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The Bible's Answers to 100 of Life's Biggest Questions
Every believer has questions about God, the Bible, Jesus, and the purpose and meaning of life. The vexing problem is that so few believers are able to answer even the most basic ones. Without answers, doubt creeps in and the future of the church is in jeopardy.
With insight and precision, Geisler and Jimenez address one hundred penetrating questions that the culture asks and Christians must be prepared to answer, including both controversial questions raging in the public sphere and personal questions about family issues, the purpose and meaning of life, and the future of the world. Christians from every walk of life, especially young believers, youth workers, and parents, will treasure this comprehensive resource. Foreword by Josh and Sean McDowell.
With insight and precision, Geisler and Jimenez address one hundred penetrating questions that the culture asks and Christians must be prepared to answer, including both controversial questions raging in the public sphere and personal questions about family issues, the purpose and meaning of life, and the future of the world. Christians from every walk of life, especially young believers, youth workers, and parents, will treasure this comprehensive resource. Foreword by Josh and Sean McDowell.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2015
About the author
Norman L. Geisler
230 books327 followersNorman L. Geisler (PhD, Loyola University of Chicago) taught at top evangelical colleges and seminaries for over fifty years and was a distinguished professor of apologetics and theology at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. He was the author of nearly eighty books, including the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics and Christian Ethics. He and his wife lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 23, 2017
Excellent!!
This book would be an excellent choice for small groups and family discussions. I would certainly recommend it. Great read!!
This book would be an excellent choice for small groups and family discussions. I would certainly recommend it. Great read!!
February 7, 2015
Looking for a book that would help newer Christians, or those seeking to get more up to speed as a believer? Here in a book with an ideal format of questions and answers, this volume by Norman Geisler, famed apologist, and Jason Jimenez, published by Baker, will be an asset to you.
The first 18 questions are superb in their succinct guidance on things like, “Who made God?”, or “If God, why evil?”, or even “What happened to the dinosaurs?” The answers sparkle with the kinds of things we need in this rough-and-tumble world. Think confronting the tough questions of others as a Christian.
Parts three through seven (questions 19-59) cover basic doctrine in areas of Christology, the Holy Spirit, sin, salvation, Heaven, Hell, angels and demons, the Church, and end times. Basic truths are given at a level essay to grasp, and though we might quibble over some statement, most pastors would be thrilled at folks learning these basics.
Next we have questions for the Christian life. A few are so basic, but still just perfect for a new Christian. Then in questions 71-78 help for difficult social issues are given. Part 11 on world religions, again Mr. Geisler’s specialty, could hardly be better. It is not an attack on them, just explaining where there are fundamentally opposite of, and incompatible with, Christianity.
The last questions on the family seem a little trite, but the book, for what it attempts to be, is a winner!
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 am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The first 18 questions are superb in their succinct guidance on things like, “Who made God?”, or “If God, why evil?”, or even “What happened to the dinosaurs?” The answers sparkle with the kinds of things we need in this rough-and-tumble world. Think confronting the tough questions of others as a Christian.
Parts three through seven (questions 19-59) cover basic doctrine in areas of Christology, the Holy Spirit, sin, salvation, Heaven, Hell, angels and demons, the Church, and end times. Basic truths are given at a level essay to grasp, and though we might quibble over some statement, most pastors would be thrilled at folks learning these basics.
Next we have questions for the Christian life. A few are so basic, but still just perfect for a new Christian. Then in questions 71-78 help for difficult social issues are given. Part 11 on world religions, again Mr. Geisler’s specialty, could hardly be better. It is not an attack on them, just explaining where there are fundamentally opposite of, and incompatible with, Christianity.
The last questions on the family seem a little trite, but the book, for what it attempts to be, is a winner!
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 am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
March 2, 2015
The Bible’s Answers to 100 of Life’s Biggest Questions, by Norman L. Geisler and Jason Jimenez, is a one-stop place for all of the questions Christians will find themselves asking or being asked. From the basics of the faith, to family and current culture, the book covers a variety of topics in an easy to understand manner.
Each question is given an answer that is usually a couple of pages long and then followed up with Application and Bible References. Then books, websites, DVD’s, and online videos related to the topic are listed for further exploration. For me, that is one of the strongest features of the book. Because of its nature and how much it covers, the book can’t devote much space to each question. But there is a wealth of resources given so that the reader can go further into the question.
