God Has a Plan for You: 52 Bible Study Sessions

Dr Prescott-Ezickson takes the Bible and makes it relevant for modern day people. His views of Christianity and his teachings from the Bible give a solid basis for the 21st century Christian. This book helps breakdown the daunting task of reading through the Bible into manageable sections.

Thanks Rob, November 6, 2006 This review was erroneously posted on another book and I have moved it here with his permission. RDPE Several years ago my friend and colleague, Rob Prescott Ezickson , spoke to me of his project of preaching a sermon from every book in the Bible. I thought at that time it was a rather exhaustive undertaking and I have not changed my mind. But, I wondered what good that would do. As a preacher, I have sometimes wondered the efficacy of a prolonged sermon series, the spoken word seemingly taking second place, at best, to the other media for conveying a message. However, I have been privileged to read the finished product and I stand in admiration of Rob. We preachers rarely do protracted series. In a time when the average person in the pew is woefully weak in Biblical knowledge, the proclivity of preachers to randomly use Biblical texts and the emphasis on topical preaching often find the scriptures as a foreign experience, even to the faithful. Firstly, what has been achieved in God Has a Plan for You, is the reader of this volume gets a taste of every Biblical book. Secondly, the reader gets a sense of flow; how the good news comes to be. Thirdly, there is a familiarity with the characters whose stories every believer should know, the knowledge of them bearing an important part of being an informed person. Prescott Ezickson reintroduces us to the scriptures. But there is more than a reintroduction, sampling , and flow. Critical questions are asked within each chapter as to how the Biblical story intersects who we are and where we are in our human experience. An example is the question, "How much money would you have to have before you would consider yourself rich?" In the present time many Americans are asking that very question, but without any reference to God. We ask the question in terms of real estate we would purchase, the type of car we would by, and how early we would retire. We might even think that the Gospel is silent to us at this point. Rob, introducing us to the rich young man in Mark 10 and the poor widow in Mark 12, raises that question in light of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. A whole other dimension, one which is often excluded from our thinking, is now introduced. It is a point to ponder. It is the challenge of the Word become flesh. We cannot answer it casually. Its answer has consequences for our lives which are eternal. This book is a good read for the growing Christian. It familiarizes our maturing brother and sister with the scripture and its relevancy for our time. Indeed, God does have a plan for each of us. The book takes that phrase, which can but used tritely, and confronts us as to what we are doing with our lives. Ideally, this book would have its greatest use as an adult study. It is the type of book that should be used by a group of people covenanting together for their growth in Christ. It could by used by new Christians in a growth group who are asking t

This post comes as a review and commendation of Robert Prescott-Ezickson's book, God Has a Plan for You. The chapters which come from sermons cover the gamut of the Scriptures, fielding the questions and concerns of the serious reader. I read the chapters with interest and delight. Prescott-Ezickson's grappling with the text and its application in the lives of his readers gives the book a broad based appeal. I am most appreciative of Dr. Prescott-Ezickson's choice to span the breadth of the Bible with selected passages from Genesis to Revelation. Not only will the book help laypeople, but the book serves as a model for preachers to preach, "the full counsel of God." The study questions following each chapter will stimulate readers to rreflect upon the passage and principles discussed and will encourage the readers to put the principles into practice. There are books of sermons, and there are books of sermons. Dr. Prescott-Ezickson's book is more than simply sermons, they are chapters from the Book of Life which will in turn feed the lives of its readers.

This book will be a great help to applying the scriptures to your daily christian walk!!!