Emblems of the Infinite King: Enter the Knowledge of the Living God

by J. Ryan Lister, Anthony M. Benedetto (Illustrations)

In an imaginative journey through the grand story of the universe, this book introduces kids ages 10+ to God’s radiant beauty using the main categories of systematic God, humanity, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and last things. Full of captivating illustrated “emblems” meant to symbolize key facets of Christian doctrine, this unique book seeks to bring theological truths from words to life. The creative design combined with rich theology will challenge young readers to search God’s Word for important answers to big questions about themselves, God, and the gospel.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Childrens, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Faith, Picture Books

184 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2019

About the author

RYAN LISTER is a professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of The Presence of God: Its Place in the Story of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives and serves as Director of Doctrine & Discipleship for Humble Beast, where he helped start the Canvas Conference. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Chase, and their four children.

Reviews

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic systematic theology for children. We learn about the Death Killer and are offered the gift of keys.
The Throne Room Key: The Doctrine of God
The Dust Key: The Doctrine of Humanity
The Serpent Key: The Doctrine of Sin
The Tomb Key: The Doctrine of Christ
The Spirit Key: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
The Gavel Key: The Doctrine of Salvation
The Temple Key: The Doctrine of the Church
The Throne Key: The Doctrine of Last Things

Beautiful art highlights the beautiful truths.

2020 A book about theology

Read to my children at lunch

#covidreader

[Ethan Marstella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautifully written and illustrated books I’ve ever seen. A story-driven systematic theology designed for young children. It’s really intense and heavy. I’d recommend you not read it to anyone under 10, and could be given to a 13+ year old. I was captivated by it as an adult.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

From time to time, I enjoy a good children’s book. There’s something about taking a break from my usual theologically robust reading schedule and immersing myself into a book designed to reach kids. J. Ryan Lister’s book is targeted to pre-teens and teens but I won’t be shelving this book with other notable children’s books by C.S. Lewis and Douglas Bond. Emblems of the Infinite King: Enter the Knowledge of the Living God will be placed in my section devoted to biblical theology. Lister’s book will stand proudly next to works of biblical theology penned by Thomas Schreiner, Patrick Schreiner, Peter Gentry, Stephen Wellum, George Eldon Ladd, and James Hamilton.

Emblems of the Infinite Kinginvites young readers into God’s redemptive drama and presents the definitive pillars of the Christian worldview - creation, fall, redemption, and consummation in a compelling story. The introduction sets the necessary tone as readers are presented with life-changing key:

His strong and wise command cut through the empty silence as he reached out of the shadows to offer an ancient key … Those who turn this key will never be the same.

“It will show your deepest guilt and display your darkest shame.”

“You’ll see who you were made to be and what you’ve really become.”

“But only if you turn the key will you find your story isn’t done, that the way ahead is the path that leads into the throne room of the Son, this one they call the Death Killer, who gives his life to pay your ransom.”

A brief note about the underlying story that undergirds the book. One reviewer questioned the validity of the imaginative elements of Emblems of the Infinite King, This critique is perplexing, especially in light of the stunning efforts of C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings). And who can argue with the effectiveness of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the best selling books of all time? One of the great needs in the church is a Christ-saturated imagination which is theologically robust and Reformed, one that captures the heart and makes the human spirit soar. Tragically, much writing is aimed at the mind but bypasses the heart altogether. Emblems of the Infinite King strikes a biblical balance that celebrates orthodoxy but also warms the heart with imaginative prose.

Each chapter describes a particular key that explains a doctrinal reality that ultimately leads to the throne of God. Dr. Lister presents each branch of systematic theology in the framework of the story and guides pilgrims on a journey that glorifies the King - the central figure of the redemptive drama.

Make no mistake - this is a serious book. And serious books have life-changing implications. The author writes clearly and creatively. But even more important, he writes with biblical precision. It is obvious that he has thought through each turn in the story and has a passion to either introduce readers to the King or help strengthen their relationship with him.

I must add that this is a beautiful book. Frankly, it is stunning. First, the cover is majestic and begs prospective readers to turn to the first page. The book is illustrated by Anthony M. Benedetto. Young people will be instantly drawn to his fine work.

The Emblems of the Infinite King is a modern-day Pilgrim’s Progress that is sure to encourage many young people and will be a strategic tool for parents and grandparents to help disciple children for God’s glory.

