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ESV Men's Devotional Bible
Our world presents daily distractions that can easily displace Christ as the center of a man’s heart and life. The goal of the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is to strengthen and encourage men through the life-giving Word of God and sound devotional content aimed at nurturing godliness. With 365 theologically rich and gospel-centered devotions drawn directly from the Bible, this all-new resource was created under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms with contributions from over fifty Christian leaders. Introductions orient men to each book of the Bible, exploring its unique contribution to a man’s walk with God. Thoughtful and instructive articles address the importance of sound doctrine, life in the local church, leadership, the heart, calling, and a host of other relevant issues for today. The Men’s Devotional Bible will strengthen men in their walk with Christ, helping them apply the gospel and the truth of God's Word in their homes, churches, and workplaces.
- GenresNonfictionChristian
1616 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2015
49 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 28, 2015
ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is a brand new devotional and Bible written with men in mind. This Bible contains special introductions to the different chapters. It also includes helpful articles in the back of the Bible on topics such as singleness, marriage, fathering, doubt, leadership, a man’s work, and many more. The Bible has a dictionary of key terms to help readers to comprehend meanings of important words. The Bible also had a huge index list of all of the devotionals where it is easier to discover devotionals on a topic that you are having an interest in.
I would recommend this amazing Bible to every single men. The Bible was very easy to read and this was a new translation of the Bible I haven’t read before. I was impressed as how well the ESV version was easy to understand. I loved how the devotionals were written with men in mind. I truly believe this will assist in getting men interested in reading their Bible’s again and digging deeper into the Living Word of God. One of my favorite devotionals was entitled, “Does God Want to Answer Prayer?” based off of James 5:13-20. Greg Gilbert was retelling a story about how he was with a group of his friends and one of his friend’s young son asked for a cookie. The boy’s father willing told his son that he could have a cookie. Greg shared that he objected and he was reminded how much his father wanted to give his son what he wanted. In the Book of James, one of the main idea is the importance of praying for the suffering, the sick, forgiveness of sins, and anything else we need to pray about. We are reminded that God hears our prayers and He listens to our yearnings.
I would recommend this amazing Bible to every single men. The Bible was very easy to read and this was a new translation of the Bible I haven’t read before. I was impressed as how well the ESV version was easy to understand. I loved how the devotionals were written with men in mind. I truly believe this will assist in getting men interested in reading their Bible’s again and digging deeper into the Living Word of God. One of my favorite devotionals was entitled, “Does God Want to Answer Prayer?” based off of James 5:13-20. Greg Gilbert was retelling a story about how he was with a group of his friends and one of his friend’s young son asked for a cookie. The boy’s father willing told his son that he could have a cookie. Greg shared that he objected and he was reminded how much his father wanted to give his son what he wanted. In the Book of James, one of the main idea is the importance of praying for the suffering, the sick, forgiveness of sins, and anything else we need to pray about. We are reminded that God hears our prayers and He listens to our yearnings.
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October 17, 2021This is the book of life ! its a never ending read; and never ending journey of discovery and understanding.
Free choice, in differing amounts, is one thing we all have. If you have a heart and its beating, I encourage, ask, and pray that this is the one book in life you choose to read. It probably won't make your circumstances change, but it will change how you deal with and overcome them. It will also make "known to me the paths of life." Acts 2:28 ; and make you "be complete". 2 Timothy 3:17 It will also do much more, and so will you.
This is the book of life.
Free choice, in differing amounts, is one thing we all have. If you have a heart and its beating, I encourage, ask, and pray that this is the one book in life you choose to read. It probably won't make your circumstances change, but it will change how you deal with and overcome them. It will also make "known to me the paths of life." Acts 2:28 ; and make you "be complete". 2 Timothy 3:17 It will also do much more, and so will you.
This is the book of life.
February 14, 2017
The ESV is the best translation there is in my opinion. The layout of devotional readings from each book of the Bible is great. And there are helpful articles in the back. Perhaps I am just hard hearted but I found the devotional readings themselves to be too simple and unchallenging as a whole. Perhaps this Bible would be good for a man who is young in the faith. Recommended.
