Category Archives: Books

Posted on

He’s Got it Right

countedEvery once in a while I come across a section of a book that makes the given title worth its weight in gold.

John Piper’s Counted Righteous in Christhas just that kind of gold-layered section, one titled “Growing a Church without a Heart for Doctrine.” Spend the next 3-4 minutes and give some ballast to your understanding of the church’s worship:

[T]he older I get, the less impressed I am with flashy successes and enthusiasms that are not truth-based. Everybody knows that with the right personality, the right music, the right location, and the right schedule you can grow a church without anybody really knowing what doctrinal commitments sustain it, if any. Church-planting specialists generally downplay biblical doctrine in the core values of what makes a church ‘successful.’ The long-term effect of this ethos is a weakening of the church that is concealed as long as the crowds are large, the band is loud, the tragedies are few, and persecution is still at the level of preferences.

But more and more this doctrinally-diluted brew of music, drama, life-tips, and marketing seems out of touch with real life in this world–not to mention the next. It tastes like watered-down gruel, not a nourishing meal. It simply isn’t serious enough. It’s too playful and chatty and casual. It’s joy doesn’t feel deep enough or heartbroken or well-rooted. The injustice and persecution and suffering and hellish realities in the world today are so many and so large and so close that I can’t help but think that, deep inside, people are longing for something weighty and massive and rooted and stable and eternal. So it seems to me that the trifling with silly little sketches and breezy welcome-to-the-den styles on Sunday morning are just out of touch with what matters in life.

Of course, it works. Sort of. Because, in the name of felt needs it resonate with people’s impulse to run from what is most serious and weighty and what makes them most human and what might open the depths of God to their souls. The design is noble. Silliness is a stepping stone to substance. But it’s an odd path. And evidence is not ample that many are willing to move beyond fun and simplicity. So the price of minimizing truth-based joy and maximizing atmosphere-based comfort is high. More and more, it seems to me, the end might be in view. I doubt that a religious ethos with such a feel for entertainment can really survive as Christian for too many more decades.

Amen.

Posted on

Recent Reads

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

9781433542404mTaking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What that Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung. The praise for the book is high, with some people already calling it the most important book of the year and one DA Carson recommending churches purchase it “by the case.” The praise is not excessive, the book is that good. DeYoung’s characteristic clarity and wit permeate the book, which is largely structured around Scripture’s four attributes: sufficiency, clarity, authority, and necessity. I can’t remember the last book I read where the margins were so marked up with simple agreements like, “Yep,” and “Right!” The annotated bibliography at the end is brilliant and makes it all the more useful. If you can afford it, buy a case for your church.

9781433540837The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ by Ray Ortland. If you are looking for a clear and concise summation of what it means to be “gospel-centered” this is it. I appreciated Ortland’s continual focus on how we can and ought to move from gospel doctrine to gospel culture in our churches. The book is particularly helpful in the diagnostic questions sprinkled throughout; for example, “Is there some place in your church’s life where obedience to Christ is being withheld but his blessing is expected anyway?” (84). Also useful is his gospel matrix:

Gospel doctrine – gospel culture = hypocrisy
Gospel culture – gospel doctrine = fragility
Gospel doctrine + gospel culture = power

The book does unfortunately slip into cliches and reductions that have come to typify the gospel-centered resurgence, but that shouldn’t discouraged pastors and church members alike to read the book. We want our churches to be model homes of the new neighborhood that Christ is building for eternity and The Gospel will help encourage you unto faithfulness in the gospel.

45287ebOn Being a Pastor: Understanding Our Calling and Our Work by Derek Prime and Alistair Begg. Originally published in 1989 as Pastors and Teachers the revised edition came out ten years ago and remains a welcome contribution. Derek Prime had a vibrant ministry in Scotland and, for a time, had a pastoral assistant named Alistair Begg. The great value of On Being a Pastor is it’s conversational breadth. With clarity and warmth the authors cover everything essential to faithful ministry: calling, praying, preaching, shepherding, leading, and caring for one’s family. Undoubtedly the lasting value of the books is the insertion of personal commentary from both authors on whatever topic is at hand. Many of the comments will stir a pastor to reevaluate or revamp his pastoral practice, and just as many will have you smiling. Prime tells us why wearing slippers in study makes him feel lazy, and thus he must wear shoes. Begg comments on why he won’t let any of his pastoral team where facial hair, saying the fact that he would have to exclude Spurgeon causes him no small loss of sleep. A thoroughly enjoyable and edifying read.

SBSeabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. Many people know Hillenbrand today as the author of the runaway bestseller Unbroken, a page-turner on the incredible life of on Louie Zamperini. Before helping Zamperini become a national hero late in his life, Hillenbrand reminded 21st century readers about the most famous American figure of 1938-1939, a horse named Seabiscuit. While the European continent was teetering the edge of World War II, thorough bred racer Seabiscuit captivated America in a way few sporting figures have ever done. I don’t have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to rightly sings this book’s praises. Seabiscuit represents a pinnacle of narrative history, a fact all the more stunning when you discover it was Hillenbrand’s first book. Hillenbrand is a master and I have every reason to expect her next work to be another masterpiece.

TGGThe Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw. For years I have meant to read this book as I have heard the phrase so often in other World War II readings, but it wasn’t until last week I actually took it off the shelf. Brokaw’s method is simple: tell the stories of those American citizen heroes and heroines who battled through The Great Depression and World War II. With simple prose and moving reflection Brokaw gives flesh and blood to this generation that almost now entirely rests in the grave. An excellent contribution.

Posted on

The Deathbed Confessions: Vol. 1

Deathbed Confessions

“Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.” – Jonathan Edwards

Two weeks ago I wrote briefly about a new endeavor to put Edwards’ ninth resolution to work in my life, an endeavor I am affectionately calling “The Deathbed Confessions.” As morbid as it might sound, I actually find it quite liberating and hope my somewhat sporadic musings on death might serve you.

The crux of the issue is eschatological. Jesus is coming back and calls us to be ready. He says in Mark 13,

Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

Ultimately then, “The Deathbed Confessions” are not just about my hope to be some small reflection of Edwardsian piety, they are actually a means to help me stay awake. Spiritual Redbull you might call them. Here then is the first confession:

Deathbed Confession #1:
I want to lay on my deathbed with a Scripture-soaked mind.

Just yesterday the month of May dawned on us and I happened to pull up a file named “Books Read in 2014.” Through April I have completed sixty books and am thus on pace for a righteous 180 books in 2014. Disclaimers are probably useful here: I read fast, many of those books are small, and my job description includes reading. But as I stared at that number I thought, “Should this number be a cause of celebration or lamentation?” Such thoughts resulted in a new motivation for meditation.1

GIVE ME MORE MEDITATION

Part of the reason I read so many books is because I simply love to read. Any free moment of the day is likely occupied with reading something. Now, I will be the first to say that such use of time is quite often faithful and fruitful. But the more I thought about it in light of Resolution 9 the more I realized, that should I die today, I would go to glory with a mind possibly filled with more truths from books than truth about the Book. O my soul, this should not be so.

Truths from books, not matter how practical or valuable, have no power in and of themselves. But truth from the Book, well, that is a living blade for the soul. Let me then consciously slow down the external reading in order for the Word to find an internal home in my heart. May I go to my deathbed with a mind and heart overflowing with truth stashed away from years of meditation.

Like a towel that soaks up water, let my soul soak up Scripture, so that its goodness my ring out for all eternity. For books and histories will fade, but His word will last forever.

  1. Forgive the palpitations of such rhetorical undulations. ↩
Posted on

Recent Reads

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

9781433543135mExpositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today by David Helm. Chandler says this book is “the most helpful, concise, and useful book on expository preaching I have ever read.” Dever says if he could only assign one book for a preaching class this might be the one. Does the book live up to its hype? I would say so. I found the first chapter on “Contextualization” abundantly useful, especially when Helm talks about how “blind adherence to contextualization alters our preaching” (17). The alterations of impressionistic preaching, inebriated preaching, and “inspired” preaching are helpful categories to fight against. A great entry in this great series from 9Marks.

9781433544651mEvangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus by Mack Stiles. Stiles is, by all accounts, a profoundly gifted evangelist. His previous book Marks of the Messenger stood as my favorite on evangelism, but this latest offering takes its place. The value of the book is found not only in the excellent encouragements offered for personal evangelism, but also in its focus on a culture of corporate evangelism. He says, “If you are part of a healthy church that has a culture of evangelism, you are a part of the greatest way of evangelism ever known.” Amen! If I had could only give one book on evangelism to church members, this would be it.