[Jen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Imaginative Retelling of the Gospel Story

There are certain images and elements that captivate mankind's imagination. Among them are keys, kings, crowns, and glory. This book utilizes all of the above in such a creative way, both in illustrations and in the text, that I found my own adult mind being drawn in time and again by the beauty of the way this book reimagines the Gospel story. And as I tried to explain to friends how the illustrations work upon the imagination, I found my own imagination being further expanded and drawn in to the story for a second time on an entirely different level.

Congratulations, J. Ryan and Anthony M. for providing parents and children alike with a story which enables both to see new truths with old eyes, and I absolutely love that all of it begins with a song!

[Brooks Lemmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book! I listened to it on audiobook. I didn't realize until I was about halfway through that it was a children's book. This book takes the sound doctrine of Desiring God, the educational aspects of Bible Project, and the beauty of a good Hans Zimmer soundtrack. This book really was an imaginative journey through theology. I will definitely be reading this book with my children one day!

[HC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to audio on podcast read by the author with background music effects. Worth every minute. Solid choice for children’s spiritual formation.

[Stephanie Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very beautiful cover and illustrations. The central construct of the book, with the keys and the vision, was hard for my kids to follow. The best section of the book was The Gavel Key (the doctrine of salvation), which laid out justification, election, regeneration, etc in a really helpful way with symbols for each bit that really helped me explain it to my kids. It's worth buying just for that section, honestly. But the rest of it felt a bit overwrought and contrived at times.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Creator did the unthinkable; He became part of His creation. For sinners like you.” -Emblems of the Infinite King


Emblems of the Infinite King: Enter the Knowledge of the Living God is the Gospel presented as a journey. It takes you, the reader, on a very detailed and beautifully described life-journey that begins with God creating everything, and ending with a challenge to discover the truth for yourself in His Word.

I really love the heart and passion of this book. The author wrote it to speak specifically to the reader, so it’s written in second person, as the author describes what happens as you walk this journey through faith.

It’s the Gospel that the author illustrates through creative analogies and mental pictures that give it an enticing and interesting edge. One of my main complaints about it though, was that as I read the story and re-visited the basics of Christian faith that I’ve learned throughout my years at church, was that the author did not include very many verses in his storytelling. And though I did agree with the soundness of his theology, it irked me that there really weren’t any scripture references of where the Bible said or implied what he was saying.

After finishing the book however, I see now that it was because the author wanted the reader to delve into the Word after reading the book and its challenge at the end of the pages– with the full list of scriptures that he referenced in each chapter throughout the book. The author wants you to hear the full story of the Gospel before encouraging you to look it up yourself and studying the Word in its wholeness. Which made the lack of scripture throughout the book make more sense, though I would have preferred that to have been stated somewhere in the beginning or at least a footnote included in each chapter to reference where those scriptures could have been located if one wanted to find them.

Emblems of the Infinite King is recommended for ages 10+, but in some of the chapters, I would say even older just because of how deep the author goes into some of his discussions and the vocabulary used might go over their head. But, I do think this a great book for introducing the Gospel or even just to re-visit and grow one’s knowledge of the Gospel.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it especially to youth groups or Bible studies!

I received this book from the author via the Amazon Vine Voice Program. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.

LiteratureApproved.com

[Bradley Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book! Through both the illustrations and the poetic style my 7 and 9 year old boys were captured. Together, we unlocked the 8 theological understandings of God and life. Worked through how they relate to us and humanity. Each night they asked if we could read some more and every page they asked to study the illustrations. This is a great first systematic theology book for young Christians.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book for children and young adults that offers a feast of truth and doctrine rather than just fluff and inch-deep deism. This certainly delivers, but my favorite thing about this book is that it so insistently encourages the reader toward consistent Scripture-reading. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s such a beautiful book.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and rich especially when following along with the chapter readings by the author. Look for Emblems of the Infinite King on Spotify.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!
Emblems of the Infinite King uses very straightforward language to teach young people the truth of God. Even though this is written for the younger audience, I think new Christians no matter what their age would benefit from reading this book as well. It accurately and fully explained everything from God's nature to His will, from the act of creation to God's plan of salvation. I enjoyed reading it and it was a great reminder for me.