February 26, 2017
I was invited to receive a free copy of this new devotional
bible and it came at the right time. I felt I needed a fresh perspective and God delivered. I have several bibles in my library, but have consistently used a particular one through each decade. My first one was a the NIV Study Bible in hardback, back in 1985. I used that for over a dozen years. In 1997, I receive a leather-bound copy of “The Experiencing God Study Bible” (NIV) as a Christmas gift. I’ve been using this for almost 20 years, and have had to recover it once. Now I am giving this ESV Men’s Devotional Bible a shot.
The purpose behind this new bible is to “strengthen and transform the hearts of men through the power of the Spirit-infused Word of God.” Of course, God’s Word has the power to do this, but this book is aimed specifically at men who are facing a relentless assault from the world, the flesh and the Devil in ways unseen or unheard of before. We are under constant attack and need all the help and tools we can get. To that end, this new bible will be a valued weapon in our arsenal.
I have not read the ESV before. I was introduced to Jesus through an NIV bible and have made this my translation of choice for thirty years. For a spell in seminary, I had to use the NASB, and found it a little more stilted and eventually came back to the NIV. The ESV, like the NASB, is a literal translation, seeking to capture the precise wording rather than a dynamic equivalent like the NIV, that seeks to translate thought-for-thought not word-for-word. It’s a different style. The editors have used the RSV as the starting point and claim their legacy from the KJV and ASV before RSV. From the early readings I have done, this version is a little stiffer than the NIV but perhaps a little easier than the NASB. Any new version takes us out of our comfort zone, but perhaps let’s us hear God’s Word with fresh ears. I am all for this.
Let’s move on to the book itself. The copy I got was a hardbound version, although there are leather options as well. This book is almost 1600 pages and is in a comfortable size to handle easily. It’s a black-letter edition, meaning that the words of Jesus are in black like the rest of the text. That is different from my earlier bibles. The text of the Bible is in an 8.5 point serif font, slightly different from the added devotionals which are sans serif. This is just a little smaller than the font in my current bible, making it just a little harder to read for older eyes like mine, but not too difficult that I turn away. The pages are thin, but that is to be expected for such a long book. I would not try highlighting verses with a highlighter as I would expect the ink to be visible from the other side of the page. But underlining with a ballpoint pen should be no problem. I have tended to write notes in my bible margins, but these margins are very tight and do not allow enough room for such notations. That is a pity.
The bible itself comes with three distinct features. First, as a devotional bible, there are the devotionals themselves. Written by a team of over 50 pastors and teachers under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms, there are 365 one-page devotionals that are gospel-centered and tied to particular scriptures. They are interspersed within the text of the books, with at least one devotional in each Biblical book. They reflect on the text and its contemporary meaning. Their primary intention is to be read in conjunction with the biblical text, and if you start from Genesis and read through to Revelation you’ll not only complete the Bible in a year, you’ll have 365 daily devotions to complement the text. Another way to approach them is to just read the devotional and accompany text, starting in Genesis. This way, they offer a framework for understanding the key theological themes in one year. Another way is to refer to the index of devotions at the back of the book, and select what resonates. I am personally choosing to use this Bible in my current reading program, which is a 1-year New Testament plan, and will read the devotionals as I come to them. I am joining them in progress, in other words.
The second feature are the book introductions. Each one is kept to one-page and focuses on the background, the key theme, and the book and a man’s heart. This is useful information and sets the tone for how it will be relevant for the male reader.
The final feature is the dictionary of key terms in the back. It’s not comprehensive, but at 15 pages it covers several hundred words and phrases that a causal reader might not understand.
My initial impressions on this bible are that it is a reasonable size (not too large to handle, nor too small to read), has good features (not too many that they overwhelm, yet enough that they serve their purpose), and a clear intention, to help men live stronger Christian lives. I am going to enjoy reading a new version and see how God uses this to encourage me in my walk with Jesus.
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 / Flyby Promotions for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.
bible and it came at the right time. I felt I needed a fresh perspective and God delivered. I have several bibles in my library, but have consistently used a particular one through each decade. My first one was a the NIV Study Bible in hardback, back in 1985. I used that for over a dozen years. In 1997, I receive a leather-bound copy of “The Experiencing God Study Bible” (NIV) as a Christmas gift. I’ve been using this for almost 20 years, and have had to recover it once. Now I am giving this ESV Men’s Devotional Bible a shot.