9781433540875mElders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus by Jeramie Rinne. In light of the two books above you might expect me to say that Rinne’s contribution to the “Building Healthy Churches” series is my new favorite on the topic of elders. It’s not, but it sure is close. In many ways I feel that he has ably condensed Anyabwile’s Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons and Witmer’s The Shepherd Leader into one accessible volume. The book is full of sound exegesis and sane application, and pokes devastating holes in the “Elders as Board of Directors” approach. I’d encourage any church member to read this book, it would help them get a better understanding of and appreciation for the biblical model of shepherding.

9781908762313mIs God Anti-Gay? by Sam Allberry. Few issues are as timely for Christians to get their minds around as what the Bible says about homosexuality. Is God Anti-Gay? comes from The Good Book Company’s little series “Questions Christians Ask” and Allberry’s contribution ought to be read by all Christians. The author struggles with same-sex attraction (SSA), and thus he is able to combine sharp biblical insight with a unique personal perspective . The book tackles questions like “Aren’t we just picking and choosing which Old Testament laws apply?” to “Can’t Christians just agree to differ on this?” to “What should I do if a Christian comes out to me?” Allberry has done the church an incredible service with this book. Get many copies for your church.

511bxs2q92L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitefield by Steve Lawson. Reformation’s Trust “Long Line of Godly Men” profiles have all been excellent, but Lawson’s entries (Edwards, Calvin, Luther, Spurgeon) have been my favorites. And the admiration only continues with his work on Whitefield. I found my heart stirred afresh for holiness, the gospel, preaching, and evangelism. What a gift to God’s church Whitefield was! “Often as I have read his life”, said Spurgeon,”I am conscious of distinct quickening whenever I turn to it. He lived. Other men seemed to be only half-alive; but Whitefield was all life, fire, wing , force.My own model, if I may have such a thing in due subordination to my Lord, is George Whitefield; but with unequal footsteps must I follow in his glorious track.” This book will help you understand why the Prince makes no overstatement with that sentiment.

51wVSPXy3pL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard. Not since Unbroken has a work of narrative fiction caused me to miss sleep like this one. Millard masterfully weaves together the tales of President James Garfield, his assassin Charles Guiteau, and legendary inventor Alexander Graham Bell into a narrative that is equal parts gripping and informative. Millard is not yet on the level of Hillenbrand, but give her some more time and she’ll be there. I am told she is currently writing on Winston Churchill, a publication I look forward to with high expectation.

51JNqSC2uSL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_The Camel Club by David Baldacci. The Camel Club, group of misfits who love conspiracy theories, stumbles upon a murder that has the predictable “astounding, far-reaching implications” threatening the very fabric of our national security. I am a sucker for such unrealistic predictability so I dove in despite my fear the outcome would be somewhat cheesy. The plot is interesting, in spite of being bloated by too many characters. I am not sure the conclusion actually crossed the border into the realm of “cheese”, but it nonetheless demands more faith from the reader than I can give. And so it is that my month-long Baldacci binge comes to its conclusion.

Posted on

The Deathbed Confessions

Deathbed Confessions

Edwards’ ninth resolution has always had a special place in my heart: “Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.”

Exactly why that resolution has captured my soul for the last seven years, I’ll never be able to fully explain. But several times each day I think about my death and passing on to glory. I want to be like Moses in Psalm 90 who said, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

I’m sure it’s different for every person, but meditation on my own dying provides clarity, purpose, and resolve. It is also is an acute way for my heart to sift through that which is fleeting and that which is lasting.

A SURPRISING CATALYST

While on a run earlier this week I listened to Candace Millard’s fascinating book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President, which focuses on the various factors at play in President James Garfield’s assassination. 80 days passed from when the insane Guiteau shot the president until Garfield succumbed to death.

As I listened I couldn’t help but put myself in Garfield’s place. “What would I say to my family? What final words would I want to pass along? What regrets would I have?”

So I have decided to venture on a new series that I am calling – at least for the moment – The Deathbed Confessions. I plan for it to house my answers to those just mentioned three questions in hopes it my stir some to greater purpose for and delight in Christ.

Volume 1 comes next week.

Posted on

Bring the Books!

One of my favorite things about T4G is the free books and the amazing bookstore. It surely is one of the largest gatherings of gospel-loving bibliophiles in North American.

Here’s a shot of the free books:

photo 2(7)

May we praise God for Crossway’s continual commitment to publish superlative works. Their generosity was on full display with the gift of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her. I pray the truth of definite atonement is more widely confessed because of this sacrifice.