[Colleen McFadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have children (especially 10+), I highly recommend this book for them. If you want a gripping, understandable systematic theology for yourself, read it! I was captured by the sounds and sights throughout the story. It magnifies King Jesus.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: His strong and wise command cut through the empty silence as he reached out of the shadows to offer an ancient key. “I am the Key Keeper. I have come to show you the Way. But before you do anything . . . Heed this warning: Those who turn this key will never be the same. It will show your deepest guilt and display your darkest shame. You’ll see who you were made to be and what you’ve really become. But only if you turn the key will you find your story isn’t done, that the way ahead is the path that leads into the throne room of the Son, this one they call the Death Killer, who gives his life to pay your ransom. “If you so choose, pick up the key. Open the lock. “If you do, you will not be alone. I will walk with you and guide you. I will meet you on the other side.” Everything changed with the turn of a key.

This book is a great introduction of the gospel for children and teens to read either on their own or with their parents. The gospel presentation is structured around the thematic concept of keys. The Throne Room Key: The Doctrine of God. The Dust Key: The Doctrine of Humanity. The Serpent Key: The Doctrine of Sin. The Tomb Key: The Doctrine of Christ. The Spirit Key: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Gavel Key: The Doctrine of Salvation. The Temple Key: The Doctrine of the Church. The Throne Key: The Doctrine of Last Things.

I earlier said 'gospel presentation' but it could also be seen as an introduction to systematic theology. If you are already a believer, the clear presentation will strengthen and inform your faith. Plenty of substance to chew on. If you are not a believer--perhaps you've been exposed here and there to the faith of others--then I think this will give you food for thought. Perhaps the Spirit will use the book to help clarify and explain the faith.

I think the intended audience is children ages eight and up. But I think adults could benefit as well from reading this one. I do think families could benefit from using this one together. Counting the introduction and conclusion there are ten chapters/sections to read.

It does directly address the reader. Not many books for adults do this--for better or worse. I liked the style of this one--especially in small doses.

We all want to be the main character in our own story. Everybody—in his own way—wants to be the center of his world. Everyone wants to be king of the mountain, the smartest kid in the class, the one with the biggest trophy case, or everybody’s best friend. It hurts when you aren’t and, after a while, it can even hurt when you are. This is why knowing the King is so important. Knowing him shows you that you can’t be the center of the world because he already is. That is a good thing. You weren’t made to be the center of the world; you can’t hold everything together. But God can. And when he is the center of the world, and the center of your story, you are free to be who you were made to be—who he made you to be.

If knowing the King is really the most important thing, then you need to know him correctly. This is where it gets really good: God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with you. He actually comes to you. The King wants you to know him, and, in his kind mercy, he has actually already spoken to you in many ways.

In both the Old and New Testaments of Scripture, God works with the words, lives, and qualities of human authors to give you his perfect words—not just to have them, but so that you may believe and obey them and find life in them. Because the King speaks through Scripture, you can trust it to be a perfect guide to knowing him. Every part of it is from God, which means it doesn’t have any errors. It means you can understand it, and it means that it already contains everything God wants you to know. It also means that God will use it to make sure that what he wants to happen will indeed happen.

Now this is too important to miss, so listen well: the only real reason you can know the King is because the King wants you to know him. He tells you everything you need to know about him. Now, he doesn’t tell you everything; but everything he does tell you is true and exactly what you need to know. The King wants you to hear his words because he wants you to know him rightly. People will try to tell you who God is but the truth is, God himself has already told you who he is. He’s given you his Word. The question is, will you hear and heed his Word?

I would definitely recommend this one.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the key to unlock the fountain of truth and ideas? Is there an accessible way to reveal the truths of God's Word? How can we explain difficult theological truths in simple terms, so that kids could understand? Surely, theology should not be restricted just for adults. With pictures, illustrations, and creative use of familiar symbols, author Ryan Lister gives us the metaphor of locks and keys. Making the use of keys to unlock eight fundamental theologies, Lister shows us fascinating ways to learn about the doctrines of God; humanity; sin; Christ; Holy Spirit; Salvation; Church; and the last days.

Keys are given to us. We ought to pick up these keys to open the lock and to enter into the truths God wants to reveal to all of us. For God is the "Key-keeper." Each key opens us to a particular room. The "Throne Room key" opens the door to theology, the Doctrine of God. We learn about worship in celebration and song. We move from ourselves to God, to see that the most important thing in the world is not us, but God. God wants to bless us, but we must let Him do so. Subtly, we are reminded that the king is not us, that God alone is king. The "Dust Key" reminds us that we are nothing until God came along. We are made from dust into the image of God, but we are still creatures needing God. Yet, God has made us his highest prize and desires to bless us. The "Serpent Key" is about sin and how mankind has fallen into brokenness and despair. It reminds us of Adam and Eve who fell into the deception of the serpent. Lister spends time to describe various images of pride (Tower of Babel); and the stain of sin from Genesis to depict the fallenness. Instead of worshiping God, man ends up worship other gods, even himself.