The purpose behind this new bible is to “strengthen and transform the hearts of men through the power of the Spirit-infused Word of God.” Of course, God’s Word has the power to do this, but this book is aimed specifically at men who are facing a relentless assault from the world, the flesh and the Devil in ways unseen or unheard of before. We are under constant attack and need all the help and tools we can get. To that end, this new bible will be a valued weapon in our arsenal.
I have not read the ESV before. I was introduced to Jesus through an NIV bible and have made this my translation of choice for thirty years. For a spell in seminary, I had to use the NASB, and found it a little more stilted and eventually came back to the NIV. The ESV, like the NASB, is a literal translation, seeking to capture the precise wording rather than a dynamic equivalent like the NIV, that seeks to translate thought-for-thought not word-for-word. It’s a different style. The editors have used the RSV as the starting point and claim their legacy from the KJV and ASV before RSV. From the early readings I have done, this version is a little stiffer than the NIV but perhaps a little easier than the NASB. Any new version takes us out of our comfort zone, but perhaps let’s us hear God’s Word with fresh ears. I am all for this.
Let’s move on to the book itself. The copy I got was a hardbound version, although there are leather options as well. This book is almost 1600 pages and is in a comfortable size to handle easily. It’s a black-letter edition, meaning that the words of Jesus are in black like the rest of the text. That is different from my earlier bibles. The text of the Bible is in an 8.5 point serif font, slightly different from the added devotionals which are sans serif. This is just a little smaller than the font in my current bible, making it just a little harder to read for older eyes like mine, but not too difficult that I turn away. The pages are thin, but that is to be expected for such a long book. I would not try highlighting verses with a highlighter as I would expect the ink to be visible from the other side of the page. But underlining with a ballpoint pen should be no problem. I have tended to write notes in my bible margins, but these margins are very tight and do not allow enough room for such notations. That is a pity.
The bible itself comes with three distinct features. First, as a devotional bible, there are the devotionals themselves. Written by a team of over 50 pastors and teachers under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms, there are 365 one-page devotionals that are gospel-centered and tied to particular scriptures. They are interspersed within the text of the books, with at least one devotional in each Biblical book. They reflect on the text and its contemporary meaning. Their primary intention is to be read in conjunction with the biblical text, and if you start from Genesis and read through to Revelation you’ll not only complete the Bible in a year, you’ll have 365 daily devotions to complement the text. Another way to approach them is to just read the devotional and accompany text, starting in Genesis. This way, they offer a framework for understanding the key theological themes in one year. Another way is to refer to the index of devotions at the back of the book, and select what resonates. I am personally choosing to use this Bible in my current reading program, which is a 1-year New Testament plan, and will read the devotionals as I come to them. I am joining them in progress, in other words.
The second feature are the book introductions. Each one is kept to one-page and focuses on the background, the key theme, and the book and a man’s heart. This is useful information and sets the tone for how it will be relevant for the male reader.
The final feature is the dictionary of key terms in the back. It’s not comprehensive, but at 15 pages it covers several hundred words and phrases that a causal reader might not understand.
My initial impressions on this bible are that it is a reasonable size (not too large to handle, nor too small to read), has good features (not too many that they overwhelm, yet enough that they serve their purpose), and a clear intention, to help men live stronger Christian lives. I am going to enjoy reading a new version and see how God uses this to encourage me in my walk with Jesus.
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 / Flyby Promotions for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.
July 10, 2019
Great way to enjoy the Bible. With common sense explanations that can really open your eyes to the word of God.
November 11, 2015
Over the years I have owned a number of devotional bibles. Some were focused on men’s issues, some on women’s issues, some on marriage, others devoted to children, and still others addressing numerous matters of life and faith. The typical approach with a devotional style Bible is to insert a few short articles intended to share some pick me up style thoughts on whatever it is that particular devotional bible is addressing. From my experience, the quality of devotional bibles is a bit hit and miss with unfortunately the missing being more of the reality.
I am a bit picky when it comes to bibles. They can be very expensive and beyond that, I want to ensure that what is being promoted either in the overall approach or the specific articles, footnotes, and other study guides is in alignment with sound biblical teaching. I often shy away from devotional bibles because as I noted earlier, I have found most of them to be lacking in quality content.
