God's Gospel by Jill Nelson {Review}

I want to thank P&R Publishing for providing me with a copy of God’s Gospel in return for my honest opinion.

I really think P&R Publishing has done a great job with their Making HIM Known series, so when I had an opportunity to review the latest book in the series, God’s Gospel by Jill Nelson (P&R, 2015), I jumped at it.

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God’s Gospel presents 25 Bible stories in creative ways to help kids understand the gospel message contained in the story. By moving from Genesis through the teachings of Christ, Jill Nelson explains the gospel quite well. She ends with a 26th story–an invitation from Christ. I have to say, as one who holds to a confessional theology of salvation (rather than decisional), I was really pleased to see the last chapter include verses about salvation and an explanation of what it means to repent and believe, along with an introspective question and activities, but no direct “pray this prayer and you’ll be saved”.

I found the theology throughout the book to be quite sound. I appreciated the way that Jill Nelson (who was a Sunday school teacher for more than 20 years, and now is a curriculum writer and blog director for Children Desiring God) teaches. Every story begins with direct questions to the child, and occasionally a contemporary story. Children are drawn into the narrative, and come away with a deepened understanding of some aspect of the gospel.

God's Gospel by Jill Nelson is a great family devotional!

Each of the 26 chapters in God’s Gospel is four pages long. After each story, there is a “Learning to Trust God” section which contains a Bible reading, discussion questions, and an activity. The reading, discussion, and activities are easily incorporated into a family’s evening or morning worship time.

The stories has a great illustration by Fred Apps, and there are direct quotations from the Bible (ESV) in the text.

I really appreciate the fact that the Making HIM Known series takes difficult theological concepts and makes them accessible for children over a short period of time. The books are like little unit studies. They’re perfect for families, or as a homeschool devotional. God’s Gospel is a great addition to this series.

You can find God’s Gospel at