The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New

I got this book to read with my 4 little ones. We are loving it so far! The illustrations are beautiful, and the content is spot on. I lost the scripture references it has on each page - these would be great to have older children look up the reference to either copy down or use as a reference book.

I am going through this book with my children, ages 7 and 8. We enjoy the way Theology is simplified in a way we can easily understand it. We plan to read it over and over, to fully absorb the truths of our faith.

I really like this book for kids (and adults). Our daughter is three -- and though a bit of this is over her head we don't stop teaching. It just gives us as Mom and Dad, more of an opportunity to sit and read with her. It's really geared to start around kindergarten and 1st grade and I feel like that is accurate. Here are some reasons why I like this book (not in any specific order): 1. Practical - I love how it uses up to date everyday life to incorporate the understanding of the big picture. For example, (page 152) "A delicious root beer float as only two main ingredients, root beer and vanilla ice cream. These two ingredients combine to form an amazing dessert. Did you know that faith in Jesus has two ingredients? To become a Christian you need to believe, which means trusting that Jesus is God, died for your sins, and was raised from the dead. And you need to repent, which means you need to turn away from your sin and from going your own way and follow Jesus. This is what the Bible means by faith -- believing and turning. Of course, even faith is a gift from God. We don't do anything to earn faith. The first time you turn to Jesus in faith, you become part of God's family. From then on, we have the Holy Spirit so we can keep believing and repenting whenever we sin. That's what it means to follow Jesus. Have you turned toward Jesus and asked him for forgiveness? [Acts 20:20-21, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 17:30, Hebrews 6:1, Acts 2:38]" [Special note from me: There's more to chapter 42 that is not copied above. I only copied 1/2 of it.] So in this -- the author gives a simple illustration of the root beer float and brings it into a discussion about the topic of faith. This is something that we as parents can do in everyday life and bringing something that we are doing and use it as a teaching opportunity. 2. The questions in the back -- In the back of the book each of the chapters have questions that go along side of the text. For example, the questions in the back for the above portion of 42. Faith is, "How do we know we are truly children of God? What three things did Paul tell King Agrippa he did to make sure he was faithful to the message he was given?" 3. The answers in the back -- Oh the answers! Ever so helpful as we teach our little ones. There's a section for the questions AND a section for the answers. For example, the answers in the back for the above questions, "Question 1's Answer: We know we are children of God if we love him and carry out his commands. 1 John 3:9-10. Question 2's Answer: Paul preached that people should repent, turn their hearts to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. Acts 26:20." 4. Nicely organized in a logical manner -- There are 71 chapters (or points of topic) that the author covers and 11 major topics the author cover. The major topics are: a. The Ology of God, b. The Ology of people, c. The Ology of sin, d. The Ology of the Promise and the Law, e. The Ology of Christ, f. The Ology of the Holy Spirit, g. The Ology of Adoption into God's Family, h. The Ology of Change, i. The Ology of the Church, j. The Ology of the End Times, k. The Ology of God's Word. I really like how the author organized it. 5. Parents Guide -- As parents we are called to teach our children. The author has explained how we can use this book to best teach our children. 6. Holds attention of myself as an adult and also my 3-year-old -- So I was reaching when I bought this book and was thinking that she would dive deep like I did. But honestly, when we were reading it for the first time she kept asking me to read more and she sat and listened. 7. (Very important to me!) Thoroughly biblical, doctrinally sound, gospel-centered, ... well written and beautifully illustrated. -- Excellent! This book is staying TRUE to scripture and has the big picture in mind as it describes the details with such power and strength. This is huge for me -- it's hard to find good children's books that have some good "meat" and not watered down too much. I want something that is going to make my children think and learn about how awesome our God is! This book is an excellent teaching tool. Over all, I give this book my highest number of stars. I am looking forward to diving deeper and reading this book over and over again. The author did a beautiful job at creating a wonderful story that captures the mind and hearts of little ones and adults. It is a wonderful addition to our resource library for family worship and our family's books of devotion collection. I pray that this book ministers to you and your family as it has ministered to my family and me. Blessings to all.

I've had this book and used it off and on for nearly two years now. It is such a wonderful resource for Christian parents. Learning theology and doctrine are so important now more than ever in this day and age where biblical truth is always questioned, sometimes within the church. So many people don't know what they believe or how to articulate it. This book does a fantastic job of doing just that. It is systematic theology for youngsters, those with ADHD, those needing a refresher, and believers who were never taught or understood these truths. It's pretty simple--what we believe and why. All backed by multiple Scripture references. What I like about this is that it can be used very lightly, or if you have the time, very heavily. You never have to feel overwhelmed, but there is plenty of information for more in depth study if you so choose. And then when you finish, just start over. This information never gets old. So many programs and books simply teach Bible stories and/or how to live the Christian life, but fail to explain what truly sets us apart from the rest of humanity seeking absolution. Many people reach adulthood never understanding what they believe. How can we share the Good News if we can't explain the basics of our faith or even know what they are? There is SO MUCH essential information that we need to learn and we need to start teaching our children when they are young. Children, rather all believers, need this basic framework upon which to build their lives. If we neglect these areas, the world WILL fill in the gaps, which will lead to errors in thinking and eventually in action. That and we will be susceptible to false teaching. I read this at night along with The One Year Classic Family Devotions book for my children ages 15, 10, and 9. In the morning we use Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade, which is a 6 day a week devotional book based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which is also an amazing resource. Also check out The Lamb, by John Cross. That is the same concept as this book in more of a story format. There aren't specified divisions as in this book. Our goal should be to pass on the baton of faith to our children and there are many excellent resources out there. This book is one of the best I've come across. Give it a try and take your time working through the material and discussing it. You'll be so glad you did!

I bought this several years ago, but as I am now rekindling my love of apologetics I thought I would give it a go again with my kids as they are a little older and have been asking some VERY compelling questions about the Bible and Jesus...well, we are 1/3 of the way through and the conversations we have as a result of reading this book before bed are something I look forward to! It has helped us to address deep questions within our children's hearts that I don't know they would have asked were we not already talking about these things. It is so cool to see their minds working and connecting these truths to their hearts as we discuss these things: their minds are blown, as is mine. If you want to give your kids a good solid foundation in critical thinking (yes, even about God- this is essential to a continuing faith!) I would highly recommend this book and LISTEN to their questions. If you can't answer their questions study until you can! Look up all the verses on each page as they OFTEN answer questions that would be raised as a result of reading this book. I cannot say enough good things about the layout and simplicity of this book- the analogies are wonderful and provide such clarity! My 7 year old in particular thinks in analogies and it is as if this book is speaking her language. Great Easter gift and I would recommend for ages 6-12. It's perfect for my 7 and 9 year old but goes way over my 5 year olds head.

This book is skillfully written and beautifully illustrated. The writer has a lovely and effective way of communicating to children. The 2 star rating is solely on the grounds of the doctrinal content. If your family holds to reformed/Calvinist viewpoints, this will be a good fit for you. If you don’t know the difference, it would be worth researching the sect before you buy. Our particular family takes issue with several teachings of Calvin and Reformed doctrines. For example, irresistible grace is presented in this book through a magnet analogy. Irresistible grace and unconditional election, stem from Calvin’s idea that people are predestined to Salvation or condemnation by God’s own choosing, a misreading of Romans 8:29-30. This doctrine is viewed differently even among Reformed churches, some hold to it and some don’t, but the general idea is that those whom God has predestined for Salvation can’t NOT believe in Him. The fact that many don’t believe is explained by Calvin/Reformed churches to mean that God has elected those individuals for condemnation rather than salvation. (Since He has decided not to draw some individuals, they can’t respond positively to Him.) Scripture teaches that Jesus draws ALL people to Himself, not just a specific group of “elect”, and that we must personally choose whether or not we believe what He says. (John 12:32, 1 John 2:2,).

This book is a lovely idea-- articulate all the key doctrines of the faith for children. The authors' choice of metaphors to explain each idea is a cute idea as well. My primary hesitation is that this is overtly Reformed theology alone. God's call is irresistible, doubling down on substitutionary atonement theory (i.e. we owe God a debt because of sin), etc. Certainly, all the beliefs expressed are all orthodox, but they just wouldn't fit well into Arminian, Wesleyan/Methodist, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Lutheran traditions. Be warned if of these traditions.

We bought this for our family (kids 6-13 years old). It explains Theology including the “Ologies” of God, Christ, sin, redemption, etc. As mom, I’m enjoying it and I feel like my children are understanding well.

Rich in theology and doctrine. Love this author!

This is a beautifully illustrated book for children that explains to them the key points of theology, including Who God is, Who Jesus is, and the way of salvation. Written in an easy to understand manner, the doctrines are presented in short chapters with extra Scripture verses for further investigation. At the back of the book are further questions for each chapter to dive a little deeper for older children. While I don't have children of my own, I babysit a lot and see this as an excellent resource to read with children, introducing them to the study of God and understanding sin and the need for a Savior. There is also a CD called "The Ology" by Sovereign Grace Music that can be used to teach some of the key doctrines through fun songs. In the section on salvation, Calvinism is taught in that God is the One Who saves us as we are completely dead and helpless in our sin. There is also a section on the end times, basically on Jesus coming back to judge the world and then the New Heavens and Earth. This is a wonderful book to use with kids in helping to teach them the doctrines of God, salvation, the Bible, and more. The book is also beautiful and appealing with its drawings. I highly recommend using this book, particularly for elementary aged children, to help them in learning theology and being established in what the Bible teaches. It can easily be used as a family devotional. *I received a copy of this book free from the publisher New Growth Press in exchange for my review.

I got this book to read with my 4 little ones. We are loving it so far! The illustrations are beautiful, and the content is spot on. I lost the scripture references it has on each page - these would be great to have older children look up the reference to either copy down or use as a reference book.

I am going through this book with my children, ages 7 and 8. We enjoy the way Theology is simplified in a way we can easily understand it. We plan to read it over and over, to fully absorb the truths of our faith.