Recently, Crossway Books released the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible and I had the pleasure of taking a look at it. After spending some time reading the various devotional articles inserted throughout, I have to say I am very impressed with this devotional bible.
For starters, the men who contributed the articles are individuals I highly respect. They are known for their perspicuity on men’s issues and their devotion to sound biblical teaching. I have confidence that when I reading their thoughts for instance on issues such as marriage or parenting, what I am about to encounter will be faithful to the biblical text, applicable to daily life, and practical in its approach. They avoid happy go lucky thoughts intended on providing nothing more than a daily “buzz” and instead share thoughts in a devotional manner that truly will assist men in their walk with God.
Second, the articles stay true to the intended focus on this devotional bible, namely on helping men deal with and think about issues related to them. Not only are there specific articles that deal with issues men face on a daily basis, there are also some excellent discussion articles throughout dealing with textual matters. For instance, Colin Smith shares an article on dealing with discouragement that is rightly placed in the book of Nehemiah, specifically the section where Nehemiah encounters hecklers. The encouragement to stand firm, pray, and to press on with the work God has called you to do is relevant to the text and highly important in a world where men so often face discouragement.
Finally, unlike other recent bible releases I have encountered of late, the overall size of the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is not prohibitive from it being carried around and used on a daily basis. Some study bibles and even a few devotional bibles can seem like they weigh a ton and thus many might shy away from purchasing them, either due to cost or sheer size. The ESV Men’s Devotional Bible can fit comfortably under your arm on your way to church or with a notebook as you sit and study Scripture on a daily basis.
I highly recommend this bible for all men. The articles are timely, important for men to read and contemplate, and most significantly, they are biblically sound. If you are in the market for devotional bible, I encourage you to give this one consideration. In fact, I would encourage churches to stock their bookstores with this bible. I know I will keep it quite handy as part of my daily Bible study.
I received this bible for free from Crossway Books and 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.”
I am a bit picky when it comes to bibles. They can be very expensive and beyond that, I want to ensure that what is being promoted either in the overall approach or the specific articles, footnotes, and other study guides is in alignment with sound biblical teaching. I often shy away from devotional bibles because as I noted earlier, I have found most of them to be lacking in quality content.
Recently, Crossway Books released the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible and I had the pleasure of taking a look at it. After spending some time reading the various devotional articles inserted throughout, I have to say I am very impressed with this devotional bible.
For starters, the men who contributed the articles are individuals I highly respect. They are known for their perspicuity on men’s issues and their devotion to sound biblical teaching. I have confidence that when I reading their thoughts for instance on issues such as marriage or parenting, what I am about to encounter will be faithful to the biblical text, applicable to daily life, and practical in its approach. They avoid happy go lucky thoughts intended on providing nothing more than a daily “buzz” and instead share thoughts in a devotional manner that truly will assist men in their walk with God.
Second, the articles stay true to the intended focus on this devotional bible, namely on helping men deal with and think about issues related to them. Not only are there specific articles that deal with issues men face on a daily basis, there are also some excellent discussion articles throughout dealing with textual matters. For instance, Colin Smith shares an article on dealing with discouragement that is rightly placed in the book of Nehemiah, specifically the section where Nehemiah encounters hecklers. The encouragement to stand firm, pray, and to press on with the work God has called you to do is relevant to the text and highly important in a world where men so often face discouragement.
Finally, unlike other recent bible releases I have encountered of late, the overall size of the ESV Men’s Devotional Bible is not prohibitive from it being carried around and used on a daily basis. Some study bibles and even a few devotional bibles can seem like they weigh a ton and thus many might shy away from purchasing them, either due to cost or sheer size. The ESV Men’s Devotional Bible can fit comfortably under your arm on your way to church or with a notebook as you sit and study Scripture on a daily basis.
I highly recommend this bible for all men. The articles are timely, important for men to read and contemplate, and most significantly, they are biblically sound. If you are in the market for devotional bible, I encourage you to give this one consideration. In fact, I would encourage churches to stock their bookstores with this bible. I know I will keep it quite handy as part of my daily Bible study.
I received this bible for free from Crossway Books and 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.”
