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Walking with Bilbo: A Devotional Adventure through the Hobbit
2005 Logos Bookstores Award winner for Best Youth Book
The author of Walking with Frodo takes readers on an adventure of faith with this devotional that relates themes from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to living the Christian life. Unlike the fateful quest Frodo was asked to carry out, Bilbo's journey came as an unexpected adventure. Readers will be reminded that God chooses us to be unlikely heroes in the adventure of life.
The author of Walking with Frodo takes readers on an adventure of faith with this devotional that relates themes from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to living the Christian life. Unlike the fateful quest Frodo was asked to carry out, Bilbo's journey came as an unexpected adventure. Readers will be reminded that God chooses us to be unlikely heroes in the adventure of life.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2005
73 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Arthur
28 books379 followersSarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker, Christy Award finalist, and author of numerous books for teens and adults, including the bestselling ONCE A QUEEN, the first in her acclaimed Carrick Hall Novels. Among other nerdy adventures, she has served as preliminary fiction judge for Christianity Today’s Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival in northern Michigan, and co-directs the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats. She lives in Lansing, Michigan with her husband and two preteen sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 15, 2012
Walking With Bilbo by Sarah Arthur comes in the wake of the newly released The Hobbit movie. It's a devotional that follows chapter-by-chapter J.R.R. Tolkein's book, The Hobbit.
“And no wonder Tolkien, a devout Roman Catholic who took things like the marriage ceremony seriously, referred to those fans (hobbit communes, those obsessed with fantasy to the extreme) as his “deplorable cultus.” In other words, their cult-like attempt to replace reality with fantasy was taking things down a road Tolkien never intended.” (Introduction)
The book has quotes from The Hobbit, followed by a clever commentary making The Hobbit and Bilbo relatable to this generation by drawing on Bilbo's and Biblical example. Following each commentary is a list of questions to answer and scripture to meditate on.
Sarah's book is unique where devotions are concerned. It reaches across the generations to our next generation—the one who knows more about The Lord of the Rings trilogy than how America was founded. It's chapter on relating to family tensions and church family tensions is the most well-written I've read on the subject; a truth easy to swallow.
Sarah suggests that the person who buys this book become familiar with the trilogy books and the movie. However, I think anyone could understand the underlying lessons without having read or seen either. Sarah also has other books out that spark my interest like Walking With Frodo and Dating Mr. Darcy. Overall, I gave this book five stars for excellent story-telling and how easily she reaches across age divisions.
*book given by publisher to review.
“And no wonder Tolkien, a devout Roman Catholic who took things like the marriage ceremony seriously, referred to those fans (hobbit communes, those obsessed with fantasy to the extreme) as his “deplorable cultus.” In other words, their cult-like attempt to replace reality with fantasy was taking things down a road Tolkien never intended.” (Introduction)
The book has quotes from The Hobbit, followed by a clever commentary making The Hobbit and Bilbo relatable to this generation by drawing on Bilbo's and Biblical example. Following each commentary is a list of questions to answer and scripture to meditate on.
Sarah's book is unique where devotions are concerned. It reaches across the generations to our next generation—the one who knows more about The Lord of the Rings trilogy than how America was founded. It's chapter on relating to family tensions and church family tensions is the most well-written I've read on the subject; a truth easy to swallow.
Sarah suggests that the person who buys this book become familiar with the trilogy books and the movie. However, I think anyone could understand the underlying lessons without having read or seen either. Sarah also has other books out that spark my interest like Walking With Frodo and Dating Mr. Darcy. Overall, I gave this book five stars for excellent story-telling and how easily she reaches across age divisions.
*book given by publisher to review.
February 3, 2013
With the release of Lord of the Rings years ago and the long-awaited, recent release of first in The Hobbit trilogy, author Sarah Arthur (of Walking With Frodo and Walking Through the Wardrobe) has once again taken pop cultural movies (based on classic fiction) and related it to the Christian faith.
I was skeptical at first but intrigued. I’ve read other devotionals and studies that twist movies themes and occurrences to vaguely connect with the Christian faith but from the start Walking with Bilbo was different. By the third chapter (I read one a day), I was in love with this devotional. The chapters easily tie the books to Christianity but the author went well beyond the obvious and deep into The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with vignettes about both classics and Tolkien’s life and writing career.
While Arthur suggest strongly that her readers should make their way through The Hobbit (at least) but even without re-reading it, a basic familiarity of the story’s plot (or watching the movie) will give the reader the gist. I was incredibly intrigued by the insight the author had and the points she chose to make in comparing The Hobbit and Bilbo’s story with Christianity. More than anything else, the thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter led to further introspection rather than just pat questions often found for group discussion.
