Retelling the Story Bundle (3 Volumes)

“Russ Ramsey's Retelling the Stor[y] is a worthy addition to the tradition of scriptural retellings, such as Eugene Peterson's The Message and Sally Lloyd-Jones's The Jesus Storybook Bible. . . . The three installments of the Retelling the Stor[y] series are beautifully written and easy to read without being condescending, simplistic, or taking too many liberties. As a commentary engages the mind, Ramsey's books capture the heart. The stories here, in service to the scriptures, refreshed my soul, gave my heart joy, and lit my eyes. If Russ Ramsey's goal is to help his readers understand scripture better and to have their 'eyes open to the beauty of mercy and grace,' he succeeds.”

“Ramsey's ability to knit the accounts of the gospels into a highly readable, easily accessible, and grace-saturated narrative is a blessing for all. Telling the story of Jesus in bite-sized readings that can easily accord with anticipation and celebration of the Easter season makes this book a special gift.”

“Ramsey has written a captivating narrative of the life of Jesus in a biographical style that captures the life of Jesus so vividly, at times you'll wonder if Ramsey sat down and spoke with all the people involved in the story. It's the story of a real man who walked this earth and died on a cross bearing the wrath we deserve. Historical and faithful to Scripture, The Passion of the King of Glory is a wonderful Bible-reading companion for the Lenten season.”

“It gives me great pleasure to endorse the life and writing of Russ Ramsey. We have been in the trenches together caring for the 'called out ones.' Russ gave us gospel immersion and fruits of deep care with The Advent of the Lamb of God. He continues this life-giving pattern of grace and service with this new, beautifully written book pointing to the Hero King Jesus.”

“Many of us have wondered at some point, What would it be like to live when Jesus did? With purity to biblical truth and perceptive insight into how the human heart works, Russ Ramsey answers that question. He tells the story of Jesus dwelling among us—a story filled with political intrigue, baffling miracles, relational complexities, and heartbreaking suffering—by presenting old truths in engagingly fresh ways. Read this book! And then share it with others who need to witness Jesus anew.”

“With a writer's imagination and skill, a theologian's backbone, and a disciple's devotion, Ramsey weds knowledge to emotional resonance and information to immanence in this moving account of Jesus' life.”

“I don't know anyone who can make the stories—and the Story—in Scripture feel as present, as alive, and as sweeping as Russ Ramsey. His prose, his grasp of history and theology, not to mention his love of Jesus, do more than merely draw me into his book—they make me want to read the Bible.”

“There is a graceful simplicity to Ramsey's prose—and to his retelling of the old familiar story—that enables him to truly move his readers with the potency of the gospel. Here is a quiet voice that can shake stone.”

“Ramsey's solid biblical teaching and storytelling have deeply impacted my journey as a Christian working in Hollywood. This is a book I will give friends to help them understand what I believe.”

“This book succeeds at capturing and displaying the drama of Jesus—incarnate, dead, and risen—with memorable force.”

“This book throws open the curtains on Jesus and invites us to taste and see the only love that is better than life. This isn't a great book just for the season of Lent, but for every season of life.”

“Russ is a modern-day scribe, taking his cues from the words of Scripture to reimagine stories, narratives, and scenes for his readers. He doesn't embellish or exaggerate. He tells and retells familiar narratives with a new perspective. Ordinary Christians living ordinary lives need The Mission of the Body of Christ, which is written to be read during ordinary time. We need to reimagine, relive, and see God's mission for the church afresh, to be reminded there is nothing ordinary about the story in which we live. Russ does this beautifully as always.”

“For those of us church folk who are overly familiar with the Bible, it's easy to forget (or maybe we never learned) the richness of Scripture's narrative. For those new to faith in Jesus, the Bible can overwhelm and the story of redemption, mission, and transformation gets easily lost. Russ seeks to be a 'faithful servant of Scripture' and is he ever. His retelling of the Bible's stories doesn't distract—it amplifies. This book draws the reader into God's transforming word and does so with the craft of an artist and a pastor's soul. I cannot recommend The Mission of the Body of Christ enough.”