November 13, 2015
"Our world presents daily distractions that can easily displace Christ as the center of a man's heart and life. The goal of the ESV Men's Devotional Bible is to strengthen and encourage men through the life-giving Word of God and sound devotional content aimed at nurturing godliness. With 365 theologically rich and gospel-centered devotions drawn directly from the Bible, this all-new resource was created under the editorial oversight of Dr. Sam Storms with contributions from over fifty Christian leaders. Introductions orient men to each book of the Bible, exploring its unique contribution to a man's walk with God. Thoughtful and instructive articles address the importance of sound doctrine, life in the local church, leadership, the heart, calling and a host of other relevant issues for today. The Men's Devotional Bible will strengthen men in their walk with Christ, helping them apply the gospel and the truth of God's Word in their homes, churches and workplaces." (back cover).
The biggest challenge facing men today is that they have been called and set apart by God to be leaders that in a sense report directly to God. This does not mean that they are called to dominate those underneath them but to care and love them as much as Jesus did for His church, the body of believers. Men face challenges of leading a home, being the counselor of sorts for his wife and his children, to lead a moral and ethical life in their workplaces and to help spread the gospel to the world through our daily interactions with others. This does not mean men aren't perfect and go through their own struggles and challenges as well.
The ESV Men's Devotional Bible is a two-fold resource. First and foremost it is the Word of God designed to provide the truth that men can rely on to help in their spiritual and leadership walks with God and those in their life. Along with that are 365 devotionals sprinkled throughout God's Word that men can pick up and read in any order or simply follow the guide at the conclusion of each devotional to know where to find the next one. They are designed to encourage you in what Book your are reading to help guide you in your understanding of what is taking place. These are designed as well to help you apply what you are reading to what is happening in your life today. This is my favorite aspect of this Bible, because besides reading it and looking for God's inspiration in the text but also how we can apply things from the Old Testament into our present days lives and the subjects that are likely to come up in every day situations like why is going to church important, understanding the implications of pornography, understanding a mans identify, a man's work, dealing with doubt, communion with God, singleness, marriage and fathering.
I received the ESV Men's Devotional Bible by Crossway Publishers and Propeller LLC for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this Bible, in exchange for my honest review. I had my husband actually write the review listed above so that you got a man's opinion of the Bible instead of my own. It is such a wonderful addition to our home and one that my husband can utilize when He is traveling on business. It is a hard cover, black letter text with an 8.5 font type and includes a dictionary of key terms. In his opinion, he easily rates this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only reason from not providing it a true 5 out of 5 stars is he would have liked to have a red-letter edition so the Words of Jesus truly stand apart from the remainder of the text in the New Testament.
The biggest challenge facing men today is that they have been called and set apart by God to be leaders that in a sense report directly to God. This does not mean that they are called to dominate those underneath them but to care and love them as much as Jesus did for His church, the body of believers. Men face challenges of leading a home, being the counselor of sorts for his wife and his children, to lead a moral and ethical life in their workplaces and to help spread the gospel to the world through our daily interactions with others. This does not mean men aren't perfect and go through their own struggles and challenges as well.
The ESV Men's Devotional Bible is a two-fold resource. First and foremost it is the Word of God designed to provide the truth that men can rely on to help in their spiritual and leadership walks with God and those in their life. Along with that are 365 devotionals sprinkled throughout God's Word that men can pick up and read in any order or simply follow the guide at the conclusion of each devotional to know where to find the next one. They are designed to encourage you in what Book your are reading to help guide you in your understanding of what is taking place. These are designed as well to help you apply what you are reading to what is happening in your life today. This is my favorite aspect of this Bible, because besides reading it and looking for God's inspiration in the text but also how we can apply things from the Old Testament into our present days lives and the subjects that are likely to come up in every day situations like why is going to church important, understanding the implications of pornography, understanding a mans identify, a man's work, dealing with doubt, communion with God, singleness, marriage and fathering.
I received the ESV Men's Devotional Bible by Crossway Publishers and Propeller LLC for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this Bible, in exchange for my honest review. I had my husband actually write the review listed above so that you got a man's opinion of the Bible instead of my own. It is such a wonderful addition to our home and one that my husband can utilize when He is traveling on business. It is a hard cover, black letter text with an 8.5 font type and includes a dictionary of key terms. In his opinion, he easily rates this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only reason from not providing it a true 5 out of 5 stars is he would have liked to have a red-letter edition so the Words of Jesus truly stand apart from the remainder of the text in the New Testament.