My book budget surely trembles every time I cross the threshold into the conference bookstore. It was actually a light year of purchases for me, with these six titles coming in at just over $42:

photo 1(7)

Tolle lege!

Posted on

Recent Reads

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

91sphgCz8KL._SL1500_The Works of George Swinnock Vol. 2. One of my endeavors for 2014 was to read all five volumes from this little known Puritan. With volume two complete I have come to the end of his long treatise The Christian Man’s Calling, his exhaustive application of what it means to “exercise thyself unto godliness.” The meditations are often redundant, but there are illuminated by Swinnock’s mastery of the analogy. I think he offers four to five analogies for every point he makes. Which means there is a veritable goldmine of illustration in the work. I am eager to see what comes next.

EGTEncountering God Together: Leading Worship Services by David Peterson. Peterson’s biblical theology of worship Engaging with God is a marvelous work in every way. If it has a weakness it is that the author can, at various points, overreact against his cultural milieu and seem to deny that the church’s gathering is for worship. Engaging with God makes it seem that the corporate gathering is only for service and edification. This latest work attempts to rectify that criticism as Peterson shows how the corporate gathering is in fact a worship gathering. Then it moves on to consider how pastors can lead such gatherings faithfully. The book is more simplistic than I expected, but it would nonetheless be a useful and biblical primer for anyone that leads the local church’s weekly gathering.

9781596384439mBy Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation by Richard Gaffin.  First published by Paternoster in 2006, this work eventually went out of print, but thankfully P&R picked it up late last year. The content originates from lectures Gaffin gave in response to the growing influence of the New Perspective on Paul. But that doesn’t mean the content is dated. Rather, this is a masterful and concise Pauline theology. The great scholar from Westminster clearly and convincingly shows the primacy of union with Christ, eschatology, and resurrection in Paul’s theology. Gaffin is known for being somewhat difficult to read and By Faith, Not By Sight is par for the course in this regard. Nevertheless, I think it is a seminal work. If you read the old version, I’d still pick this one up because Mark Jones’ foreword is concise historical theology at its finest.

KMKing & Maxwell by David Baldacci. With the reading of this book I have completed Baldacci’s series of the same name. This most recent entry finds King and Maxwell investigating an apparently ordinary death that – surprise! – actually cuts to the very foundations of our nation’s security. So much so that the President personally authorizes the protagonists to get to the bottom of a mysterious death and disappearance of $1 billion Euros. Like all Baldacci’s books, this one is a fun and breezy read. I do think, however, the book’s antagonist is incredibly unbelievable, which means the book’s conclusion is an eye-roller. In fact, as the series progressed the “unrealistic” factor increased with each offering. Here’s to hoping that Baldacci’s next K&M entry can rediscover the believability factor of his previous, and better, books.

Posted on

Biographies Every Pastor Should Read

Few things stir my soul like reading biographies about the great saints of old. There is a palpable fervor for Christ found in them rarely heard or read today.

And this is way of Scripture is it not? Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Beholding the Christ-centered piety of saints gone by is powerful fuel for godly imitation.

Offering suggestions on Christian biography is like going to a mall (let the reader understand). Some people camp out in the same few stores, while neglecting almost every other merchant around. Others have the confidence to enter virtually any place. And of course there are some that have no interest in going to a mall!

If I fit any camp it would be the first; I tend to gravitate towards biographies in the 17th-19th centuries. Maybe it’s because I am an 18th century soul trapped in a 21st century body, but who knows.

Nevertheless, here are five biographies I believe will stir every pastor’s soul:

AugustineAugustine of Hippo by Peter Brown. If you read the Reformers often you know that much of their writings are recapitulations of Augustine. It’s simply impossible to understand Reformation theology apart from Augustinian theology. But Augustine wasn’t just a timeless theologian; he also was a human being with an utterly fascinating life. I doubt anyone in my lifetime will improve on Brown’s work. It is simply masterful.

9781598563337mHere I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton. Bainton’s work is a classic in every way, shape, and form. Is there anyone more entertaining in church history than Luther? Probably not. And few men have been more pivotal in the life of God’s church than German monk. This book will not only orient you to a legendary life, but also a legendary time period that forever changed the world.

9780300170849mCalvin by Bruce Gordon. So, yes, Calvin doesn’t have the flair of Luther, but he’s got ardor to boot. Gordon recounts the ups and downs (there were many) of the Genevan reformer with an able hand. I find this biography to be essential because Calvin is so easily misconstrued in popular perspective. Sure Calvin had some warts – don’t we all? – and Gordon doesn’t shy away from them, but he uncovers a life of piety and truth that will challenge any Christian.

