Christmas from the Back Side: A Different Look at the Story of Jesus Birth

J. Ellsworth Kalas has a knack for approaching familiar Scriptures "from the backside" in order to grab the attention of readers and small group participants. His Christmas From the Back Side is no acception. We used it in our church for a four-week book study on Wednesday nights during Advent. It invites readers to use their imagination and life experiences to think about major and minor characters, their motives, reactions, and circumstances. It brings home the underlying messages in a new way.

My study group found this book to be helpful and enriching. We used it as an Advent study. Kalas has an unique way of looking at Scripture from another angle. We have used several of J. Ellsworth Kalas' books in our study group. Kalas has a signature question in every study guide: What insights did you receive from this chapter? This gives each member of the group the opportunity to share personally. His work challenges us to look a little further in God's message.