It is my opinion that Sarah Arthur did her readers an amazing service in this book. She has taken us on a trip through Middle Earth and deepened our Christian faith at the same time. She has helped Tolkien fans find a common ground between fantasy and faith and helps them find Christ in the process. This is a devotional/study guide that everyone, from women’s groups to pre-teens can understand and enjoy.
I was skeptical at first but intrigued. I’ve read other devotionals and studies that twist movies themes and occurrences to vaguely connect with the Christian faith but from the start Walking with Bilbo was different. By the third chapter (I read one a day), I was in love with this devotional. The chapters easily tie the books to Christianity but the author went well beyond the obvious and deep into The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings with vignettes about both classics and Tolkien’s life and writing career.
While Arthur suggest strongly that her readers should make their way through The Hobbit (at least) but even without re-reading it, a basic familiarity of the story’s plot (or watching the movie) will give the reader the gist. I was incredibly intrigued by the insight the author had and the points she chose to make in comparing The Hobbit and Bilbo’s story with Christianity. More than anything else, the thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter led to further introspection rather than just pat questions often found for group discussion.
It is my opinion that Sarah Arthur did her readers an amazing service in this book. She has taken us on a trip through Middle Earth and deepened our Christian faith at the same time. She has helped Tolkien fans find a common ground between fantasy and faith and helps them find Christ in the process. This is a devotional/study guide that everyone, from women’s groups to pre-teens can understand and enjoy.
November 12, 2012
Easy to read devotional comparing the adventures of Bilbo Baggins with the Christian life. Great insights into how Tolkien wrote The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
May 29, 2022
A good, practical devotional geared toward teens and young adults. As a Tolkien fan, I enjoyed reliving the Hobbit and drawing out lessons for life from that wonderful story.
May 31, 2013
If you are looking to walk the path of spirituality derived from the Lord of the Ring or the Hobbit then for this book you better be a Christian. This book is written from a Christian perspective for Christians. THe only thing is that most Christians or die hard ones will get their spirituality from the Bible not a fantasy novel. Those who do derive lessons will have a diffrent spiritual orientation altogether. JRR Tolkien himself was a Christian and it no doubt bled into his works.
THe author goes chapter by chapter delivering forth a spiritual lesson to be derived from the chapter. Whethyer Tolkien meant for it to be that way is to dificult to tell. The author looks at the Hobit as a parable for Jesus and spiritual worker. THe Hobbit teaches via selection of Bilbo that Christ is looking for a few food people, people with hidden qualities, people who are humble and people who are willing to do what it takes. Often times like Bilbo we do not get a job description or at best it is very scarce and never really prepares us for what to expect. Are we indeed qualified. God only know as does Gandalf in the Hobbit. It is sheer madness to break away from the norm like Bilbo did in the Hobbioty. No Hobbit ever went on adenventures, Bilbo did and was judged for it. We too are judged when we quest for the spiritual. Often tiomes the Bible will ask us to be fools for Christ or God. When we have to travel on a spiritual journey or do God's work we oftn times have to travel light and leave behind many things we find comfortable. THe keyu to trabvelling success is traveling light. Gandalf comes and goes much like God does. Often on very difernt errands yet we are never totally alone we must fight the battle and yet when things get too tough Gandalf or God reappears for us. Things do not always go as planned at times it will go awry but there is a reason for that. It is part of God's plan not ours. In the face of disaster whenwe canot fix things we have but one choice and that is to move on and move forward. Things can seem difficult but help comesw when we least exct like eagles swoopiong form the sky to rescue us from orc and wargs this what Tolkien called a eucatastrophe. We can walk God';s path or our path. On Gods path we experience adventure that will build us up and on our opwn path we expereince misadventure which means bad problems.
THe lesson in this book are many. THe reader is taught about decency, honesty and the dangers of greed. More over we usually learn about how even the smallest person can be the biggest hero.
THe author goes chapter by chapter delivering forth a spiritual lesson to be derived from the chapter. Whethyer Tolkien meant for it to be that way is to dificult to tell. The author looks at the Hobit as a parable for Jesus and spiritual worker. THe Hobbit teaches via selection of Bilbo that Christ is looking for a few food people, people with hidden qualities, people who are humble and people who are willing to do what it takes. Often times like Bilbo we do not get a job description or at best it is very scarce and never really prepares us for what to expect. Are we indeed qualified. God only know as does Gandalf in the Hobbit. It is sheer madness to break away from the norm like Bilbo did in the Hobbioty. No Hobbit ever went on adenventures, Bilbo did and was judged for it. We too are judged when we quest for the spiritual. Often tiomes the Bible will ask us to be fools for Christ or God. When we have to travel on a spiritual journey or do God's work we oftn times have to travel light and leave behind many things we find comfortable. THe keyu to trabvelling success is traveling light. Gandalf comes and goes much like God does. Often on very difernt errands yet we are never totally alone we must fight the battle and yet when things get too tough Gandalf or God reappears for us. Things do not always go as planned at times it will go awry but there is a reason for that. It is part of God's plan not ours. In the face of disaster whenwe canot fix things we have but one choice and that is to move on and move forward. Things can seem difficult but help comesw when we least exct like eagles swoopiong form the sky to rescue us from orc and wargs this what Tolkien called a eucatastrophe. We can walk God';s path or our path. On Gods path we experience adventure that will build us up and on our opwn path we expereince misadventure which means bad problems.