0300105967mJonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. If I had to pick one biography this would be it. Marsden captures the genius of Edwards with prose that regularly shines. His life is also quite interesting; I mean, how is it that the greatest mind America has ever produced was actually fired from his church? This work will tell you that and much more. But the lasting value, I think, will be conviction regarding this man’s pursuit of godliness. It is deeply humbling and inspiring.

0851511821mSpurgeon: An Autobiography (Vol. 1: Vol. 2) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. There are great biographies on CHS, but why not hear it from the man’s own mouth? If anyone can compete with Luther in flair of personality, it’s Spurgeon. The two volumes will make you laugh, cry, think, and praise. The Prince of Preacher’s life offers unique encouragement for today’s pastors in matters of zeal for soul-winning and faith during suffering.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson by Courtney Anderson. I think missionary biographies lift our heart for the nations in ways few other resources can. Read the life of Judson and find yourself marveling at one man’s perseverance through incredible hardship.

John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken. The slave-trader turned preacher and hymn-writer is as compelling a testimony to God’s powerful grace as you can find.

Posted on

Recent Reads

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in the hope that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

087552186XmGiven For You: Reclaiming Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper by Keith Mathison. When RC Sproul read this volume for the first time he told Mathison (a longtime colleague), “You may die now.” In the foreword Sproul remarks, “I explained [to Keith] that if he made no other contribution to the church for the rest of his life, he has already provided a legacy for future generations by writing this book.” And it is an excellent book. Packed with historical, biblical, and theological reflection on the always timely topic of the Supper. I for one wish the book started with biblical theology instead of historical/systematic theology, but the ordering make sense as Mathison is out to reclaim the traditional Reformed view of the Supper. The book is longish (some 360 pages) and packed with lots of valuable research, so it probably won’t be a fast read. But it nevertheless remains one of the best books available on the topic.

511NcvN64-L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by JI Packer. Few books have an undeniable case for inclusion in the “Must Read” category and this is one of them. The issue lying at the heart of the book is as pertinent as when it was first published in 1961. Packer’s objective is to show that “faith in the sovereignty of God’s government and grace is the only thing that can sustain [evangelism], for it is the only thing that can give us the resilience that we need if we are to evangelize boldly and persistently.” And boy does he succeed! While it may be wished that more reflection on the local church’s role in evangelism was offered, it cannot be denied that Packer – in my view – offers the best, and clearest, dismantling of the objection that God’s sovereignty in salvation limits man’s responsibility in evangelism. We should look at this book and, like Augustine, hear a childlike voice saying, “Tolle lege!”

9781433540349mTrue Beautyby Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre. Excellent. Wise. Clear. Convicting. Encouraging. These would all be words I’d use to describe this offering by the mother and daughter duo of Mahaney and Whitacre. In fact, it might just be one of the most useful books one can find on biblical femininity. The authors define true beauty as “behold and reflecting the beauty of God.” With biblical and cultural awareness the book covers all the bases one would expect: True Beauty and Our Hearts, True Beauty and Our Bodies, and True Beauty and Our Clothes. The chapters on beauty’s relationship to trust and works are especially useful. I’d love to see all the women in my church read this. It’s that good.

indexThe Sixth Man by David Baldacci. My march through Baldacci continued with the fourth volume in his “King & Maxwell” series. The plot of The Sixth Man was the weakest one I’ve read in my recent Baldacci binge. It somehow manages to capture the attention, while not really picking up steam until about two-thirds of the way through. Which, I imagine, is a backhanded compliment of sorts. The first three books in the series were compelling in their development of the protagonists, but the titular players are quite static as they race to uncover big government machinations. I’ve have to give Baldacci great credit as the twist in this one was an absolute surprise, the first time that had happened in a long time. I must have been asleep at the reading wheel!

Posted on

A Series Worth Serious Investment: Vol. 2

Several weeks ago I told you about Crossway’s partnership with 9Marks in publishing the “Building Healthy Churches” series. Today I want to make sure you are aware of another Crossway series worth serious investment: Theologians on the Christian Life.

Here are the works already published or soon to be published.

