"Sinners" by Kat Armstrong is a transformative addition to the Storyline Bible Studies series, offering a nuanced and compassionate exploration of the concept of sin and redemption in the Bible. Armstrong masterfully guides readers through various New Testament stories, revealing how individuals traditionally labeled as 'sinners' often demonstrate remarkable faith and receive God's grace. Her approach is both scholarly and accessible, making this study guide an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of these complex biblical narratives.

The book's central focus is on the stories of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus, the Roman centurion, Matthew the tax collector, the Canaanite mother, and the Samaritan woman at the well. Armstrong delves into the cultural and historical contexts of these figures, shedding light on their societal status and the transformative encounters they had with Jesus. Her analysis is thorough yet digestible, providing fresh insights into familiar passages and challenging readers to rethink their perceptions of sin and grace.

A standout feature of "Sinners" is Armstrong's ability to draw contemporary relevance from these ancient stories. She doesn't just recount biblical events; she connects them to modern struggles, offering practical wisdom for navigating faith in a complex world. Her reflections on faith, grace, and redemption are deeply personal and relatable, making the study both intellectually and emotionally engaging.

Armstrong's writing style is a blend of scholarly insight and pastoral care. She writes with clarity and conviction, making complex theological concepts accessible to a broad audience. Her tone is encouraging yet challenging, inviting readers to engage deeply with the text and apply its lessons to their own lives.

In conclusion, "Sinners" by Kat Armstrong is a compelling and enriching study that offers a unique perspective on the concept of sin and redemption in the New Testament. Its combination of historical depth, theological insight, and practical application makes it an excellent resource for both individual reflection and group study. This book is a powerful reminder of God's grace and the transformative power of faith, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Christian journey.

“Experiencing Jesus’ Compassion in the Middle of Your Sin, Struggles, and Shame.”

This is my 6th Kat Armstrong study and I enjoyed it just as much as the rest.

The book introduces the reader to five ‘Sinners’ of the Bible: Matthew, The Roman Centurion, The Sinful Woman, The Canaanite Mom, and The Samaritan Woman– all characters considered super-ungodly in their day. I loved how the author balanced out the good and bad of every character. Each comes across as a triumph of Christ’s ability to achieve so much with so little.

Each day, you read a portion of scripture and delve more into context, meaning, and application.

I loved so much about it.

First off, the artwork is stunning. Not the most important aspect, but so beautiful.

I loved that the scriptures appeared in the text.

I loved that the daily homework wasn’t overwhelming. We all love Sister Beth, but we don’t always have hours a day to devote to study.

I loved that there are more in this series. It’s like finishing an excellent novel and knowing you get to spend more time with your favourite characters.

I didn’t really dislike anything, but I’d have liked more cultural context, and I think I would have preferred going through this in community, instead of by myself.

I’m very much looking forward to more from this teacher.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for this tender ARC.

(4/5 stars) I read Sinners in conjunction with Saints: Enjoying a Relationship with Jesus When You're Disillusioned with Religion and they pair really well together. Sinners focuses on the archetype of the "sinful" (considered in those days as such because of behavior, lifestyle, title, or ethnicity) characters in the New Testament who exhibited great faith in Christ. Armstrong chooses to focus on:
- Matthew, the former tax collector and disciple of Jesus (Matthew 9);
- the Roman centurion advocating for his servant (Luke 7);
- the sinful woman who anoints Jesus with oil (Luke 7);
- the Canaanite mom who begs Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15);
- the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4);

Each chapter is a great balance of research and accessibility. This would be a great study to discuss with a small group (Saints/Sinners is written to be a 10-week paired study). I have read multiple of Armstrong's other studies (you can find my review for Valleys: Finding Courage, Conviction, and Confidence in Life's Low Points here and my review for Stones: Making God’s Faithfulness the Bedrock of Your Faith here. I thought this pair was my favorite Armstrong study series yet.

As I mentioned in previous reviews, the format of this study was helpful. Each chapter was split into four sections: providing context, reading and comprehending the passage, diving deeper into understanding the passage, and then thinking through how the passage applies to our world today. The format was easy to process and I thought the discussion questions were thoughtful without being too leading. I think this study would be really accessible, even if you weren't already familiar with the stories presented.

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.

I picked up Mountains and Valleys when they first released - the covers drew me in and the layout of the studies really clicked with me. So when I had the chance to review books 5 &6 in the series, I jumped at them.

I really enjoy the structure for these studies, and especially liked the grouping of Bible passages for both Saints and Sinners. I found both studies thought-provoking. They are the sorts of books I would read from cover to cover. They are easy reads, and the writing is conversational and engaging. I like that they can be used for individual or group study, and I plan to work through the entire line.

This is a beautiful Bible study I received from netgalley and Tyndale publishers. I've had the joy of looking through this and studying. The questions are thought provoking and will make your Bible study group flourish

This is the second book by Kat Armstrong I have read and this was similar to the first, but I do have much more to say about this book. Consistent with the other Kat Armstrong studies I have seen, this book has similar cover style, layout, and learning tools. The book contains five lessons and each lesson has four parts: context, seeing, understanding, and responding.

I can’t say enough good things about the structure of these books. It makes it so easy to study. I love that everything is broken down so well. I enjoy the tables that organize information for easy learning and the way you’re asked to mark scripture in different ways as a learning tool.

Unfortunately, this book did not quite measure up to the other Kat Armstrong book I read. Armstrong has a vivid imagination and this can be quite helpful to picture these Biblical scenes. However, when we add to scripture in a way that changes the story it becomes dangerous.

For example, one of the “sinners” mentioned in this book is described as “doing what they have to in order to survive”. That is quite a common saying used today to excuse sin. Armstrong even excuses the sin as “the only way she could survive”.. This is extremely dangerous thinking with a Christian a life. I want to mention that according to Biblical truth we ALWAYS have the option to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus forgives, but he doesn’t justify our sin. Sin is sin, regardless of our intentions or our circumstances.

I am honestly so disappointed in this book because of what it could have been. I love the layout. I love Armstrong’s way of writing, personal stories, connections through scripture, and imagination when it doesn’t change biblical facts. However, I would NOT recommend this particular book and I would not recommend Armstrong’s writing to a new Christian because of the way Biblical facts were changed in this book.

If you do decide to pick up a Kat Armstrong study I highly suggest you do your own research and develop a “chew and spit” reading method. Take in the reading, “chew” with Biblical research and conversation with more mature Christians, and “spit” anything that doesn’t align with Biblical truth.

I did also notice a small mistake in two of the tables, but it didn’t affect the ability to read/use this study.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.