“The church isn't always a welcoming place for single women in their forties (like me). But the New Testament church is radically hospitable—a place for witness, unity, and love. The Mission of the Body of Christ is a vital contribution to this conversation. Salvation, after all, is a community-creating event. As Russ writes, 'The risen Jesus not only gave his people new life, he gave them each other.' And I'm thankful for that.”

“Russ Ramsey's gift for retelling the stories of Scripture is second to none. This is as evident in everyday conversation with Russ as it is in his writing. I have never met an individual who loves Scripture more than this brother, and I am thankful to God for the gift of Russ and his books to the church.”

“The best gift (among many) that Russ Ramsey offers the body of Christ is the gift of greater context. His writings have the power to lift readers from their present surroundings and set them down amid the clamoring, bustling, peopled streets of the ancient world. Ramsey's deep biblical knowledge and disciplined imagination serve to gently illuminate oft-overlooked nuances of culture, custom, and language, thereby allowing readers to experience these old stories as if for the first time.”

“With the voice of a storyteller and the affection of a pastor, Russ Ramsey brings the story of the early church to life in the present. With each character and scene, these pages provide a doorway for us to walk inside the narrative, inviting us to hear Paul's journey in a fresh way as we contemplate our own questions of faith.”

“Russ Ramsey is a wonderful storyteller, and in The Mission of the Body of Christ he weaves together bits from the Old Testament and the Gospels with the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles to create a beautiful tapestry that imaginatively depicts the early days of the church. The gospel shines brightly in the pages of this book and the story of the gospel's impact on the world is told in the most engaging and enjoyable way I have ever read.”

“Russ Ramsey has this lovely, compelling way of helping us see and savor Christ in all of Scripture. If you want to grow in your knowledge of the Bible, to be swept up into the grand story that it tells, and to see how it gives meaning to both your story and our story, then let The Mission of the Body of Christ be a mentor and companion in this quest. I can't recommend it highly enough.”

“Russ Ramsey is a kind of songwriter of prose. The lyrical nature of his writing makes his Bible teaching memorable, accessible, and evocative. This volume will help you to understand and explain the story of our church through the book of Acts. It will also prompt you to love Acts and Jesus all the more.”

“Russ Ramsey is that rare kind of writer: both an astute theologian with a comprehensive knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and a masterful storyteller. In beautifully written prose, he takes us on a trip through the history of redemption, bringing to life the true tale of a Divine Lover who comes to rescue his people. As a loving pastor, Russ shepherds this great story as well or better than any writer. Not only is he that skillful, he's that full of care, which is no small thing.”

“The Advent of the Lamb of God offers readers a sterling opportunity to walk through God's story of redemption. Ideal for personal or family devotions, the stories are told with imagination, verve, and gospel-driven joy.”

“Ramsey deftly retells the story of Jesus with a pastor's heart and an artist's touch. In this book, real people sigh and cry, tremble and rejoice. It captured my heart. My family will treasure it for years to come.”

“Russ Ramsey tells a story you've heard a hundred times and still haven't heard enough. With remarkable attention to the facts of the matter—the water dripping from John the Baptist's beard, the heft of Abraham's knife, the groans of a girl giving birth on a stable floor—Russ brings to life the story that brings us to life. Here is glory made visible, tangible, audible. Which is to say, here is the Incarnation.”

“When Andrew Peterson sings 'Behold the Lamb of God,' three worlds collide: ours, Abraham's, and Jesus'. Russ Ramsey's book opens the doors between those worlds and helps us bring them together.”

“So many authors write like they're on a mission to prove something about their own brilliance. Not Russ Ramsey. He's doing something entirely different. Even the simple preface is a study in how calming, winsome, and selfless writing can be. Put this book in your hands and feel loved.”

“What better way to prepare our hearts for Christmas than to do what Russ has done so well in The Advent of the Lamb of God—rehearse the magnificent story that begins centuries before, the magnificent story woven through all of the Bible. The story of how God loves his children and has come to rescue them.”

“Russ Ramsey has that rare gift—the ability to animate the imagination. May you and yours take up this book, read it, and be renewed.”