I really like this book for kids (and adults). Our daughter is three -- and though a bit of this is over her head we don't stop teaching. It just gives us as Mom and Dad, more of an opportunity to sit and read with her. It's really geared to start around kindergarten and 1st grade and I feel like that is accurate. Here are some reasons why I like this book (not in any specific order): 1. Practical - I love how it uses up to date everyday life to incorporate the understanding of the big picture. For example, (page 152) "A delicious root beer float as only two main ingredients, root beer and vanilla ice cream. These two ingredients combine to form an amazing dessert. Did you know that faith in Jesus has two ingredients? To become a Christian you need to believe, which means trusting that Jesus is God, died for your sins, and was raised from the dead. And you need to repent, which means you need to turn away from your sin and from going your own way and follow Jesus. This is what the Bible means by faith -- believing and turning. Of course, even faith is a gift from God. We don't do anything to earn faith. The first time you turn to Jesus in faith, you become part of God's family. From then on, we have the Holy Spirit so we can keep believing and repenting whenever we sin. That's what it means to follow Jesus. Have you turned toward Jesus and asked him for forgiveness? [Acts 20:20-21, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Acts 17:30, Hebrews 6:1, Acts 2:38]" [Special note from me: There's more to chapter 42 that is not copied above. I only copied 1/2 of it.] So in this -- the author gives a simple illustration of the root beer float and brings it into a discussion about the topic of faith. This is something that we as parents can do in everyday life and bringing something that we are doing and use it as a teaching opportunity. 2. The questions in the back -- In the back of the book each of the chapters have questions that go along side of the text. For example, the questions in the back for the above portion of 42. Faith is, "How do we know we are truly children of God? What three things did Paul tell King Agrippa he did to make sure he was faithful to the message he was given?" 3. The answers in the back -- Oh the answers! Ever so helpful as we teach our little ones. There's a section for the questions AND a section for the answers. For example, the answers in the back for the above questions, "Question 1's Answer: We know we are children of God if we love him and carry out his commands. 1 John 3:9-10. Question 2's Answer: Paul preached that people should repent, turn their hearts to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. Acts 26:20." 4. Nicely organized in a logical manner -- There are 71 chapters (or points of topic) that the author covers and 11 major topics the author cover. The major topics are: a. The Ology of God, b. The Ology of people, c. The Ology of sin, d. The Ology of the Promise and the Law, e. The Ology of Christ, f. The Ology of the Holy Spirit, g. The Ology of Adoption into God's Family, h. The Ology of Change, i. The Ology of the Church, j. The Ology of the End Times, k. The Ology of God's Word. I really like how the author organized it. 5. Parents Guide -- As parents we are called to teach our children. The author has explained how we can use this book to best teach our children. 6. Holds attention of myself as an adult and also my 3-year-old -- So I was reaching when I bought this book and was thinking that she would dive deep like I did. But honestly, when we were reading it for the first time she kept asking me to read more and she sat and listened. 7. (Very important to me!) Thoroughly biblical, doctrinally sound, gospel-centered, ... well written and beautifully illustrated. -- Excellent! This book is staying TRUE to scripture and has the big picture in mind as it describes the details with such power and strength. This is huge for me -- it's hard to find good children's books that have some good "meat" and not watered down too much. I want something that is going to make my children think and learn about how awesome our God is! This book is an excellent teaching tool. Over all, I give this book my highest number of stars. I am looking forward to diving deeper and reading this book over and over again. The author did a beautiful job at creating a wonderful story that captures the mind and hearts of little ones and adults. It is a wonderful addition to our resource library for family worship and our family's books of devotion collection. I pray that this book ministers to you and your family as it has ministered to my family and me. Blessings to all.

I've had this book and used it off and on for nearly two years now. It is such a wonderful resource for Christian parents. Learning theology and doctrine are so important now more than ever in this day and age where biblical truth is always questioned, sometimes within the church. So many people don't know what they believe or how to articulate it. This book does a fantastic job of doing just that. It is systematic theology for youngsters, those with ADHD, those needing a refresher, and believers who were never taught or understood these truths. It's pretty simple--what we believe and why. All backed by multiple Scripture references. What I like about this is that it can be used very lightly, or if you have the time, very heavily. You never have to feel overwhelmed, but there is plenty of information for more in depth study if you so choose. And then when you finish, just start over. This information never gets old. So many programs and books simply teach Bible stories and/or how to live the Christian life, but fail to explain what truly sets us apart from the rest of humanity seeking absolution. Many people reach adulthood never understanding what they believe. How can we share the Good News if we can't explain the basics of our faith or even know what they are? There is SO MUCH essential information that we need to learn and we need to start teaching our children when they are young. Children, rather all believers, need this basic framework upon which to build their lives. If we neglect these areas, the world WILL fill in the gaps, which will lead to errors in thinking and eventually in action. That and we will be susceptible to false teaching. I read this at night along with The One Year Classic Family Devotions book for my children ages 15, 10, and 9. In the morning we use Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade, which is a 6 day a week devotional book based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which is also an amazing resource. Also check out The Lamb, by John Cross. That is the same concept as this book in more of a story format. There aren't specified divisions as in this book. Our goal should be to pass on the baton of faith to our children and there are many excellent resources out there. This book is one of the best I've come across. Give it a try and take your time working through the material and discussing it. You'll be so glad you did!

I bought this several years ago, but as I am now rekindling my love of apologetics I thought I would give it a go again with my kids as they are a little older and have been asking some VERY compelling questions about the Bible and Jesus...well, we are 1/3 of the way through and the conversations we have as a result of reading this book before bed are something I look forward to! It has helped us to address deep questions within our children's hearts that I don't know they would have asked were we not already talking about these things. It is so cool to see their minds working and connecting these truths to their hearts as we discuss these things: their minds are blown, as is mine. If you want to give your kids a good solid foundation in critical thinking (yes, even about God- this is essential to a continuing faith!) I would highly recommend this book and LISTEN to their questions. If you can't answer their questions study until you can! Look up all the verses on each page as they OFTEN answer questions that would be raised as a result of reading this book. I cannot say enough good things about the layout and simplicity of this book- the analogies are wonderful and provide such clarity! My 7 year old in particular thinks in analogies and it is as if this book is speaking her language. Great Easter gift and I would recommend for ages 6-12. It's perfect for my 7 and 9 year old but goes way over my 5 year olds head.

This book is skillfully written and beautifully illustrated. The writer has a lovely and effective way of communicating to children. The 2 star rating is solely on the grounds of the doctrinal content. If your family holds to reformed/Calvinist viewpoints, this will be a good fit for you. If you don’t know the difference, it would be worth researching the sect before you buy. Our particular family takes issue with several teachings of Calvin and Reformed doctrines. For example, irresistible grace is presented in this book through a magnet analogy. Irresistible grace and unconditional election, stem from Calvin’s idea that people are predestined to Salvation or condemnation by God’s own choosing, a misreading of Romans 8:29-30. This doctrine is viewed differently even among Reformed churches, some hold to it and some don’t, but the general idea is that those whom God has predestined for Salvation can’t NOT believe in Him. The fact that many don’t believe is explained by Calvin/Reformed churches to mean that God has elected those individuals for condemnation rather than salvation. (Since He has decided not to draw some individuals, they can’t respond positively to Him.) Scripture teaches that Jesus draws ALL people to Himself, not just a specific group of “elect”, and that we must personally choose whether or not we believe what He says. (John 12:32, 1 John 2:2,).

This book is a lovely idea-- articulate all the key doctrines of the faith for children. The authors' choice of metaphors to explain each idea is a cute idea as well. My primary hesitation is that this is overtly Reformed theology alone. God's call is irresistible, doubling down on substitutionary atonement theory (i.e. we owe God a debt because of sin), etc. Certainly, all the beliefs expressed are all orthodox, but they just wouldn't fit well into Arminian, Wesleyan/Methodist, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Lutheran traditions. Be warned if of these traditions.

We bought this for our family (kids 6-13 years old). It explains Theology including the “Ologies” of God, Christ, sin, redemption, etc. As mom, I’m enjoying it and I feel like my children are understanding well.

Rich in theology and doctrine. Love this author!

This is a beautifully illustrated book for children that explains to them the key points of theology, including Who God is, Who Jesus is, and the way of salvation. Written in an easy to understand manner, the doctrines are presented in short chapters with extra Scripture verses for further investigation. At the back of the book are further questions for each chapter to dive a little deeper for older children. While I don't have children of my own, I babysit a lot and see this as an excellent resource to read with children, introducing them to the study of God and understanding sin and the need for a Savior. There is also a CD called "The Ology" by Sovereign Grace Music that can be used to teach some of the key doctrines through fun songs. In the section on salvation, Calvinism is taught in that God is the One Who saves us as we are completely dead and helpless in our sin. There is also a section on the end times, basically on Jesus coming back to judge the world and then the New Heavens and Earth. This is a wonderful book to use with kids in helping to teach them the doctrines of God, salvation, the Bible, and more. The book is also beautiful and appealing with its drawings. I highly recommend using this book, particularly for elementary aged children, to help them in learning theology and being established in what the Bible teaches. It can easily be used as a family devotional. *I received a copy of this book free from the publisher New Growth Press in exchange for my review.

I purchased as a gift. I understand it is a great book. Bring up your children to learn about god

Item arrived quickly and in perfect condition.

I love this book and so does my 6 year old! It’s a great tool for teaching the Bible! The illustrations are great! A friend of mine recommended this book and it doesn’t disappoint. It is a little bit pricier, but worth it. It gives Bible verses on the illustrations page to look up and read on your own. On the passage page it has a couple Bible verses written out. We use this along with other Bible devotions with my child. This is by far her favorite. She even likes it more than the veggie tales devotion!

My grandkids are fascinated and the parents are learning too

As a Director of Children's Ministries, this will be the new book (after the Bible) that I recommend all Christian parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and friends give to the little ones in their lives! Theology is so vital to teach to our children and Marty Machowski not only teaches accurate theology with his book, but he explains big concepts in a way that kids can understand without getting rid of the awe of who God is! The book is fun to read and explore - even as an adult I found myself turning page after page to find out what was next! The illustrations are beautiful and the use of Scripture is fantastic! I also love how this book can be used in so many ways - you can read it like a story, you can use it as a reference book to answer questions your kids have, you can use it for family devotions, and you could even use it as a foundational part of a homeschool or Sunday School curriculum! The book itself is nicely put together and has nice thick pages so it should hold up to elementary age children "loving" it a lot! I highly recommend this book and the accompanying songs from Sovereign Grace!

The content of the book is wonderful, well written, carefully explained, and excellent for children. The illustrations, on the other hand, are occasionally more confusing than helpful, which could cause some misconceptions if parents aren't diligent. It's definitely a book to go through with your child, and not simply hand to them to read alone. It will spark too many questions that we parents need to, and should, be ready to answer. I think the book itself deserves five stars, but I give the illustrations only three, which is why I gave an overall of four.

I was very disappointed in this book. I've been wanting it for a long time and finally made the purchase, but as I started flipping through, I found several biblically inaccurate teachings. For reference, we are protestant Christians. Some things that bothered me were the teaching that the Holy Spirit lives inside everyone, even before a person accepts Christ (pg 138), the teaching that the animal sacrifices required by God were "like cleaning your room by shoving everything under the bed. The bed covers the mess but the mess is still there" (pg. 90). While we know animal sacrifices were never God's intended "forever fix," they were what God required for atonement at the time, not just a way for people to hide what they'd done. There are also several things in the book that may be true, but we simply don't know whether they are or not. The author makes assumptions to how Jesus or various people "felt" at different times, which makes me uncomfortable, but may not be an issue for you. Overall, I'm really bummed that this book isn't the helpful tool for teaching my children biblical truth that I expected it to be, but I hope I can save someone else the trouble of buying and returning it if you disagree with the examples above as well.