THe lesson in this book are many. THe reader is taught about decency, honesty and the dangers of greed. More over we usually learn about how even the smallest person can be the biggest hero.
December 19, 2012
Book Review -- Walking with Bilbo
Walking with Bilbo: A devotional adventure through The Hobbit. Sarah Arthur. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2005. 194pp.
All fiction parallels life. That’s why we read it. However, certain books and stories resonate with us on a deeper level. Sarah Arthur’s, Walking with Bilbo, revolves around J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, and the book’s ability to grab the reader on a spiritual level due to the story’s fundamental themes being primarily Christian. Tolkien, though he was quick to point out that he had not set out to write an allegory, affirmed his awareness of these thematic issues.
Throughout, Walking with Bilbo, Sarah Arthur takes scenes from The Hobbit and compares the hardships the character Bilbo faces and the choices he must make with those of Christians as they embark on an adventure of faith. At the end of each chapter, Arthur poses questions to the reader concerning these comparisons and suggests the reading of certain Bible passages that illustrate the Christian themes.
I enjoyed reading Walking with Bilbo. I found the straight-forward prose refreshing and many of the comparisons enlightening. I have my doubts that non-Christian Tolkien aficionados would enjoy the book. However, I would recommend it to Christians who harbor a sometimes secret love of fantasy.
For purposes of this review, I was supplied by the publisher, Tyndale House, with a copy of Walking with Bilbo.
– Bob Avey, author of Footprints of a Dancer
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Walking with Bilbo: A devotional adventure through The Hobbit. Sarah Arthur. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2005. 194pp.
All fiction parallels life. That’s why we read it. However, certain books and stories resonate with us on a deeper level. Sarah Arthur’s, Walking with Bilbo, revolves around J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, and the book’s ability to grab the reader on a spiritual level due to the story’s fundamental themes being primarily Christian. Tolkien, though he was quick to point out that he had not set out to write an allegory, affirmed his awareness of these thematic issues.
Throughout, Walking with Bilbo, Sarah Arthur takes scenes from The Hobbit and compares the hardships the character Bilbo faces and the choices he must make with those of Christians as they embark on an adventure of faith. At the end of each chapter, Arthur poses questions to the reader concerning these comparisons and suggests the reading of certain Bible passages that illustrate the Christian themes.
I enjoyed reading Walking with Bilbo. I found the straight-forward prose refreshing and many of the comparisons enlightening. I have my doubts that non-Christian Tolkien aficionados would enjoy the book. However, I would recommend it to Christians who harbor a sometimes secret love of fantasy.
For purposes of this review, I was supplied by the publisher, Tyndale House, with a copy of Walking with Bilbo.
– Bob Avey, author of Footprints of a Dancer
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February 21, 2021
This year I'm reading through several of the devotional eBooks I've collected as they've been offered for free. I don't have to review these; I received them with no strings attached. If I like them, though, I will. I really liked Walking with Bilbo by Sarah Arthur.
Arthur tells us up front that Tolkien didn't intend for his book, The Hobbit, to be a Christian allegory. Because he was a Christian, though, his book can't help but carry several Christian themes. Arthur's book picks up on these and helps her readers to understand them and apply them to their lives. The book contains twenty-two short devotionals. Each explores a portion of Tolkien's story, compares it to a passage from the Bible, gives the reader a list of questions to consider, and closes with a list of Bible verses to read for further insight.
This book was fun to read and easy to understand, yet its truths were valuable and practical for life. As I understand it, this book was written for teenagers, but I believe Christians of any age can glean worthwhile insights. I recommend Walking with Bilbo to Christian fans of Tolkien's works and to anyone looking to deepen their walk with Christ.
Arthur tells us up front that Tolkien didn't intend for his book, The Hobbit, to be a Christian allegory. Because he was a Christian, though, his book can't help but carry several Christian themes. Arthur's book picks up on these and helps her readers to understand them and apply them to their lives. The book contains twenty-two short devotionals. Each explores a portion of Tolkien's story, compares it to a passage from the Bible, gives the reader a list of questions to consider, and closes with a list of Bible verses to read for further insight.
This book was fun to read and easy to understand, yet its truths were valuable and practical for life. As I understand it, this book was written for teenagers, but I believe Christians of any age can glean worthwhile insights. I recommend Walking with Bilbo to Christian fans of Tolkien's works and to anyone looking to deepen their walk with Christ.
