About the Book
Book: Before Christmas
Author: Bill Crowder
Genre: RELIGION / Holidays/Christmas & Advent
Release Date: October, 2019
Embrace the majesty of the Messiah
Bill Crowder invites you to explore the backstory of the first advent. He brings you on a journey into the very heart of God, to a greater understanding of what it means that “the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).
Walk through Scripture to see and know Jesus in a richer way. Examine His character as God, His relationship with the Father, His appearances in the Old Testament, and more. Understand how these pre-Bethlehem truths lead into the Savior’s birth and the events of that first Christmas—and, most importantly, how it all comes together in God’s great story of redemption and rescue.
You’ll embrace the majesty of the Messiah and celebrate Christ’s birth with renewed joy and wonder.
Click here to get your copy.
My Review:
“We are so thrilled by the baby in the manger that we don’t pause to remember who that baby is. We forget that the eternal Son of God left the Father’s presence, which He has known and enjoyed since before time began, in order to become—amazingly—that baby in the manger. This should take our breath away! It should cause us to ponder the glory He left and to contemplate the darkness into which He came.” (quote from the introduction to the book)
This quote sets the theme for this book. The author reminds us that Christmas is so much more than just the one day we set aside to celebrate the birthday of Christ, but that we should be swept away by His glory and majesty. In these six chapters, the author reminds us of Jesus’ character as God; His relationship with the Father; His Preparation for the Cross; His Role as Creator; His Appearances in the Old Testament; and His Announced Arrival.
This book is easily readable, and although it’s a shorter book (152 pages), it’s already had a great impact on my thoughts for the Christmas season. I love all things Christmas, but this book has increased my sense of awe for all Christ as done for me. I also have a new appreciation for the Christmas hymn “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” and all that it conveys to us in those verses. This book is keeper and one that I’ll read again at the Christmas season.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Bill Crowder, who spent over twenty years in the pastorate, is vice president of ministry content at Our Daily Bread Ministries. He is a contributor to Our Daily Bread and the author of nine books, including My Hope Is in You, Seeing the Heart of Christ, and For This He Came. He and his wife, Marlene, have five children.
More from Bill
During my years as a pastor, I found Christmas and Easter to be challenging. Certainly I love those seasons (for very different reasons), but finding creative ways to retell these important stories was often difficult. But, at one such season I realized that the story we tell at Christmas is not really the whole story. By entering the story at Nazareth or Bethlehem, we enter too late. We can’t simply start with the Baby in the manger—we need to go back. Before time began. To the eternal Christ. Unless we seek to understand Him, we’ll never fully appreciate who He was and why He came. That is the Christmas story. – Bill Crowder
Blog Stops
The Power of Words, October 31
Mary Hake, October 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 1
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 2
A Rup Life, November 3
Lights in a Dark World, November 3
Texas Book-aholic, November 4
janicesbookreviews, November 5
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6
A Reader’s Brain, November 7
Emily Yager, November 8
Older & Smarter?, November 9
God is Love, November 10
For the Love of Literature, November 11
She Lives To Read, November 12
Inklings and notions, November 13
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 13
To celebrate his tour, Bill is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book, Starbucks Holiday Blend Coffee, and $10 Amazon card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/ee23/before-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway
What the author wrote already had me intrigued for the book. But after I read what you had written Patti, I know that I have to get the book that’s like a 4th book I want to be reading right now. I love Christmas and everything about it mostly what happened in the manger. The song by the Gaither Vocal Band ‘Written in Red’ really brings that manger to my heart!
Sounds like a good book.
Great to know that the book caught your interest!
Thank you so much for taking time to bring to our attention another great read. I appreciate it and thank you also for the giveaway.
Christmas is more than a baby in a manger! So right! But so hard to remember in the midst of the season!
Wonderful review! This book sounds like one not to miss.
Thanks for the chance! This sounds like a wonderful book to read during the holiday season.
I appreciate getting to hear about your book. Thank you for sharing!