Waterbrook Partner: The Jesus Who Surprises Us by Dee Brestin

This book's premise is built on the passage in Luke where Jesus joined the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they didn't recognize Him.  I decided to review this book and bible study because this passage is dear to my heart, and I wanted to see how a book and Bible study was created from it.  I only remember reading one other book from Dee Brestin, this was her first well known book The Friendship of Women and I read it in high school.  So I don't remember much about it.  But I know that she has become a well known author and has several books and bible studies. 

Things I like about this book:

• Free videos to go with it, done by Dee Brestin with teaching she shares, as well as hearing from some of the 21 women who she piloted the study with before the book was published.  
• How the videos are done.  Dee Brestin's teaching style includes passion, joy, and she is pleasant to learn from.  They are between 10-14 minutes long.  
• It's a study that you can do alone, with a small group, or a large group.  
• It's all in one book.  You don't have to buy a separate study book. It even includes facilitator tips and notes.  
• The book could be read as a stand alone, and the book embraces the perspective of how to see God in your days.  She calls it a weekly God Hunt, and layers in different ways to be alert to God.  
• Bible Study goes through Jesus (often unknown) appearances in Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, representing that Jesus is across the whole Bible.  
• You could easily do the study whether you had time to read the pages in between or not.  It's a five day plan, and it's achievable in a few minutes, but it's rich with questions that will help you think at a higher level about the scripture you are reading.  
• Quotes, references, and examples from many, many well known authors and theologians intertwined. 
• The book and study if taken to heart, require introspection and thinking more deeply about your mindset, actions, and beliefs to know the Lord intimately.  But the author leads you to this, and it builds from lesson to lesson well.  

Things that gave me pause or to consider: 

• this book seems written for those who have biblical literacy and know the Lord as Savior.  
• Dee Brestin uses sophisticated language and vocabulary, so not every woman may grasp what she's sharing.  (I'm a regular reader with an extensive vocabulary and paused at a few words new to me.)   
• the notes about the study completion might make some ladies uncomfortable (if they read them).  Notes about "the richest groups are when people have done their homework."  I know in our studies, we know this is best, but we know it doesn't always happen, and encourage women to come even unprepared, as they can still learn from the discussion.  

Thankful to partner with Waterbrook Multnomah and be able to read an advance copy of this book.