October 27, 2016
Not Another Beat Men Up Resource
I bought this as my Bib!e to read in 2016. I have read it enough to now review it. At first I was reluctant for a few reasons.
1. I have more Bibles than any sane person should. I don't need another Bible.
2. I think we are saturated with niche Bibles and doubted we needed another one.
3. I am gun shy about men's material. It seems most stuff for guys falls into certain streams. Men drive big trucks, clear a field, build a castle, catch your own food and rescue the women. Or we are told we are workaholics, lazy, brutal, passive, and don't do enough. In fact most of the worlds problems are our fault. Finally we are told we aren't so bright so we need something so simp!e even a man can understand it.
I know I am being very broad brushed here but compare the average Mother's Day sermon and Father's Day sermon. Men don't hear much about the dignity, honor, joy, responsibility, and importance of man hood (unless you just slayed another dragon and saved the village.)
So why did I break down and buy this?
It comes from Crossway, a publisher I highly respect.
I am familiar with some of the contributors and I value their work. Others I have been interested in checking out and this seemed a valid way.
Its the English Standard Version, my go to translation.
A few features. There are devotional book introductions, some additional articles as well as an index and glossary. There is no concordance, maps, or other study helps.
The heart of this Bible is the devotional articles. They are located on the same page (or close) as the related text. These are good devotionals and make this a valuable resource. While they are short, one page articles, they are not superficial. Each set of articles on a book are by the same author so there is consistency.
The articles are devotional. They do provide some background and context to make sure the article is faithful to the text. There is then the devotional application geared towards men in various phases of life. These devotionals remind us of the value, dignity, honor, joy, and responsibility of manhood. I never felt beat up or shamed but encouraged and challenged. The articles do not shy away from hard stuff but in the end the goal is moving a man's heart towards Christ.
There are a few things I'd like to have seen. For the record I have the tru tone cover.
1. Font size. It's readable but a little harder for my aging eyes.
2. Chapter numbers. These as well as subheadings are gold and hard to see.
3. Reading plan. I would like to see a reading plan. Following my yearly plan there were days I read multiple articles and other days none. I am sure with a little work I could have developed one but it would have been nice.
4. Available as a stand alone. I really appreciated the devotional material but I didn't really need another Bible. I'd like more resources like this but can't justify a new Bib!e every time.
In the end you will benefit from this resource, both the Biblical text and the additional materials.
I bought this as my Bib!e to read in 2016. I have read it enough to now review it. At first I was reluctant for a few reasons.
1. I have more Bibles than any sane person should. I don't need another Bible.
2. I think we are saturated with niche Bibles and doubted we needed another one.
3. I am gun shy about men's material. It seems most stuff for guys falls into certain streams. Men drive big trucks, clear a field, build a castle, catch your own food and rescue the women. Or we are told we are workaholics, lazy, brutal, passive, and don't do enough. In fact most of the worlds problems are our fault. Finally we are told we aren't so bright so we need something so simp!e even a man can understand it.
I know I am being very broad brushed here but compare the average Mother's Day sermon and Father's Day sermon. Men don't hear much about the dignity, honor, joy, responsibility, and importance of man hood (unless you just slayed another dragon and saved the village.)
So why did I break down and buy this?
It comes from Crossway, a publisher I highly respect.
I am familiar with some of the contributors and I value their work. Others I have been interested in checking out and this seemed a valid way.
Its the English Standard Version, my go to translation.
A few features. There are devotional book introductions, some additional articles as well as an index and glossary. There is no concordance, maps, or other study helps.
The heart of this Bible is the devotional articles. They are located on the same page (or close) as the related text. These are good devotionals and make this a valuable resource. While they are short, one page articles, they are not superficial. Each set of articles on a book are by the same author so there is consistency.
The articles are devotional. They do provide some background and context to make sure the article is faithful to the text. There is then the devotional application geared towards men in various phases of life. These devotionals remind us of the value, dignity, honor, joy, and responsibility of manhood. I never felt beat up or shamed but encouraged and challenged. The articles do not shy away from hard stuff but in the end the goal is moving a man's heart towards Christ.
There are a few things I'd like to have seen. For the record I have the tru tone cover.