Think of this book like a systematic theology for small children. It is excellent. I have attached a picture of page 138 to address the other review with the accusation that this book is biblically inaccurate. I am also a Protestant Christian, I interpreted this page very differently. I will let you decide for yourself, but I love reading this book to my daughter and would highly recommend it.

I wanted a simple to understand, but deep in meaning, book to read aloud to my kids to introduce them to theology. My children are ages 2-6 and while many parts are over their heads, they are still absorbing so much. We read one of the short (2 page) chapters every day, and we plan to repeat the book next year and for many years to come. I love The Ology, because along with the short chapter format, it has deep enough truths and thoughts that even my husband and myself are retaining more and thinking more about what we believe. I can see us using this book for many years to come. The format and illustrations are beautiful. Even our two year old is happy to sit through the reading and look at a picture while he listens. If you are looking for a thorough introduction to theology, this is a great place to start!

I am a mother of 7, most of whom are grown up now. Our home is rich with books, so I hesitated to get yet another one. (I have usually been disappointed with the quality of children's Christian books.) I wondered if it would be too little-kiddish for my 11-year-old son, but it is not. The illustrations are beautifully done, not in the cartoonish way of so many kids' books, but rather tasteful, warm and appealing. The text is cleanly-written, conveying truths about God in a reverent yet winsome tone. We read through it together, and then look up the scripture passages (five or six per page) which are scattered among the illustrations. (Good practice for finding various books of the Bible.) I am so grateful that I didn't pass this one by, and I will certainly be sharing it with my four grandchildren!.

My children all love this book. We read a portion of it each morning together. Ages range from 5-11. The content is well written with plenty of examples and Bible verses. I appreciate the questions in the back, but sometimes we just head our own way with the discussion based on the questions the children have. This is a simple breakdown of basic Christian theology. Think the Roman Road expanded. So far I have found nothing that disagrees with our theology, probably because the book sticks pretty close to the Bible as a reference. Each lesson has 5-10 Bible verses to support it. If you are looking for a break from a regular Children's Bible Story Book, this is a good option for your family worship time.

This book is such a great resource for training your children about the Christian faith. We give this to all the families in our church. Bonus points: 1. No pictures of Jesus (2nd commandment) 2. Although the author is a baptist, the small section on baptism is gracious towards other view points (I am presbyterian).

This product is exactly what we wanted -- a book with foundational concepts broken into bite size pieces for kids. It is a little advanced for our above average 3 yo, nonetheless, we have read it to her before bed several times and the concepts are sinking in as is evidenced by her questions and conversations that arise. If nothing else, it is a good book for Moms and Dads to read to reinforce foundational concepts which can be shared with their children. Highly recommend.

'The Ology' book is a wonderful resource for families. Although we frequently read through individual Bible stories and learn about specific characters, this has been a great way to help our children build a systematic foundation of understanding our God and our faith. Sweeping through from Genesis to Revelation to watch God's great plan at work has been a comprehensive - and enjoyable - journey!

Best book for kids! This is an excellent book to help children understand the more difficult truths of God, i.e. the Trinity, doctrine of election, and many others. If you are looking for bible stories, look elsewhere but if you are interested in getting into the character of God and what the word of God says about people, this is the book for you. Written in an easy to understand way, complete with examples. If you are serious about imparting these truths to your kids, check it out. Also, would be great to use as devotionals or for a bible curriculum for younger homeschoolers.

Well, I should start by saying I am not protestant and went on the recommendation from many homeschooling instagram moms that this was a good book. It is beautifully illustrated but I have issues with the descriptions to different themes in the book. For example, "Only the Bible contains the words of life each person needs to know to be saved and grow as a Christian," from section 69. Yet, 2 Thessalonians 2:15 says "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." I find it ironic that a quote directly to confirm the necessity of the Bible is yet not Biblically based. Another problem I am seeing in the few I've read is section 27 which completely glosses over the whole notion that Mary was forced to be pregnant rather than made a choice to allow it. Honestly, I can go extreme here, but my husband taught many biblical studies courses and it was commonly talked about and even many academics joke that this is akin to spiritual rape. We are not forced to have salvation, we accept it willingly. Lastly, section 55 is about the Lord's supper and that communion is simply done to remember Christ. We should look to John 6:55 where Jesus states this is his real flesh, his real blood. Simply designating this as a nice little tradition for memory's sake seems horrifyingly inadequate. Honestly, I'm lost with this book on how to rate and review it. I'd love to have books like this for my kids but not if they cannot hold true to scripture.

The Ology is great! I read this almost every night with my children and we are all taking so much away with reading it! It digs deeper than the simple child stories. It answers questions that my children have and even didnt know to ask. I look forward to the end of the day and doing the reading for the night. My hopes and prayer for my children is that they know God and love God and teaching them theology now i feel is a great way to get them to understand that. Not just knowing the bible stories but knowing God!

A biblically sound book for young people. We use it occasionally as a devotional book. I pick and choose topics that my children (ages 3 and 5) can understand. I'd say it's written for ages 6 and up at least. It's not just the vocabulary but the analogies given cam be difficult to follow for littles. I'm glad to have it on hand to grow into though. Definitely recommend! We will stick to using Leading Little Ones to God primarily as our devotional in the meantime.

Great book.. what's awesome about this devotional is that there is enough meat in each short devotional that you can tailor it to all different ages. We're currently using it as family devotions (kids ages: 10,11,13,15.) Our ten year old boy loves checking out the pictures and each picture page also has multiple bible verses you could have them look up and read. Great stuff. Highly recommend. It's great that the devotional is theologically sound presenting important doctrinal concepts - it's not a simple "Jesus loves you" "Be kind to your neighbor" watered down type of book.

Wonderful book for children. Teaching them theology and why we believe what we do is so important. We have outgrown the kids Bibles that just give short stories and this was a really well done, sound book to transition to.

This book is AMAZING and true to scripture. My husband reads it to my 5 and started it when was 4. For his age it may be a little dense but nothing he can’t grasp. I’m am thankful to have this in his library, such a blessing.

One thing I don’t want is my kids growing up only to know the “bible stories.” This book tells of many foundational truths, some of which I never learned till I was an adult. Highly recommend this book!

Absolutely love this book. This is a invaluable tool to point your kids to Christ through God's word. Beautifully illustrated and written. Scripture references for each topic as well. Really has gotten my kids thinking more deeply when i am drawing a blank on deep topics.

Love this book. We use it daily in our homeschooling as part of our morning time.

I love this book. I have enjoyed reading it myself. I bought it to read to grandchildren when they come to visit and found it held their interest. I especially like it because it is true to the Bible and teaches children truth when they don't read the Bibles they own. A good book to bring children and adults to salvation .

We love this book and give it as gifts to babies, toddlers, and young children all the time. However, the truths inside of it are good even for the hearts of adults! It's a systematic theology book for kids -- written in a language and illustrated so that they can understand.

I love this book, and I am ordering my second copy. My first copy was ordered and mailed overseas at the request of my son and daughter-in-love who are missionaries in South Korea. They wanted a copy of the book for my granddaughter. I spend time with the book before mailing it, and it is a doctrinally solid book for parents to use with their young ones. The book covers some theologically tough subjects with great care and thought. I want my own copy now.

I love this book! I love that it provides deep truths in a way children can wrap their heads around. I do wish it had a ribbon bookmark, but otherwise it’s a beautifully bound book with rich content. I’m reading through it with my almost 6-year-old and even though the ideas may not be completely sinking in yet ... I know they’re taking root.

Text is very small. They are just pictures, and you can't zoom in.

Excellent book. Beautiful illustrations. Theologically sound doctrine. Highly recommend.

My granddaughter loves this book!!

We absolutely love and enjoy this devotional! The illustrations are beautiful, the discussion is very well laid out. I would say the age range is 4ish and up.

I love this book and look forward to working through it with my grandkids. It addresses subjects that are essential to understand, but frequently are not covered in an understandable orderly method with children. Each subject has supporting scripture, which you can look up ahead of working with the kids to determine what is most appropriate for the age range you are working with. An excellent tool to draw the beloved children in your life nearer to God.

Love it! The illustrations are beautiful and the stories, easy to understand.

Solid book, great content and illustrations.

We used this as a nightly devotional to spark conversation with our 5 yr old. He's a great reader and was able to comprehend what was written and really enjoyed the illustrations.

I LOVE children's books and couldn't pass up this beautifully illustrated one. I'm 23, came to faith in high school, and use this for myself when I'm struggling to read my Bible regularly or when I just want something different. Beautifully made and faith building for all ages.

I was really excited about receiving this book. It is so special that I think it should be better wrapped in a plastic so the corners wouldn't show any demage.

I really like how this book steps through theology in practical ways to help children of all ages understand and get something out of it. My three year old gets as much out of this as my five year old, it seems. We use this a couple nights a week on the other nights go through Bible stories and it seems to help bring it all together.

We love this book in our home! It’s easy to understand and we have slowly eased into it with our toddler. We have incorporated this into our homeschooling.

We read this book every night before bed with our daughter. It has proven invaluable for teaching her about Jesus and the doctrines of God. I love the whimsical play in the title of, "The Ology." Well written with pictures that children can relate to. Solid theology for children, yet adults can also learn from it.

Awesome product to help bring out Biblical truth and values.

I love this book and wish I had had it when I was a kid. So many of my questions are addressed in this book with Scripture - in context, even! Imagine that! I kinda wish I hadn't given my copy to my niece for her kids!

Excellent Book! I'm a Christian school teacher and I'm planning on reading this to my class throughout the year. I definitely recommend this to families as well. It would be great for family devotions. It is so important to build a strong Biblical foundation and this book makes it possible for children of varying ages.

I actually found this book on a Bloggers website and it was highly reccommended. I am all about rich and wonder theology of God's Word. I actually bought this book for my friends son for his birthday and he was so excited. I would recommend this book for children ages 6 to 12 years old.

My kids love this book! Ages 3 1/2 and 4 1/2, they are learning so much and I know this will be a great book for years to come! It’s stirring up so much questions and wonder in there little hearts! ❤️

We use this book for our morning time with my three girls. Ages 4-7 can easily understand the message, and promotes great conversation. Great product. Very thankful for it and how it makes the gospel understandable to young and old(er) alike!

Pedestrian apologetics for children. The artwork and writing kept my kids ages 3-7 engaged and asking challenging and thoughtful questions. Will read again.

We love this book and we use it for morning devotions with our kiddo! It teaches kids theology in a way they can understand and I love that there are biblical references throughout the book! They’re never too young to learn!

Wonderful truths in bite-size increments; easy to understand. Got for me to read to my 5-year-old daughter and it’s a bit above her head but she’s catching on to some of the basics, which is awesome to see.

