Reviews

"In Beginning Again, Sarah's retelling of biblical texts is a refreshing look at how the ancient arc of redemption can 'land' afresh today. And "the Story behind the Story" follow-up to narrative demonstrate the quality historical and textual scholarship that undergird her updated version of the Good News. Creative, refreshing, good for the heart." 

"With an inspired imagination and deep historical study, Sara Martin has written a beautiful book with which to explore sacred scripture.  She places the ancient truth in settings familiar to a new generation, and challenges us with an inward to outward focus on the love of God." 

“Let me tell you a story” is a sure way to get people to listen. Most of us, I assume, remember Bible stories better than we do passages of doctrine, as stories first catch our interest, and then hold our attention.

Sarah’s In the Beginning, Again, works from Bible stories, creatively imagining what that might look like in our world, taking the biblical story and weaving it into stories of today. For example, the story of Jonah is retold in the life of a surgeon, who like Jonah, gets caught up in his own duplicity, disagreeing with what God does even as he grudgingly obeys.

This book is one of a kind. It is mind stretching for devotional reading and a sure starter for group conversation. Sarah’s retelling in today’s world offers rich and challenging applications, unwrapping the original story and applying them to life.

Story tellers of all kinds – pastors, Sunday School teachers, Bible group leaders – will learn from her creative approach, all the while having in hand material which will enable us in our calling and ministry.

In the Beginning, Again takes us back into what we’ve read, kick starting a rethinking of what the story was about and why the beauty and mystery of the Scriptures is timeless. Sarah has brought to us an ingenious way to read and understand Bible stories. A book for everyone’s library.