This is a great book to keep in your collection as a reference book. It is also a great book to share with new believers or people who are interested in the faith but aren’t believers yet. If it weren’t on my Kindle, I would shelve it with all of my reference books.
You can read my full review here
Each question is given an answer that is usually a couple of pages long and then followed up with Application and Bible References. Then books, websites, DVD’s, and online videos related to the topic are listed for further exploration. For me, that is one of the strongest features of the book. Because of its nature and how much it covers, the book can’t devote much space to each question. But there is a wealth of resources given so that the reader can go further into the question.
This is a great book to keep in your collection as a reference book. It is also a great book to share with new believers or people who are interested in the faith but aren’t believers yet. If it weren’t on my Kindle, I would shelve it with all of my reference books.
You can read my full review here
September 25, 2017
As can be discerned from the title, this book serves as essentially a quick reference guide to answer a range of questions related to Christianity: from philosophical questions such as “What is truth?” and “Is there a God?”; to doctrinal questions like “How can Jesus be both man and God?” or “Why did Jesus have to die?”; to pragmatic faith questions like “How do I study the Bible?” or “How can I overcome sin in my life?”; to questions that a Christian might be asked by a non-Christian such as “If God, why evil?” or “Can all religions be true?” Each chapter consists of one question, a short answer to that question (ranging from a paragraph to at most 2 pages), an application paragraph, a list of Bible verses relevant to that question, book references for further reading on the topic, and additional online resources (relevant articles and video clips). I think the book serves its purpose as a reference guide in that it contains most of the commonly asked questions about faith and attempts to provide an answer. But my big issue with the book is that it only devotes 2-4 pages per question no matter the topic, making the answers reductive and shallow for the most difficult questions. Whole books have been written about the problem of theodicy or the assurance of salvation; so how does one boil the answers to a single page? Again, as a quick reference guide, that’s fine. Just don’t go in expecting full treatises that fully resolve some of these questions.
September 6, 2019
This book will help Christians in finding quick answers to common questions normally asked by people who want answers on perplexing questions of the day. Sharpens our understanding of other worldviews as well. Easy read.
April 26, 2024
"Lifes Biggest Questions" By Mark Vincent was not on here. So this will do.
The book I read was a great fundamental understanding of Christianity, the purpose of it in conjunction to "Life".
The book I read was a great fundamental understanding of Christianity, the purpose of it in conjunction to "Life".
February 17, 2015
The Bible's Answers to 100 of Life's Biggest Questions by Norman L. Geisler & Jason Jimenez arrived the other day from Baker Books. I'm signed up to be a reviewer/blogger.
First, this is not a book that one sits down and reads cover to cover. As the title suggests, it's a question and answer book.
Second, I love the way the questions are presented. The book is divided into twelve parts:
Questions about God and Truth
Questions about Creation, Science, and the Bible
Questions about Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Questions about Sin and Salvation
Questions about Heaven and Hell
Questions about Angels and Demons
Questions about the Church and End Times
Questions about the Christian Life
Questions about Moral and Ethical Issues
Questions about Culture and Politics
Questions about Worldviews and World Religions
Questions about Family
Each question is a chapter consisting of:
The question
The answer
Application
Bible References
Books (suggested)
Website
DVD
Online Video
The chapters are short, concise and to the point. They are not meant be comprehensive or the final word on any of these questions; merely starting points. The Scripture references, suggested books, websites, DVDs and online video are for a more thorough explanation of the topic.
This is not a preachy book, nor does it compromise on the truth. It will appeal to both believers and non-believers alike. In fact, the sample questions they post on the cover will appeal to non-believers:
Would a loving God really send people to hell?
Are science and the Bible compatible?
What is truth?
Did God choose me or did I choose him?
Are miracles possible?
How can Jesus be both God and man?
Sproul's book
Sproul's book
I know that when I was an unbeliever, that those questions would have appealed to me. I will be keeping this book handy and referring to it time and time again, just as I do RC Sproul's book Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. I have used Sproul's book, on occasion, as a sort of devotional, as those chapters are short also. I could see doing the same thing with 100, and may do so sometime in the future. If I do I will be sure to blog about it.
