My review –– In some ways, reviewing a book like Old Story New is quite difficult. After all, it’s a year long devotional guide for families. So, if you wanted to do an experimental review, you’d walk through it with your family…over the course of a year. And that defeats the purpose of doing a timely review coordinated with the release of this book.
On the other hand, doing a review for a book like this is quite easy: you jump in all over the place, reading various days devotionals and then sit back and say, ‘Families, use this book; especially if you have young children, use this book.’
In November of 2012, I’d reviewed Machowski’s first devotional book for families: Long Story Short. That devotional guide was based upon the Old Testament. In Old Story New, as you could guess from that set-up and the title, is a devotional guide about the New Testament. This is such a helpful tool for families. If you have young children, I can’t think of a better book to help in family worship than these two accompanying books. If you have a wider age-range of children, you could involve the older kids in the readings, while the younger ones get involved through age-appropriate questions and prayer. You could also supplement the times of family worship with some singing or the occasional object lesson connected to each day’s reading.
The book is arranged by the week. Each week features five days worth of devotionals that will walk you through the entire New Testament in a year. Each day begins with a ‘Remember It’ question so you’re always reviewing what’s been learned. Then, there is a passage of Scripture to be read, followed by the ‘Think About It Some More’ section. This provides Mom or Dad the explanation of each text being examined, put in such a way that all can understand it. Next comes the ‘Talk About It’ portion, which usually consists of 3-4 questions to draw out from each person present what they’ve just heard. It also helps solidify that passage into their heart and mind by thinking about it more. Finally, there is a closing time to ‘Pray About It’.
My heart’s longing would be to get this book (and it’s predecessor) into the hands of young families. I’d exhort each of them to take the 15-20 minutes it might take each day to gather everyone around the dining table or in the living room. I’d sit with them and help them get started, making this a ‘ritual’ that no one wants to miss. Of course, I can’t really do it that way. What I can do is recommend this book…highly. Begin the God-honoring habit of family worship, using God’s Word and let it transform your whole family.
About the Book –– Easy-to-Use Devotional Helps Parents Share the Living Gospel Story!
Filled with adventure, suspense, drama, and mystery the gospel story easily captures the attention of children. Even better, the gospel story give life. We are saved and our children are saved as we review the story of the gospel. So why do so many well-intentioned parents give up on family devotions—deciding that reading the Bible as a family must only be for “super parents.”
The truth is that there are no super parents. We all struggle, and we all need help to stay on course. Old Story New makes it easy for parents to stay on the life-giving course of sharing the gospel with their family. The second volume in Marty Machowski’s family devotional series, Old Story New continues the gospel story that started in Long Story Short. Using the same effective ten-minute a day structure, it walks children through the great truths of the Christian faith in the New Testament. Through 78 New Testament stories, Old Story New does the hard work for parents and caregivers. Simple discussion questions (and answers!!) for each day’s devotion help children understand and remember Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and the birth of the Christian church. Old Story New is a family devotional program designed to explain God’s plan of salvation through the New Testament and is suitable for children from preschool through high school.
About the Author –– Marty Machowski, is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign Grace Ministries church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where is has served on the pastoral staff for over twenty years. He is the author of the Gospel Story for Kids series including The Gospel Story Bible, two family devotionals, Long Story Short and Old Story New, and the Gospel Story Curriculum. He and his wife Lois and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Visit http://gospelstoryforkids.com, for more information about the Gospel Story for Kids series and curriculum. The website is also home to Marty’s blog on family, children’s ministry and more.
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Old Story New may be purchased directly from New Growth Press.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”