1. Font size. It's readable but a little harder for my aging eyes.
2. Chapter numbers. These as well as subheadings are gold and hard to see.
3. Reading plan. I would like to see a reading plan. Following my yearly plan there were days I read multiple articles and other days none. I am sure with a little work I could have developed one but it would have been nice.
4. Available as a stand alone. I really appreciated the devotional material but I didn't really need another Bible. I'd like more resources like this but can't justify a new Bib!e every time.
In the end you will benefit from this resource, both the Biblical text and the additional materials.
November 19, 2015
The version: I have just recently become familiar with the ESV (English Standard Version), and I really like it. It is an easy to read translation that I feel is well translated. And from what I read, it often is close to the King James Version in wording without the words we don't use anymore.
The Devotional Bible:
The devotionals are spread all throughout the Bible, and the devotional is about whatever passage of Scripture it is found by. They are geared for men, though many of them are general enough to be for anyone. They are not numbered by day or date, and it has the page number of the next devotional on each one. Several different men wrote the entries for the devotionals, and they are well written and thought out. I didn't read all 365 of them, but I used the Bible for the last couple of weeks and found the entries that I read very helpful.
I have one issue with the Bible: The Books of the Bible, titles of the devotional, authors, subject changes in the Scripture, and other things are in gold print. Maybe I am just getting old, but some of it is difficult to read and a different color would have been better for that.
As a side note, I have been looking at this Bible and was very interested in it, so I was very happy to have the chance to review it. I was not disappointed. This is very well done and would make a great tool for any Christian man.
The Devotional Bible:
The devotionals are spread all throughout the Bible, and the devotional is about whatever passage of Scripture it is found by. They are geared for men, though many of them are general enough to be for anyone. They are not numbered by day or date, and it has the page number of the next devotional on each one. Several different men wrote the entries for the devotionals, and they are well written and thought out. I didn't read all 365 of them, but I used the Bible for the last couple of weeks and found the entries that I read very helpful.
I have one issue with the Bible: The Books of the Bible, titles of the devotional, authors, subject changes in the Scripture, and other things are in gold print. Maybe I am just getting old, but some of it is difficult to read and a different color would have been better for that.
As a side note, I have been looking at this Bible and was very interested in it, so I was very happy to have the chance to review it. I was not disappointed. This is very well done and would make a great tool for any Christian man.
November 20, 2015
ESV Men's Devotional Bible
There are so many different Bible's out there finding one that fits what you understand and keeps God's word and not changing His word is not a easy task. I have been mainly a KJV and then went to NKJV. I looked and have been reading some of this ESV Bble. to me it makes it easier to understand. I really enjoy the devotions. There are 365 of them and with the reading each day and reading the scriptures each day could read through it in a year. The print is a nice size for easy reading. Unless you need a large print. I think it is a great study Bible that I will use along with my NKJV. might say it is for men but i like it too!! I was given this book to review for my own honest opinion.
There are so many different Bible's out there finding one that fits what you understand and keeps God's word and not changing His word is not a easy task. I have been mainly a KJV and then went to NKJV. I looked and have been reading some of this ESV Bble. to me it makes it easier to understand. I really enjoy the devotions. There are 365 of them and with the reading each day and reading the scriptures each day could read through it in a year. The print is a nice size for easy reading. Unless you need a large print. I think it is a great study Bible that I will use along with my NKJV. might say it is for men but i like it too!! I was given this book to review for my own honest opinion.
November 8, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
ESV Men's Devotional Bible © 2015 by Crossway; ESV Text Edition: 2011
The print is easily readable with clear font with 8.5-point Lexicon type, two-columns to a page. The devotional readings reflect on biblical text. The placement of the devotions have a footnote leading to the next devotion. They are not dated, but applicable to the Scriptures you are reading. There is a brief introduction to each Book of the Bible. In the back are articles addressing issues of interest to men. There is a dictionary of key terms, devotions index alongside Scripture references.
ESV Men's Devotional Bible © 2015 by Crossway; ESV Text Edition: 2011
The print is easily readable with clear font with 8.5-point Lexicon type, two-columns to a page. The devotional readings reflect on biblical text. The placement of the devotions have a footnote leading to the next devotion. They are not dated, but applicable to the Scriptures you are reading. There is a brief introduction to each Book of the Bible. In the back are articles addressing issues of interest to men. There is a dictionary of key terms, devotions index alongside Scripture references.
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