful and oh so needed. The message of the Incarnation life changing – God became flesh so that flesh could know God. But the Christmas story doesn’t begin and end with Jesus being born. It began in the garden of Eden when humans fell into sin, and it ended with the Son of God stretched out on a cross, bearing the sins of the world. And in between? Well, it’s an epic story, full of twists and turns as God revealed more and more of his rescue plan to his wayward children. And the story that is told in the Bible is explained incredibly well in this book. Each chapter is dedicated to a different part of the Incarnation story, beginning in Genesis 1 and going through the whole Bible!
The writing is clear and accessible, not too academic at all! And the message of this book is oh so encouraging. I loved going more into depth into the Biblical texts about the Incarnation and I was so encouraged by the permeating message of hope that comes through this book. Because ultimately the true wonder of Christmas is the truth that God stooped down to earth, humbly becoming a helpless baby boy. Why? Because of love. Because of his deep, powerful and merciful love for all of humanity. And that my friends, is incredibly beautiful, wonderful and very good news!! So yes, go read this book – I promise you’ll come away having learnt something new, having a deeper appreciation for the Bible, and most of all, a stronger love for Jesus.
December 17, 2014
This book is a fab read, the author leads you to search and chase Jesus in the Old Testament! and then the New. Peter Mead writes with a wit, and relaxed style. An easy read, I would recommend. Great if you have a bible at hand to follow some of the references (not vital) this certainly added to the excitement of chasing Jesus through the bible for me :)
October 18, 2020
I absolutely loved the OT part of this book and devoured it. I have heard Peter Mead preach/teach before and I respect him greatly. For some of the NT parts, I had a few different opinions and perspectives, but I still enjoyed this book. It's a great read and it's able to stir your heart and imagination for the Love of Immanuel.
January 4, 2022
This was a really excellent read leading up to Christmas for me. Reasons I enjoyed this book:
-Sequencing of the book - Mead works his way from the Old Testament through the birth accounts in Luke and Matthew, and then hits a few of the Epistles and relates them to the Incarnation. It was nice to get a glimpse of the big picture.
-It was something I could sink my teeth into. Although this wasn't overly technical, I felt like Mead worked to comment on the texts and explain them a bit rather than just offering some vague devotional thoughts.
-Variety in the different readings. For instance, one chapter covered just 4 verses at the beginning of Luke's gospel, and another outlined the whole Book of Hebrews.
-I just felt that Mead is a good communicator. There were a couple things on the sentence level that I had to reread a few times to untangle the thought, but overall the writing was interesting and easy to follow.
I've liked the idea in the past of reading something around the Advent season and have tried several different devotionals that lost my interest. This is going to be my go-to next year to read, and I hope to incorporate more careful reading of the biblical texts alongside.
-Sequencing of the book - Mead works his way from the Old Testament through the birth accounts in Luke and Matthew, and then hits a few of the Epistles and relates them to the Incarnation. It was nice to get a glimpse of the big picture.
-It was something I could sink my teeth into. Although this wasn't overly technical, I felt like Mead worked to comment on the texts and explain them a bit rather than just offering some vague devotional thoughts.
-Variety in the different readings. For instance, one chapter covered just 4 verses at the beginning of Luke's gospel, and another outlined the whole Book of Hebrews.
-I just felt that Mead is a good communicator. There were a couple things on the sentence level that I had to reread a few times to untangle the thought, but overall the writing was interesting and easy to follow.
I've liked the idea in the past of reading something around the Advent season and have tried several different devotionals that lost my interest. This is going to be my go-to next year to read, and I hope to incorporate more careful reading of the biblical texts alongside.
December 7, 2014
All believers are familiar with the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin and came into this earth as a baby boy, lived a sinless life, died for our sins on the cross, and then rose from the grave to conquer death and the grave. With that said, the purpose and importance of the incarnation in all its mystery and glory is a topic many believers have not drilled down enough into. Peter Mead in his book Pleased to Dwell: A Biblical Introduction to the Incarnation strives to walk the reader through how Scripture points to this important event and what it means for God to dwell with us.
Mead aptly notes the language of Genesis 1 “nudges us towards a relational understanding of the image of God. Humanity was not made in the image of a power-hungry dictator. The dominion described is not one of conquering and crushing, but of multiplying and caring.” Furthermore, Mead comments “The climax of the creation account is the ecstatic delight of Adam as he meets his bride…God wants the Bible reader to see, more than anything else, the great picture of marriage.” This is a hugely important point to make when discussing the subject of the incarnation. In the original creation Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect spiritual and physical relationship between themselves and more importantly, with their Creator. Sin marred both relationships, again most important the Creator/creation relationship. The promise of the coming Messiah outlined in Genesis 3 reveals the solution to that broken relationship, namely the incarnation of the Son of God, the bridegroom for the bride. Miss that setup in Genesis 3 and the rest of the story frankly becomes a bit opaque.
