Frank Carlson Library

The second book of Kings depicts Israel as a land divided, being ruled by wicked kings who lead the Israelite people only further into idolatry and sin. Throughout this period, the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha, bring hope for repentance and reformation by performing astounding miracles and spreading the word of God. Their efforts to lead the Israelites from their stubborn and disobedient path are chronicled in 2 Kings and, once again, God shows...

The genre of Psalms is Songs and Poetry of all kinds. It is written by multiple authors, David wrote 73, Asaph wrote 12, the sons of Korah wrote 9, Solomon wrote 3, Ethan, and Moses each wrote one (Ps. 90), and 51 of the Psalms are anonymous. They were written over the span of approximately 900 years (Beginning at the time of Moses 1440 B.C. and through the captivity in 586 B.C.). The Psalms include praises of joy, laments, blessings, and thanksgivings....

The epistle of Hebrews was written by an unknown author to a community of Jewish Christians living in Rome under heavy persecution. This book encourages the church to keep their faith in difficult circumstances and not to return to Judaism and the Mosaic Law. Hebrews extols Jesus as the Son of God and clearly emphasizes that only through Jesus can Christians achieve salvation.

The book of Nehemiah recounts the struggle of the Jewish people's return to Jerusalem after being held in captivity for 70 years. Unfortified and disorganized, the Jews look to Nehemiah, their temporary governor, to help them rebuild their city walls before the surrounding enemies attack. Nehemiah is an important example of the astounding successes that a good leader can achieve if he puts his trust in God.

Only one chapter long, the book of Jude is an epistle written by the half-brother of Jesus, who became a Christian only after His crucifixion. This book uses examples from the Old Testament to show the importance of obeying God and following His teachings. Jude condemns the false teachers and urges the Christians to unite and strengthen each other's faith in order to withstand their deception.

The book of Ezekiel was written during the Jewish exile to Babylon, as the Israelites struggled to keep their faith while surrounded by foreign customs, foods, and religions. Although there are numerous prophecies of judgment for the Israelites' pride and arrogant self-assurance, Ezekiel teaches that God's punishment is not out of cruelty, but to teach humility and repentance to a wayward nation.

The book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and the first of the Gospels to be written by one of Jesus' disciples. Matthew testifies to the sacred lineage of Christ, proving His legitimacy as the Messiah and the Son of God. The Gospel also tells the story of Jesus' life, from His conception to His resurrection, making this book a wonderful transition from the Old Testament to the New, as it demonstrates the fulfilment of the prophecies...

In this sequel to 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul responds to accusations that his apostleship is not justified and genuine. Paul writes of his own suffering and relationship with God, and also condemns the false messengers of God for spreading division amongst the church. This book is an encouraging reminder that God allows affliction and suffering for a purpose and that His grace is always present during these times of difficulty.

Christopher Glyn of Charles H. Spurgeon's classic “Morning and Evening” daily devotional, still dearly loved by millions of Christians worldwide. 365 devotionals. Each is around 3 mins long. With beautiful meditative background instrumentals.

IMPORTANT - THIS IS THE WRONG TEXT - IT IS FOR 1 CHRONICLES. Reportedly written by the prophet Ezra after the Jewish return from captivity in Babylon, the first book of Chronicles recapitulates the history told thus far from Adam to Solomon. This book includes many genealogies, family histories and religious information, but the focus of these chapters is on King David's house. 1 Chronicles provides a different perspective through the eyes of a priest,...