Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Review + GIVEAWAY: Legion by Shadia Hrichi



About the Book


Book: Legion
Author: Shadia Hrichi
Genre: Bible Study
Release Date: Oct 8, 2019

How far will Jesus go to rescue one lost soul?

Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him had no one to help him–no one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. Climb into the boat with Jesus as He heads into enemy territory. Witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul.

Through this six-week, action-packed Bible study, you will experience God’s relentless love as you celebrate the impassioned Savior Who moved heaven and earth to rescue you.

Click here for your copy!



My thoughts


I am excited to have discovered the Bible studies written by Shadia Hrichi and highly recommend her work. Hrichi is very knowledgeable about Scripture and biblical culture, personable, and a clear communicator. And best of all, she covers unusual topics – people and subjects that wouldn’t normally pop into your mind when you think of doing a Bible study – but with life-changing messages that speak to the heart.

Legion: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me focuses on the Gospel of Mark’s account of Jesus healing the demoniac. I’ve been a student of the Bible almost all my life and am familiar with this story, yet am amazed at the freshness and so many eye-opening moments and I worked my way through this study. The demoniac’s story doesn’t actually begin and end in Mark, but rather goes back all the way to the days of Creation and why God allowed sin to enter the His perfect world. I loved Hrichi’s quote from commentator Victor Hamilton:

There are only four chapters in the Bible where Satan is not present, the first two and the last two. The Bible begins and ends with him out of existence. But between Genesis 3 and Revelation 20 he is a factor to be reckoned with.

Legion is spread out over six weeks, but can be done at any pace. It works well for either personal or group study, for new believer, seeker, or the seasoned Christian. Hrichi suggests varying levels of commitment, going from 15 minutes to 60 minutes a day. I suspect those starting out “light” at 15 minutes will quickly desire to spend more time delving into these lessons, for they are that good!

Legion begins in Genesis 1 and addresses the age-old question that causes so many to stumble … How could a loving God allow so much evil in the world? The three main sections are entitled The Bondage, The Battle, and The Blessing, ending with powerful teaching from Revelation. I really can’t say enough good things about this study, so I’ll just encourage you to try it for yourself – personally or in a small group.

Very highly recommended.

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



About the Author



      SHADIA HRICHI is a passionate Bible teacher, author, and speaker who has a heart for seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She has received a master’s in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary as well as master’s in criminal justice from the State University of New York. 
      In addition to LEGION, Shadia is the author of several Bible studies, including HAGAR and Worthy of Love. Shadia is often invited to speak at churches, conferences, and other events. Her insightful, witty, yet vulnerable teaching style reveals a compassion for the hurting, love for Jesus, and uncompromising commitment to the truth of God’s Word. 
      Visit shadiahrichi.com. 


More from Shadia

      If there is one universal truth, it is that every human heart longs for paradise. A perfect world without death, pain, or sorrow. A world at peace, where each of us is secure, treasured, and loved. But the reality is that the world as we know it will never deliver; it cannot. Scripture tells us that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). 
      As a result, you and I live in a broken world. A world that has been drifting off course ever since that slippery serpent enticed our first parents to reject God’s authority in that garden paradise so long ago. In that moment, they unwittingly handed over dominion of the earth to Satan on a silver platter. But this then begs the question. Why was God willing to risk rebellion in the Garden? And why would God allow His perfect creation to fall victim to the enemy’s schemes? And if God is good, why does He allow evil to exist? 
      Through this six-week study, you and I will explore the answers to these questions and more as we step into the fascinating story of the man known only by the name of the demons that tormented him. To be honest, I don’t know why I am attracted to the hard stories in the Bible. The messy stories. I suspect it stems, in part, from my own broken past. I can relate much easier to the broken people. The ones who experienced times when they felt unseen, or unloved, or unwanted. At the same time, their stories captivate my heart because when God reveals what He is doing behind the seen, His power and glory are displayed in ways that make my spirit soar! 
      So I invite you to come with me as we climb into the boat with Jesus and head into enemy territory. We will witness Jesus’s power and passion as He battles violent storms and armies of demons in order to rescue . . . one . . . lost . . . soul. Tormented, chained, and living in a graveyard, the man had no one to help him. No one to intercede for him. No one but Jesus. As a result:
  • A demoniac becomes a disciple.
  • A house of demons becomes a dwelling for the Living God.
  • The chained becomes a champion of good news.
      You and I live in a world crying out for rescue. And just as Jesus was willing to cross the sea and rescue one man from the enemy’s chains, He crossed the heavens to rescue you and me from a fate even worse: eternal chains. But praise God that through His sacrifice for sin, Jesus conquered all the forces of evil and opened up the gates of paradise to all who embrace His mercy. So come with me. Let’s rediscover the God Who Rescues Me! 
      “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” —Colossians 1:13 NASB


Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Shadia is giving away the grand prize package of 1 book of Legion, 1 book of Hagar and a $50 gift certificate to two winners each!!

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.



6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your wonderful review and the book and author details. This sounds like an excellent read

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  2. This, like so many other hard stories, shines with God's glory and mercy.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your wonderful review. Blessings

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  4. Sounds like an inspiring read. Thanks for the chance.

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  5. Thanks for your thoughts. Books sounds good! Enjoy reading Biblical fiction!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot

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  6. Really lovely review, enjoyed learning about this one.

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