January 25, 2008
A light devotional book based around Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'. The author looks at how the Christian life is an adventure, and we need sometimes to step out of our ordered existence to follow where God leads. Well-written and quite thought-provoking. For teens or adults.
March 18, 2013
This is a devotional through The Hobbit and it compares how the adventures Bilbo Baggins had with the dwarves and Gandalf is similar to our adventure of the Christian faith. I'd recommend it to any Christian who has read The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit or watched the movies.
December 10, 2012
Will be pulling out this devotional to read again as the "The Hobbit" movie comes out this weekend!
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed "Walking with Bilbo" by Sarah Arthur. Anyone who knows me is aware that I enjoy everything Tolkien related. I especially enjoy reading books that illuminate his deep theological beliefs and faith.
“Walking with Bilbo” is written in a devotional format that takes readers on a spiritual journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's classic, “The Hobbit”. The book is structured as a companion guide, offering insights and reflections that draw parallels between Bilbo Baggins' adventures and the reader's own spiritual walk.
Arthur does a wonderful job of intertwining Tolkien's narrative with Biblical themes, creating a seamless connection between Bilbo's journey and the Christian faith. Each chapter focuses on a specific part of Bilbo's story, paired with Scripture and thoughtful commentary. The reflections encourage readers to consider their own life experiences in the light of faith, bravery, and personal growth.
The author’s deep appreciation for Tolkien’s work is evident throughout, and she brings a unique perspective that both fans of “The Hobbit” and those seeking spiritual enrichment will appreciate. The book is accessible and engaging, making complex theological ideas approachable for a wide audience.
One of the strengths of "Walking with Bilbo" is its ability to make the reader feel like they are on a journey alongside Bilbo. Arthur's writing is warm and inviting, offering encouragement and wisdom without being preachy. The questions at the end of each chapter serve as excellent prompts for personal reflection or group discussion, making this book a great resource for book clubs or study groups.
Tolkien certainly did not set out to make “The Hobbit” a spiritual work. In fact, its roots are stories of adventure he told his children. They eventually encourage him to write down the stories of the adventures of the subject of his imagination, and it later became the literary success that has sold millions of copies and inspired many readers since it was first published in 1937.
Although it was not at all a Christian or religious allegory or work (unlike his friend C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia), it was filled with a foundation of the virtues and concepts of his faith.
It is on this basis that Sarah Arthur is able to layout her book, “Walking with Bilbo” as a devotional that allows the reader to reflect upon their own spirituality in a format that is easy to read and to relate to, especially for fans of Tolkien’s works.
Overall, “Walking with Bilbo” is a wonderful devotional that successfully blends the adventurous spirit of “The Hobbit” with meaningful spiritual lessons. It is a great read for anyone looking to explore their faith through the lens of a beloved literary classic.
“Walking with Bilbo” is written in a devotional format that takes readers on a spiritual journey through J.R.R. Tolkien's classic, “The Hobbit”. The book is structured as a companion guide, offering insights and reflections that draw parallels between Bilbo Baggins' adventures and the reader's own spiritual walk.
Arthur does a wonderful job of intertwining Tolkien's narrative with Biblical themes, creating a seamless connection between Bilbo's journey and the Christian faith. Each chapter focuses on a specific part of Bilbo's story, paired with Scripture and thoughtful commentary. The reflections encourage readers to consider their own life experiences in the light of faith, bravery, and personal growth.
The author’s deep appreciation for Tolkien’s work is evident throughout, and she brings a unique perspective that both fans of “The Hobbit” and those seeking spiritual enrichment will appreciate. The book is accessible and engaging, making complex theological ideas approachable for a wide audience.
One of the strengths of "Walking with Bilbo" is its ability to make the reader feel like they are on a journey alongside Bilbo. Arthur's writing is warm and inviting, offering encouragement and wisdom without being preachy. The questions at the end of each chapter serve as excellent prompts for personal reflection or group discussion, making this book a great resource for book clubs or study groups.
Tolkien certainly did not set out to make “The Hobbit” a spiritual work. In fact, its roots are stories of adventure he told his children. They eventually encourage him to write down the stories of the adventures of the subject of his imagination, and it later became the literary success that has sold millions of copies and inspired many readers since it was first published in 1937.
Although it was not at all a Christian or religious allegory or work (unlike his friend C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia), it was filled with a foundation of the virtues and concepts of his faith.
It is on this basis that Sarah Arthur is able to layout her book, “Walking with Bilbo” as a devotional that allows the reader to reflect upon their own spirituality in a format that is easy to read and to relate to, especially for fans of Tolkien’s works.
Overall, “Walking with Bilbo” is a wonderful devotional that successfully blends the adventurous spirit of “The Hobbit” with meaningful spiritual lessons. It is a great read for anyone looking to explore their faith through the lens of a beloved literary classic.