This promised Messiah and God’s relationship with His people is continually noted throughout the Old Testament. Mead does an excellent job of tracing this promise in the life of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, and the Prophets. It becomes quite clear there was great anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. I appreciated how Mead noted how this promise is revealed through the often neglected genealogical accounts found in the Gospels. In these lists of names, we find God being faithful to His promise of sending a deliverer thus fulfilling the promise made in Genesis 3 and to Abraham. Mead also saliently notes the inclusion of Gentile women in the genealogical accounts, namely Rahab and Ruth, thus revealing God’s promise to Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed by the coming of the Messiah. Mead aptly reminds the reader God “even brought together a Moabite widow with good guy Boaz to prepare for the coming king.”
The most enjoyable portion of Mead’s book for me was his discussion of the reason God became man. Far too many continue to treat Jesus as that little baby boy in the manger, somewhat forgetting that he grew up to become a man who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and then three days later rose again. Mead examines several New Testament passages to outline why the incarnation was needed. He notes Jesus came to do that which we could not do, namely obeying God’s law. Additionally, Mead outlines how the incarnation displays God’s grace toward us thus focusing our eyes on the second coming of the Messiah and the full renewal and redemption of our physical and spiritual relationship with our Creator. Also, Mead reminds the reader of the humility of the incarnation, the stepping down if you will from glory to this earth which of course resulted in death on a cross on our behalf. All this so that sin and darkness would be defeated as promised long ago.
Mead concludes this helpful book with an excellent point that truly strikes to the heart of the purpose of the incarnation and why we should be forever thankful. He notes “The need on our side was deathly desperate, and the love on God’s side was abundantly overflowing. So He was manifest in the flesh. The forever focus of the Father’s delight was sent to earth for us. He became flesh and dwelt among us. He revealed God the Father to us. He came to rescue and woo us.” I hope the reader will note the lengths God went to restore relationship with us.
If I had any issue with this book it is that I somewhat disagree the incarnation or Pleased to Dwell is an introduction to Christmas. I firmly believe and Mead clearly outlines that the incarnation is of yearlong importance for all believers. This biblical issue should not be something we visit once a year as we unwrap gifts or attend church services where holiday songs are sung. The incarnation is truly God dwelling with us and that is a reality that must be grasped each and every single day of the year. So perhaps this book should be presented as a Biblical introduction to God’s love for us that never fails and that is present all year long.
I highly recommend this book for all believers. It’s devotional style and pastor tone makes for an easy read. Furthermore, Mead examines some very important theological truths in a way that drives home how much God loves His creation to include the beauty of Jesus coming to this earth to deal with the sin and death problem.
I received this book for free from Christian Focus Publications for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Mead aptly notes the language of Genesis 1 “nudges us towards a relational understanding of the image of God. Humanity was not made in the image of a power-hungry dictator. The dominion described is not one of conquering and crushing, but of multiplying and caring.” Furthermore, Mead comments “The climax of the creation account is the ecstatic delight of Adam as he meets his bride…God wants the Bible reader to see, more than anything else, the great picture of marriage.” This is a hugely important point to make when discussing the subject of the incarnation. In the original creation Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect spiritual and physical relationship between themselves and more importantly, with their Creator. Sin marred both relationships, again most important the Creator/creation relationship. The promise of the coming Messiah outlined in Genesis 3 reveals the solution to that broken relationship, namely the incarnation of the Son of God, the bridegroom for the bride. Miss that setup in Genesis 3 and the rest of the story frankly becomes a bit opaque.
This promised Messiah and God’s relationship with His people is continually noted throughout the Old Testament. Mead does an excellent job of tracing this promise in the life of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, and the Prophets. It becomes quite clear there was great anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. I appreciated how Mead noted how this promise is revealed through the often neglected genealogical accounts found in the Gospels. In these lists of names, we find God being faithful to His promise of sending a deliverer thus fulfilling the promise made in Genesis 3 and to Abraham. Mead also saliently notes the inclusion of Gentile women in the genealogical accounts, namely Rahab and Ruth, thus revealing God’s promise to Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed by the coming of the Messiah. Mead aptly reminds the reader God “even brought together a Moabite widow with good guy Boaz to prepare for the coming king.”