THEOLOGIANS ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

9781433511882Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World by Stephen Nichols. Dietrich Bonhoeffer died a martyr’s death at the age of 39 but remains one of the most influential and challenging theologians of our time. His writings teach us the value of cross-centered theology, and his courageous actions against the Nazi regime compel us to consider the cost of discipleship. From Bonhoeffer we learn that the Christian life is lived both alone and together, and that there is a stark difference between cheap and costly grace. With insight, clarity, and wisdom, Stephen Nichols guides us through the words and deeds of this humble yet heroic pastor, whose example shows us that the Christian’s life flows from the cross, for the world.

9781433539565Calvin on the Christian Life: Glorifying and Enjoying God Forever by Michael Horton. John Calvin, a man adored by some and maligned by others, stands as a legendary figure in Christian history. In Calvin on the Christian Life, professor Michael Horton offers us fresh insights into the Reformer’s personal piety and practical theology by allowing Calvin to speak in his own words. Drawing not only from his Institutes and biblical commentaries, but also from lesser-known tracts, treatises, and letters, this book will deepen your understanding of Calvin’s theology and ministry by exploring the heart of his spiritual life: confident trust and unwavering joy in the sovereign grace of God.

9781433535055Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God by Dane Ortland. Jonathan Edwards is widely hailed as the greatest theologian in American history. However, despite the recent surge of scholarship related to his life and theology, few books offer an accessible introduction to his understanding of the Christian life. In the latest addition to the Theologians on the Christian Life series, readers are invited to explore Edwards’s vision of what it means to be a Christian. Whether it’s Edwards’s understanding of love, Scripture, the soul, or the natural world, Dane Ortlund shows how the concept of beauty serves as the integrating motif underlying every aspect of his thinking. Clear, concise, and engaging, this book will help readers embrace the great eighteenth-century pastor’s definition of authentic Christianity: the enjoyment and reflection of the beauty of God.

9781433537288Owen on the Christian Life: Living for the Glory of God in Christ by Matthew Barrett and Michael Haykin. John Owen is widely hailed as one of the greatest theologians of all time. His many works—especially those encouraging Christians in their struggle against sin—continue to speak powerfully to readers today, offering much-needed spiritual guidance for following Christ and resisting temptation day in and day out. Starting with an overview of Owen’s life, ministry, and historical context, Michael Haykin and Matthew Barrett introduce readers to the pillars of Owen’s spiritual life. From exploring his understanding of believers’ fellowship with the triune God to highlighting his teaching on justification, this study invites us to learn about the Christian life from the greatest of the English Puritans.

9781433531392Schaeffer on the Christian Life: Countercultural Spirituality by William Edgar. Francis Schaeffer was one of the most influential apologists of the twentieth century. Through his speaking, writing, and filmmaking, Schaeffer successfully transformed the way people thought of the Christian faith, from a rather private kind of piety to a worldview that addresses every sphere of life. This volume—written by a man converted from agnosticism within days of meeting Schaeffer—is the first book devoted to exploring the heart and soul of Schaeffer’s approach to the Christian life, and will help readers strive after the same kind of marriage of thought and life, of orthodoxy and love.

9781433543197Warfield on the Christian Life: Living Life in the Light of the Gospel by Fred Zaspel. B. B. Warfield is well known as one of America’s leading theologians, perhaps second only to Jonathan Edwards. But until now the character of his own Christian experience and his understanding of the Christian life have remained unexplored. Fred Zaspel unpacks these for us here, and what we find is that Warfield’s profound theological mind is matched only by his passionate heart for Christ. From Warfield we learn truly what it is to live in light of the gospel.

9781433515644Wesley on the Christian Life: The Heart Renewed in Love by Fred Sanders. John Wesley was one of the most important figures behind the founding of modern evangelicalism. From his crucial role in the Great Awakening to his inspiring a renewal movement within the Church of England, Wesley’s historical significance is undeniable and his legacy still challenges us today, regardless of our denominational affiliation or theological perspective. Offering an approachable introduction to Wesley’s life and writings, Fred Sanders invites us to learn from Wesley’s reliance on the Spirit, passion for holiness, and zeal for the gospel in this winsome portrait of an extraordinary Christian leader.

Other Volumes On the Docket:

  • Martin Luther on the Christian Life by Carl Trueman (August 2014)
  • John Bunyan on the Christian Life by Derek Thomas (April 2015)
  •  John Newton on the Christian Life by Tony Reinke (June 2015)
  • Herman Bavinck on the Christian Life by John Bolt (August 2015)
  • J. I. Packer on the Christian Life by Sam Storms (October 2015)
  • Charles Spurgeon on the Christian Life by Michael Reeves (unknown)