We read a chapter a night, with my 4.5 year old. This first time thru it's introductory but as she gets older she'll understand more and we can read more referenced verses to dig in as well as reviewing whole sections for the bigger pictures of God's character. Beautiful and well written I'm looking forward to reading this for years to come.

So far this book is extremely enjoyable! The kids are intrigued and the descriptions are beautiful. Truth is presented clearly.

We love this book. It's worth reading and re-reading. There is a lot of material to use. We read the main parts, and the will go back and look at all of the verses and references next time through. Our 4- and 5-year-olds enjoyed it.

This is the book I've been looking for! My son is 3 so it still goes over his head a little, but we are all really enjoying it as a family. I'm so grateful someone wrote a book to teach these truths to kids in such a strong, thorough manner. Oh, and the illustrations are beautiful.

I like the different approaches to reading it. We've been reading one chapter during breakfast before the kids go to school in the mornings. All 4 kids from toddler to 3rd grade find it engaging and interesting .

Truly a great book to have! Every Christian family should consider this book for their children to help guide them, as they start to understand why they will grow to believe in what they say they believe. It is a must to defending their faith! Absolutely thankful for it!

Love this book! It’s perfect for a Bible study for my K, 2nd grader and pre-schooler, but we expand the topics for the whole family, including teenagers and adults.

This is a beautiful book filled with God's truth on a very practical level. We read one section nightly as a family devotional, and the writing is great for multiple ages. There are enrichment verses for older kids, and the content is great for spurring on lots of questions!

The author of this book was on the Family Life Today broadcast. I really enjoyed listening to him and his idea to write this book. I'm a Sunday School teacher to pre-K and grade school children. Its an excellent resource for that and biblical parenting.

Great book for my 5 year old with great reading comprehension. Our children's bibles were just too weak for what he needed to grow and learn more about God. This is right on and will be great for us to go through several times.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book. However, it makes me profoundly sad that of 13 reviews in the first pages all of them are written by men. Are there no women qualified to write about a theology book for children?

I looked it over before giving it to my 8 year old granddaughter. It is simple and easy to read, and can be used with children of various ages. I wish I had purchased it earlier, and plan to purchase another one for my other grandchildren!

My husband and I live with and work as cottage parents for at-risk teen boys. Pop, as they call him, reads one section of The Ology each morning before school to the guys. They've been drawn in to learning truth about God. Well-written. Yet profound truth. Appreciate this book so much!

I bought this as a resource for my young children, who are asking increasingly deep theological questions. As a moderate Protestant Christian, I loved the explanation of baptism and how it was inclusive of the different ways Catholics and Protestants practice their faith. I want my children to understand how our sisters and brothers worship. However, there were some topics, the creation story for example, that smacked of agenda. I’m open to the possibility of theological evolution, and there are comments in the text that shut down the possibility of anything but creationism. In the area of sin, it teaches the theology of Original Sin and closes the door on the idea of Tabula Rasa. A lot of it is good, but it’s not something I can give my children as a resource on their own.

Great art, great supplemental verse, great presentation of doctrine & biblical support. This is a systematic theology for ages 2-15 (& beyond.) No kidding, many adults, regardless of how long they have been believers, would benefit from reading this. Worth every cent. Buy 2, give 1 away.

Beautifully done. Spot on theology with illustrations to help reinforce what the child has learned. I use this with my Sunday school class, grades 5th and 6th, and with my two daughters, ages four and six, at home.

I love this book. Perfect for my 8-year-old and gives just the right amount of information as we read each day. Would highly recommend.

This is an amazing teaching tool for understanding why we believe the way we do and teaching children to defend the faith. It’s helpful for adults as well.

Grandson loves this

The 4 year old wasn't so enamored but a great book for the 6 year old. As they graduate from the simple stories, they need something else to think about and this is a very lovely book with such appealing artwork design.

We are using this book for our Playful Pioneers curriculum for homeschool. It’s wonderful. The kids love it and so do I.

We love this book. We do Bible time every night with our kids, ages 6 and 4. They know all the story books by heart so having these truths written out is different and new. Perfectly written for their little hearts.

I enjoyed reading every page before sharing it with children. Beautiful pictures.

Is broken up into nice short segments. Works great for bedtime stories. My 3 yo likes the pictures.

This was a gift for my daughter to read to here kids. They love it.

I am so thankful to have discovered this book. There’s no fluff. Very solid theology & beautifully done.

This book was recommended by a friend. I am a homeschooling mom that is using it loosely as a Bible curriculum for my children ages 8 and 3.5 Love the illustrations and that each page always has scripture references.

This is what my daughter asked for, and it is a high quality book.

I love this book but it was never received by the intended recipient. Please help!

This book is perfectly suited for helping my kids understand who God is and their place in His world. Highly recommend to all families wanting to teach theology to your kids.

Got this for my grandson - read it first - loved the book and so does he. His is 8 and he and his mom read it together every night.

Every christian family should own this book.

We love being able to give our daughter (8 years old) extra reading time at night with this book. It's such a great way for her to expand her knowledge of the Bible.

The illustration is beautiful and the writing is at a great level to challenge my daughter, yet simple enough for her to understand.

The right amount of text per page, good talking points and illustrations, theologically sound! We've gone through at least 4 similar books and this so far is the best!

Great story book we use for devotions at night with our kids.

This is possibly the best book I have ever bought my kids - packed full of good theology, and my kids love it!

Beautiful pictures, sound doctrine. I believe bible first books second this is an awesome reinforcement!

Great daily reading with my kiddos. Easy to understand pretty illustrations. And concepts!

This is a great book that makes Christian concepts easy to understand. It's intended for children but I got it for me and my husband and it's great.

Seems like good theology for kids. Just what I was looking for.

Truly a beautifully written and illustrated book that I will use in my Sunday School class to teach the Truth of the gospel to 4th and 5th graders.

I love this book. It helps teach my kids and me at the same time. It takes some complicated truths and helps little ones (and big ones) understand it more. What a blessing.

Nice

Invaluable book!

Such a good theology book for little hearts. Very clear and to the point, my kids love picking a verse to look up out of the pictures on the opposite pages.

We are using this book for our Kids program. It is very well written and keeps the kids interested in the stories.

A great foundation book for your Christian Homeschool.

Excellent book for children! Thoroughly recommend. Biblical truth explained in an engaging way.

Love this book! Probably good from about age 5-11. Don't miss the cd that compliments it...great music and lyrics to help teach theology.

This is a great tool for teaching children doctrine. Great illustrations and easy to understand stories.

Perfect for older kids

Great book. Full of truth.

Very well written! Easy to understand! Great illustrations! This book aligns beautifully with the catechism. The lessons are short and hold my children's attention.

This is a marvelous book that teaches children about the basics of the Christian life. Along the way we adults get our knowledge base tweaked!

Great reformed teaching for all ages.

Beautiful illustrations and text ideal for children as young as kindergarten.

Great book to teach theology to children. Probably appropriate for ages 6 through middle school.

Simple and yet challenging. That is what is in the contents of this book. Book arrived in great condition.

My kids and I love this book!!

I have a third-grade boy likes this so much and since we read it morning and night

This is a really great comprehensive read for kid (and adults!)

Item is very nice.

This is an excellent book for young readers who want to find out more about GOD and the Bible!!

Simple, easy to understand concepts with great illustrations. Great for families to sit down and have discussions about who God is, what he's like, etc.

Such a great book for kids on theology!

Great book to teach kids

Gift for my grandchildren and they love it.

I was disappointed by how dark this children's book is. It does have interesting and captivating pictures, but overall it is very dark and very despairing on humanity. The focus is supposed to be on how Jesus saves the day after all the humans screwed things up, and I understand that. But it leaves little hope for the child (or the adult for that matter) to think about faithfully and victoriously walking with God.

Not for mainline denominations. Seems to have all the answers about God, Jesus, salvation, the end times and the Bible. Learning to live in the mystery and tension is more valuable than telling kids it’s all figured out and you should decide that when you are 6 and never look back.

Terrific tool for 4-5-6 year olds.

Great book for children of all ages!

Great book for children and grandchildren to explain the Trinity

Great book for children.

Solid theological resource that is engaging for children. Highly recommended for families.

Theologically sound; great for kids & the adults reading it!

This is a beautiful book filled with wisdom for children. Lovely illustrations.

Illustrations were printed in a very dull, un-vibrant fashion. Too much brow and light blues. Not up to the standard we re used to in children's read along books. I suggest on using a less expensive paper and use more vibrant papers. Text and narrative was excellent. One man's opinion.

Such a creative way to teach a child sound theology!

Great devotional book for kids through age 12.

I bought it for someone else

Great for answering Biblical truth to our gandchildren.

Great book, just as engaging for adults as it is for kids.

awesome album, great truths and great music. it's for adults too, not just children.

Kids love it!

Great gifts

Amazing.

Bought this book for our grandchildren. Beautiful book and beautifully illustrated.

Lovely illustrations, both visual and theological!

What a great resource

Good book! Thanks!

Came damaged. The cover was covered in black ink.

A theology primer for children... Several years ago, I was introduced to the writing of Marty Machowski through The Gospel Story Bible. The illustrations were a bit loud for my taste, but the writing and the scripture coming across was solid and good for sharing with my children (who do appreciate the wild drawings). Then in the last year I discovered Long Story Short (a devotional) on Kindle. I'm hoping that one day I will also find Old Story New go on sale there as well. Now when I saw that a new book, The Ology was coming out I had to jump for an opportunity to review it. I'm so blessed that I am able. Little background, c'est moi. One of my degrees is a bachelor of arts in religious studies. Thus, I have read a lot and I definitely want my children to read something that can explain what others believe so they can build upon it. In our homeschool journey, I have looked at materials, but most worldview curricula start for older children than my own. It seems at this stage the best you can do is read a story-book Bible and discuss it. I grew up in the United Methodist Church. The Enginerd grew up a combination of Presbyterian and LCMS Lutheran. As a married couple, we've been members of both a WELS Lutheran and United Methodist Church with our own Catholic leanings. Last year we did use Seton Religion 1 and loved it, but the program ended up being too expensive to continue and we didn't love the rest of the enrollment program and decided to go a different diploma route. Now we are in a Bible class of sorts, but it is purely Bible history and not so much prayer, and self-action, as one might find in a catechism. Also, we haven't turned to just a catechism as they tend to be too dry for the littles. So now what? Well! that's where The Ology comes into play! Check out this preview! The Ology Childrens Bible Review If you're going to be a parent who sits and reads to your children anyway, why not sit and read a bit of theology to give them something to build upon. Through this book, anyone can learn the basics of a Christian theology. The illustrations in this book are lovely, but beyond that Marty also uses word-pictures that help to truly make the story visual for kids to get an understanding of theology. Who said, "you're too young for theology"? That's not the case anymore. As a parent, you might have had to scrap together a curriculum before but building on The Ology the hard work and children aligned speech is already set up for you! Theology of God. Theology of People. Theology of Sin. Theology of the Promise and the Law. Theology of Christ. Theology of the Holy Spirit. Theology of Adoption into God's Family. Theology of Change. Theology of the Church. Theology of the End Times. Theology of God's Word. As The Ology is designed for six-year-olds through preteens, this flexible resource incorporates many built-in arrangements for use with younger or older children, so that entire families can enjoy it together. Read The Ology to preschoolers, read it with grade-school kids, and let older kids explore the “hidden” truths by reading the analogous Scripture passages for each section. No matter however you read it, The Ology will grant your children a gift that will endure a lifetime—a solid foundation to build upon of life-changing Biblical accuracy that will point them to the God who loves them and gave himself for them. A beginner’s book of systematic theology in the form of a beautifully illustrated story-book Clearly explains life-changing theological truths with everyday examples and simple language that kids can understand Takes abstract theological concepts and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies Designed for six-year-olds through preteens, with built-in adaptations for use with younger or older children, so that entire families can enjoy it together. Perhaps one of my favorite things is that this is not a read once-and-done-book. Yes, you can take your time going through it introducing and teaching your children these theological concepts within the systematic theology which Marty has laid out. But there is more... You can go back through it again and turn it wholly into a Bible study. Each image within the book has a handful of scripture references added to the image, which add to the lessons being taught. This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.

