Sunday, December 1, 2019

Review + GIVEAWAY: Letter from Paul by Mary Weins




About the Book

Book: Letter from Paul
Author: Mary Weins
Genre:  Christian Non-Fiction, Bible study
Release Date: April 5, 2019

A devotional workbook on Galatians that gives enough substance for the interactive part of the workbook. It is worthwhile for small groups or individuals.” Dr. Dennis Beatty

Draw closer to God. Revel in the knowledge that you are saved by grace, not works. Discover how Paul addressed the Galatian people when they veered from the truth back into bondage to the rules and customs of their time.

This Bible study takes you verse by verse through the book of Galatians, with insights into what occurred so many years ago yet is still relevant today. Bringing home the truth that we don’t have to perform a certain way to be accepted as heirs to Christ, Letter from Paul offers relief to those who feel pressured to live by the world’s standards.

You will be refreshed and renewed as you lean into the fact that God loves you just as you are. Yes, He has given us the commandments, but He doesn’t pile additional rules on us that we can’t possibly follow. Instead, He gives us grace. And mercy. And love.

“Galatians is about the difference between salvation by works and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not about obeying all the rules versus having a good time. It is about a personal relationship with our Creator and Savior.” – Mary Weins

Click here to get your copy!


My Thoughts

In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul addressed a serious problem in that church at the time, and his words are just as relevant for us today. In Letter from Paul, Mary Weins has created an excellent resource for delving into the heart of Galatians. Written in a conversational style, the teaching is thorough and easy to follow. New believers or even those who have never studied Galatians before would find this study appealing.

Nothing can turn people off to Christianity faster than a legalistic approach, and that is the overarching theme of Galatians – legalism, law, and salvation by works vs. love and grace. Letter from Paul begins with an overview of the Galatian church that was struggling with this very problem. The following chapters correspond with the six chapters of Galatians and begin with an attention-getting story relevant to the topics discussed in each chapter. This is followed by teaching and study questions that applicable and easy to understand. The chapters then conclude with questions and thoughts for personal reflection.

Works vs. God’s saving grace and false prophets are just two of several topics discussed. Letter to Paul is insightful, and I found the last chapter especially thought provoking as it asks the question, What Does a Christian Look Like?

In addition to personal study, Letter from Paul would also work well in small-group study. Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.


About the Author



      As a Pastor’s kid, Mary has been involved in the church most of her life. She has led many Bible study groups in homes, in the church environment, and in jails; Mary has worked in various women’s ministries, and is a writer, speaker and Bible Teacher.
      Currently, Mary and her husband are retired and live in Northern California. They have 3 sons, and 5 grandchildren who live nearby. When not writing, speaking, leading Bible study groups, or studying God’s Word on her own, Mary enjoys entertaining friends, cooking, and playing with her grandchildren…not necessarily in that order.

 

More from Mary

Letter from Paul: to the Church in Galatia…and Us!

      As a preacher’s kid, I was brought up in a strict, structured home environment. This upbringing created a harsh view of Christianity and an overwhelming fear of hell, fire, and damnation for me. 
      It was not until years later that I found a church emphasizing God’s love. I read the Word and prayed daily and began to develop a close, personal relationship with God. But fear kept haunting me until I really got into Galatians and broke it down, verse by verse. The book of Galatians is a crucial book of the Bible for me because it emphasizes God’s love and forgiveness and provides assurance that, even though I mess up at times, God still loves me! 
      It is my hope and prayer that you, too, can embrace the beautiful message of love and acceptance contained in Galatians and apply it to your life. When we fully submit and trust God for our lives, an overwhelming peace envelops us. We no longer need to fear Him. He is a loving God who provides all our needs and protects, encourages, comforts, and directs us. He is our heavenly Father, our constant companion, and a friend who really does have all the right answers. 
      Living in a right relationship with God dramatically changes the way we view ourselves and the world. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17 KJV). 
      Written in a down-to-earth, easy-to-read approach, the Bible studies contained in Letter from Paul highlight the main points covered in each chapter of Galatians. 
      It is my hope and prayer that this book will erase the doubts and fears of Christians who question their salvation or fear that they are not good enough to maintain it and to point the way for the unsaved to realize how easy it is to become a child of God.


Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon Gift Card & Paperback of “Letter from Paul”!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the image above or the link below to enter.



4 comments:

  1. This sounds good. Galatians has so much "meat" in it.

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  2. I appreciate getting to hear about your book. Thank you for sharing!

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  3. Amazing how we still struggle with the same issues that the churches of Paul's time dealt with!

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  4. Wonderful review, Carole! This study sounds like a good one.

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