Exploring Christian Theology by Nathan Holsteen and Michael Svigel is the first book of what will be a multi-volume set.  This volume has two parts: Created in Christ Jesus: Church, Churches, and the Christian Life, written by Holsteen and When He Returns: Resurrection, Judgment, and Restoration by Svigel.

As a visual learner and thinker, I appreciated the graphics and the Bible verses placed strategically throughout the narrative.  The authors teach at Dallas Theological Seminary, so they are careful to back up everything they say with Scripture and with historical writings by early church fathers as well as later theologians.  Where Christians may differ, as in their view of the sacraments or of the exact sequence of end times events, multiple viewpoints are shown along with the arguments for and against each view.

This book is accessible to the motivated layman.  There is no need for a seminary degree as the authors define terms as they come up.  This is an excellent addition to a church library or a Sunday School teachers’ resource collection.

I received a free review copy of Exploring Christian Theology from Bethany House Publishers.