As a Baptist, I often feel like I fail to pass on a systematic answer to my children on certain Biblical truths. We just don’t have any set up catechisms or even any unifying creeds in our churches beyond the one that is particular to each church. So, it was with anticipation that I received the new book, The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New. I knew as soon as I received it that this book was the perfect book to provide a comprehensive look at our faith and why we hold to it for my children. The Ology is a nice, thick picture book with many beautiful drawings that covers 71 basic points of the Christian faith. It covers this points in a nice, neutral mainline protestant way, and I heartily approve of that. Sometimes we get so caught up in our small differences that we forget that what unites us as Christians is greater than small differences in viewpoint. There are pages, such as baptism, than mention that different denominations have different views on when baptism should occur but that all agree that salvation is through Jesus alone. I think that is very important for children to understand, so that when they see beliefs that are different from the denomination that they were raised in that they are able to understand that these are not the major issues. Each point that the book covers is given 2-4 pages of a combination of text and illustrations. The text explains the main point of theology over 1-2 pages. Incorporated are 1-2 pages of illustrations, and contained within the illustration pages are multiple scripture lookups as evidence for each point. Between the text and the Biblical lookups, your child is given a whole picture of the scripture. At the end of the book is a two page glossary that gives an explanation of various popular terms for Christians to use, such as gospel, holy, repent, etc. There’s also a section of questions and assignments for reflection at the end of the book. The parent guide in the front gives you an idea of the best way to use this book with students all the way from 6 years old to adults. I really like this book. I love the questions, the multiple scripture references and the thoroughness of the explanations. I also love the beautiful illustrations, which is the part that makes the book so kid-friendly and welcoming. This is something that would make a great basis for a semester long class on Christian theology, and I could totally see working through that with my children over the course of 3 or 4 months. It’s something that I’ve put on my upcoming to-do list. In the meantime, I’ve put the book on my children’s bookshelf, so that the children can flip through the book and be inspired and perhaps my older children can have some of their questions about their faith answered with just some glances through the book. Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The art work is a bit disappointing. But the theology, right on.

A book that I had on my wishlist for some time and was so excited to incorporate into my boys daily bible reading time was The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New by Marty Machowski. This book is incredible, really. When I think of the good, true and beautiful, I picture this book. Machowski offers a dense and rich spread of theological truth written towards kids, but just as nourishing for adults and wraps it up in a gorgeous, heirloom quality format of a book. One of the tag lines from the publishers is "A beginner s book of systematic theology in the form of a beautifully illustrated storybook." I think this is really the perfect way to sum up what this book is. It truly is a very comprehensively laid out theology course in the form of an engaging children's story. It begins by introducing us to our main characters- Carla and Timothy who are exploring their church building when they discover not only a secret underground stairway but also a mysterious package that beckons them to "Open and Read". Within is a letter explaining that they have in their hands a last of it's kind historic children's book that teaches the Theology, the study of God. And so begins our journey with Carla and Timothy thru The Ology. The book is very systematic about it's teaching approach and I think that's perfect to make sure even the youngest child can begin but also make sure the more advanced student has a through and solid foundation. It starts with The Ology of God, which covers the attributes of who God is. Then, we move to The Ology of People where we're reminded of our creation and first parents. Next, we have to face the hard facts in The Ology of Sin which does a great job of clearly explaining to children what sin and it's consequences are, both at the first instance in the Garden and in their lives now. The Ology of the Promise and the Law explains God's "rescue plan" and how the law was first introduced and what it's purpose is. The hope comes with The Ology of Christ when children are told of Jesus' divine and human aspects and what all he did for us. Things go a little deeper still when we get to The Ology of the Holy Spirit and learn of the introduction of the Holy Spirit to the first believers and how it is with us now. The Ology of Adoption into God's Family gives us many reminders of our truest identity. The Ology of Change I think is where things start transitioning to being a great challenge and lesson to older children, past the basics of what God has done for us and focused in on how we can live for him. This section deals with how we can grow and have victory in Christ and I'm thinking my oldest who just turned 6 would really get a lot out of these lessons at his stage in understanding the faith. The Ology of the Church does a wonderful job of explaining what the purpose of the Church is and why we need to be a part of it. A much helpful to teaching parents section on The Ology of the End Times gives some great insight into the tricky subject of "things to come". And the whole book is tied up nicely with the last chapter The Ology of God's Word where we are reminded of the importance and power of this book we're studying so in depth. Each "lesson" is short and concise with coordinating scripture and a whimsical illustration to engage kids. There is so much packed into this volume that I don't foresee us getting through it any time too soon and I am totally ok with that. Like any delightful thing you want to draw it out, soak it up and savor it. That's most importantly, how we should feel about God's word and I think Marty Machowski has doing a wonderful job of invoking a similar feeling about the complementary study of Theology with this outstanding title. As only the best kid's books can do, I feel like this is a gift not only for them, but for me as the lucky parent who gets to read it to them. This book will be treasured by my family for many years of growth and spiritual formation to come and recommended to all my dearest Mama friends. Thanks so much to New Growth Press for providing me with this title to enjoy with my children and review!

- No Table of Contents - Unable to zoom or change font - Letters are extremely small and hard to read This kindle version needs some serious work!

Theology is nothing other than the study of God. In that sense of the word every Christian is to be a theologian and to make it their ambition to study the one true God who has revealed himself in the Bible. In this book two children named Clara and Timothy come across an old package in the church cellar. When they open it they find a book that guides them through the study of God. The result is a systematic theology for children. In seventy-one short chapters early and upper elementary students (ages 6-12) will become acquainted with the various topics of theology. In it young theologians will learn to study God, people, sin, promise and law, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, end times, and the Bible. Accompanying every chapter are beautifully illustrated pictures all which avoid representations of Jesus and study questions. There is also a helpful glossary of important terms in the back. This resource will prove very useful in the home and church. One necessary caution is that its content is not distinctly reformed but relies heavily on Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. While much of what is written will be agreeable there are some potential weaknesses for what is left out and what is included. On the one hand there are certain emphases that are absent. For instance, though the book teaches the headship of Adam there is no instruction on God's covenantal arrangements. On the other hand there is some objectionable content. This is most apparent on the study of the church which is written from a Baptistic perspective that excludes the children of believers as being members of the church. The chapter on baptism is somewhat non-committal mentioning some parents choose to have their infants baptized, but still promotes baptism by immersion. Likewise, the chapter on the gifts of the Spirit does not exclude some of the extraordinary gifts we believe have ceased. Deficiencies like these, however, can easily be corrected in instruction and should not prejudice the would-be-reader. The majority of what is written will pose little to no problem for Reformed Christians.

About the Book: A Page-Turning Storybook of Theology for Kids In the cellar of the old stone cathedral, Carla and Timothy uncover a life-changing treasure, a carefully wrapped ancient book known as The Ology. What adults might describe as a beautifully illustrated storybook of systematic theology, the kids discover to be a story of adventure, mystery, and wonder that leads them to the truth about God, themselves, and the world around them. Truth is for kids, not just for adults! So The Ology gives kids of all ages a beginner’s theology book to help them understand who God is and how we, as his children, relate to him. Arranged within a traditional systematic theological framework, each truth in The Ology is also connected to the larger redemptive story of Scripture. The doctrine of God, for example, is presented in the larger framework of creation, where the attributes of God are more clearly on display. The Ology takes abstract theological concepts and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies. The goal is not to say everything that could be said about a theological topic, but rather to share the key thoughts behind a theological concept. The Ology is a starting point to learning theology and aims to create a hunger and desire in children to learn more as they grow older. Designed for six-year-olds through preteens, this flexible resource includes built-in adaptations for use with younger or older children, so that entire families can enjoy it together. Read The Ology to preschoolers, read it with grade-school kids, and let older kids discover the “hidden” truths by reading the corresponding Scripture passages for each section. However you read it, The Ology will give your children a gift that will last a lifetime—a solid foundation of life-changing biblical truth that will point them to the God who loves them and gave himself for them. A Companion The Ology CD from Bob Kauflin and Sovereign Music will also be available. Check out this preview! My Review: This is a great book to teach our children the basics of Theology. I found lots of interesting information that they could use to better understand the Bible and all that it teaches us. In the beginning of the book we are introduced to two characters by the names of Carla and Timothy. The two children come across a box with an interesting note attached. The note reads that the box contains a rare children's book with a long history and so begins the children's quest to see exactly what this book is all about. Complete with scripture The Ology teaches your children so many things that I'm sure they didn't even know and maybe a little bit that the parent didn't even understand. So it is a great book for the whole family to use use and learn from. It opens the Bible up to you in a whole new way. with over two hundred pages and very muted, simple illustrations The Ology will provide lots to talk about at the dinner table. **Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.