May 29, 2017
I thought this was some sort of spin-off of The Hobbit. If I knew what Walking with Bilbo was really about, I would never have bought this book from that book fair.
I did buy it, without knowing anything about it, and it sat on my bookshelf for years. I was reluctant to read it as it's been a while since I read The Hobbit, but I figured I'd get it off my to-read shelf.
When I realized it was relating The Hobbit to the Christian life, I admit I was put-off immediately. I had no interest in reading about a religious book recreationally, especially since it was written for a Christian audience (the majestic plural irks me). I was ready to give the book away, but since I had already bought it, I cracked it open and gave the first chapter a shot.
To my surprise, this book wasn't some haughty proclamation of The Hobbit being a Christian allegory; the author's voice in the book was casual and merely discussed how the themes found in The Hobbit are similar to the themes found in the Bible.
Yes, Walking with Bilbo IS meant for a Christian audience, so if you are bothered for whatever reason of the discussion of Christianity, this is not the book for you. However, keep in mind that you can still read this with an atheist's mindset and still enjoy this book (after all, religion plays a key part in many respected pieces of literature, and one can find analysis related to religion interesting without actually believing in that religion).
If you are at all interested, YES read it. I don't regret reading it, but going back I would not buy this book because although it was interesting, it is not the type of book I am currently interested in (it's RELIGIOUS and NONFICTION for goodness sake). However, it exceeded expectations and gives you exactly what it says it will.
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http://thegiantpencil.blogspot.com/20...
I did buy it, without knowing anything about it, and it sat on my bookshelf for years. I was reluctant to read it as it's been a while since I read The Hobbit, but I figured I'd get it off my to-read shelf.
When I realized it was relating The Hobbit to the Christian life, I admit I was put-off immediately. I had no interest in reading about a religious book recreationally, especially since it was written for a Christian audience (the majestic plural irks me). I was ready to give the book away, but since I had already bought it, I cracked it open and gave the first chapter a shot.
To my surprise, this book wasn't some haughty proclamation of The Hobbit being a Christian allegory; the author's voice in the book was casual and merely discussed how the themes found in The Hobbit are similar to the themes found in the Bible.
Yes, Walking with Bilbo IS meant for a Christian audience, so if you are bothered for whatever reason of the discussion of Christianity, this is not the book for you. However, keep in mind that you can still read this with an atheist's mindset and still enjoy this book (after all, religion plays a key part in many respected pieces of literature, and one can find analysis related to religion interesting without actually believing in that religion).
If you are at all interested, YES read it. I don't regret reading it, but going back I would not buy this book because although it was interesting, it is not the type of book I am currently interested in (it's RELIGIOUS and NONFICTION for goodness sake). However, it exceeded expectations and gives you exactly what it says it will.
---
http://thegiantpencil.blogspot.com/20...
May 27, 2019
Sarah Arthur's devotional are the best! I love how she connects things found in fictional books to the truth of the word of God. Every time I read one of her devotionals I feel inspired and challenged in my faith. I also feel understood, since Sarah Arthur is a fan of books and movies I like, like "The Hobbit."
Though her books are often geared towards teens, I think they can be read by all ages. What I also like about this book, and other books by this author, is that they could be used by an individual or by a group.
I will definitely continue to read Sarah Arthur's devotionals in the future.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Though her books are often geared towards teens, I think they can be read by all ages. What I also like about this book, and other books by this author, is that they could be used by an individual or by a group.
I will definitely continue to read Sarah Arthur's devotionals in the future.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
February 21, 2022
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if that were an option. When I checked the book out from the library, I was thinking it would be more of a literary analysis than it actually is or tries to be. I've read a number of analysis books (coming from a Christian perspective) on Narnia, and I thought this book would be along those lines. It is a much lighter read than I expected. This is more a problem with my lack of research into the book than with the book itself. If you are looking for a light devotional using The Hobbit as the prompt for devotional reflection, which is what this book is trying to be, this serves that purpose well.
April 23, 2022
So…whilst I enjoyed many things about this book, and have since bought Dating Mr. Darcy to do a study with my daughter and her friend, I marked down a star for the last question on each and every one of her chapters “What are you going to do about it?” I know it was meant as a call to action, but honestly, some of the discussions kind of already stole the thunder of that question rendering it redundant, and annoying in its repetitiveness.
Loved the correlation between the classics and Christ, though, and enjoyed visiting the world of The Hobbit again.
Loved the correlation between the classics and Christ, though, and enjoyed visiting the world of The Hobbit again.
July 16, 2021
Not bad, for a devotional. (I have a long-standing issue with devotionals because they tend to be truncated and trite.) I'm not sure that bringing up the free will argument in a teen's devotional that doesn't have the space for a deep dive into the subject was wise, but the study questions are truly thoughtful and the writing isn't too condescending. For Tolkien fans only, just FYI-- you'll have trouble gleaning anything real without prior Hobbit knowledge.