First, this is not a book that one sits down and reads cover to cover. As the title suggests, it's a question and answer book.
Second, I love the way the questions are presented. The book is divided into twelve parts:
Questions about God and Truth
Questions about Creation, Science, and the Bible
Questions about Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Questions about Sin and Salvation
Questions about Heaven and Hell
Questions about Angels and Demons
Questions about the Church and End Times
Questions about the Christian Life
Questions about Moral and Ethical Issues
Questions about Culture and Politics
Questions about Worldviews and World Religions
Questions about Family
Each question is a chapter consisting of:
The question
The answer
Application
Bible References
Books (suggested)
Website
DVD
Online Video
The chapters are short, concise and to the point. They are not meant be comprehensive or the final word on any of these questions; merely starting points. The Scripture references, suggested books, websites, DVDs and online video are for a more thorough explanation of the topic.
This is not a preachy book, nor does it compromise on the truth. It will appeal to both believers and non-believers alike. In fact, the sample questions they post on the cover will appeal to non-believers:
Would a loving God really send people to hell?
Are science and the Bible compatible?
What is truth?
Did God choose me or did I choose him?
Are miracles possible?
How can Jesus be both God and man?
Sproul's book
Sproul's book
I know that when I was an unbeliever, that those questions would have appealed to me. I will be keeping this book handy and referring to it time and time again, just as I do RC Sproul's book Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. I have used Sproul's book, on occasion, as a sort of devotional, as those chapters are short also. I could see doing the same thing with 100, and may do so sometime in the future. If I do I will be sure to blog about it.
January 23, 2015
It has happened, at least once, to every teacher — the question that stops you in your tracks. Taking a deep breath, with thoughts racing and nothing coming to your mind, every neuron is straining the words, “I should know the answer to this one!’
The truth is that when this happens, there is nothing like investigating the matter for yourself, hauling out the thick books, firing up the on-line references, laying open the Word of God and letting the Spirit guide your heart into truth. To prime the pump for this process, Geisler and Jimenez have compiled a list of 100 questions and the answers God has given in the Bible. They have not thrown down a series of pat answers, but have moved beyond the answers, because most of life’s big questions arise from complicated real-world situations. “The answers are only part of the equation.” Each answer is followed by a practical application and a set of recommended resources which include additional Biblical references, books, websites, dvd’s, and an online video.
The 100 questions are grouped into twelve categories ranging from theology and the Christian life to politics, worldview, and family matters. More complex answers come with sidebars or diagrams to organize the data, making the book a valuable resource for:
1.Personal study: Scholarly and yet accessible, the articles are concise, the format is easy to scan, but the door is left wide open for further study.
2.One-on-one discipleship or parent/child discussions
3.Augmenting a Sunday School class or youth group as a means of stimulating further discussion on a topic.
As for my copy, I have a fifteen-year-old who is waiting for his turn to read it, and I am sure that it will lead to some lively conversations around the dinner table!
Disclosure: This book was provided by Baker Books in exchange for my unbiased review.
The truth is that when this happens, there is nothing like investigating the matter for yourself, hauling out the thick books, firing up the on-line references, laying open the Word of God and letting the Spirit guide your heart into truth. To prime the pump for this process, Geisler and Jimenez have compiled a list of 100 questions and the answers God has given in the Bible. They have not thrown down a series of pat answers, but have moved beyond the answers, because most of life’s big questions arise from complicated real-world situations. “The answers are only part of the equation.” Each answer is followed by a practical application and a set of recommended resources which include additional Biblical references, books, websites, dvd’s, and an online video.
The 100 questions are grouped into twelve categories ranging from theology and the Christian life to politics, worldview, and family matters. More complex answers come with sidebars or diagrams to organize the data, making the book a valuable resource for:
1.Personal study: Scholarly and yet accessible, the articles are concise, the format is easy to scan, but the door is left wide open for further study.
2.One-on-one discipleship or parent/child discussions
3.Augmenting a Sunday School class or youth group as a means of stimulating further discussion on a topic.
As for my copy, I have a fifteen-year-old who is waiting for his turn to read it, and I am sure that it will lead to some lively conversations around the dinner table!