When I saw this book was about to be released, I knew this was one I wanted for my own children. I had read some great reviews on it from some authors that I trust and they had so many good things to say. In fact, the reviews in the front of the book are from some well-known theologians, pastors, and authors. Many people hesitate to teach their children theology, thinking that it is too deep for them to understand. I have long held the idea that it's not too deep because even as adults we are still learning theology and will never fully grasp all of it in our finite minds. The book has a parent guide that in the very front of the book. I appreciated this because as a homeschooling family, we are easily able to incorporate this book into our daily studies. It's tailored for elementary students, children ages 6-12. However, my 5 year old has learned a lot from it. It does say that teens and adults can use it to help lay a solid biblical worldview. For that matter, adults will find this book very enjoyable to read. I also really appreciate how it encourages the readers to check out a few more books as your child ages. I definitely want to get the companion album that goes with this book. How neat to be able to teach theology with music. The sections of the book are: 1. The Ology of God 2. The Ology of People 3. The Ology of Sin 4. The Ology of the Promise and the Law 5. The Ology of Christ 6. The Ology of the Holy Spirit 7. The Ology of Adoption into God's Family 8. The Ology of Change 9. The Ology of the Church 10. The Ology of the End Times 11. The Ology of God's Word The chapters are short in each section and the author highly recommends you take the book one chapter at a time and really discuss the chapter throughout the day. There is Scripture included on the pages that you can memorize, but surrounding the pictures on the opposite page is extra Scripture verses that you can use to go deeper into the subject. Another thing that I found extremely helpful for my children is the Glossary. It tweaks some important Bible Words and some big words we hear most often and it explains them in a way for children to understand. Following that page is a Think Theology, Talk Theology page. Each chapter has two questions that you can ask your child to help clarify any concepts they may be confused on or have difficulty understanding. This book will be one that we will be using in our family for many years and I will definitely be purchasing this to give to others for gifts. It is especially important for our children to know what they believe and why and I'm so thankful for this book written for children. ________________ I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and New Growth Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

I love the look and feel of this book - it just begs you to pick it up and leaf through it. It also calls to mind a picture of a family gathered together with The Ology and their Bibles, building a foundation for what they believe and why. The illustrations by Andy McGuire are gorgeous and they are detailed enough to appeal to a child's curiosity without becoming too cluttered or distracting. Each theology lesson is well organized and presented in terms simple enough for beginning believers and children to understand. And the teacher in me was thrilled to see the section at the back for further research and discussion. I don't know, however, that I would call it a "storybook", per se. Granted, there is a story element at the beginning and very end but the rest is more of a lesson/textbook format. This disappointed me a little bit because when I first heard about The Ology I immediately imagined all sorts of wonderful story-filled possibilities they might have implemented... and then none were used. It's a great book - don't misunderstand! But just don't go into it expecting a storybook because it really isn't. Bottom Line: Beautiful, rich illustrations and simply explained truths make The Ology the perfect choice for parents looking for a systematic theology resource for the whole family. The topics can be kept simple or expanded through the multiple Scripture references, leaving parents with a wide range of options. This is an especially helpful resource for families with children of varying ages since it can be geared to different levels of understanding with little problem. This is a book I'm definitely passing along to my brother and sister-in-law for my nephew's benefit! (I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

Introduction and Conclusion. This book has a fun little intro and conclusion that kids can relate to and that excites them about what is inside. Organization. The book is neatly organized into 71 chapters that logically walk kids through the major tenets of the Christian faith. The table of contents allows you to easily jump to a topic if needed. Bible References. Each chapter includes scripture supporting scripture quotes, in addition to scripture references if you’d like to read more on the subject. The Relatable Writing. The chapters include object lessons or anecdotes that make it easier for a child to relate to the topic. For instance, in describing the animal sacrifices, it says, “They were a little like cleaning your room by shoving everything under the bed. The bed covers the mess but the mess is still there,” and describes the need for Jesus’ ultimate cleansing sacrifice. Illustrations & Design. The subtle colors of the attractive artwork and graphic design add to the appeal of the book without overwhelming the topics being addressed. The Questions at the End of the Book. Both the scripture references and the questions/answers at the end of the book (one for each chapter) make it easy to use this book as an educational resource or component of a homeschool curriculum. I would make the suggestion that the book be read by parent and child together. While most of the writing is universal for Christians of all denominations, there may be some doctrinal differences or variances. While I personally found variances on the topics of death and baptism, I see this as an opportunity to explore and discuss the topics more deeply with my child. Overall, this book is a great resource for Christian parents.

Theology? For children? Really? Theology is a hefty topic for anyone, but teaching it to children is not an unheard of proposition. Consider... Webster's 1812 defines Theology as the science of God and divine things; or the science which teaches the existence, character and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice. Although I didn't grow up in a denomination that taught a Catechism, it is my sense that the purpose of a Catechism is to teach a church's theology. Again, quoting from Webster's 1812 : Catechism: An elementary book containing a summary of principles in any science or art, but appropriately in religion, reduced to the form of questions and answers, and sometimes with notes, explanations, and references to authorities. So, we can see that various churches have taught Theology to their children for centuries, but a Catechism can be a little difficult to remember (much harder for some than for others). When tied in to "story" almost everyone can connect the concept to the Scripture. Enter this beautifully illustrated book The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New by Marty Machowski. I was privileged to receive a copy for review purposes, for which I thank Marty and his publishers. 11 Doctrines are covered, with specific chapters or lessons within each Unit, with 71 lessons in total. Each lesson is covered in one or two double page spreads. The text on the page is the story, accompanied by one or two Bible verses that back up the truth being learned. A beautiful illustration on the facing page is surrounded by Scripture References that take the illustration deeper and further. There are a number of layers to using the book, from simply reading the story and the verses, to discussing the illustrations, and for older children and adults, looking up the extra verses, and maybe even choosing one or two to memorize. As my older children have graduated from AWANA (Which in itself presents something of a Catechism in the verses learned in the handbooks), this offers a new, and pleasant way to reaffirm some of the things they learned there, and possibly learn something new. Already my Eldest (I asked her to look the book over) is delighted by the beauty of the illustrations in this book, and was caught by one in particular~ the lesson on Faith~ which gave her a simple illustration and story to be able to use with the younger children that she helps at AWANA, if they have questions for her. For those who are visually oriented, these beautiful illustrations may be just the thing to help them remember the concept, and maybe even the verses that back it up. Nice! I can see using this book for years to come, whether with my own children (Aged elementary to high school), or as a part of our Sunday School lessons, and going through it more than one or two times.

Who is God? Where did He come from? Why did Jesus need to die? These are all questions that my kids asked in their growing up years. And while the Bible is the ultimate authority for answering these and other questions, The Ology by Marty Machowski is a great resource for parents and kids to discover the truth about God. With its beautiful illustrations, the short and on point explanations and the accompanying Scripture, The Ology is definitely a book to add to your family’s library. The story begins as Carla and Timothy discover an ancient book that tells the story of God. Each story and section lead the children systematically through what the Bible teaches. The book is designed for children and their parents to explore together the treasures of God. There is scripture to memorize, a glossary to explain Bible words, and discussion questions for each topic. Each topic is explained in a general way. For example, the topic of Baptism is explained in its Biblical application with a brief discussion of how churches carry out its command. The Ology is a good resource and starting point for parents. It’s certainly important to teach kids the truth in light of the world’s opinions and perceptions. Sunday School is great, but real teaching begins at home. In fact, The Ology can be used to expand what your kids learn from their small group lessons and the pastor’s sermon. Recommended. Audience: children and parents. (Thanks to LitFuse and New Growth Press for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

If you could take the Bible and mix in some incredible illustrations, all filled with Biblical truths, then you would have a phenomenal book. Oh wait! Someone has done that! And yes, it is absolutely stunning in every way. The Ology: Ancients Truths, Ever New is a book that you will without doubt want to add to your bookshelf. The kids and I loved it. In The Ology you come across a young boy and girl that find an ancient book, possibly the last known copy in the world. They are overwhelmed with curiosity and they gingerly open this large book. And they are treated to stories and images that press upon them are al Biblical truths and about the love of a man named Jesus. Based on the term, theology which means the study of the nature of God and religious belief, this book is set to appeal to even the youngest generation. Because, sometimes, even the oldest are put off with the wording of the ancient text of the Bible. This book brings it down to terms and imagery that the children can learn from and enjoy. This isn’t a book that follows straight through he Bible and breaks it down for the reader. The Ology break down subjects for the reader to better understand. Here are a few examples of the subjects that are written about: Faith Sin God Sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden God is Perfect Called Born Again and so many more The illustrations are so beautiful and I love the realistic look to them, yet they also look to be so expertly hand drawn. Simply gorgeous. Upon close inspection you will see that there are Bible verses sprinkled throughout the book along with the pictures. If you check on of the verses against your Bible you will see that the verses are “back-up” verses. Meaning that they back-up the word that was written in the book. Essentially providing more proof that God’s word is truth. My favorite line from the entire book is this one: “The Ology is only the beginning. It’s meant to point us back to God’s Word.” Yes! There is a glossary for important Bible words that everyone should know and understand. Further in the back of the book there is a questions section for digging deeper into the Word of God. This is excellent for older children. The answers to the questions asked are in the next section. Overall, this is a fantastic book and I am so pleased that we were able to review this book. My children enjoy it and I look forward to using it to teach them more and more about the Word of God. * I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other compensation was received. *

“The Ology” is filled with life changing; Biblically sound stories that will equip parents to introduce their family foundational theological truths on the subjects of: God, man, sin, promises of the law, Christ, the Holy Spirit, adoption into God’s family, the Church, end times, and God’s Word. The scripture passages and commentary challenge the reader to go beyond a casual reading and help establish a lifelong habit of Bible study, search for truth, assimilation, and personal application. A parental guide describes how this multilevel resource can be adapted to every age level, from early and upper elementary students, through teens and adults. I like the suggestions for using discussion questions, the different Bible study approaches and the use of journals for optimum effectiveness. Suggestions are also provided for techniques to develop Scripture memory. A glossary of important Bible words helps the reader understand and embrace their meaning. The format, artwork, graphics, and quality paper all add to the enjoyment and sense of importance of the permanence and the truth of the message being illustrated. “The Ology” is a work of art. Every member of the family should be provided their own individual copy and be encouraged to make it a permanent addition to their personal library. A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Ology is a beautiful, hardcover book from New Growth Press. Marty Machowski is a pastor, author, and father of six children. He does an excellent job breaking doctrine and theology down into bite-sized, easily understood lessons. Each of the 71 lessons is just 1 or 2 pages long. They build upon each other to fully explain the Christian doctrines about God, people, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the Bible, the End Times, and more. The book is gently illustrated by Andy McGuire, with skillful, colored pencil artwork. Each illustration contains Bible verses that relate to the topic. Marty Machowski encourages parents to work through the book once as devotions, then return to it a second time and look up the Bible verses that go with each lesson the second time. Or if an older child is reading it alone, he can look up the Bible verses on the first time through the book. I personally prefer reading through the book once, giving two days to each lesson. Read the lesson on day one, and look up the Bible scriptures and discuss them on the second day. There are also questions (and an answer key) at the back to help your child really think about the doctrine and how it applies to his life - what does it really mean? I highly recommend The Ology. It does seem to be coming from a Calvinist theological viewpoint, but I've read the chapters where our Wesleyan theology differs, and I won't have a problem using The Ology in our home. It may open some discussion about differences in denomination beliefs, but that isn't a bad thing. We've always tried to discuss those respectfully with our children as they grow. I love this book! I'm enjoying reading it with my children and we will continue to work through it. The lessons are short enough to make it through before little ones lose interest and become a distraction. I do think The Ology is our answer for creating a solid foundation for our children's faith, along with the lessons they're receiving at church. As parents, we need to be teaching Scripture at home. We know that, we just have struggled to find something manageable for our family. Now we have a plan again! Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. No other compensation was received and these thoughts are my honest opinion. I was not required to post a positive review.