June 14, 2019
I thought it was really interesting how the author used various parts of 'The Hobbit' to shed light on different aspects of our walk with Christ. I also liked how she always had several scripture verses as well as some thought-provoking questions at the end of each day's reading, so we could go beyond what she had put forth.
April 9, 2021
Faith
I enjoyed this. I didn't feel like I was being preached at but being asked to look into my faith. Plus LOTR is awesome and its a great way to both entertain a.d teach aspects of the bible.
I enjoyed this. I didn't feel like I was being preached at but being asked to look into my faith. Plus LOTR is awesome and its a great way to both entertain a.d teach aspects of the bible.
November 2, 2018
spiritual jurney, simple and true!
March 26, 2019
Excellent read! I enjoyed all of the various connections with Christianity that I'd never thought of before in several read-throughs of the Hobbit.
April 11, 2019
One word for this book. WOW
October 27, 2021
I was thinking of something a bit deeper than what I could do myself, so while beautifully written with a few sparkling insights sprinkled through, it didn't measure up to what I was hoping for.
April 25, 2025
Nice companion to Walking with Frodo. Ties nicely with the books, examples and scriptures.
December 8, 2025
Highly recommend for any fans of the Hobbit & LOTR!
February 12, 2014
A WONDERFUL devotional. One of the best I have read in years. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. I highlighted a LOT of portions. It was exciting to read. A great way to start the year. The questions at the end of each chapter were challenging and caused deep thinking making me consider my adventure, what God is doing and what he wants me to do now.
“Bilbo's very chosen-ness and his subsequent response have much to teach us about what it means to be called for a purpose larger than we could ever dream or imagine.
What starts us on the adventure? What does god see in us that we can't yet see in ourselves? How do we rise to the challenges we face along the road? What do we learn about ourselves and others when the unexpected happens, when our fellow companions fail us, when we reach the end of our strength and abilities, when we find ourselves in the dark?” (location 108)
“Tolkien was a Christian, which he felt could be 'deduced' from his stories. Though he didn't set out to write an allegory and resented any attempt to make it so, he did become aware in the course of revision that he stories foundational themes were primarily Christian (rather than pagan) and that those themes can be both significant and applicable to our lives in the real world.” (location 93)
And so this explains why she wrote this devotional and the other. I want to read it, it's called Walking with Frodo and is based on the Lord of the Rings books.
Here is a quote from one of the devotionals. It was hard to choose a quote to share because I loved the book so much and highlighted so many passages... but here goes.
“Frankly, if you're really not interested in adventures, it's wise to hid when you see Jesus coming. He has Gandalf-like tendencies that are really quite alarming. 'Follow me,' he says. 'Take nothing for your journey. Go the extra mile. Why do you worry about what you will eat or what you will wear? Seek first God's kingdom.' These are not safe words. At the very least, they could 'make you late for dinner.' In fact, they might mean you don't get any dinner at all.
But Jesus also says to his disciples, 'You didn't choose me. I chose you.' (John 15:16). This adventure of faith may appear to have a rather dubious origin and an even more dubious outcome, but that doesn't trump the fact that in this moment, in this hour, you are being called to walk with Jesus.
The question is, will you go?” (pg 5)”
“Sometimes there's not clear-cut ending to the various chapters of our story, and we often wonder what God is up to. What sort of tale have we fallen into? Does the Author really know what he's doing? Will he bring our adventure to a good end? It's hard to understand when we're in the middle of it.
In one of Tolkien's letters, he says, 'the Writer of the Story is not one of us.' The Author at the helm of this whole adventure is not someone who quits what he started, like so many of us (like Tolkien himself, who would have given up on The Lord of the Rings, if it hadn't been for the encouragement of his friend C.S. Lewis!). God calls himself 'the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End' (Revelation 21:6)—alpha being the first letter in the Greek alphabet and omega being the last. In other words, God successfully completes what he sets out to accomplish, including the adventure of our faith.” (pg 173)
I wrote a lot in the journal I used, for the answers to the questions. I enjoyed the book a lot. I love the Lord of the Rings books and movies so it was wonderful to read a devotional that used the story to point us to God. I hope you will consider reading it, you will be blessed by doing so.
“Bilbo's very chosen-ness and his subsequent response have much to teach us about what it means to be called for a purpose larger than we could ever dream or imagine.
