Joseph was favored by his father. But his life took a tragic turn when his brothers sold him in to slavery. Joseph: Understanding God's Purpose will help you gain insights into Joseph's story as you explore the themes, context, and cultural background of the text. Discussion questions will help you apply what you've learned to your own life. This Bible character study, edited by Michael R. Grigoni and written by Derek R. Brown, Miles Custis, Douglas Mangum, and Matthew M. Whitehead, will help you dig deep into the life of Joseph. Walk with Joseph and discover what it means to trust God no matter what your circumstance. Contents: Setting the Stage: Explore theme, literary context, and the histrical and cultural backgrounds of Joseph's story. A Closer Look: Explore the narrative while considering issues of interpretation, original language, and theology. Throughout the Bible: Examine references to the narrative elsewhere in the Bible. Beyond the Bible: Consider references to the narrative in ancient documents and extracanonical texts and references and by theologians, the church fathers, and contemporary thinkers. Application: Explore the event's relevance to your journey of faith.

Chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Mary played a singular role in God's plan of redemption. And her life, relationships, and faith continue to hold significance for believers today. By responding faithfully to God's call, Mary began an extraordinary journey of transformation from Jesus' loving mother to one of His devoted followers. In this 8-week study, authors Miles Custis, Michael R. Grigoni, Douglas Mangum, Matthew M. Whitehead, Rebecca Brant, John D. Barry, and Elizabeth Vince help you discover new meaning in the life of Mary. Each chapter of Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is structured to maximize your study by exploring the themes, context, and background of events Mary's life, as well as offering biblical parallels, extra-biblical references, and insights into how Mary's experiences are relevant to your journey of faith. Walk through life with Mary, learning along the way how her story is like your story. Each chapter of Mary: Devoted to God's Plan is structured to maximize your study. Theme: Introduces the meaning and relevance of an event in Mary's life Literary Context: Illustrates the conditions surrounding that event Historical and Cultural Background: Presents relevant data about the ancient world A Closer Look: Gives a walk-through of the event while exploring issues of interpretation, original language, and theology Throughout the Bible: Examines discussion of the event elsewhere in the Bible Beyond the Bible: Treats references to the event in ancient documents and extracanonical texts and references and by theologians, the church fathers, and contemporary thinkers Application: Concludes the chapter by exploring the event's relevance to your journey of faith You'll also find Quick Tips offering insight into difficult passages, historical information, original language wording, and ancient thought.