I read this book aloud to my family last advent season (the original edition) and I'm looking forward to reading it again this year. It reminded me of Jesse Tree books that we have read as it traces Jesus's story all the way through the whole New Testament. Russ has a gift with words and really brought all these stories to life in a new way. You have a better idea of what each person's experience was like and you see God's hand through all of it. I discovered this book after listening to Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God online concert and the accompanying CD. They go so well together and I don't see us passing another Christmas season without both the music and The Advent of the Lamb of God as a new part of our family traditions.

To comment on Russ using his own words (that was brought up in another review), the intro to his books clearly state that almost all of his writing is a paraphrase so that he can combine all the stories into one cohesive story. The chapter title pages include scripture references so you can easily find and read the story straight out of the Bible too which is a great thing to do. He doesn't say he is writing these to take the place of the Bible. And I find his writing to be faithful to it. His books are masterful retellings that enhance the reader's understanding and the stories come to life and become very memorable. They point people to the Bible and show God's great redemptive plan.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review but I would have bought it any way!

In the preface, Russ explains that "this book is meant to be a servant of the Bible," a way to help you connect individual stories to the broad narrative arc of Scripture, not substitute for the Bible itself. The Advent of The Lamb tells the story of the need for and the coming of Christ, encompassing both Old and New Testaments. Each of the 25 chapters has the Scripture passage it is based on for reference at the top. Russ is a skilled narrator and I loved how he effortlessly wove cultural and historical context into this retelling. It reads like a study Bible with the fluidity of a novel.

Russ Ramsey presents an Advent narrative full of rich prose and deep meaning. He carries the reader through the Old Testament and into the New, weaving the prophecies about Jesus into a picture of the coming Messiah. Readers gain a fuller understanding of the way Scripture fits together to tell the whole story of Christ. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Nothing has helped me better understand the connection between the Old Testament and Jesus than this book. The way Ramsey crafts this book is easy to read but full of insight all at the same time. I just finished reading it and discussing it with a group of friends and plan to reread it each day in Advent. Highly recommend!

When unbelieving Augustine of Hippo met Bishop Ambrose, he liked him, "not at first as a teacher of truth, for that I had given up hope of finding in your church, but simply as a man who was kind to me."

This is the type of pastor/storyteller Russ Ramsey is. He doesn't preach at you or teach at you, even though he has the credentials. He sits with you, in kindness, in respect, in honesty, and he tells you a beautiful story, a true story, and it's grace.

"Every picture of brokenness reflected in these pages is in some measure the story of my brokenness. Every need that rises to the surface is in some way a need of my own. Every tendency toward rebellion, every cry of desperation, every prayer for forgiveness and every hope of redemption rings true in me." Russ Ramsey, from the Preface