When people think of the church library, often they think about a place to borrow a good novel, and while this is certainly a wonderful feature of the church library, it should also be the place you can go to find resources to challenge, encourage and educate you in your walk.  We will look at some books that would make excellent additions to a library as they will certainly do all the above for those who read them.

When Life & Beliefs Collide Author - Carolyn Curtis James Publisher - Zondervan Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• emphasizes theology is about a real relationship with God
• utilizes example of Mary of Bethany and how it wasn't enough for her to hear about Jesus - "she wanted to know Jesus herself" to show it is right for women to learn and know Jesus just as men do
• focus on need to spend time getting to know Jesus to be prepared for difficult days when they come
• explains how theology takes mind, heart and life
• 5 reasons women need theology
• encourages and challenges with following concepts:
• it is okay to ask God "why" because that is a real question and drives us to know God better
• God plans the good and bad in our lives - He is in control
• Jesus weeps with us when we are at the end of our rope, confused and lost
• He shows us our need for Him in our pain to be with us, connect with us and help us really get to know Him and trust Him
• when we don't trust God we then struggle with unbelief - which is conquered by the truth of Who God Is
• need to see theology connect with all of life - we have to live it - it isn't just what you know, but what you live
• joy isn't from circumstances, but from Jesus
• "knowing God is our highest calling and most pressing need"
• our theology affects others - positively as well as negatively
• includes a recommended reading list

Grasping God's Word Authors - J. Scott Duvall & J. Daniel Hays Publisher - Zondervan Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• synopsis at beginning of each unit
• each chapter has:
• introduction
• illustrations
• review questions
• assignments to practice what is learned
• emphasis on goal of learning the meaning God places on the text, not to create our own meaning
• clearly explains interpretive Bible study
• explains observing the Bible by:
• sentence
• looking for words that repeat
• contrasts
• comparisons
• lists
• cause/effect
• figures of speech
• conjunctions
• verbs - action
• pronouns
• dig! keep digging! dig some more! to truly understand and live Scripture
• observe paragraphs
• general/specific
• questions and answers
• dialogue
• purpose statements
• means by which things are accomplished
• conflict
• actions of people and God
• emotional terms
• tone
• to interpret and understand the Bible we must first read it carefully and observe the details
• help with understanding and selecting a translation
• specific information on how to interpret New and Old Testament passages
• guidelines to writing a paper and building a personal library