The Priest with Dirty Clothes by R.C. Sproul

The Priest with Dirty Clothes
Written by R.C. Sproul
Illustrated by Justin Gerard
Children's Parable
Available February 2011
Reformation Trust
45 pages

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About the Book
In this new edition of his classic story, The Priest with Dirty Clothes, Dr. R.C. Sproul continues his project of illustrating theological concepts for children. In this book, he teaches the concept of imputation, which lies at the heart of the important biblical doctrine of justification.

Using the story of Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1–5) as his jumping-off point, Dr. Sproul weaves a classic tale about a young priest who is invited to preach his first sermon before the king and his court. But on his way to the palace, he falls from his horse, getting his clothes hopelessly muddy. Jonathan finds that he needs powerful help if he is to stand before the king. This edition of The Priest with Dirty Clothes includes all-new illustrations by Justin Gerard and a new “For the Parents” section to help them bring out the truths of the book for their children.

My Thoughts
I'm never surprised when I read a children's book published by Reformation Trust. I know I can count on reading a biblically-based story that will help explain deep theological truths in simple, easy-to-understand ways. The Priest with Dirty Clothes was no exception. Dr. Sproul uses a simple story about a young priest who needs clean clothes in order to complete his task of preaching before the king to teach children about how Jesus makes our hearts clean before God. The story is based on a passage in Zechariah 3, and I appreciated how the author included that information in a letter to parents at the beginning of the book and then the Scripture on the first page of the story. It was the perfect way to begin. There are several pages of questions and Bible verses at the end of the story for adults to use in order to help children understand the deep truths explained in the story. The pictures are wonderfully illustrated as well, adding to the beauty of the story. I highly recommend! [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author
Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian education ministry located near Orlando, Florida. His teaching can be heard on the program Renewing Your Mind, which is broadcast on hundreds of radio outlets in the United States and in 40 countries worldwide. He is the executive editor of Tabletalk magazine and general editor of The Reformation Study Bible, and the author of more than seventy books and scores of articles for national evangelical publications. Dr. Sproul also serves as president of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and Reformation Bible College. He currently serves as senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's in Sanford, FL.

The Lightlings by R. C. Sproul

The Lightlings is another wonderful children's book by R. C. Sproul. Charlie asks his grandfather why he is afraid of the dark. His grandfather tells him a wonderful story about the lightlings (fairy-like creatures) who once lived with the King of Light. They sinned and ran from the king, causing them to live in the dark. Until one day the King of Light sent a baby as his gift to the lightlings. This precious story ties two familiar "stories" from the Bible together perfectly. I loved how the author pulls these stories together to teach about redemption in Christ. So many children's books simply tell one single story from the Bible and leave it separate from the bigger picture ... this book ties it all together. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well! I would highly recommend this book!

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from The Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Prince's Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul

The Prince's Poison Cup by R. C. Sproul is an allegorical story about the fall of man and Christ's sacrifice for our salvation. Grandfather tells Ella a story about a king whose people have turned away from him. He has to send his son - the prince - to drink a cup of poison to heal their stony hearts.

I thought the author did a great job of conveying the gospel through a "fairy tale" type story. The bigger message was clear and a parents' section at the end provides additional support for those who aren't as confident in unpacking these truths with their kids. Much of the book has great description as well, with only a few exceptions. The illustrations are beautiful and helped tell the story visually.

4 stars (out of 5)

I received a free copy of this book from The Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Sammy and His Shepherd: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23 by Susan Hunt

What a sweet story! Sammy (a sheep) meets a new friend whose life isn't as great as his. Throughout the book, Sammy tells his friend how great his shepherd is, how he takes care of the flock, how he can trust him, etc. Each two-page chapter takes a sentence from Psalm 23 and uses Sammy's relationship with his shepherd to demonstrate our relationship with Christ.

Susan Hunt does a great job drawing the parallels between sheep and us. She clearly presents biblical principles and children will easily be able to understand the bigger message. Additionally a discussion guide for each chapter is provided at the end to help parents and teachers discuss the book with their kids. The illustrations by Cory Godbey are excellent as well.

5 stars (out of 5)

I received a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.