Best News Ever: Your 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark

by Chris Morphew

When was the last time you heard some really incredible news that you couldn't wait to share? The Gospel of Mark is that kind of good news! It’s a life-changing announcement about who Jesus is, and what he’s done.

Best News Ever is a devotional that takes tweens aged 9-12 on a 100-day journey through Mark's fast-paced, action-packed story—helping them to understand the confusing bits, showing them how it connects with their life, and bringing them face to face with Jesus: the one who changes everything.

Each day's devotional includes:
• A passage to read — work through the whole of Mark's Gospel in bite-sized chunks
• A short explanation — guiding you though the confusing bits and showing what it means for you
• A question to reflect on — so that you can slow down and think through what you've read
• A prayer to pray — to help you respond to what God has said

Written in a pithy and engaging style, Best News Ever will help young people of all backgrounds to read the Bible for themselves, whether they know a little or a lot about Jesus already. It is also ideal to use as a family devotional.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2019

About the author

Chris Morphew is an author, teacher, and school chaplain living in Sydney, Australia.

He has written twelve books for the best-selling Zac Power series, as well as his own six-book young adult series, The Phoenix Files. He’s also co-written The Gateway, an eight-book series for primary school kids about a hotel for aliens, alongside Rowan McAuley and David Harding.

His latest books are Best News Ever, a 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark, and The Big Questions, a series of short books answer tough questions about life and faith.

Chris enjoys Mario Kart, obscure board games, and superhero movies, and has been told he looks like Chris Hemsworth from the back.

Reviews

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read-aloud for family devotions around the breakfast table. The chapters start with a Bible passage to read from the book of Mark, and then a discussion, thoughtful question & closing prayer. Each chapter takes under 10 minutes, so we found it just right for starting the day in God's Word as the kids are getting ready to head out the door to school. Plus, author Chris Morphew's style is PERFECT for reading aloud—catchy, fun and doctrinally on-point.

~Jen

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have struggled to enjoy reading the Bible. I felt like I was missing something. I was. I was missing this study guide. Morphew provides a fast paced, easy to read and very engaging 100 day guide through the Gospel of Mark. He provides historical context, explanations for obscure metaphors, and timely opportunities for reflection. Morphew’s language is accessible and engaging. He manages to make one of the oldest stories in the world feel incredibly relevant to here and now. It would be difficult not to relate to at least a few of the stories, parables, or lessons presented. I look forward to delving into more of the source material once I can get my hands on more of Morphew’s works.

[Rachel K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been using this book of daily devotionals with my daughter. It was quite hard to find something suitable for her age group (she’s 9, nearly 10) but this was pictured just at the right level. The gospel of Mark is always the gospel that many Christians recommend that new Christians and unbelievers read first - I suppose because it is short and very immediate. So Mark as a gospel works well for children and the devotionals are short but very profound - I’ve learnt new things! Highly recommended

[Steve Nation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant devotional. Can't recommend it more highly. Was wonderful for my 12 year old boy who really grew through it

[Tom French · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Best News Ever' is a book of 100 daily reflections working through the book of Mark from beginning to end. It’s designed to help late primary and early high schoolers read and understand the book of Mark. Unlike the normal devotionals that we often give young people that have a bunch of inspiring prooftexts or an author’s selection of Bible passages to give encouragement in whatever theme the devotion is covering, Best News Ever divides Mark’s gospel into 100 easily manageable chunks and offers a short reflection on each passage. Each reflection helps the reader grasp the teaching of the passage and places it in the context of the story of Mark and the big picture of the Bible. Each day also gives the reader a question or two to consider and apply, followed by a short prayer. This is a book that treats its readers like capable young theologians, able to understand difficult concepts and big themes and then apply them to their lives. Even after having spent years studying the book of Mark, I found myself getting surprised and excited as Chris shows how Mark has brilliantly put the story of Jesus together.

This book is great! And I’m not just saying that - I’ve ordered a bunch to give to the younger kids in my youth group when we get back in the new year.

'Best News Ever' won’t just teach young readers what’s in Mark, it’ll teach them how to read Mark and the Bible in general. This could be the book to set them up as lifelong readers of the Bible, which is exactly what we want for them.