Homeschool Happenings: Barbour Publishing ~ A Review

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Barbour Publishing ~ A Review

Over the past weeks my daughter has been reading a Bible Biography Series from Barbour Publishing called Kingdom Files. The two books that we were sent to read were, Who Was Jonah? and Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus?. This book series is for children ages 8-12.

Kingdom Files, part of the Kingdom Files investigation, is a series of biographies taken from the Bible that focuses on key Bible characters. Cases are broken down into three sections:

Fact File - contains important information about the Biblical character whom God has called to do big things for His kingdom.

Action File - lays out Bible events showing the character in action.

Power File - where you will find valuable information and memory verses to help you see how God is working in your life.

Clue Boxes - applications to help you keep track of your thoughts as you make our way through the files.

The key verse that Kingdom Files uses is Jeremiah 29:11 which says:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans

to give you hope and a future."

Who Was Jonah?

Action File we learn about Jonah. We all know the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell the people about God. Jonah didn't like God's plan. Nineveh was a city filled with wickedness. Jonah decided to run away and hide from God. He decided to sail in the opposite direction of Nineveh and on the boat he was sailing on a huge storm began to rage. Eventually Jonah was thrown overboard and a whale swallowed Jonah. We all know what happened next.

From the Fact File we learn that Jonah was "called to share the gospel with his greatest enemy." From the Power File we learn that God Is Faithful. God never forsakes us. Satan tries to distract us and lie to us but time and again God proves Himself faithful. God doesn't lose control or forsake us. I Corinthians 1:9 says, "God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." A clue that we learn from one of the Clue Boxes is that, "No matter what you're going through, your heavenly Father sees you and accepts your prayers. That should be as comforting to us today as it was to Jonah."

Who Was Mary, Mother of Jesus?

The set-up is the same as with the "Who Was Jonah" book. In this particular book we journey along with Mary as she is visited by Gabriel and told that she will be with child through the Holy Spirit. He son will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. We follow Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where she gives birth to Jesus. The wise men visit Jesus. The book ends with Christ's resurrection.

Be sure to check out the Kingdom Files website for games and activities that your child can print out. There is also an Educator Resourse page.

I really enjoyed Kingdom Files and would definitely recommend these books to others. Be sure to check out the other books in the series.