The Ology teaches children foundational theological truths in simple terms and in short chapters. It begins with the story of a young boy and girl exploring around the cellar of an old church. They stumble across a book called The Ology. It is a long-forgotten book written for children to understand deep truths about God. They open its pages and begin reading the first chapter titled, "God Always Was and Always Will Be." Each chapter is one to three pages long and provides basic instruction in theological truths of the Christian faith. There are seventy-one chapters in all, divided into eleven sections. Some of the sections include: The Ology of Sin, The Ology of Christ, The Ology of the Church, and The Ology of God's Word. From a chapter discussing God's holiness: "Is it possible to get close enough to the sun to scoop out a sample to bring home in a jar? Of course not, the sun's surface is so hot is would burn you up before you even got close. While we know we can't touch the sun, a lot of folks don't understand that God's holy light--his glory and holiness--shines brighter than the sun. Just like we can't touch the sun, sinful people, still under judgment, can't get near to our holy God" (p.85). This beautifully illustrated book is intended to be used with children both in elementary school and in older grades as well. There is a parent guide with helpful suggestions for how to use the book with both young and older children. For older children, there are Bible passages provided in each chapter for further reading and study. There are discussion questions for each chapter at the end of the book as well. Each theological truth is explained using examples and illustrations that children understand. The images are engaging and pertinent to the chapter, but not distracting. I do wish that the author had incorporated more of the terms we use for the theological concepts he describes. While he does define words such as "atonement" and "sanctification" he doesn't use terms like omnipotence or omnipresence when he describes God as all-powerful and that he is everywhere. The Ology is a wonderful new discipleship tool for parents to use in training their children in the "Ology" of God and his word. If you've been searching for a new devotional for your family, this is one book you'll want to add to your library and read with your children multiple times as they grow.

This is by far the most beautiful book, written for family storytelling, beginning at about age 3. The format is every attractive, each two pages, has a lesson, with nicely simple illustration, boxed key verse and several other Biblical references to follow up on this lesson. It opens with a parental guide to maximize the use of the book as a spiritual guide. It is Biblical correct and the drawings draw in the child for further discussion. It starts with the Ology of God, then the ology of people, followed by the Ology of sin. Then comes the Ology of the promise and the law, Ology of Christ, and the Ology of Holy Spirit. Then comes the Ology of adoption into God’s family, Ology of change, Ology of the church and Ology of End Times and Ology of God’s Word. Although it’s main focus audience is the child between 3 and 12, it can be used as a basic tool of Bible Doctrine. I know this sounds deep and boring but it is not in the least, the adult companion will use it as a spring board for discussion and it will become the favorite book of the child. Not only the beauty of the book but a Glossary of 15 main themes. The book ends with a chapter Think Theology Talk Theology which has a couple of additional questions to further the learning and discussion. This is a book that has to be seen in order to be appreciated. It would be the most important gift you could give a grandchild, especially if you were near to spend special moments with the child. For an example under the topic of Faith, a picture of a root beer float showing the two main ingredients, root beer and ice cream, forming an amazing dessert. Then did you know that faith in Jesus has two ingredients, believing and then repenting. Faith is a gift from God. The Holy Spirit is described in simple terms. Just a few paragraphs on a big theme but the illustration is fun and joyous. Delightful but filled with God’s message, the best children’s book I have ever seen.

"The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New" by Marty Machowski and illustrated by Andy McGuire truly is an amazing children's book! I have never read anything quite so detailed and easy to understand for young children. It is aimed at early elementary students ages 6-9, and upper elementary students ages 10-12, but can also be used as a supplement for teens and adults. The amazing thing about this book, is that you can kind of customize it to meet your child's needs by focusing on different subjects in the book. The book starts out with Timothy and Carla as they explore an old church and find a trap door leading down to a basement. Inside, they find an old book wrapped in paper, with a note attached. It explains that the book they are holding is a rare piece of history. Early church pastors taught us how to understand the message of the Bible. Because they studied God, they were called Theologians. Those who were helped wanted to write a book to pass down to their children, so they did and they called it "The Ology." The Ology teaches us what the Bible says about God, people, sin and God's plan of salvation through Jesus. Children loved it. But after many years, The Ology was forgotten. Parents and children began to think that the truths of The Ology were old fashioned and out of date, so one by one, these books vanished. The book you are holding may be the very last book in existence. The Ology has 5 different sections including: The Ology of God, The Ology of People, The Ology of Sin, The Ology of the Promise and the Law, and the Ology of Christ. The author does a beautiful job of describing theology to children in ways that they can understand. As parents, our children sometimes ask difficult theology questions. I think that this book will help answer most questions a child might ask about God. I would highly recommend this book. I rate it as 5 stars. I received this book for free from Litfuse in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

"The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New" is a 224 page, illustrated systematic theology primer geared for "children", but as I was going through the book, I felt that this was more than just a children "primer", but a book that even adults, yes, adults can benefit from as well. Filled with beautiful illustrations and relevant Scripture, "The Ology" helps de-mystify the world of systematic theology and although this is not a book that would be of help for someone going through seminary, it can definitely help children, the new Christian, the maturing Christian and even the "mature" Christian in understanding basic Biblical principles outside just the bible stories. The book is bound in a pleasant cream color cover that makes this a wonderful addition on the coffee table. Pages are crisp. The illustrations reminded me of books of old where there was a balance between information and just catching the eye in a way that evokes the older style of illustrating. The pictures are simplistic enough to catch the principles to be shared and felt this is a book that would be of benefit in Sunday School or at home. Adults can benefit from the information that is shared; Chapters are brief, but summarizes the basic principles that make up systematic theology. On the other hand, the information will challenge children beyond just the stories and from what I read, really good for the 4th grade and up crowd to incorporate in their bible studies. Marty Machowski balanced between creating an informative look into systematic theology and ensuring the audience is taught enough information to help solidify their Christian growth while at the same time not overwhelming children (and even the adults reading the book either alone or with their kids) with information that may end up going over their heads. Subjects are important topics that need to be understood and covered while at the same time reinforcing biblical topics that are more common place in a home/church environment. Overall, this is an excellent book and highly recommend for home and church. **Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for my personal opinion*

When we received The Ology, my boys were excited and we found it to be a gift that is going to be a treasure in our family. It is beautifully illustrated and starts with a story about children around their ages of ten and eight who are exploring an old church and find a hidden door, what fun, open the door and down the staircase they go. There they find a package marked “open and read”. There is a letter enclosed telling them that “This is the last known copy of a rare children’s book with a long history. Its story begins with the early church pastors. They were the ones who first taught us how to understand the message of the Bible.” Late in the letter the author tells the children that “His prayer is that it will help them to know God and know yourself. But most of all I pray you will know how much God loves you. His love never fails.” The book is the Theology of our Christian faith, it is for children, but adults will benefit as well. The back of the book has questions for Think Theology, Talk Theology, The Ology of God, The Ology of People, The Ology of Sin, The Ology of the Promise and the Law, The Ology of Christ, The Ology of the Holy Spirit, The Ology of Adoption into God’s Family, The Ology of Change, The Ology of the Church, The Ology of End Times, and The Ology of God’s Word. Then there is the answer key. This is a forever book, and it will be cherished in our home. I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

can not read this book with my grandson the largest font size is 3. Big fat waste of money

The Ology is a beautifully written and illustrated book that dives into the deep issues of theology— that is, the study of God. Sometimes the topic of theology can be intimidating for even adults, and even more so when we think about approaching the topic with our children. The Ology is written in such a way that it brings the timeless truths of who God is and tells those within a story that will intrigue children of all ages. The story begins when Carla and Timothy are exploring their centuries-old church and they discover a hidden door. Behind the secret passage is a paper-wrapped book with a note explaining that the book is a rare, nearly forgotten telling of who God is. The rest of the book contains 71 unchangeable truths about God and other doctrines surrounding the Bible. Each new truth is illustrated with colorful, imaginative pictures that will draw your child into the text. Sprinkled among the illustrations are scripture references, great for older children who are looking to dig a little deeper. The resources contained in this book are invaluable— a glossary to explain important Bible words, discussion questions for every chapter of the book and even an answer key to go along with those questions! While written specifically with children ages 6 and up in mind, the resourcefulness of this book is not limited to children. I have already learned so much from just reading through it once. I cannnot wait to go back through and re-read each truth, spending a little more time digging deeper into the scripture that accompanies them. This would make a great Christmas gift, an excellent gift for your children or grandchildren, or even a gift to yourself! This could even be used as a basis for home-school curriculum or Sunday school teachings. I received a free copy of this book for review, but the thoughts and opinions about it are completely my own.

First, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Marty Machowski and his publisher for sending me a copy of "The Ology" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me. “The Ology” by Marty Machowski is one of the most beautiful storybooks I’ve ever seen. It is a durable hardcover with substantial pages. The illustrations are a beautifully muted watery color. The font is elegant and makes you feel like you are reading an ancient and precious book. This book is truly a treasure. It will give me a basic knowledge of systematic theology that I can share with my future grandchildren. And it will teach those future generations those basic principles at an early age so their theological knowledge will be rock solid by the time they get to be my age. I wish someone had ready this book to me when I was little. The theological concepts are presented in a very basic, understandable way. Each story is surrounded by Scripture pertinent to the topic so you get the teaching straight from the source: the Word of God! This is an amazing book that will be my “go to” storybook whenever I have grandkids. And in the meantime, I’ll curl up on the couch and read it to myself.

*My Review* "The Ology" is a wonderful way to introduce God to children. This book is a Children's book, so it's geared for early elementary (6-9), but it's also good for upper elementary(10-12). I absolutely love the way this book uses everyday life analogies to help children understand the bigger picture. One of my favorite parts in this book is "God Is Three in One". Our church was having a study on the Trinity, and how hard it is to comprehend. This book refers to the Trinity as a "jigsaw puzzle". It says "When you put together a jigsaw puzzle, You have to figure out how all the different pieces fit together to make a picture. God can e like that. The truths that the Bible tells us about God are a little bit like pieces of a puzzle. The more we learn about God, the clearer our picture of HIm will be,the more amazing He becomes to us, and the more we love him" I love that there are plenty of Scripture for that specific story. A great way for children to learn their Bible verses. Since we homeschool we COULD use this as a Bible curriculum, but since we already have that through the school we go through, we may add this in with what we already have. This book would make a great gift, or would fit perfectly in a church classroom or in a church l.ibrary *Disclaimer* I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. All oinions expressed are 100% my own.