The "Tomb Key" is about the doctrine of Christ, tomb being the way Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day. These are described in three acts of Christ. I like the way Lister calls Christ as the "death killer." Indeed, that is the good news. The "Spirit Key" teaches us about the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, how believers are renewed in their hearts and how we can live in the Spirit. Lister synthesizes biblical truths and narrates the doctrine in a palatable manner. The "Gavel Key" is about salvation. We get snippets of the meaning of election, atonement, regeneration, justification, reconciliation, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. The "temple key" is about Church embodied as a people of God. The marks of the church are unity; holiness; global; and one. Finally, we return to the "Throne Key" which is essentially about God's Kingdom that is to come. There is hope, anticipation, resurrection, the final judgment, and the glory of God. Lister gives us glimpses of the image of the last days from the book of Revelation.

My Thoughts
The title of this book is a precursor to what this book is about; that it will be revealing the truths of God via symbols, representations to bring abstract details into simple images. This is the intent. A noble intent indeed. The author begins well with a plan about keys, locks, and rooms of understanding. Hearts are easy to understand. We could visualize adults and kids as people. When it comes to other symbols, it takes some effort to visualize what it represents. Perhaps, the final edition of the book would contain explanations about the symbols. If not, I suggest the publisher include a legend to describe the symbols and terms used. Otherwise, readers would be left to speculate what the symbols mean. Having said that, this could also be a positive thing to help younger readers raise questions and ponder about the truths the authors are trying to convey. It should also inspire readers to go back to the Bible to find out more.

Sometimes, the simplest things could also be the most profound. As I read through the book, it requires a fair understanding of theology before one can truly comprehend more of what the author is saying. For that reason, I would not recommend this book for young believers, unless there is a mature believer willing to guide their reading. This is a good effort to try to simplify things but it should be used more as a springboard for further study or discussion.

Ryan Lister is professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Rating: 3.75 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing the King is so important. Knowing him shows you that you can't be the center of the world because he already is. That is the good thing. You weren't made to be the center of the world; you can't hold everything together. But God can. And when he is the center of the world, and the center of your story, you are free to be who you were made to be- who he made you to be.

A study for Christian teenagers desiring to know Christ as their King. Each chapter a vivid word picture of Christ has King of your life, King of your salvation, King of creation. It is meant for readers to see Christ in a different way. A king is not meek but a good king is humble. A king who is not for the popular vote but for God's glory and your joy. How do you view what a King is? What a king does? Reading this study, I reflected on how the nation of Israel viewed a king and how they rejected God as their king.

Why is the holiness of God important to those that are seeking to know God? That is the most important attribute of God to know as it is the basis of how you view God, yourself and others. The holiness of God reflects the trinity and the work of the trinity in the character of God.

The sovereignty of God is another aspect of Kingship . "Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." As we pray those words, how does that look like in your life. We really don't need another way to look at God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We have all we need in the bible, however, a study likes this helps us to open our eyes to the truth of the word. Highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Micah Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall an excellent book. I at first thought that the lack of a chapter on the doctrine of Scripture was strange but see now that Lister did well to intersperse this essential doctrine throughout.
I did think of the ending was a little rushed. Would have liked to see the last 4 or so pages turned into 8ish.
The artwork was fantastic, especially in its use of the “emblems”. Always something fun to look at. I also found the writing itself to be rich with imagery. This was especially true of Chapter 6 The Gavel Key: The Doctrine of Salvation. The synergy between the artwork and metaphors was at its best here. Also appreciated that PSA was described as one aspect of the atonement rather than the whole.
The second person perspective and a rewording of technical terminology were used masterfully throughout the book to make a potentially dry and academic Systematic Theology feel personal, relevant, and of need of a response.
Would highly recommend to a 8-12 grader (esp. a boy)

[Brad Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 // This is a mostly fantastic primer to systematic theology aimed at older elementary and younger middle school kids. I love the story-like thread that served as its foundation. J. Ryan Lister does a wonderful job of communicating deep truths in a way that is both engaging and age-appropriate, all while highlighting the grand story in which humanity participates. There were a few sentences that, I think, could lead to a misunderstanding of Adam and Eve’s guilt in eating the forbidden fruit (a few more words could have resolved Adam’s rather bizarre innocent-bystander characterization), but this was the only moment that gave me pause. Anthony Benedetto’s illustrations are full of gorgeous simplicity and symbolism, the kind that make it worth having a physical copy of the book, in my opinion. Definitely will buy this and read through it with my own child!

