Christmas - The Rest of the Story

by Rick Renner

There's More to This Story
Than You've Been Told

Is there more about the story of Christmas you wish you understood or that you have specific questions about? In this storybook of biblical truth and history, Rick Renner takes you on the magical journey of Christ's coming to earth as a baby — and the purpose of His coming — in a way you’ve probably never heard it before.

Featuring full-color, original illustrations by artist Lev Kaplan of Stuttgart, Germany, Christmas — the Rest of the Story tells the spellbinding story of God’s plan to redeem mankind — from the angel’s pronouncement to the virgin Mary, and her espousal and marriage to Joseph all the way to the angels’ glorious heralding of the Savior’s birth and His young, "ordinary" life marked by God Almighty’s extraordinary plan.

Some of the topics covered

Why God chose Mary.Why angels viewed God in the flesh with such wonderment.Who were the "shepherds keeping watch" and the Magi?What was the value of the Magi’s famous gifts?A baby-dedication ceremony of all ceremonies!Why King Herod was so troubled by this historical birth?The humility of the Creator’s death.How to prepare for Jesus’ next coming.

This book is sure to be a favorite family book in your home, perhaps for generations to come! Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection is truly the greatest story on earth — but it has never been more uniquely told than in these pages written by Rick Renner.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Christian, Christmas, Faith, Christianity, Biography

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Rick Renner is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestsellers Dressed To Kill and Sparkling Gems From the Greek 1 and 2. His understanding of the Greek language and biblical history opens the Scriptures to enable readers to gain fresh insight from God's Word

Reviews

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. As a pastor, I was very familiar with the Christmas story, including some of the "rest of the story" elements Renner shared here. That being said his discussions of the story of the Magi and the ways of Herod the Great, provided really unique insights. Renner is really informative and well read, and his expertise in the Greek is clear. He also relies heavily on extra biblical sources such as Josephus. Some of these had me scratching my head a little bit and feeling the need to do more digging, but overall, I found this book to be enlightening and informative. This was a good read.

[Stephen Vendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb book!

I never heard so much about the story. Thank you Rick

for a job well done. I could hardly put it down.

[Karen StPierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christ is the babe

Very good book. The Christmas story written with such insight. Families should read this every Christmas to remind us what God has done for us.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

In typical Rick Renner fashion, this book carefully digs into the Bible then adds linguistic and historical information to give us so much more confidence in the actual truth of this mythic story.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖋️ This author has a penchant for rewriting the Gospel according to his caprices, and he shows that once again in this book. He thinks that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to several more children after Jesus Christ because the Bible states that Jesus was her firstborn. “Firstborn” is idiomatic verbiage – I will bet a dime to a doughnut that Rick Renner calls his followers “brothers and sisters” – so I would suppose, then, that the Rick Renner’s mother gave birth to all those people?

Mary is perpetually virginal. This book is heretical.

♦️ I received a Kindle eBook copy via the Goodreads Giveaway Program. Thank you to the author. 😀

🟣 Kindle.

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[Helen Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best "Bible study" books I've EVER read! Amazing teaching and real in-depth insight to the nativity story. Being brought up in a Christian home and having regularly gone to Church I didn't think there was too much to learn after 50 years but boy was I wrong! I've been addicted to the teaching of Rick Renner for a few months now and this REALLY didn't disappoint. I'd recommend this for anyone, if even a long-time Christian like me can learn something!

[Leigh Widerburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book wasn’t at all what I expected. Maybe it was the style I didn’t like. It read like a text book, asking the reader to summarize what they had learned in each chapter and how they could apply it in their life. It did seem really well researched both by scriptures and historical accounts. I found the searching out of Greek words and their meanings at the time tedious

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book is exactly what you get. You will learn facts that are not widely known. It will expand your knowledge and increase your enjoyment of the Christmas story. The book is also beautiful. There are full page color illustrations and the text pages are enclosed in a full color border. You will find questions to consider as you read.

[Rocky Henriques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars but only because ...

... there was a LOT of repetition. The book very easily could have been much, much shorter. That being said, this is one of the best books on the Birth of Christ I've ever read. Readers will gain much insight from the careful research and writing style of Rick Renner. A good one to read any time of the year!

[John Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expanding Christmas

An amazing read that greatly expanded my understanding and knowledge of the Christmas story. It gave me a more in depth picture of what the times were like and what the historical circumstances were without the pictures we have been shown since the early Middle Ages.

[John Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information you probably didn't know about Christmas. There were no wise men at the manger and the manger was nog a wooden stable. How many magic were there or how many infants did Heels murder? I'm using this book as a guide for my Advent sermons.

[Sandra Gail Veal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

This book brought an entirely new meaning to the birth and life of Jesus for me. I would recommend everyone read this, and find out the true meaning of The Christmas Story!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding read

I love the rest of the story, it is so detailed (which I love)
I would suggest everyone read this it will clear the fog and wonder, it is all so logical, what can I say I love this book.

[Debra Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Will become a classic to read every Christmas.

[Leannaeklof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my husband. I learned a lot about Mary, Joseph, and the wise men. It changed my understanding of the Christmas. It is a bit redundant at times.

[Nick Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this are a perfect example of why Good Reads should have a 10 star rating system. This is a 6 star book! Fabulous!

[Deborah Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, where I learned so many details about Christ's birth I had never heard of. I enjoyed not just reading but sharing what I learned with my friends and family!

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful book!!

There is so much more to be learned about the birth of our Lord. This book is a gem of information.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Grace

Thank you Rick. The insight you shared in this story strengthens my faith in Jesus and in His love for me.

[Carla Winheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent! Very well written as are all of Rick Renner's books. This will open your eyes to truths about Joseph, the Magi, and more. We need to let truth take hold and grow not religious sweet thinking.

[David Seguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is awesome book on the true story of Christmas from there engagement and Joseph taking Mary as his wife even though she was expecting to the magi coming when Jesus was two years old and a lot of other things people have gotten wrong