What starts us on the adventure? What does god see in us that we can't yet see in ourselves? How do we rise to the challenges we face along the road? What do we learn about ourselves and others when the unexpected happens, when our fellow companions fail us, when we reach the end of our strength and abilities, when we find ourselves in the dark?” (location 108)
“Tolkien was a Christian, which he felt could be 'deduced' from his stories. Though he didn't set out to write an allegory and resented any attempt to make it so, he did become aware in the course of revision that he stories foundational themes were primarily Christian (rather than pagan) and that those themes can be both significant and applicable to our lives in the real world.” (location 93)
And so this explains why she wrote this devotional and the other. I want to read it, it's called Walking with Frodo and is based on the Lord of the Rings books.
Here is a quote from one of the devotionals. It was hard to choose a quote to share because I loved the book so much and highlighted so many passages... but here goes.
“Frankly, if you're really not interested in adventures, it's wise to hid when you see Jesus coming. He has Gandalf-like tendencies that are really quite alarming. 'Follow me,' he says. 'Take nothing for your journey. Go the extra mile. Why do you worry about what you will eat or what you will wear? Seek first God's kingdom.' These are not safe words. At the very least, they could 'make you late for dinner.' In fact, they might mean you don't get any dinner at all.
But Jesus also says to his disciples, 'You didn't choose me. I chose you.' (John 15:16). This adventure of faith may appear to have a rather dubious origin and an even more dubious outcome, but that doesn't trump the fact that in this moment, in this hour, you are being called to walk with Jesus.
The question is, will you go?” (pg 5)”
“Sometimes there's not clear-cut ending to the various chapters of our story, and we often wonder what God is up to. What sort of tale have we fallen into? Does the Author really know what he's doing? Will he bring our adventure to a good end? It's hard to understand when we're in the middle of it.
In one of Tolkien's letters, he says, 'the Writer of the Story is not one of us.' The Author at the helm of this whole adventure is not someone who quits what he started, like so many of us (like Tolkien himself, who would have given up on The Lord of the Rings, if it hadn't been for the encouragement of his friend C.S. Lewis!). God calls himself 'the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End' (Revelation 21:6)—alpha being the first letter in the Greek alphabet and omega being the last. In other words, God successfully completes what he sets out to accomplish, including the adventure of our faith.” (pg 173)
I wrote a lot in the journal I used, for the answers to the questions. I enjoyed the book a lot. I love the Lord of the Rings books and movies so it was wonderful to read a devotional that used the story to point us to God. I hope you will consider reading it, you will be blessed by doing so.
December 18, 2012
There are a myriad of books about the various themes and ideas presented in Lord of the Rings. I have always enjoyed mining them for a new interpretation or a clever detail I’ve previously missed. The three books of the trilogy themselves hold up to countless rereads and yield deeper and richer thoughts each time. But Tolkien nut though I may be, I’ve always considered The Hobbit to be a fairly lightweight kids book. So when I heard that Sarah Arthur had written a follow up to Walking with Frodo that was focused on The Hobbit, I was immediately intrigued. While it might be tempting to assume that this is an attempt to cater to the hoards of people who will be watching The Hobbit in theaters this month, I found it a truly thought provoking book that gently suggested I may have dismissed its source material a little too quickly.
Unlike Peter Jackson, Mrs. Arthur doesn’t feel the need to focus on what things will become in the next books. The Bilbo she examines is much the same Hobbit I met so many years ago: a funny, rather bumbling character that pulls it all together at the end. However, she looks at him and the journey he takes through the lens of scripture, and I at least, was surprised by the Bilbo I was reintroduced to.
Mrs. Arthur presents The Hobbit as a journey…but this is not the journey to Mordor and back. Rather it is a journey of becoming. Instead of the tearing down Frodo experienced, Bilbo is built and matured. Lord of the Rings may have been the story of the Everyman succeeding when all the great and mighty failed, but this book presents Bilbo as the true Everyman, and his story, is our story as faith opens our eyes to whole new world. The scripture Mrs. Arthur uses and the questions she ends each chapter with were amazing springboards for further thought and study, and I’ve been rereading The Hobbit and seeing it in a whole new light.
The book is set up like a devotional, with short chapters that can be read quickly and then contemplated throughout the day. I decided to read it as such and found it a much better way to take in all the new ideas. I read Walking with Frodo straight through and am sure I didn’t retain as much that way. So it’s probably best to take it in smaller sections at least. Otherwise, I could see some people finding the layout distracting.
Reblogged from my site: myrdan.com
My thanks to Tyndale for sending me a review copy of Walking with Bilbo, in return for my honest opinion of this book.
Unlike Peter Jackson, Mrs. Arthur doesn’t feel the need to focus on what things will become in the next books. The Bilbo she examines is much the same Hobbit I met so many years ago: a funny, rather bumbling character that pulls it all together at the end. However, she looks at him and the journey he takes through the lens of scripture, and I at least, was surprised by the Bilbo I was reintroduced to.