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting premise - a systematic theology that's meant for middle grade and young adult readers. The explanations seemed clear and helpful. The author attempts to frame it as an epic story in which the reader is transported to different places and given keys that represent different doctrines. Would this hold the interest of a young reader? Not sure - sometimes it came across as a bit hokey to me, but I'm not the intended audience. I also wonder if this would be better read aloud? I didn't love the illustrations, but other people did, and I'm kind of a neanderthal about art, so take that with a grain of salt.

Overall I loved the idea of this and wanted to enjoy it more; I still think it might grow on me, and I would definitely consider reading it to my kids when they're older because it's kind of a unique resource.

[Jacob Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story throughout this book is a really neat way of exploring the truths of Scripture (using the keys to turn the lock open) and how we can understand and study core doctrines. There are beautiful illustrations which help bring to light what is being said.

The only issue I continued to come across is that the language is geared towards upper middle school and high school. The story driven side of this book is fitting for those 10 years and up but the definition of words can certainly be a distraction for learning.

Overall, it was a refreshing book for a 33 year old to read and I'm excited to go through it with my kids.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why can't I give more than 5 stars??

While this book is oriented toward 8-14 year-olds, it serves as an excellent, enjoyable introduction to systematic theology. The literary quality plus the clarity of expression makes this a fitting intro for anyone in need of a refresher or an introductory entry into the topic.

I listened to the audio production, which includes background music that enhances the content well. Add music to the beautiful illustrations on top of the biblical content and you get a truly wonderful experience that promotes genuine worship of the Death-Killer, Jesus.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written and enjoyable read for children (and adults) from the age of 10. In beautiful and lyrical language it exposes the well-known truths of the gospel in a way that is easily understandable. I would be willing to share this with any new or young believer.
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary and impartial review.

[David King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does for systematic theology what The Jesus Storybook Bible does for biblical theology. Emblems explains eight major doctrines in a clear, narrative, and personal way. It was written for somewhat older children (10-12 year olds), but like TJSB, Emblems reaches adults as well. This is fantastic, and I am eager to get the book and reread.

[Sheila Dailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about understanding God's great plan and love for us. A bit unconventional, and it feels like a trip into science fiction--just the style of the illustrations and the language usage--but a basic explanation of all the basic tenants of Christian faith.
It is beautiful enough to leave on the coffee table and I'm sure that I'll be referring back to it often.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used this as a devo around the dinner table. It took us about 6 weeks to get the whole way through at our pace. The kids really enjoyed the imagery. I would suggest it for read aloud starting at older elementary and read on their own about middle school. Great resource but not geared toward the younger ones (though they pick up on stuff anyways as they hang around !)

[Debbie Channell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The teaching was great.
But I (and my kids) felt like the key analogy was a little overdone and forced. For the age group that it seems the “meat” of the book was fitting for, the ongoing key references seemed juvenile.
For the age group the key references would have been fitting for, the rest would have been over their head.
I did appreciate the “Death-Killer” name and usage.

[Benjamin Bartels · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Emblems of the Infinite King” is a deeply rich book on theology made accessible. This book does an excellent job taking biblical truths of God, Salvation, the Church, end times, and making them quite understandable while remaining rooted in scripture. Overall, a great book that I would probably point people to in making sense of God’s purposes.

[Ryann Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Systematic Theology for kids (10+). It was a little odd as an audiobook, or overproduced might be the right word, but I liked the actual content. I’ll look for the print book and try to find a time to walk through it with my daughters. It was simplistic but thorough and would create good conversation, I think, since it’s more along the lines of theology than Bible stories.

[Beulah Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books to read about the Holy God. Simple, understandable way of knowing the eternal, one. I loved the way the concept is described, it is soothing to read and knowledgeable. If you want to know about Holy God read this book. Recommend the book to all.

[Luke Schaeffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that is well written and beautifully illustrated. A perfect read for children or new believers to understand weighty doctrine. This book also beautifully reminds older believers of just how great a salvation we have and how great a God we serve.