The most enjoyable portion of Mead’s book for me was his discussion of the reason God became man. Far too many continue to treat Jesus as that little baby boy in the manger, somewhat forgetting that he grew up to become a man who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and then three days later rose again. Mead examines several New Testament passages to outline why the incarnation was needed. He notes Jesus came to do that which we could not do, namely obeying God’s law. Additionally, Mead outlines how the incarnation displays God’s grace toward us thus focusing our eyes on the second coming of the Messiah and the full renewal and redemption of our physical and spiritual relationship with our Creator. Also, Mead reminds the reader of the humility of the incarnation, the stepping down if you will from glory to this earth which of course resulted in death on a cross on our behalf. All this so that sin and darkness would be defeated as promised long ago.
Mead concludes this helpful book with an excellent point that truly strikes to the heart of the purpose of the incarnation and why we should be forever thankful. He notes “The need on our side was deathly desperate, and the love on God’s side was abundantly overflowing. So He was manifest in the flesh. The forever focus of the Father’s delight was sent to earth for us. He became flesh and dwelt among us. He revealed God the Father to us. He came to rescue and woo us.” I hope the reader will note the lengths God went to restore relationship with us.
If I had any issue with this book it is that I somewhat disagree the incarnation or Pleased to Dwell is an introduction to Christmas. I firmly believe and Mead clearly outlines that the incarnation is of yearlong importance for all believers. This biblical issue should not be something we visit once a year as we unwrap gifts or attend church services where holiday songs are sung. The incarnation is truly God dwelling with us and that is a reality that must be grasped each and every single day of the year. So perhaps this book should be presented as a Biblical introduction to God’s love for us that never fails and that is present all year long.
I highly recommend this book for all believers. It’s devotional style and pastor tone makes for an easy read. Furthermore, Mead examines some very important theological truths in a way that drives home how much God loves His creation to include the beauty of Jesus coming to this earth to deal with the sin and death problem.
I received this book for free from Christian Focus Publications for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 16, 2024
Succinct, profound and glorifying
Peter Mead does an incredibly job surveying the whole Bible’s testimony to the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is an incredibly concise writer and doesn’t waste a single word, drawing the reader’s attention to dozens of beautiful facets of our Lord’s nature and character, his identity, mission and purpose.
Peter Mead does an incredibly job surveying the whole Bible’s testimony to the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is an incredibly concise writer and doesn’t waste a single word, drawing the reader’s attention to dozens of beautiful facets of our Lord’s nature and character, his identity, mission and purpose.
March 17, 2021
In depth study of the incarnate Christ based on Scripture and history. Would make a good group study.
I want to read it again and will recommend to others.
The incarnate Christ and His purpose to dwell with us.
I want to read it again and will recommend to others.
The incarnate Christ and His purpose to dwell with us.
August 6, 2022
A thoughtful book on the amazing truth that Jesus came down to be a human with us. What love, that we have a God who shared Himself in a humble, gracious life on earth as a man.
November 1, 2014
Dave A perfect God, a Perfect World and a Perfect Relationship. Then sin enters this world of perfection and changes everything... but not forever. The Loving Triune God of perfection had a plan. A Christmas Plan!
It would take a few thousand years, filled with a rebellious mankind, determined to believe the lie that destroyed God's perfection, before the pinnacle of God's giving would occur. This gift, for an undeserving and rebellious mankind, has been difficult to absorb for more than 2,000 years: The Triune God, in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, would come to a fallen world to redeem a fallen and rebellious man by paying the ultimate ransom; He would die a painful and ignominious death, while still being rejected by those He came to save.
With this amazing Sacrificial Christmas Gift, the restoration was nearly complete. The only thing left is for each person in this fallen world to either accept or, by default, reject this Christmas Gift from God. To accept Him for who He is in the Person of Jesus Christ and the sacrificial gift He gave on your behalf. At some unknown time in the future, the God of perfection will return in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, and finish the restoration of perfection by taking all of us, who accepted His Perfect Christmas Gift, to be with Him for all eternity, in a perfect relationship with the perfect God who gave Himself as the Perfect Christmas Gift, that we might be brought back to a perfect home.
In Pleased To Dwell, Peter Mead skillfully takes you through the events of the creation, fall and restoration process, in a simplified fashion, so that anyone with the slightest interest in how we got where we are and how we can get back to where we were, can see and understand the whole picture. Pleased To Dwell weaves together a tapestry of time from Genesis to Revelation, in an easy to read and understand book. Peter puts just the right amount of meat on the bones so you will be compelled to reach for a Bible and do some in-depth follow-up as you delve into the Scripture references for yourself.
Pleased To Dwell... A Christmas Story about a Loving, Giving God whose love for his most precious element of creation, led Him to sacrifice Himself, as His most precious Son, so you and I can experience the Perfect Relationship with our Perfect and Loving God. Whether you are seeking for what to believe, or a new believer, or one who has for decades believed in God, but want to know how we got where we are and how we can get back to where we were... Please To Dwell is for you. It was for me.
