Marty Machowski - Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dave Harvey for his encouragement to develop and publish this material for a broader audience beyond our own church. Thank you to the pastors of Covenant Fellowship Church for their example, which taught me how to live out the gospel in my ministry and life.

My labors in writing this book rest on the shoulders of greater men whose books have influenced my thinking. Of particular note are Living the Cross Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney, The Unfolding Mystery by Edmund Clowney, Promise and Deliverance by S. G. De Graff, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, and the ESV Study Bible by the folks at Crossway.

As I finished the manuscript for this book I grew increasingly grateful for the scores of people who worked with me in writing it. The project began ten years ago when I started to put together the Gods Story curriculum for the children and parents of Covenant Fellowship. Through the years I sent the manuscript through a gauntlet of editors and proofreaders. This published devotional would never have made it this far if it were not for their efforts.

So, thanks to Bill Patton, Michelle Janes, Sarajane Orlando, and Janel Feldman, along with Dwayne and Toni Bennett who have served by my side in Promise Kingdom, our Sunday morning childrens ministry program. More recently, I would like to thank my wife, Lois, and Jared Mellinger, who read through my draft manuscript, and Jeff Gerke for his skillful editing to help transform deep biblical truth into easy-to-understand weekly devotions. I would also like to thank Charity Imfeld for her administration and helpful skills behind the scenes.

I am very grateful for the folks at New Growth for their investment and commitment to provide solid biblical resources for families and churches. Finally, I would also like to thank the families of Covenant Fellowship Church for their example, support, and prayers through the completion of this project.

Finding time for family devotions is a high hurdle. But finding something enjoyable to do as a family that also illuminates Gods Word can be an even higher impediment. In this wonderfully helpful book, youve found the answer to the second challenge. And Martys clear writing and creativity will help you make the time (even if you dont think you have it) to clear the first hurdle. Its my pleasure to recommend this bookand the devotional experience it providesto you and your family.

Dr. Robert Wolgemuth, Author of
The Most Important Place on Earth: What a Christian Home Looks Like and How to Build One

The church wants parents to lead their homes spiritually; the parents dont know how. Marty Machowskis Old Story New is the answer for both church and parents. Marty has invested his time in the best way possiblehelping parents shepherd their children with more than stories and morals, but with the central theme of Jesus illuminated clearly in every story.

Scott Thomas, Pastor,
The Journey Church, St. Louis, MO; author of Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God

Marty Machowski gets families. Even more importantly, he knows how to connect them to the Bible with simple, relatable New Testament studies that make much of Jesus in every lesson. If you want your kids to see the Savior through his Word, spend some time in this exciting new devotional.

Dave Harvey, Church Planting and
Church Care, Sovereign Grace Ministries; author of When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage

So much of the family devotional material available today does little more than use the Bible to teach half-truths and full-out moralism. The reason my wife and I love Marty Machowskis books and the reason they have become important resources as we seek to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, is their consistent focus on the big picture of the Bibles big story. Old Story New is yet another wonderful resource that we gladly commend and look forward to reading with our children.

Tim Challies, Author; pastor; blogger

Marty Machowskis Old Story New , like Martys childrens ministry curriculum and Old Testament devotional, Long Story Short , is a great asset to parents, pastors, and childrens ministry teachers. I am particularly excited about the way Marty connects each New Testament story to the gospel of Christ. Martys book will help your kids learn to see Jesus as the center of every part of the Bible. And what might God do with such a generation raised to rightly handle the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation?

Josh Blount, Pastor,
Living Faith Church

Nurturing our children requires us to gain the attention of their hearts as soon as possible. So, what should we use to seize their interest? Thinly veiled morality tales that leave our children wandering in a desert of demands? In Old Story New , Christ is the beacon that captures the imagination of our children. Let this beautiful book lead your children out of the desert and into the oasis of Jesus, so he can quench their thirsty hearts.

David E. Tate, Pastor,
Manor Presbyterian Church

Foreword

By Dr. Tedd Tripp

Marty Machowski has done it again! This book, along with the earlier Old Testament devotional book, Long Story Short , is another masterful devotional book for families. It is simple without being shallow. It is theologically robust without being pedantic. It is comprehensive without being overwhelming. Best of all, it is doable for busy parents with children.