When God Says It – He Does It by Carine MacKenzie

I’d like to thank Christian Focus 4 Kids for sending me When God Says It – He Does It in return for my honest review, and also for providing a book to give away!

The boys and I are still working on memorizing the book of Romans. The first sentence is seven verses long, but the first four verses discuss Jesus’ fulfillment of the prophecies. In the ESV, Romans 1:1-4 reads:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, “

Let that sink in a moment.

God promised the gospel beforehand through his prophets. He spoke of his Son, Jesus Christ. And God’s words–His promises–came true.

The Bible is a big book. Even for adults, it can take some effort to link the words of the prophets to their fulfillment in the life of Jesus Christ. I think that often in Bible retellings for children, we just skip that aspect of Scripture altogether and go straight for the easier stories. Yet understanding the fulfilled prophecies is an important part of really grasping God’s plan for us as it’s outlined in the Bible. Those prophecies help us understand the true identity of Jesus Christ.

Carine MacKenzie does a wonderful job of linking eighteen Old Testament prophecies to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ in her new book When God Says It – He Does It (CF4K, 2014). Taking kids systematically and chronologically through the life of Christ, Mrs. MacKenzie quotes Scripture and gives the references, then shows how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises given through the prophets. The book is heavily centered on the identity of Jesus and on explaining the Gospel. It ends with the promise that Jesus will return for his people and the assurance that just as God’s other promises were fulfilled, this promise will also be fulfilled.

When God Says It – He Does It is recommended for ages 5-11. Unlike many picture books, there is quite a bit of text. I think the connection between prophecies from God and their fulfillment by Jesus does take a little more cognitive ability, making 5 a good starting age. Even for older kids who are making their way through Scripture, the connections between prophecy and fulfillment can seem pretty abstract. This book is a great visual way for kids to connect the dots in Scripture. I think it’s a wonderful way for them to really grasp the amazing truths revealed in God’s Word.

You can purchase When God Says It He Does It at:

Amazon: When God Says It – He Does It: Bible Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Christian Book: When God Says It – He Does It

Some more Christian Focus books for 4-7 year olds reviewed at Thinking Kids:

• 365 Great Bible Stories by Carine Mackenzie
• Great Kings of the Bible by Deepak Reju
• What is the Gospel? by Mandy Groce
• Words About God to Help You Worship Him by Nicholas Choy
• Colour the Psalms by Carine Mackenzie

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