The teaching is solid. I love the order the chapters are in. The pictures are fantastic. The angels, for example, are some of the most realistic I've ever seen. Although most of the writing is great, there are a few oddities. For example, in listing names of God, the author does a great ABC thing starting with Almighty then Bread of Life, etc. He goes through all the way to W (Wonderful Counselor), but ends with Lamb! Why? Next time, just stop at Wonderful Counselor.

The Ology starts out as a fictional story of two children finding an ancient book. We get to read that ancient book, which is many "meaty" devotionals. At the end, it shows that the children realize that this book should be read WITH the Bible, and so they go home to read it again alongside their Bibles. I think that's awesome! Each chapter has several Bible verses to go along with the lesson. I've tried really hard to make sure we read from our Bibles throughout our devotionals, just to stress the importance of it, so I like that several Bible verses are listed to help us out. For each 2-page spread, one page is a full picture, with Bible verses placed within the picture. I love that the pictures are gentle, and somewhat vintage in style. Each lesson is short, so it works well for a variety of ages.As with most all devotionals, I AM editing a bit here and there. Overall, I'd say this is a great devotional for 6(ish) and older children(on average). I'm thrilled with it and grateful for the fact that it doesn't water things down, but makes Bible truths child friendly. *I was provided a review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a beautiful book to share with your children and to read through together discovering and gaining a deeper understanding of God's truths. Divided into 11 sections and then further divided into chapters within the sections make this so easy to use and read with children as it is a easy to use and the right amount of information for small attention spans. The first section focuses on God, who God is and characteristics of God. Another section focuses on sin, including Satan's first temptation, how sin entered the world and how sin spreads like a disease. The church, adoption into God's family, change and end times are some of the other sections included in this book as well. The illustrations in this book are amazing! They are gorgeous, soothing and full of detail; I could spend hours just paging through studying them. The layout is very well-done as well; the pages do not have a cluttered feeling or look to them and yet have so many details included. There is a main verse included in a cute text box and then where other related verses are found are included strategically among the illustrations; I love this look! I highly recommend this as it will become a treasured keepsake that will be loved by children, parents and grandparents and a way to instill Biblical truths and lead to deeper discussions about faith.

This book is just beautiful. The cover art gives you just a taste of what is inside, which is gorgeous illustrations by Andy McGuire. The book starts out about two little children who find an old book in a church that starts the adventure of learning about theology. I really like how this book breaks down theology in a way that a child can understand and yet it's interesting enough that it will keep their attention. Each little lesson has a Scripture and then an explanation of the subject at hand. There are several sections about theology - some of them are about God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Church and God's Word. I really like how he breaks each section down to make it all flow and pull together as a whole. This book would be wonderful to use as a devotional with your children or in your homeschooling. It's a great book to read to your smaller children and discuss what you've read. I really love that everything is about God's Word and it's so important to share this with our children. I love this book! I think it's well written and the illustrations are so amazing and really add to this book. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

“The Ology is a children book, however, it can be helpful to provide the framework for a solid biblical worldview for teens and young adults as well” (Pages x – xi). The author credits Wayne Grudem’s books as a key source for writing this one. He said, “It was in reading 'Bible Doctrine' with my teenage children that my desire grew to make these deep theological truths accessible to a younger generation” (Page ix). The Ology is well-grounded in biblical teaching. It is lucid in communicating truth to children and it does so in a concise and memorable manner. The art illustrations throughout the book visually complement the topic of discussion. The book includes a Glossary (Pages 240 – 241) at the end. In its “Think Theology, Talk Theology” section, the book provides a set of questions corresponding to each chapter to facilitate further interaction with its content (Pages 242 – 248). Finally, it includes an answer key to the questions presented in the “Think Theology, Talk Theology” portion (Pages 249 – 257). I highly recommend this book for parents and grandparents to read with their young children.

I LOVE the way this book explains things. We received this book as a gift and I am SO VERY THANKFUL we did! It helps me and my son (4) come together, discuss subjects that are not super simple to discuss and feel like he and I are learning TOGETHER (so there is no hierarchy of me looking down at him or me having the pressure of knowing all the answers). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy this book now! don't wait!

With a 17-month-old granddaughter, I’m looking for books that teach sound biblical doctrine without being dry and boring. While The Ology is written for children a little bit older, there are still things that her parents can do with the book to give her a strong foundation in the tenets of our faith. (Thankfully, she has parents who want this for their children.) I love the short chapters, and the illustrations are spectacular. Not only does each page of text contains Scripture, each illustration also has other Scripture references to expand and make the book useful to read over and over with children as they grow older. As a former elementary schoolteacher, I look for these possibilities when looking for teaching material. While the book was written for children, its usefulness expands well into the teen years and adulthood. I’m very impressed with what Marty Machowski and New Growth Press has done with this book. And just for the record, while I received a complimentary copy of The Ology from the publisher in exchange for a review, I’m passing the book along to my son and daughter-in-love to use as they train their children to love the Lord and His Word.

The Ology is not a Bible story book. Instead it's a great tool for teaching children the truths of the Bible. Divided into ten chapters and seventy-one sections, the flexibility of the book lends to easy use and can be shared in order or by topic. Machowski uses easy to understand examples of common things children would understand to introduce concepts. He also includes a parent's guide, glossary, numerous scriptures, and a questions. The Ology is a good source for parents, teachers and anyone wishing to share the Bible with young people. This even a good resource for adults. I don't see this as sit down and read through kind of book, but more as an open up and let's look at the concept type of book. The illustrations are beautiful and add pleasing aesthetics. There were a few concepts I differed on with the author, but even at that, they can be used as a jumping off point for discussion. I'm giving the book five-stars because the author took on a large task and did a meticulous job providing examples and explanations. Also the illustrators work adds so much to the text. I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

My Thoughts: This is a well made sturdy book intended to last through many years and readings. It is a skillful introduction to the deep and exceptionally important subject of theology. The subject is introduced by two children finding an ancient book which changes into a modern book. That is the extent of the fairy tale. The remainder is theology broken down into short one page chapters that a child who reads chapter books could read to himself. I think it would be more engaging if the parent or grandparent read a selection then asked the child to retell it Charlotte Mason style. The illustrations are similar in style to the ones shown on the cover. Extra Bible verses are suggested to enhance learning. I do not have young children, but I may have my older children read through it to be sure they haven't missed anything. I believe this to be a book that would be acceptable to most denominations. *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. We have been loving The Ology by Marty Machowski.It has such a charming premise. Two children find this ancient book with a note about how this book has been around for a very long time and passed down. It is a Theology book for everyone! It will help them learn about God's truths. So my kids felt like they were learning along with them!! There are 35 short chapters so this book can be read in small chunks or in larger ones if your kids are a little older. Each chapter goes over a truth from God. There is scripture to support each truth, some verses given, and some you need to look up. I always find this a great way to get to know your bible, by practicing looking up verses! The language is simple yet doesn't talk down to you. The kids have learned so much from this book, but to be honest so have I!

What an absolutely lovely collection of theology on a child's level. In fact, adults may discover their own understanding of spiritual truths are sharpened by its simple presentations and profound explanations.

The Ology – Ancient Truths Ever New is a theologically sound primer that introduces children between the ages of 6 and 12 to core Christian doctrines and abstract theological concepts. The Ology uses creative examples, illustrations and analogies to make these concepts easy to understand. The book is written so that it’s adaptable to the wide range of needs of the children within that age group – for example, you can read the stories aloud to younger children, and older children can research the corresponding Scripture passages within each section. The entire framework of The Ology is built around an engaging story that sets the framework for the lessons that follow. The Ology is a unique treasure of a book that parents and children alike will treasure for years to come! Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher, However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Ology by Marty Machowski is a storybook designed to share Biblical Theology with children in a clear way. The book is in no way 'babyish", but it is written perfectly for 1st-6th graders. Jr. High, Senior High, and even adult-aged readers can gain quite a bit of knowledge and insight from TheOlogy. Younger grade schoolers will benefit from an adult reading to them, while an older grade school student will enjoy learning and reading on his or her own. My younger children (ages 1 & 3) are enjoying it too, but I'm teaching them more based on the pictures provided with each truth. "Think Theology, Talk Theology" is a section located at the end of the book and lists discussion questions for each segment (an answer key is included, too). All in all, the book is over 250 pages and will be a great family resource for many years. *I received a complimentary copy per my honest review*

I've been struggling to get through this book with my 7 year old since Christmas. I was a children's pastor for 12 years and am the mom of 3 boys, and this is not one I would recommend to every family. I am a protestant Christian and find the explanations mostly jive with my understanding of theology (although it's SUPER focused on penal substitutionary atonement, which is a reasonably new theology in the history of Christianity), but it's SO dry. The illustrations are kind of old school too. The object lessons are fine and make sense, but they'd be better suited to an actual tactile object lesson. This is the kind of book that adults love because it helps them explain their faith, but makes kids sigh internally. With a lot of deep theological text on each page and old fashioned illustrations that don't hold my child's interest, I can't give this book more than 3 stars. (PS I did purchase this book on Amazon.ca but wanted to leave my review here where it might actually be seen!)

How do you explain spiritual truths to your child? The Bible is not an easy book to share with children. Marty Machowski has written a remarkable book for parents to read aloud to their children or for older children to read aloud. The biblical and excellent words are combined with amazing illustrations from Andy McGuire. The combined effort makes for a remarkable book which gives the essence of Christian theology for children. A dozen areas are covered in simple yet powerful words. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Terry Whalin is the author of 60 books through traditional publishers including

Biblically Refreshing. The Ology, By: Marty Machowski What a refreshing take on biblical truth, and facts. Makes it a whole lot easier for children to learn what they knew to know. This book breaks down the different aspects of the bible making it so much easier to learn. The book breaks down to 71 different areas that are important part of the bible and biblical truths. I love the beautiful, detailed pictures that are in each and every section. It has a glossary that is great to use. I do believe one of my favorite parts of the book is the question and answer section at the end of the book. This is a must have book for any family with children. It would also make a wonderful gift. Be sure to order your copy today. 5 stars!

Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New is a beautifully illustrated introduction to theology for children. There is a terrific parent guide within the book that provides suggestions on how to most effectively use Ology with your children. This is truly one of the best Christian books I have ever seen for children. While this complimentary book was provided for review by Litfuse Publicity Group, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.

My endorsement: “This well-illustrated book clearly and logically introduces theology for children.” —Andy Naselli, assistant professor of New Testament and theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis; elder, Bethlehem Baptist Church

The Ology is a beautifully illustrated book with biblical truths on each page. I loved the illustrations and how the story points straight to God's truth. Kids will love this book. It would be a perfect family devotion book, the chapters are short and the verses are right there on the pages. This would be a perfect Christmas gift for a family with young children. Highly recommended!

Order received with some minor damages. Disappointed as this item is for our Children’s Ministry Library