It would take a few thousand years, filled with a rebellious mankind, determined to believe the lie that destroyed God's perfection, before the pinnacle of God's giving would occur. This gift, for an undeserving and rebellious mankind, has been difficult to absorb for more than 2,000 years: The Triune God, in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, would come to a fallen world to redeem a fallen and rebellious man by paying the ultimate ransom; He would die a painful and ignominious death, while still being rejected by those He came to save.
With this amazing Sacrificial Christmas Gift, the restoration was nearly complete. The only thing left is for each person in this fallen world to either accept or, by default, reject this Christmas Gift from God. To accept Him for who He is in the Person of Jesus Christ and the sacrificial gift He gave on your behalf. At some unknown time in the future, the God of perfection will return in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, and finish the restoration of perfection by taking all of us, who accepted His Perfect Christmas Gift, to be with Him for all eternity, in a perfect relationship with the perfect God who gave Himself as the Perfect Christmas Gift, that we might be brought back to a perfect home.
In Pleased To Dwell, Peter Mead skillfully takes you through the events of the creation, fall and restoration process, in a simplified fashion, so that anyone with the slightest interest in how we got where we are and how we can get back to where we were, can see and understand the whole picture. Pleased To Dwell weaves together a tapestry of time from Genesis to Revelation, in an easy to read and understand book. Peter puts just the right amount of meat on the bones so you will be compelled to reach for a Bible and do some in-depth follow-up as you delve into the Scripture references for yourself.
Pleased To Dwell... A Christmas Story about a Loving, Giving God whose love for his most precious element of creation, led Him to sacrifice Himself, as His most precious Son, so you and I can experience the Perfect Relationship with our Perfect and Loving God. Whether you are seeking for what to believe, or a new believer, or one who has for decades believed in God, but want to know how we got where we are and how we can get back to where we were... Please To Dwell is for you. It was for me.
January 22, 2015
This book looks at the meaning of Christmas by looking at what the Bible has to say about God becoming man in Jesus. It would be good to read any time of the year, but it is particularly helpful as a preparation for Chrostmas. Looking firstly at some of the Old Testament prophesies and foreshadowing of Christ's coming. Then going on to the accounts found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and finally looking at other New Testament references. It will certainly be a blessing for those who want to prepare devotionally for celebrating the incarnation. It is warm and encouraging, and draws us back to Scripture constantly. It has a sermonic feel at times, probably because the author is primarily a preacher. This however adds to the value of the book, and turns it from dry theology into a heart warming feast. Maybe some chapters are not as convincing as others, but in the main this is a book that I would heartily recommend. Begin reading on December 1st, reading a chapter a day, and you'll get to the conclusion on Christmas day (although I suspect that you will not be content with reading one chapter at a time!)
December 31, 2015
A really insightful and readable summary of passage in Scripture which talk of the incarnation. The short chapters make it possible to use as a devotional series in the lead-up to Christmas, but would naturally fit any time of year. There are some thrilling observations and revelations about the Christmas accounts, when we can become over-familiar with them. The result is a fresh view of what the incarnation means for us. Highly recommended!
January 6, 2015
An insightful read that focuses on the Biblical account of the birth of Christ, and what that means for us as Christians today. Makes you think about the Christmas story in a whole new way. Written in an easy style that is non-threatening to those without a theology degree. I would give it four and a half stars if I could!!
July 8, 2015
This book is a good, popular overview of the doctrine of Christ's incarnation as set forth throughout scripture. One could have wished that the author had avoided the terminology of "Christmas", but it is still a good book that should cause the reader to return to the biblical text.
November 6, 2014
Highly recommended read that takes you on a journey through the Bible examining the truth of the incarnation and its implication for our lives. It is an easy read and is filled with precious thoughts that lift your heart to see the beauty of Christ.
December 22, 2014
This is ideal for a devotional book on approach to Christmas, or as a basic introduction to the incarnation. If you want something more, I suggest you look elsewhere, such as The Person of Christ by Donald MacLeod.
January 1, 2015
I was pleased to have won this book in the Goodreads Giveaway. This was an interesting read with short chapters. I would recommend this book to all who believe.
November 8, 2014
A new way to look at the birth of Christ and the promise to us in the words of the bible. Lots of references. Great way to get a new look at the bible.
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December 13, 2014I’d like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book through First Reads.
November 26, 2014
This book is a good way to focus on the incarnation. It is devotional and the chapters are short. Great for nearly every type of Christian.
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