Mrs. Arthur presents The Hobbit as a journey…but this is not the journey to Mordor and back. Rather it is a journey of becoming. Instead of the tearing down Frodo experienced, Bilbo is built and matured. Lord of the Rings may have been the story of the Everyman succeeding when all the great and mighty failed, but this book presents Bilbo as the true Everyman, and his story, is our story as faith opens our eyes to whole new world. The scripture Mrs. Arthur uses and the questions she ends each chapter with were amazing springboards for further thought and study, and I’ve been rereading The Hobbit and seeing it in a whole new light.
The book is set up like a devotional, with short chapters that can be read quickly and then contemplated throughout the day. I decided to read it as such and found it a much better way to take in all the new ideas. I read Walking with Frodo straight through and am sure I didn’t retain as much that way. So it’s probably best to take it in smaller sections at least. Otherwise, I could see some people finding the layout distracting.
Reblogged from my site: myrdan.com
My thanks to Tyndale for sending me a review copy of Walking with Bilbo, in return for my honest opinion of this book.
February 21, 2017
As a fan of The Hobbit, I was excited when I saw this book on the sale rack at Mardel. I feel the book would be best for high-school or college students, but I still enjoyed reading it. The devotions are reflective of both Tolkien's book and God's book. It was fun to see how Bilbo's adventure relates to my Christian faith. I can see myself reading this again and again.
February 15, 2015
Status updates:
"Just finished reading the 1st chapter with my 11yr old sister, having previously read the multiple introductions.
I'm ready to give it a 5 star rating already. She may not be getting a lot out of it, but I sure am! :)
My older sis and I had observed many profound spiritual truths reflected in The Hobbit, and it appears that Arthur will deal with them all, and drive it home in me."
"Finally read ch 2 with Grace. It perfectly followed a Navigator conference which opened my eyes to God's job description for me.
"The harvest is great but the laborers are few."
"“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.""
"I can't believe how good this book is. It pulls out all the spiritual parallels that I've seen plus so many--and (just like God) each chapter exactly fits with one I'm facing when I read it.
Not to mention that it is so good to be reading it (and discussing it) with Gracie."
"The Scriptures she pulls together at the end are marvelous"
"This is all so good. Ch13--amazing, especially with the Scripture passages. This is our adventure, we get to choose to love God and obey His commandments, then enjoy the ride! Including the choices we get to make!"
"Wow. I had never recognized the significance of Tolkien's recurring theme of the return of the king."
"Just finished reading the 1st chapter with my 11yr old sister, having previously read the multiple introductions.
I'm ready to give it a 5 star rating already. She may not be getting a lot out of it, but I sure am! :)
My older sis and I had observed many profound spiritual truths reflected in The Hobbit, and it appears that Arthur will deal with them all, and drive it home in me."
"Finally read ch 2 with Grace. It perfectly followed a Navigator conference which opened my eyes to God's job description for me.
"The harvest is great but the laborers are few."
"“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.""
"I can't believe how good this book is. It pulls out all the spiritual parallels that I've seen plus so many--and (just like God) each chapter exactly fits with one I'm facing when I read it.
Not to mention that it is so good to be reading it (and discussing it) with Gracie."
"The Scriptures she pulls together at the end are marvelous"
"This is all so good. Ch13--amazing, especially with the Scripture passages. This is our adventure, we get to choose to love God and obey His commandments, then enjoy the ride! Including the choices we get to make!"
"Wow. I had never recognized the significance of Tolkien's recurring theme of the return of the king."
December 29, 2013
It has been years since I read "The Hobbit," and I did read most of the "Lord of the Rings" series in addition to seeing the trilogy of films. I knew that there was a spiritual significance in Tokien's books, but I sometimes have struggled to find it. I was excited to get the chance to read through this devotional.
While I believe that the author's intentions were fantastic, I think she may have either bitten off a little more than she could chew or tried to do what Tolkien never intended. Don't get me wrong-the devotional is fine. She has a quick chapter for different sections of Bilbo's journeys. She carries the theme through well and always backs it up with Scripture. You can also dig deeper with her thought-provoking questions and Bible readings. I just felt that it kind of missed the mark. I would have preferred a series of devotionals that dealt with just one of the books in the series. And I would have even preferred using this as a companion read to Tolkien's original texts. But for the true "Tolkien" fanatics, this is a pretty good read.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
While I believe that the author's intentions were fantastic, I think she may have either bitten off a little more than she could chew or tried to do what Tolkien never intended. Don't get me wrong-the devotional is fine. She has a quick chapter for different sections of Bilbo's journeys. She carries the theme through well and always backs it up with Scripture. You can also dig deeper with her thought-provoking questions and Bible readings. I just felt that it kind of missed the mark. I would have preferred a series of devotionals that dealt with just one of the books in the series. And I would have even preferred using this as a companion read to Tolkien's original texts. But for the true "Tolkien" fanatics, this is a pretty good read.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
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