Xulon Press presents a teaching ideal for Pastors, Bible study leaders, Sunday School teachers or anyone looking to learn the Bible in a refreshing presentation.
DECATUR, Ill., Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Author Terry Shields presents book one of a specially written biblical study series titled The Purpose of Everything: God's Promises to God's People ($35.99, paperback, 9798868503436; $44.49, hardcover, 9798868503443; $9.99, e-book, 9798868503450).
Shields provides Christians with an all-encompassing exploration of how the whole Bible fits together. He does so through a unique, easy-to-read narrative of every major person and event in the Bible, presented in chronological order. He describes the political and religious background and circumstances the writers and intended audience of the texts were experiencing, adds discussion to provide continuity between events when not given by Scripture itself, and explains the significance of each event within Scripture's progressive revelation of God's plan for humanity. This first book of a two-volume set will help readers comprehend Scripture, God's present and eternal promises, and in fact God's purpose for everything!
When asked what inspired the author to write this book, Shields said, "From leading Bible study groups for decades, I've noticed two primary concepts that are difficult for Christians to understand. First is the difference between the Old and New Covenants and their applicability to believers in Jesus. Second is how to understand the writings of the Old Testament prophets, particularly since there is little knowledge regarding when those prophets lived or the circumstances and events they were experiencing. Further complicating the situation is that the Bible is not arranged in chronological order. So, even when Christians read the Bible it is easy to misunderstand the text's purpose and meaning. This is especially true for new Christians who are sometimes given a Bible and left to read it on their own. But it was upon reading Dr. Jeremiah's book, Agents of Babylon – most notably his idea that the end times are really just the beginning of all things and the moment towards which all history is pointing – that I was finally compelled to write this book."
As a child, Terry Shields regularly attended church with his parents. However, his real journey to faith began in college on a basketball road trip, when he picked up a New Testament placed in his hotel room by Gideons International. The Bible spoke clearly and accurately about the sinfulness of his life and heart, revealing to him his need for a Savior. Though feeling neither called nor gifted to become a pastor, Shields' passion for the Scriptures did not end there. For some forty years, he continued studying Scripture on a daily basis, leading adult Bible study and Formation classes. After twenty years of working as a computer scientist in telecommunications, energy and information systems research and participating in two short-term international missionary trips, Shields attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, where he received a Master of Theology degree. Following this, he worked seventeen years for Lutheran Hour Ministries in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to playing basketball in college, Shields has enjoyed sports all his life and still enjoys running and golf. He also sings in a community choir that toured Israel during the summer.
Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 20,000 titles published to date. The Purpose of Everything: God's Promises to God's People is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
Media Contact
Terry Shields, Salem Author Services, (314) 566-2453, [email protected]
SOURCE Xulon Press
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