Devotional Commentaries from NPH (Volume 3 Release Day Review)

Hefti, Roy W. Galatians: The Beating Heart of the Gospel. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2024. 123 Pages. Paper. $17.99. https://online.nph.net/galatians-the-beating-heart-of-the-gospel.html

Hefti, Roy W. Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2025. 123 Pages. Paper. $17.99. https://online.nph.net/ephesians-the-unsearchable-riches-of-christ.html

Hefti, Roy W. Philippians: Full of Joy; Colossians: The Fullness of Christ; Philemon: Full and Free. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2026. 202 Pages. Paper. $20.99. https://online.nph.net/Philippians-Colossians-Philemon

All three are available on kindle.

Today we celebrate the release of the third book in a devotional commentary series by Rev. Roy Hefti.

Pastor Roy W. Hefti is a husband, father, and grandfather. At the time of writing, he serves in retirement as the religion instructor at the newly formed Cornerstone Lutheran High School in Chippewa Falls, WI. With over 41 years in the pastoral ministry, Pastor Hefti also serves on the Editorial Board of the Wartburg Project, which produced the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. Gifted at creating compelling word pictures and vivid illustrations, Hefti has contributed to Meditations: Daily Devotional® in addition to writing the NPH-published devotional commentaries, Galatians: The Beating Heart of the Gospel and Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ (publisher's website).

Galatians

 

What’s the one thing God wants people to know with absolute certainty?

That important question has a simple answer, but it’s the one thing the devil, the world, and your sinful nature cannot bear for you to hear. They’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never learn the answer.

And yet God did what it took to make sure you understand the beating heart of his gospel message—the core meaning of the good news about Jesus—as it is presented in the book of Galatians. Through this engaging and easy-to-read devotional commentary on Galatians which draws directly from the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), Pastor Roy Hefti reveals what God wants you to know with absolute certainty.

Discover the beating heart of the gospel message in this book!

Watch Pastor Roy Hefti explain the backstory of his new release, "Galatians: The Beating Heart of the Gospel".

Listen to an interview with Pastor Roy Hefti.

(Publisher's website)

This commentary on Galatians sets the structure for the others that follow in this review. Chapters focus on a specific selection of the book, rendered in the EHV, introduced and followed by a devotional commentary that is insightful and interesting. Each chapter of this volume concludes with a memorable quote from Martin Luther's Galatians commentaries. 

Illustrations found in these chapters are from history, memorable media or news, or the author's own experience. 

My experience with the book was very much like sitting down with him for a conversation with coffee, a good Bible class, or a sermon in a very conversational style.

Ephesians

If the riches of Christ are unsearchable, how do you see them in your life?

If the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge, as Paul writes in the book of Ephesians, how are you supposed to know and comprehend it?

If Paul’s statements seem paradoxical and contradictory, join Pastor Roy W. Hefti and examine these beautiful gospel truths, encouragements, and more in this engaging and easy-to-read devotional exploration of the book of Ephesians, drawing directly from the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV).

Discover what God wants you to know about the unsearchable riches of Christ, which are yours by faith, and the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge!

(Publisher's website)

Building on the pattern established in the Galatians volume, this one on Ephesians helps the reader better understand another book by St. Paul and the Holy Spirit.

Commenting on chapter 1, the author tackles not only creation/evolution, but also predestination (4). The section of commentary that concludes chapter two (22-25) provides the comfort that only grace in Christ can, shows the connection between Ephesians 2:8-10, and properly presents the true role of works in the life of a Christian. Pages 38-45 show Gospel in the Old Testament, understood through the lens of verses 3:6-9, and show how ancient promises, fulfilled in Christ, apply to the Christian. The final paragraph of this chapter brings together verses 10-13, Good Friday and Easter, and also the reader with the Word, water, and blood! Later in the book (99-106), the author tackles slavery, ancient, historical, and modern, with the help of Ephesians 6:5-9. 

Philippians: Full of Joy; Colossians: The Fullness of Christ; Philemon: Full and Free.

“ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S BEING DWELLS BODILY IN CHRIST. AND YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO FULLNESS IN HIM” (COLOSSIANS 2:9-10).

What did Paul mean when he wrote that to the Christians in Colossae? How does being brought into the fullness of Christ impact your life and relationships today?

This devotional commentary by Roy W. Hefti has the answers. Hefti guides you verse by verse through Paul’s letters of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon with relatable examples, vivid word pictures, and clear explanations of Scripture. He reveals how spiritual fullness is yours in the words, works, and identity of Christ Jesus—and what that means for you and your life as a Christian. In these brief but powerful reflections on God’s Word, you’ll discover exactly how your Savior Jesus makes you spiritually full, forgiven, and free to live for him with joy.

Roy W. Hefti is a retired pastor who served 41 years in the ministry. Not only is Hefti an engaging preacher, but he also serves on the Editorial Board of the Wartburg Project that produced The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. In retirement he also is a religion instructor at the newly formed Cornerstone Lutheran High School in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Pastor Hefti is the author of Galatians: The Beating Heart of the Gospel and Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ.

(Back of paperback cover)

Three New Testament epistles are featured in the new March 13, 2026 volume, each treated in turn. My preview copy was digital. The reading experience was very similar on my kindle to the previously-released paperbacks, also available in kindle format. This book is longer than the other two. The $20.99 cost is justified and worth it!

With the help of Philippians 3:30-4:1, the author provides a heavenly citizenship perspective on the Christian life (69-70). 

The Colossians section of this volume is particularly strong, but especially the chapter on 2:6-23, and the very helpful verses that explain baptism in the context of circumcision, 11-12, with a winsome catechetical, compact dogmatic, and apologetic approach (124-126). It is helpful that he also revisits slavery with A Deeper Dive (152-157).

Philemon is a brief book with a brief commentary. I appreciated how he used the Introduction to frame the book, his task, and his initial observations (173). "Charge it to me." Verse 18 is part of the conclusion of the book, "a masterful stroke of gospel motivation," complete with a final Luther quote on Philemon.

We welcome more volumes from Rev. Hefti in this series and for NPH to consider additional volumes by other authors. The devotional commentary format is substantive yet approachable, paperbacks are affordable, and the illustrations would be helpful and edifying to laity and clergy alike. As the author concludes each book, I'll conclude today: Soli Deo Gloria!

 

Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a permanent member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a founding regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, a Director for Views on Learning, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review.   He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes and the LSB Devotional Edition, is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church and articles in Concordia Pulpit Resources and The Lutheran Witness. He is an annual presenter at conferences of the CCLE and is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, teaching, and making music.