Disclosure: This book was provided by Baker Books in exchange for my unbiased review.
March 23, 2015
This book is amazing! It has so many questions I've thought about and I'm sure others have, too. The answers vary in length from 1-3 pages with an application section for applying it to our lives, quite a few Bible references, and a list of other resources such as books, a website, a DVD and an online video. They're organized very well with sections about God and truth, creation and the Bible, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Heaven and Hell, and even a section about other religions! There are also sidebars that explain or give additional facts. This book is wonderful for answering questions you've wondered about or that someone might ask you. It's a great resource with accessible information if someone asks a hard question you don't know how to begin to explain or would take a long time to put together yourself. It would also make a great gift to someone searching or who has questions. I highly recommend this book!
I received this book free from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2015
There is some good basic information in this book, about the character of God, growing in faith, and what other religions believe. But the bias of the authors comes through on many questions. They are in the pretrib secret rapture camp and they do not let readers know that there are other accepted theologies of the end times. They are critical of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement, saying they misinterpret the Bible regarding the Holy Spirit. Decidedly one sided on several of the questions, this is not the best book I have read like this.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1zrnv6C.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1zrnv6C.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
March 16, 2015
This reference book provides concise responses to some of life's toughest questions. It is complete with scripture references, life application, and other reference books, websites, and DVDs. This book is not intended to be a be-all and end-all to these popular questions, but rather give quick synopses to get the reader started in the exploration of the topics. Topics range from the basics of Christianity to morality, ethics, government, and other religions. I believe this is a good reference book that would also be good for small group discussions.
Thank you to BakerBooks Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book for my honest opinion.
Thank you to BakerBooks Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book for my honest opinion.
February 10, 2015
This is an excellent resource for new Christians and people skeptical of Christianity and it's claims. It includes an excellent list of recommended reading.
Full review here
http://joevalenti.me/?x-portfolio=the...
Full review here
http://joevalenti.me/?x-portfolio=the...
May 21, 2015
Not too bad at all. Although I was caught off guard when it promoted Darbyism (secret rapture of Chrisitans) and even mentioned Left Behind. Is that theory still a thing?
February 15, 2016
Concise responses and plenty of supporting materials. A very good resource.
October 11, 2017
How do you know you have the right religion?
Geisler's book is very basic. I don't strongly recommend it even for a beginner because it smacks of provincialism, but I don’t want to be too hard. There's a quote from Ravi Zacharias that is very powerful. It answers the above question. How do you know something is true? He answers: Logical consistency (are there contradictions?), Empirical adequacy (is there any proof?), And experiential relevance (does it work in real life?). When taking all things into account, Christianity rises to the top.
Notes:
To say there is no truth is a claim to know that truth (10)
How do you know something is true? Logical consistency (are there contradictions?), Empirical adequacy (is there any proof?), And experiential relevance (does it work in real life?) Ravi Zacharias (10)
The problem of evil goes away when we frame it like this: 1. If God is all-powerful, then he can defeat evil. 2. If God is all good, then he would defeat evil. 3. But evil is not yet defeated. 4. Hence, there is no all-powerful and all that God. The weakness is 3. This argument postpones the consequent
APOLOGIST Acrostic is creative. (218)
tone is preaching to the choir
Geisler's book is very basic. I don't strongly recommend it even for a beginner because it smacks of provincialism, but I don’t want to be too hard. There's a quote from Ravi Zacharias that is very powerful. It answers the above question. How do you know something is true? He answers: Logical consistency (are there contradictions?), Empirical adequacy (is there any proof?), And experiential relevance (does it work in real life?). When taking all things into account, Christianity rises to the top.
Notes:
To say there is no truth is a claim to know that truth (10)
How do you know something is true? Logical consistency (are there contradictions?), Empirical adequacy (is there any proof?), And experiential relevance (does it work in real life?) Ravi Zacharias (10)
The problem of evil goes away when we frame it like this: 1. If God is all-powerful, then he can defeat evil. 2. If God is all good, then he would defeat evil. 3. But evil is not yet defeated. 4. Hence, there is no all-powerful and all that God. The weakness is 3. This argument postpones the consequent
APOLOGIST Acrostic is creative. (218)
tone is preaching to the choir
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews