Interest among evangelicals in the Protestant Reformation has been on the rise for several years....
Theology
John Calvin: For a New Reformation edited by Derek W.H. Thomas and John W. Tweeddale
Over two thousand years of church history have produced a wide assortment of Christian leaders,...
Redemptive Reversals and the Ironic Overturning of Human Wisdom
Redemptive Reversals and the Ironic Overturning of Human Wisdom by G.K. Beale is the latest...
Systematic Theology – Robert Letham (2019)
Systematic Theology by Robert Letham is a solid work designed to fit within the framework of Reformed confessionalism. Systematic Theology is unique in that is begins with a treatment on the Triune God. Dr. Letham begins by offered the dominant arguments for God’s...
God Breathed: Connecting with Scripture to God, Others, the Natural World, and Yourself
I am my own and I am mine. In the West, we live by this mantra. We proclaim it with exuberance and pride. We write stories and sing about our freedom to be ourselves, to follow our own hearts, to not be restrained or limited by anything outside of ourselves. We’ve cut...
Foundations of the Christian Faith A Comprehensive & Readable Theology by James Montgomery Boice
James Montgomery Boice was the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA until he went home to glory. He was a leader in the Reformed movement, and his commentaries have received a wide reading and helped many (and continue to do so). Foundations of the...
ESV Prayer Bible: Prayers From The Past- Hope For Our Present
I had the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of Crossway’s new Prayer Bible. As you have probably guessed, this is another ESV Bible, but instead of commentary or extensive footnotes, this Bible is designed to show you how the Scriptures devotionally warmed the...
The Doctrine on Which the Church Stands or Falls – Matthew Barrett , Ed.
Martin Luther boldly declared, “Justification is the article upon which the church stands or falls.” John Calvin argued that justification is the “hinge on which religion turns.” In the sixteenth century, scores of people found these arguments both biblical and...
Grace Defined and Defended – Kevin DeYoung
Whenever Kevin DeYoung pens a book, I devour it – quickly. DeYoung writes with biblical precision. He writes with clarity. And his writing exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. His latest book, Grace Defined & Defended, is no exception. This short book is a summary and...
None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett
None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett is a book for our times. Better put, it is a book that is desperately needed in this generation. Many books that explore the subject of theology proper are fraught with errors. Barrett’s book is...
Reformed Systematic Theology – Volume 1: God and Revelation – Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley
Our generation is fraught with challenges that militate against the Christian faith. We are constantly battling heresy, both inside and outside the church. The propagation of lies is commonplace, and the repudiation of truth is part of the fabric of the contemporary...
Strategies for Transformational Learning: How to Teach for Discipleship by Jane Thayer
Education is made up of two equal, parallel tracks: content and communication. If what is taught does not immediately link with how the subject is taught, learning is downsized. We need more college professors who have been high school teachers, who can right-size...
Scientism and Secularism – J.P. Moreland (2018)
When Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, the intellectual tectonic plates shifted with a force that continues to reverberate to this day. One of the tragic consequences (among many) that the book helped spawn was the philosophical notion of...
Light in a Dark Place: The Doctrine of Scripture – John Feinberg
Many issues have come to the forefront for Christians in recent years. However, I cannot think of an issue of greater importance than our view of the Word of God. This crucial matter is addressed by John Feinberg in his recent work, Light in a Dark Place: The Doctrine...
Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning by Wayne Grudem
Wayne Grudem has become a household name in evangelical circles over the years. His landmark book, Systematic Theology, is used in Bible Colleges and Seminaries around the world. I have personally taught through his excellent book at least six times. As a result,...
Revelation (The Lectio Continua Series) by Joel Beeke
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to read through Joel Beeke’s expository commentary on Revelation published by Reformation Heritage Books. It is one commentary in a growing series of expository commentaries on the New Testament. At the time of this...
12 Faithful Men: Portraits of Courageous Endurance in Pastoral Ministry
12 Faithful Men is a collection of portraits that capture the lives and ministries of godly men, scattered throughout church history. These men come from a variety of backgrounds and have all made significant contributions to the kingdom of God. Collin Hansen and Jeff...
Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter – Thomas Schreiner
The subject of spiritual gifts is an ongoing topic in the church that often times generates more heat than light. The matter of the sign gifts, in particular, is especially controversial. Continuationists set forth arguments in favor of the sign gifts. And advocates...
Lewis on the Christian Life: Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God by Joe Rigney
C.S. Lewis is one of the most beloved and influential figures in modern church history. He only lived as a believer for a relatively short period of time, about 30 years. In that span of time, however, he wrote prolifically and touched the lives of believers the world...
Biblical Counseling Basics by Jeremy Lelek
Biblical counseling has been going through something of an identity crisis as of late. What exactly is “Biblical counseling,” what is its relationship to extra-biblical content, how is it best practiced?: Answering these questions requires nuance, careful...
Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life by Jason Meyer
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones could very well be the most influential preacher of the twentieth century. If there is any doubt that the Doctor carries such a weighty influence, Jason Meyer skillfully recants such a notion in his work, Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life. The...
Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing – Vern Poythress
“A theophany is a manifestation of divine presence accompanied by an extraordinary display mediating that presence.” This is the primary goal of Vern S. Poythress in his recent book, Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing. Theophanies, according to the...
Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire (Theologians on the Christian Life) by Jason Meyer
Tightrope walkers amaze me. I marvel at the ability to concentrate and balance on such a small wire while certain death awaits the slightest mishap. They must keep their center mass balanced perfectly over the wire and not lean too far in either direction. I once...
New Calvinism: New Reformation or Theological Fad? – Josh Buice, Ed.
“Calvinism is back,” writes David Van Biema, in a Time Magazine article, entitled ‘The New Calvinism.’ The featured article, which was written in 2009 was included in a list of “Ten Ideas Changing the World Right Now.” That’s quite a claim for a secular magazine to...
The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross – Patrick Schreiner (2018)
The resurgence of biblical theology and an emphasis on the kingdom of God has been a profound help to Christians, both in the academy and the local church. Patrick Schreiner’s offering, The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross is the latest publication in...
The Gospel According to God – John MacArthur (2018)
C.H. Spurgeon calls the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah “a Bible in miniature … the condensed essence of the gospel.” John MacArthur refers to Isaiah 53 as “the most remarkable chapter in the Old Testament” and takes it as the theme of his latest book, The Gospel...
The City of God and the Goal of Creation – T. Desmond Alexander (2018)
“God’s purpose in creating this world is to establish a resplendent metropolis that will fill the earth, where God will reside in harmony with humans,” says T. Desmond Alexander. The author’s latest work, entitled The City of God and the Goal of Creation is a book...
The Life and Theology of Paul – Guy Prentiss Waters
It was one of the most dramatic conversion experiences in redemptive history. The Apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus was miraculously transformed into a man who found his delight in God. Guy Prentiss Waters tells the story of Paul’s conversion in his latest book....
A Reader’s Guide to the Major Writings of Jonathan Edwards
He was the most important mind America ever produced, a theologian/philosopher extraordinaire. He was one of the most well-known pastors to stand behind the “preacher’s desk.” And he was a prolific author, missionary, and college president. Despite his impressive...
Long Before Luther: Tracing the Heart of the Gospel From Christ to the Reformation by Nathan Busenitz
Long Before Luther: Tracing the Heart of the Gospel From Christ to the Reformation by Nathan Busenitz recently hit the shelves. Busentiz sets out to discover whether or not the doctrine of justification by faith alone was taught and stressed before the days of the...
Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography
Herman Selderhuis, professor of church history at the Theological University Apeldoorn needs little introduction. His book, John Calvin: A Pilgrim’s Life was warmly received by many as he unpacked the Reformer’s life and legacy. Now the author makes his contribution...
The Son of God and the New Creation by Graeme Goldsworthy
Graeme Goldsworthy has become a bit of a household name, especially as one considers the field of biblical theology. The Son of God and the New Creation is another solid contribution by Goldsworthy where he focuses on the second member of the Trinity and alerts...
Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World – Thomas Schreiner (2017)
Biblical theology is the discipline that reveals the storyline of Scripture. It looks at the big picture, which begins at creation and culminates with the new earth, where God makes all things new. “The purpose of biblical theology,” according to James Hamilton “is to...
Reformation Theology A Systematic Summary
Does the Reformation still matter? A better question is, “Does Reformed Theology still matter?” We should also ask ourselves, “Does Reformed Theology still have a place in the Twenty First Century's theological landscape?” Many Christians are not familiar with names...
Two Views on Homosexuality, The Bible, and the Church (editors Preston Sprinkle and Stanley N. Gundry)
The Counterpoints series by Zondervan is a long-standing examination of various Christian views and issues that allow different perspectives to be shared together in one volume, with the hopes that it allows us all a better understanding of each other’s position, and...
Scripture As Real Presence: Sacramental Exegesis in the Early Church (Hans Boersma)
As our society develops and moves along the line of historical time, we have voices pop up along the way that remind us not to forget where we came from and the ones who came before us. We see this in politics all of the time. America has had its share of political...
Matthew Barrett, Ed. Reformation Theology
Nearly five hundred years ago, Martin Luther nailed his now famous ninety-five theses to the castle door in Wittenberg. Luther’s courage continues to inspire faithful followers of Jesus. His character raises the bar for anyone who strives to serve with truth-centered...
The New City Catechism Devotional
Tim Keller expounded on the gravitas of Christian catechisms for our day, saying, “Catechesis is more important than ever. We are being catechized, whether or not we know it, by culture.” In other words, catechism is happening, right at this moment. Twitter hashtags,...
Confronted by Grace: Meditations of a Theologian (John Webster)
On May 25, 2016, one of the most important theologians of my time passed into Glory. John Webster, a British Anglican, was a theologian, preacher, lecturer, and disciple of Jesus Christ. Webster is not widely known. He does not sell books at a popular level. His...
The Triune God (New Studies in Dogmatics) by Fred Sanders
Fred Sanders is a professor of Theology at the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Fred Sanders has another book on the Trinity called The Deep Things of God. Summary In the opening of The Triune God, Fred Sanders lays out his...
Created and Creating: A Biblical Theology of Culture (William Edgar)
“Why another book on culture?” you may ask. It seems that hundreds of books are being written on culture, and yet, we have light years to go in understanding what culture is and how we go about living within it and as part of it. Thankfully, another significant...
The God Who Became Human: A Biblical Theology of Incarnation (Graham A. Cole)
When it comes to doing biblical theology, a common pattern is to take a topic or a theme and trace it from Genesis to Revelation. The Covenants, for example, between God and man, are meant to be a theme that we attempt to look for from the beginning of humanity to the...
The Majesty of Mystery: Celebrating the Glory of an Incomprehensible God (K. Scott Oliphint)
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it” (Ps 139:6). David’s words in this verse sum up my thoughts when I come before Scripture, good books, and teachers of theology. Discourses on various doctrinal concepts have kept theologians busy...
The Triune God (Fred Sanders)
Let’s face it: the Trinity is without a doubt the most important, complex, and debated doctrine in all of Christian thought. For thousands of years, Christians have been attempting to define the Trinity, and nothing is new under the sun. Even today, despite all of the...
NIV Faithlife Study Bible by Zondervan
Today I want to share with you an incredible resource that will not only enhance your study of God’s Holy Word, but also increase retention and understanding of difficult passages, doctrines, and give you tools to utilize in teaching others the basics of the Christian...
Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature
When the term apocalyptic literature is used, most are likely drawn to thinking about books in Scripture such as Revelation or perhaps the ending chapters of Matthew where Jesus described the time of the end. While both are indeed apocalyptic, what is often forgotten...
Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth by John F. MacArthur and Richard Mayhue
A theological tour de force. A magnum opus. A breath-taking panorama that leaves the reader in awe. These are only a few descriptions of Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth by John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue. The book is arranged as one might...
Old Testament Sermons by Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Last summer I had the opportunity to pick up a few sets of great books. Included in that purchase was a title by someone whose works for which I was only minimally familiar, namely Robert Murray M’Cheyne. If you are not familiar with this individual, M’Cheyne...
A Peculiar Glory: How The Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Truthfulness (John Piper)
“It is a stupendous claim that any book written by human hands is the infallible word of God” (39). The Bible without a doubt is the most polarizing, the most significant, the most widely-read, and the most important book in all of human history. On that, we can all...
The Earliest Christologies: Five Images of Christ in the Post-Apostolic Age
It has been some time since I dug into a good “nerdy” theological style text. Over the past few months, I had tried to give my brain a bit of a break after another breakneck pace of reading last year. The kind folks at IVP Academic sent in my direction a book which at...
The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary (J. Alec Motyer)
Everyone who has a passion for preaching or expositing God’s Word has felt this tension, “Which kinds of commentaries should I invest in?” Some feel that buying a commentary series, made up of different authors, looks best on a shelf and stays united in their overall...
The Book of Isaiah and God’s Kingdom: A Thematic-Theological Approach (Andrew T. Abernathy)
Isaiah is a really big book. It’s the 6th-largest book in Scripture, amassing over 25,000 words in 66 chapters. Not to mention, this is a prophetic book, one of the Major Prophets of the Old Testament. Factoring in its size and subject, anything that aids us in its...
The End of Protestantism: Pursuing Unity in a Fragmented Church (Peter J. Leithart)
“I dearly hope that the Protestant tribalism of American denominationalism dies. I will do all in my power to kill it, not least in myself” (191). Hopefully, you didn’t start at the end of Peter Leithart’s book and read backwards. Reading these words at first gives...
Isaiah: God Saves Sinners (Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.)
I was recently listening to a sermon from a noted preacher years ago, who encouraged his congregation to consider the task of “finding a home” in one or two books of the Bible. His philosophy was that most of us, with our limited amount of brainpower as humans, simply...
Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk
The Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary is a welcome addition to the growing number of resources which help explain the biblical text and apply the truth of God’s Word to readers. This volume which that focuses on four Minor Prophets beautifully captures the essence...
God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ (Stephen J. Wellum)
Crossway’s Foundations of Evangelical Theology series is actually a long-standing one, with volumes dating back to twelve years ago. However, Wellum’s new addition to the series is only the sixth volume to be published. In short, the intent of this series is not a...
A Mouth Full of Fire: The Word of God in the Words of Jeremiah (Andrew G. Shead)
If you have ever read from the New Studies in Biblical Theology series edited by D.A. Carson and published by IVP Academic, you know that it is a major blessing to the Church for providing us rich explorations into what the Bible truly has to say, cover to cover,...
Wesley on the Christian Life: The Heart Renewed in Love (Fred Sanders)
Maybe you know someone, or are someone, who has lived an entire life in one country, one region, or one state. Such a person has spent their days only experiencing what is familiar, what is commonplace. They never “get out of their bubble” if you will. Any of us who...
A Syntax Guide for Readers of the Greek New Testament
I thoroughly enjoy resources that enable me to dig deeper into Scripture. Of particular note is the ability to explore and understand the biblical languages. While there is certainly nothing wrong with simply reading Scripture via the numerous quality translations...
God the Son Incarnate – Stephen J. Wellum
God the Son Incarnate by Stephen J. Wellum is the latest installment in the Foundations of Evangelical Theology Series. This outstanding series, edited by John Feinberg was first introduced with the publication of No One Like Him back in 2001. The author notes that...
Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope (Preaching the Word, Philip Graham Ryken)
Many of us come to the Major or Minor Prophets of Scripture and we feel like we’re preparing to summit a difficult mountain range. They’re complex to read and understand, even hard to read given the often negative and harsh language we see in their writings. They’re...
Progressive Covenantalism: Charting a Course Between Dispensational and Covenant Theologies (Edited by Stephen J. Wellum & Brent E. Parker)
One of the classic doctrinal differences in the Evangelical church is determining how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament: Should we observe a dispensational, or covenantal, view? But perhaps the matter isn’t as black-and-white as it is normally presented...
Bound for the Promised Land: The Land Promised in God’s Redemptive Plan (Oren R. Martin)
What makes InterVarsity Press’ series New Studies in Biblical Theology such a success? It is their ability to recruit good authors and researchers to draw out often-overlooked themes that are actually significant points of discussion in the Bible, helping readers see...
The Temple and the Tabernacle – J. Daniel Hays
A good book review will help readers determine the good, the bad, and the ugly in a given title. There is nothing bad or ugly in J. Daniel Hays’ new work, The Temple, and the Tabernacle. In fact, describing the contents of this book as “good” would be a massive...
Leadership Mosaic: 5 Leadership Principles for Ministry & Everyday Life (Daniel Montgomery with Jared Kennedy)
I am typically leery of taking on any Christian leadership books because the market is so overwhelmed with absolute fluff, it is sometimes hard to separate the wheat from the chaff! Many Christian leadership books simply use Christianity as a “prop” of sorts. If I’m...
Christ All Sufficient
Out of all the Pauline Epistles, the book of Colossians can arguably be labeled as one of the most overlooked. This is in part understandable given the plethora of material within the Pauline corpus. For that matter, think of the last book from the Minor Prophets you...
Discovering the Septuagint: A Guided Reader
I am a language nerd. While not a linguistic expert by any stretch of the imagination, I nevertheless fully understand the importance of knowing what words mean in context as well as the development of terms over time. It seems when studying Scripture and especially...
Loving the City: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Tim Keller)
A few years ago, Tim Keller released one of the most significant works on church planting and development to hit the shelves this century. Center Church is a massive examination of what it looks like to do gospel-centered ministry in your community. It received...
Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics (Graeme Goldsworthy)
When I think about the importance of biblical theology and learning from its leading scholars, one of the first names that come to mind is Graeme Goldsworthy. Nearly every work Goldsworthy has completed has BT as its driving force, which is really helpful for pastors...
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society (Eugene Peterson)
To practice a “long obedience” in terms of discipleship seems like a total anomaly. Our fast-paced society communicates the idea that anything that requires commitment and devotion is probably not worth our precious commodity of time. But it’s not just the outside,...
NIV LIFEHACKS BIBLE
About the Editor: Joe Carter is one of the sharpest minds in Evangelicalism today. He is the current Communications Specialist for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Senior Editor at the Actions Institute. He serves...
Folly, Grace, and Power: The Mysterious Act of Preaching
Most books devoted to exploring the mandate to preach the Word of God focus on homiletical method. They help young preachers craft an introduction and a conclusion. They help young theologians with good exegetical skills. They discuss tone, body language, and eye...
Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction, Second Edition (Bryan M. Litfin)
Many Christians know that the church fathers play a significant role in the development of what we know as “church” today, but few probably understand the gravity of what they did, and the wisdom that they can offer us. Of course, we know names like Augustine, and...
A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old and New Testament
I have owned or own numerous single volume or collected sets of introductions to the Bible. Some have been quite helpful in my studies, personal or academic, and others have been shall we say a bit lackluster and somewhat disappointing. Given the plethora of biblical...
What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul
What is Reformed Theology? originally appeared in 1997. This updated volume has a new cover and new contemporary format. The content, however, remains the same as Dr. Sproul guides readers through the wonders of Reformed Theology. Part One: Foundations of Reformed...
His Love Endures Forever: Reflections on the Immeasurable Love of God
“God is love…here is the same good news of the gospel of the death of Christ that is believed by a toddler and yet has kept busy some of the greatest minds in human history with its unfathomable profundity” (13). The opening lines of Garry Williams’ book, His Love...
What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Creed Through the Apostles’ Creed by Michael Bird
What Christians Ought to Believe by Michael F. Bird examines the Apostles’ Creed and guides readers step-by-step through this important document. In chapters 1 and 2, the author highlights the importance of creeds. He notes: “The creeds constitute an attempt to guide...
Kierkegaard: A Single Life (Stephen Backhouse)
Anyone who has spent time studying philosophy has heard that famous Danish name before Kierkegaard. The influence of Kierkegaard’s work and thought is unmissable for the student to see. But for many, the name “Søren Kierkegaard” completely flies under the radar, and...
From Heaven He Came And Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives (editors David Gibson & Jonathan Gibson)
When it comes to the famous “Five Points of Calvinism,” there is one among the rest that stands alone as the most divisive and disagreed-upon of all the rest. In the corresponding TULIP acronym, it takes the middle letter, Limited Atonement. This doctrine posits that...
God’s Unfaithful Wife: A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery (Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.)
As I am currently wading my way through InterVarsity Press’ New Studies in Biblical Theology, I come to the second volume in the series, authored by one of my favorite authors and preachers, Ray Ortlund. Ortlund is a key voice on a host of subjects with a Christian...
Theology and the Mirror of Scripture: A Mere Evangelical Account (Kevin J. Vanhoozer & Daniel J. Treier)
2016 has, to many, seemed to be the year in which the word “evangelical” has been completely watered down to nothingness. “Evangelical” has become a word that carries virtually no distinction and thus no meaning; everything from the media’s misuse of the word to the...
God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits (Malcolm B. Yarnell III)
When it comes to discussion of the Trinity, Christianity surprisingly runs quite a gamut of opinions and thoughts. While the Trinity is one of the most creedal and thus essential doctrines of Evangelicalism, some accuse the Trinity of being explicitly unknowable...
A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume 3 (90-150)
Who reading this review finds the Psalms to be among or at the top of their list of favorite books of the Bible? I am quite sure most if not all of you raised your virtual hands to that question. Why are we so passionate about reading the Psalms? In my humble opinion,...
Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews (Charles Spurgeon, Edited by Elliot Rietzma)
Anyone who has read the sermons of Charles Spurgeon knows that every jot and tittle of Spurgeon’s work is a warmth to the soul, pointing us to the glory of Christ. Spurgeon was certainly not a polemicist, nor a scholarly exegete, but his ability to devotionally preach...
Galatians: Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Thomas R. Schreiner)
People look for certain things when it comes to the consultation of commentaries. Some are looking for a fresh perspective on the text, gathering new hermeneutical insights they didn’t catch. Others look for practical ways commentators have applied the text or...
Theology as Discipleship by Keith Johnson
It’s a shame that theology so regularly needs to be defended. The fact that it does just goes to support Keith Johnson’s book Theology as Discipleship. The divorce that theology and Christian living has been through over time has had massive and long-lasting...
Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War
It is no secret regarding the existence of hostilities between Israel and Iran. While the overt war between the two nations as not yet taken place, a shadow war clearly exists with Iran utilizing a number of fronts to include terrorist proxy groups to extend its reach...
Paul and the Law
The law. Few words arguably create more of a firestorm of opinions than these two words. Add to that the seemingly perennial question of whether the Apostle Paul gave the green light for Christians to jettison the various laws noted in the front of Scripture and you...
Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the LORD? A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus (L. Michael Morales)
Many Christians today would probably argue that a deep study of Leviticus would be extremely difficult. I’m willing to bet that some would take it a step further in saying that it is a book not truly worth studying. After all, what is the point of Leviticus,...
The Inerrant Word: Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives (edited by John MacArthur)
“I believe that the affirmation of the Bible’s inerrancy has never been more essential to evangelicalism as a movement and as a living theological and spiritual tradition…Without inerrancy, the evangelical movement will inevitably become dissolute and indistinct in...
A Review of “Addictions” by Edward T. Welch
Does the Bible actually speak to the issue of addictions? That’s one of the common questions – or perhaps it’s more accurate to say veiled accusations – that I get when working with guys in our Recovery program. After all, the word “addiction” is not found in the...
Judges and Ruth: God in Chaos
It seemed so promising. The Israelites had entered by the mighty hand of God into the Promised Land. Joshua left the people with a firm reminder of the need to be mindful of their covenant with God. This covenant had as its basis obedience to God’s commands which...
Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions (Craig Blomberg)
I’m (very slowly) working my way through InterVarsity’s New Studies in Biblical Theology series. As I was scanning some of the titles available, I came across a volume from Craig Blomberg. Naturally, I went straight to the endorsements. I saw D.A. Carson, the series...
The Lion of Princeton: B.B. Warfield as Apologist and Theologian (Kim Riddlebarger)
America, unfortunately, is not known on a historical level for its long line of theologians with positive worldwide influence. Especially within the scope of Reformed theology, we often look to Germany, England, the Netherlands, Scotland, for consultation on...
History: A Student’s Guide
I enjoy history. Not the boring, droning of mere facts and figures, but rather, digging into history, finding out the way and why of our past in an effort to inform our approach and understanding of the present. Understanding the past is vital. Nathan Finn, in his...
Proverbs: Wisdom that Works by Ray Ortlund
In my opinion, Proverbs is the one book of the Bible that people struggle to locate the most within the canon. We get a feel and a sense for where all the other books go, and why they are there. But when we come to Proverbs, oftentimes it is difficult to find its...
1-2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ’s Sufferings
There are several books that reside near the back of the New Testament that I submit get overlooked in our zeal to push through to the book of Revelation and the renewal of all things we find at the end of that particular book. Before we get to the ultimate promise of...
A Review of “Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?” by L. Michael Morales
The book of Leviticus in the Old Testament has for far too long not received its due attention. L. Michael Morales explores rather brilliantly and comprehensively its central role in the Pentateuch and its significance to overall redemptive history in his fantastic...
The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross
Children and adults for that matter love good stories. The introduction of the characters, the building up to the climax, and the resolution, if written well by the author, will capture the reader’s imagination. There is nothing better in my humble opinion than an...
Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: John
There are times when I enjoy sliding into the “nerdy” side of Bible study. When those times come, it is always helpful to have on hand something to assist that journey. While I am no Greek scholar, I do appreciate and understand the necessity of engaging the original...
The Holy Spirit (Christopher R.J. Holmes)
In the wide world of theological studies, one of the many joys we have is watching a highly-anticipated series being birthed and developing over time. Avid readers of theology will be pleased to know that Zondervan Academic has released the first installment of a very...
A Review of “Building on the Foundations of Evangelical Theology” by Allison and Wellum
You never know exactly what you’re going to get when you read a Festschrift. Sometimes you will find a collection of insightful essays engaging and advancing the thoughts and works of a gifted scholar. Other times you will find nothing more than an effort to publish...
Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament: Ruth
Over the past year or so, I have become less of a hoarder of commentaries and commentary sets. In my Bible College and Seminary days, I used such tools extensively as they are required resources for writing research papers and other academically related tasks. With...
Literary Introductions to the Books of the Bible
The Bible is a collection of individual books that collectively relay a singular message, namely that of redemption and restoration through the Messiah. Each book shares this message, some more overtly than others, through the genre and the literary patterns subsumed...
A Review of “Covenant and Commandment” by Bradley Green
The New Studies in Biblical Theology series from IVP is one of my favorite academic collections. Each volume does an impressive job of providing comprehensive and fresh examinations of Biblical, theological concepts. It’s for this reason that Bradley Green’s recent...
Covenant, Community, and the Spirit (Robert Sherman)
The Trinity is an essential doctrine that Christians should continue to explore, because whether we know it or not, the Trinity serves as a sort of model for many of the aspects of how we were designed to live our lives. For example, the Trinity has much to say about...
Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: Philippians
Some books in the Bible are quite frankly a joy to read. Many enjoy reading the Psalms and Proverbs. Others gravitate towards Romans or perhaps the Gospel of John. If we are talking about a book that is a joy to read, one cannot forget Paul’s Epistle to the...
1 & 2 Thessalonians (Richard D. Phillips, Reformed Expository Commentary)
Commentaries are written in a wide array of structures and styles. Some spend all their time dissecting the Greek, engaging with the tiniest of nuances to form their arguments. Some provide more of a survey approach to the text, pastorally-driven reflections on the...
Urban Legends of the New Testament
Most people likely remember the childhood game called telephone. The concept was to start with a statement which would then be repeated down a line of individuals with that statement whispered into each subsequent person’s ear. The fun part of the game was seeing how...
Five Festal Garments (Barry G. Webb, New Studies in Biblical Theology series)
Barry Webb is known for his careful exegesis and pastoral approach to key Old Testament books. In Five Festal Garments, part of InterVarsity Press’ New Studies in Biblical Theology series, Webb seeks to provide some reflections on what we know traditionally as the...
The Hellenization of Judea in the First Century After Christ
Many have arguably heard of and have some familiarity with the term “Hellenization.” With that said, how is such a description accurately applied and how great an influence was Greek philosophy and life in general on Jewish people during the period immediately...
A Biblical History of Israel: Second Edition
History is important. I know that many of us do not have fond memories of history class or for that matter the history teacher droning on for what seemed like an eternity about some minor point of former days. Whatever your experience with history class might have...
Awakening the Evangelical Mind: An Intellectual History of the Neo-Evangelical Movement
Awakening the Evangelical Mind by Dr. Owen Strachan is a fascinating book that tells the story of how evangelicalism developed as an intellectual movement in the middle of the twentieth century. In this book, the author provides an accessible survey of...
Joel & Obadiah: Disaster and Deliverance
When was the last time you read either Joel or Obadiah? Admittedly in my own Bible reading, these two books have largely been ignored outside perhaps of times when Joel was referred to when studying matters of eschatology. These two small yet important books found in...
A Commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles
Typically those who utilize commentaries are attracted to volumes that engage with the more shall we say popular books in Scripture such as Romans, the Gospel of John, and perhaps Revelation. Reading a commentary on one of the historical books of the Old Testament is...
The Blessing of God – Edited by Michael D. McMullen
Jonathan Edwards is known as one of the most passionate preachers to ever grace the American pulpit. B.B. Warfield once called him "the one figure of real greatness in the intellectual life of colonial America." While certainly known for works such as "Religious...
The Miracles of Jesus
Outside arguably the parables of Jesus, His miracles are some of the most beloved portions of the gospels. Whether it was His first recorded miracle of changing water into wine or the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two small fish, we are...
Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior (Preaching the Word)
In recent months, I have been doing a bit of purging when it comes to my personal library. After years of accumulating books, many in relation to various classes in both Bible College and Seminary, things had gotten a bit out of hand. Furthermore, the subject matter...
More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (William Hendriksen)
Recently Baker Books released the 75th Anniversary commemorative edition of Hendriksen’s classic exposition on the book of Revelation, and I was really excited to pick it up. In the midst of a weekly small group study through Revelation, and as a frequent user of my...
Ruth (Exegetical Commentary On the Old Testament) – Daniel I. Block
I recently began studying for a sermon series I was putting together on Ruth, and in preparation wanted to look for some of the key commentaries on Ruth. Although I was able to find one or two highly recommended ones, I was a bit disappointed in the lack of real...
Knowing Christ
There are some books that come along that can be described as instant classics. One such book is Mark Jones latest release, Knowing Christ. A noted expert in the writings of the Puritan authors, Jones examines in this book twenty-seven aspects that help us understand...
Judges and Ruth: God in Chaos (Preaching the Word) – Barry G. Webb
If there is one person fit for the job of writing this installment of Crossway’s perennial commentary series, Preaching the Word, it is Barry Webb. Webb has done much field work specifically in the book of Judges, most notably his 2012 Judges volume for the New...
A Review of “Purity and Danger” by Mary Douglas
I do not usually read anthropological studies on the concept of pollution among cultures and particularly world religions. Comparative religious studies can be interesting, but such a focused topic is beyond my general interests. Purity and Danger, however, was...
A Review of “A History of Western Philosophy and Theology” by John Frame
John Frame is one of the most creative Christian thinkers alive today. He has been skillfully applying his own unique framework to theological studies for many years now, and in this massive tome has done the same thing with history of philosophy. A History of Western...
Owen on the Christian Life: Living for the Glory of God in Christ (Matthew Barrett & Michael A.G. Haykin)
The word "theologian" is described as "a person who engages or is an expert in theology." When I think about the many theologians I enjoy reading, there are few that occupy this office as well as the English Purtian, John Owen. Owen's influence on theology as a whole...
A Review of “Augustine on the Christian Life” by Gerald Bray
There are few names as significant in Western Christianity as Augustine of Hippo. The great church father has been one of the most influential theologians and pastors in the history of the church. His writings are voluminous, having written more works (and more unique...
Reformation Readings of Paul (editors Michael Allen & Jonathan A. Linebaugh)
Are we reading Paul right? That’s one of the questions of the hour in Christian academia. The New Perspective on Paul movement has sought to redefine our understanding of Paul’s theology, particularly in how Paul defines justification and thus how we look at doctrines...
Tough Questions about God and His Actions in the Old Testament
The Old Testament often gets a bad rap, arguably due to the perceived difference between the actions of God during that period of history as compared to what transpires in the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament is at times viewed as one of malicious rage...
Evangelicals Adrift: Supplanting Scripture with Sacrementalism
By definition, to be adrift means something or someone is without purpose or guidance or perhaps lost and confused. Often this term is used in reference to maritime issues for instance in the case of a boat that has come loose from its moorings on the pier. As...
Judaism When Christianity Began
A fundamental element of studying Scripture includes matters of a historical nature in particular when taking a look at the societal and religious environment that existed during the period of the New Testament. Springing forth from this milieu was a group of...
God as Author: A Biblical Approach to Narrative
Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting the biblical text. Hermeneutics is the process of understanding literary texts, specifically in reference to applying the message and overall intent of the author. When it comes to Scripture, the process of proper...
A Review of “Luther on the Christian Life” by Carl Trueman
Martin Luther, the great German reformer, has become something of a caricature of modern Evangelical interests. What most of us know of Luther represents this idea more closely than it does the actual man of history. Carl Trueman knows this and aims to correct it in...
The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, translated by J.I. Packer and O.R. Johnston
We recently celebrated Reformation Day at the end of October wherein we recognize a anniversary of a pivotal moment in the advance of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, German theologian Martin Luther nailed his famous Ninety-Five Theses to the door of...
ESV Men’s Devotional Bible
Over the years I have owned a number of devotional bibles. Some were focused on men’s issues, some on women’s issues, some on marriage, others were devoted to children, and still others addressed numerous matters of life and faith. The typical approach with a...
A Review of “1-3 John” by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
The best devotional literature combines solid exegesis of the text with insightful application. Both are necessary for a quality work; which explains why there is so little quality devotional literature. Perhaps that also explains why Douglas Sean O’Donnell has...
Reading Romans In Context (Ben Blackwell, John Goodrich, Jason Maston, Editors)
"Context is king," as it is often said. Context becomes even more important when it comes to reading the Scriptures. Some of the main hindrances Bible readers face when studying God's Word is that they cannot get a grip for why the author said what he did, or why the...
Return to Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance
I am increasingly appreciating the theological discipline of biblical theology. The pursuit of following a principle, pattern, or term throughout Scripture, noting along the way the foundation of thought and the progression that takes place which is built on that...
Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither?
The book of Genesis and specifically the exegesis and application of its first eleven chapters have resulted in a plethora of opinions among scholars and layman alike. Does the Genesis creation account reflect actual history or is it merely a symbolic representation...
Great Doctrines of the Bible
There are certain theological topics that can be stated as being of foremost importance. Among those which should fall into that category are studies on the Godhead, the Church, and events that will precede and encompass the final days of humanity on earth as it...
The Bible Doctrine of Man
What is man? For that matter, what is man supposed to be as, defined in Scripture? Furthermore, how are we supposed to understand and apply the various terms used throughout God’s Word regarding man such as soul, spirit, heart, and body? Given the original languages...
Israel in Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus Tradition
The Bible relates real history. With that said, there are always efforts by those who seek to discredit Scripture as well as those within liberal elements of biblical scholarship to claim that the historical record reveals something other than what is recorded in the...
NIV Zondervan Study Bible
There are study Bibles galore on the market today. Some merely contain the name of a popular author, theologian, or pastor, while others focus on specific elements of church history or theology. Adding to those various choices is the matter of translation with many...
Awakening the Evangelical Mind by Owen Strachan
Today in the beginnings of the twenty-first century, there is a deep need for intellectual Christian thinkers. As the gospel message increasingly becomes accused of being hostile and insufficient, the value of Christian beliefs not only as private devotion, but as...
God’s Unfaithful Wife: A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery
An important element of sound Bible study is recognizing the patterns and principles and flow from Genesis to Revelation as consistent messages to the reader. One such pattern is that of God’s relationship with His people, namely what is described as a marriage...
The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes
“Do this in remembrance of me.” Those words spoken by Jesus to his disciples prior to him being betrayed, crucified, and later rising from the grave serve as a command to participate in something that provides the believer a point of reference. But just what is the...
The Son of God and the New Creation
There are a number of titles applied to Jesus throughout Scripture with all of them bringing to light an important aspect of our Savior. Exploring the underlying meaning of those titles and the context in which they are used is an important element of sound Bible...
The Flow Of The Psalms: Discovering Their Structure And Theology
Every year I make it a habit to read several times through the book of Psalms. I also read through select chapters of Psalms when I’m depressed or discouraged. Reading the Psalms regularly has been a practice of mine for some time. In seminary, I took a nine-week...
Defending Substitution: An Essay on Atonement in Paul
As Christians, we believe that the death of Jesus on the cross accomplished something, namely dealing with the sin and death problem that has faced all of humanity since Adam’s fall in the Garden. With that said, what exactly was accomplished, for whom, when, and how...
The Good Shepherd
The motif of God as our shepherd is perhaps one of the most familiar and beloved pictures of His interaction with His people that can be found in all of Scripture. Psalm 23, an equally beloved and familiar portion of Scripture, outlines God as our shepherd, guiding...
Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
The book of Revelation is admittedly a complicated book full of strange imagery and a seemingly complicated prediction of future events that has theologians and laymen arguing endlessly about how best to approach, interpret, and apply its message, themes, and...
The Biblical Cosmos: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Weird and Wonderful World of the Bible
In Scripture and in the Ancient Near East (ANE), there are various motifs presented, in particular when it comes to the cosmos. The understanding of the heavens, earth, stars, the underworld (death), and even the temple are greatly important for understanding many of...
Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul
There are just some commentary series I have grown to greatly appreciate. Such series earn my respect not necessarily for diving into every nuance of Hebrew and Greek or analyzing all of the various historical issues of a particular text or for their scholarly...
He Made the Stars Also: Messianic Reflections
Understanding the roots of our faith is absolutely vital. I am not speaking of movements such as the Hebrew Roots or Sacred Name movements. Rather, I am speaking of understanding Scripture based on the original author's intent, grasping matters of language, culture,...
The Meaning of the Pentateuch
Evangelicals are desperately in need of a deeper, richer understanding of the Old Testament as a whole and the Pentateuch in a particular. For many, the Pentateuch is either irrelevant to the Christian, or simply a series of proof texts for the coming fulfillment of...
The Paranormal Conspiracy: The Truth about Ghosts, Aliens and Mysterious Beings
Tales of UFOs, Bigfoot, and journeys to another universe to meet ascended masters and beings from other planets in distant universes or even alternate planes of existence. Are they just the vivid imaginations of science fiction developed from misguided individuals?...
The Presence of God
“Talk of God’s presence is part of the white noise of evangelicalism,” says J. Ryan Lister (21). The language itself is common parlance in Christian churches, yet a robust theological understanding of it is rare. Lister offers a comprehensive Biblical theological...
Roman Catholic Theology & Practice
Living in one of those parts of the country that is highly influenced by Catholicism I often hear comparisons. Tensions between Catholics and Baptists abound, and comparisons and contrasts are often made. Often, however, those comparisons and contrasts are not...
Romans 8-16 For You
The book of Romans, specifically chapters 8-16, have been hailed by pastors, scholars, and theologians alike as the Apostle Paul’s magnum opus. Writing to non-Jewish Christians in Rome, Paul packs the letter with deeper theological truths. He hits at the heart of the...
The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses
The Bible is a very big book with lots of people, lots of words, and lots of concepts. Thus, understanding the overall message of Scripture and how everything fits together can seem like a daunting task, especially for those who are just getting their feet wet with...
Review of Matthew Commentary In Teach the Text Commentary Series
Quality theological study needs a variety of theological perspectives and voices. Limiting the voices that can influence your theological work limits the effectiveness and quality of your theological work. It is with this conviction in mind that I was so excited for...
Mapping Apologetics
“There could not be a more important question than how we are to decide what to believe,” says Brian Morley (10). Morley, professor of philosophy and apologetics at The Master’s College, sees value not simply in apologetics but in understanding the various approaches...
The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament
There are countless Old Testament survey books on the market today and quite honestly, it feels like I have most of them in my personal library. Since the purpose of an Old Testament survey is to introduce the reader to the books of the Old Testament, many times these...
The Secret Life of a Pastor (and other intimate letters of ministry)
Bible College and seminary is a time where students are challenged in every aspect of life. For many students, these challenges are more severe than others. Other students find seminary to be extremely easy. I was one of those students who found Bible college and...
Exploring our Hebraic Heritage: A Christian Thelogy of Roots and Renewal
There is a movement afoot and a good one I might submit that is seeking to understand the roots of the faith. This implies there is a system of thought and a way of approaching Scripture that perhaps has not been properly understood or utilized over the years. Marvin...
Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must be Challenged
There are some segments of Christianity that espouse the belief that God is done with the Jewish people. This idea is rooted in Replacement Theology, namely the affirmation that the Church has completely replaced Israel in salvation history and therefore God no longer...
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Loving The Old Testament: One Book, One God, One Story
Over the past five years, we’ve seen a huge increase in books on biblical theology. This resurgence has been much needed since according to many statistics one of the greatest issues in the Church today is biblical illiteracy. Over the past few years, I’ve been...
Newton on the Christian Life
John Newton has a massive impact on the history of the Church. His ministry influenced men like William Wilberforce who helped end slavery in England. His ministry continues to help people today through his articles and books, and especially through his hymn Amazing...
Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary: Ruth
I am a big fan of the book of Ruth. In fact, in 2014 I did a verse by verse study of Ruth which I found to be very enlightening and well worth the effort. Over the course of that study, I utilized a number of commentaries with some of those texts being quite good and...
EP Study Commentary: Acts
In the world of commentaries, there seems to be an endless list of choices. Every publisher and seemingly every well-known pastor or theologian is producing yet another commentary or has contributed their thoughts to a commentary set. This means that choosing a...
Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments
Scripture is comprised of 66 books divided into two halves. The front of the book as it is sometimes called outlines the coming of Jesus and the back of the book discusses the impact of his life and his return with both halves revealing God’s salvation history plan....
Behold the King of Glory
The life of Jesus is truly the greatest story ever told. God incarnate coming to earth through the miraculous virgin birth foretold so long ago for the purpose of being the perfect sacrifice for sin is a historical series of events unmatched in the history of the...
Questions God Asks: Unlocking the Wisdom of Eternity
There can be no question the God of the Bible is omniscient (all-knowing). That fact is repeated like a mantra throughout Scripture. We find this truth taught in passages such as Isaiah 46:10, Psalm 33:11, and Isaiah 14:24. The plans of the Lord cannot be thwarted and...
Interpreting the Prophetic Books
Reading and understanding the prophetic books of the Old Testament can be a challenge for even for the most seasoned theologian. Matters of context, the unpacking of symbolism, and even whether the prophecies are only for the original hearers or how they impact us...
Christ-Centered Exposition: Matthew
There is certainly no shortage today of commentary sets available to pastors, laymen, and students. These sets range from classic works to what seems to be a barrage of new efforts recently hitting the market. How does one decide what type of commentary set to...
Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History
The book of Joshua is action packed. Full of battles and intrigue, it is a great book for those who made it through the books of the law. With that said, Joshua is more than just a collection of the military exploits of the people of Israel as they began to conquer...
Preaching the Word: Psalms 1-41
The Psalms have long been a favorite portion of God’s Words. They form the basis for many songs we sing in worship and they are a definite source of hope, comfort, and inspiration when the good and bad situations of life come our way. The Psalms offer to the believer...
Saturate Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life
The past ten years has seen the rise of a massive amount of conversation about the gospel in books, at conferences, in articles, and in sermons. This trend towards focusing on the gospel is a good trend in the church. For far too long, we’ve been driven by a pragmatic...
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Loving the Old Testament
Sometimes it is not the sheer volume of a book that demonstrates its usefulness or the impact of the information contained within its pages. There are times when a short book is replete with astute insight, sharing information that is often overlooked or overdone in...
Galatians and Christian Theology: Justification, the Gospel, and Ethics in Paul’s Letter
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians has served as a basis for some intense discussion among scholars and even laymen throughout the centuries since it was penned. Covering important theological topics such as justification, the gospel, law, and grace, it is...
What is Experiential Calvinism?
Calvinism has sadly been reduced to only five points and characterized as a cold academic system of thought. Ian Hamilton has set out to recast it in a light that is more true to its heritage and intent. In What is Experiential Calvinism? Hamilton describes the...
An Introduction to Biblical Ethics
I remember sitting in one of my philosophy classes back in the early 2000’s at a local community college in the Greater Seattle area thinking that one of the most neglected topics of Christian writing and thinking has to be the topic of ethics. In the past few years,...
Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology
Many people, including Christians downplay the importance of theology in their lives. For example, it’s not uncommon to hear a Christian say, “I don’t have a theology”, or something of similar effect. This is not only untrue it’s dangerous. Doctrine comes from the...
Slogging Along In The Paths Of Righteousness Psalm 13-24
The Book of Psalms has a long history in the life of the Church. Whenever I’m super down in the dumps I turn to the Psalms to find comfort and help. I love the cries of the Psalmist for God to help him in the midst of difficulty. The Psalms are raw honest and...
Romans 8-16 For You
The book of Romans is a foundational book as it masterfully deals with some of the most in-depth and important matters of theological truth. Thus having a solid understanding of what the Apostle Paul is declaring in Romans is absolutely vital to understanding issues...
Imagination Redeemed: Glorifying God With A Neglected Part Of Your Mind
I remember the first time I read the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and being enthralled by his vision of another word outside of our own that seemed a lot like our own. The war that rages all around us is one that is that is very real. It is present...
EP Study Commentary on Acts by Guy Prentiss Waters
Even though I am only a lay-leader, Bible commentaries hold a special place in my heart. I own a pretty substantial collection of commentaries in both hardback/paperback and also in digital formats (Kindle, Logos, and Olive Tree). Therefore, whenever I am given the...
The Student Bible Atlas
A Bible map or atlas is likely not something most get excited about. For that matter, the few maps some study Bibles provide are probably not something many refer to on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. Looking to find where the city of Shechem is located is...
Romans 8-16 For You
The book of Romans, specifically chapters 8-16, have been hailed by pastors, scholars, and theologians alike as the Apostle Paul’s magnum opus. Writing to non-Jewish Christians in Rome, Paul packs the letter with deeper theological truths. He hits at the heart of the...
Heaven, How I Got Here The Story of The Thief On The Cross
Stories captivate the mind and stir the heart. Whether it’s in movies or the biblical story found in the Word of God, stories have a shaping influence on our lives and the broader culture. Stories have the power to change lives. Ultimately every story finds it’s...
Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1, 2 & 3 John
The general epistles have a long history in the Church of helping Christians understand the work of Christ and how to apply His life into all of life. In particular, the book of 1 John is helpful for Christians on a variety of fronts. First reading, studying, and...
The Whole Story Of The Bible In 16 Verses by Chris Bruno
In the past three years, we’ve seen a massive increase in books on biblical theology. This is an encouraging trend since it is encouraging people to understand how the Bible is all about Jesus Christ. As J.C. Ryle said, “The key to understanding the Bible is Jesus...
The Way of the Righteous in the Muck of Life: Psalm 1-12
The Book of Psalms has a long and illustrious use in the history of the Church. The Book of Psalms was regularly used as the hymnal of the Church. In fact, today, some Reformed and Presbyterian churches only use the Book of Psalms for that reason. The Book of Psalms...
God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth
The Bible tells the story about a garden that was lost and restored. The Garden of Eden not only bookends the entire story of Scripture but the theme of the garden is found throughout all the biblical narrative. This is the conviction of G.K Beale and Mitchell Kim in...
Enthroned on Our Praise: An Old Testament Theology of Worship
What is worship? Is it the raising of our voices in song during a church service or gathering of believers or is worship far more than just a once or twice a week occurrence? If worship is more than just singing songs, then what does Scripture say about what praising...
Illustrated Life of Paul
Many, many books have been written on the life, theology, and impact of Paul and his writings found in the New Testament. Given he wrote the majority of the books of the New Testament, such attention is of course founded and necessary. There are those authors who take...
Romans 8-16 For You by Timothy Keller
The book of Romans is a gold mine of theology, the depths of which no one has yet to plumb to its uttermost. As Keller says on Location 38 (Kindle), “The book of Romans is the most sustained explanation of the heart of the gospel, and the most thrilling exploration...
Jesus, The Temple and the Coming Son of Man
Matters of eschatology are arguably some of the most difficult theological issues of Scripture. How one exegetes certain passages and the manner by which the interpreter applies the purpose of the text is of great importance in determining exactly what the author is...
Greenleaf Guide to Old Testament History
My wife and I homeschool our daughter. We have been using an excellent social studies curriculum. With that said, we needed supplemental teaching material as we moved beyond lessons regarding creation, Noah's flood, and Israel's time in Egypt. It seems as if there is...
Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition
There are many who look for any way possible to denigrate the authenticity of Scripture, in particular matters related to history. One such element of Scripture that has been viewed with skepticism or at least has generated a bit of discussion as to the exact location...
God’s Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old & New Testaments
It seems that far too often, the Holy Spirit is viewed as something of a New Testament phenomenon, a part of the Godhead that sort of sat on the sidelines for the first 39 books of the Bible while God and at times a pre-incarnate Jesus took care of things. Of course...
Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom
There are times when I feel the urge to dig into what can easily be labeled as a “nerdy” book and there are some theological subjects that arguably deserve such an in-depth treatment. Exploring the wisdom literature of Scripture, as well as the extra-biblical writings...
Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
The Book of Exodus is full of history, personalities, action, miracles, and theological important teaching. Many people associate this book with Moses and the 10 commandments and in doing so, they are mostly correct; however, the Book of Exodus is more than an...
To The Ends Of The Earth: Calvin’s Missional Vision And Legacy
Throughout the years the idea has been advanced that Calvinism is against evangelism and missionary efforts. This statement is not only not true it has no bearing throughout the history of Reformed thought and practice. Calvinist missionaries and evangelists have gone...
From The Mouth of God Trusting, Reading, and Applying the Bible
Recent times have been witness to the rise of attacks on the authority, truthfulness, and sufficiency of Scripture. During the 1970s, men and women gathered and wrote up what is now known as the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy. This is now the standard statement on the...
Fortress Press Commentary on the Bible
Let’s be honest. There are a multitude of commentaries on the market today to include multi-volume sets, one volume treatments of Scripture, and the approach of an Old and New Testament set. Thus, when a new commentary series, volume, or set comes on the market, it is...
New American Commentary: Hosea, Joel
The Old Testament prophetic books of Hosea and Joel are likely not at the top of the average believer’s reading list. That reality is quite unfortunate given both books contain valuable truths that are as important for us today as they were for the original hearers of...
The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology
Much ink has been spilled and much debate has raged concerning the Mosaic and New Covenants. Did Jesus abrogate the former covenant or did He renew that covenant and bring its intent and purpose to full completion? What is the relationship between the covenants if...
Lukan Authorship of Hebrews
Who penned the book of Hebrews has long been a source of debate among scholars and layman alike. Was it the Apostle Paul? Was it Apollos? Was Barnabas? Was it Luke? Was it even Priscilla? While Hebrews shares some commonalities with other Pauline books, there is just...
Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament
Admittedly, I am a rather visual person. When my wife tries to explain her plan for remodeling our basement by describing where this wall could go or where that room might be, my mind simply has difficulty understanding what exactly she is trying to get across....
God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology
An important aspect of studying Scripture is understanding and studying the history of how Christian doctrine has been formulated over the years. Having a valuable resource available that traces that journey, noting the key points to include the why and how of why...
Heaven (Theology in Community) edited by Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson
Heaven. The mere mention of the word sends a surge of joyous expectation through ever fiber of the believer. With that said, is what we think or have been taught concerning heaven correct and in alignment with biblical teaching? Will we be floating around on a cloud...
Creation and Fall: A Theological Exposition of Genesis 1-3
It goes without saying that if one does not grasp the events at the beginning of a book, what transpires from that point forward will either not make sense, will be greatly misunderstood, or a terrifying combination of both. When it comes to understanding and applying...
Galilee in the Late Second Temple and Mishnaic Periods
Galilee is the place where Jesus spent most of his life and ministry. Thus, having a well developed understanding of the culture, history, economics, and religious life of this part of the world during the time of Jesus is quite important when studying Scripture....
James the Just
The Epistle of James has long been a beloved book in the New Testament. Speaking on issues of daily life, this book is treasured for its practical discussion on matters such as the tongue, faith, and living out the Christian walk with a mindset of holiness. With that...
Act and Being: Transcendental Philosophy and Ontology in Systematic Theology
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an important figure within the Confessing Church in Germany during the time of the Nazi regime of the 1930s. His better known works include titles such as The Cost of Discipleship and Ethics. Fortress Press has released a collection of the...
Entrusted with the Gospel: Paul’s Theology in the Pastoral Epistles
The discipline known as Pauline studies has certainly had its share of ups and downs over the years. Furthermore, much ink has been spilled on the subject of Paul and the New Testament epistles he wrote. Thus to a certain degree, there can be a sense of confusion as...
The Storytelling God: Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Parables
The parables of Jesus have long been beloved portions of Scripture. From the Parable of the Good Samaritan to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, these stories have provided believers with object lessons on the Kingdom of God and the Christian life. Unfortunately, many...
Jewish Life and Thought Among Greeks and Romans
When we read Scripture, an important element of engaging the Word of God includes the historical context of the events recorded in its pages. This includes matters of history, geography, culture, political structures, religious beliefs, and philosophical constructs....
Deuteronomy: Loving Obedience to a Loving God
Deuteronomy is one of those books that many find themselves bogged down in as they work their way through their yearly Bible reading plan. All of the laws, regulations, and endless chapters of do’s and don’ts seem very far removed from 21st century Christianity....
That You May Know: Assurance of Salvation in 1 John
Assurance of salvation is quite often a hotly debated topic with some affirming on one extreme that regardless of what we do we can never lose our salvation and the other extreme stating that salvation can be lost although exactly how that can happen is often itself...
Read the Bible for Life: Your Guide to Understanding and Living God’s Word
One of the greatest challenges of our day is biblical illiteracy. At first it may seem like nearly every person who attends church has a Bible in North America. People having Bible’s isn’t the problem. People reading their Bible’s is. To help address this issue, Dr....
Can I Really Trust the Bible?
How can a book written by many different authors over 2000 years ago have anything relevant for us today? Why I should I believe the claims of this book, namely the claim it is the word of God. Who is this God and why should I care? Why should I take this book...
Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology
The statement that everyone is a theologian may seem strange to some. After all, theologians are most often associated with those either in the academic community or a pursuit that is the domain of those who occupy the pulpit. It is unfortunate that some believe the...
How Can I Be Sure?
The Bible instructs us as believers to live by faith and not by sight. This would be an easier task if we did not live in a fallen world. For this reason, many Christians wrestle with doubt and issues of assurance. Having doubt raises the question, “Is it wrong for...
What is Biblical Theology?
Many times when reading the Bible it can seem disconnected and confusing. We wonder how the thirty-nine book of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament fit together. For a new believer, this feeling can be magnified. However, the Bible is...
The Glory and Honor of God: Volume 2 of the Previously Unpublished Sermons of Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards is one of the more famous and arguably one of the greatest preachers of the last two centuries. He is best known perhaps for his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”; however, his collection of sermons is quite vast with many only recently...
A Theology for the Church
Systematic Theology texts are best known for providing a compendium of theological truth into a single source, whether that be in a single volume or in a multi-volume set. Successful systematic theologies aptly incorporate sound and core biblical doctrine into a...
The Wonder Working God: Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Miracles
The Gospels are chock full of miraculous deeds by Jesus. We see Him feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, we find Him calming the stormy Sea of Galilee, He raises a little girl from the dead, a woman suffering from an issue of blood touches...
Book Review – 1 Samuel for You
As Christians we tend to focus our study of God’s Word in the New Testament. Many times when we read the Old Testament we tend to think of it as a set of stories from an ancient time that have little bearing on our lives today. Yet, the entire Old Testament points...
Book Review – The Wonder-Working God: Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Miracles
Many people today struggle with the supernatural. If they believe in God at all they are not likely to believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and can move powerfully in and through His creation. The claim of biblical Christianity is that God did act in the...
Book Review – China’s Reforming Churches
The importance of missions cannot be understated. As born-again believers, our supreme desire is to glorify God in everything we say, think, and do, and when we realize there are myriads of people in this world who are currently not doing either of those things then...
Book Review – Know The Creeds and Councils
One of the more encouraging recent trends has been the increase in books looking at a variety of councils and creeds. While most of these recent books look at the Reformed confessions and that is important, those aren’t the only confessions that are important for...
Book Review – Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World
High school and college students are inundated everyday with challenges in their classrooms, from their peers and from a culture that opposes a biblical worldview. This often leads to students questioning their faith in a negative way, namely with an attitude of...
Book Review – The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
Mark Noll’s wrote a well-known book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, written seventeen years ago outlined the problem of anti-intellectualism in the evangelical church. Noll argued in his book that Christians were not ready to join the academic side of life and...
Book Review – The Lion and the Lamb: New Testament Essentials from the Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown
As most seminary students at conservative seminaries across the country and world will attest--- the standard text on introductions to the New Testament is the work of Dr. D.A. Carson in Introduction to the New Testament. While I’ve read this text and enjoyed it...
Book Review – Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me
Few issues are as important as the doctrine of Scripture. From the issue of biblical illiteracy, and to the continual assault on the authority and sufficiency of the Bible—the Church over the course of its 2014 years has risen to meet challenges to the doctrine of...
Book Review – God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy Love of God Reorients Our World
Few men have had as big of an impact on my understanding of cultural engagement and theology as David Wells. His books combine serious scholarship with biblical and theological engagement that in my opinion is rare these days. Furthermore, I have only have a handful...
Book Review – What is Biblical Theology?: A Guide To The Bible’s Story, Symbolism, and Patterns
The past five to ten years have seen the resurgence of a great many doctrinal and theological topics. Among those topics is biblical theology—the discipline of understanding how the Bible recounts a single story- one that began at creation, encompasses people’s lives...
Book Review – The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments
The past three years have seen a massive surge in books on biblical theology. Biblical theology is concerned with understanding the story and thought world of the Bible. While a number of proposals have come along including Dr. Jim Hamilton’s Salvation Through...
Book Review – The War on Christmas
Unless you’ve lived in some remote cabin or on a faraway island for the past few decades, you’ve no doubt noticed that American culture seems to be less and less open to traditional expressions of the Christmas holiday. Even though the Christmas holiday at its core is...
Book Review – Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life
The past few years have seen the rise of Christian books written for the purpose of helping Christians think through how they can reject the materialistic trajectory of contemporary pop culture. While I appreciate many of these types of books they often in my opinion...
Book Review – The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate
Recent days have seen a massive increase in discussion around the formation of the canon. Questions in this conversation center on “when” and “how” questions. For example: When did certain books become part of the canon and how were they selected? In his new book The...
Book Review – Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples
Every Christian is a theologian. Whether they are a good theologian or not is the question. In his helpful book Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples, Dr. Michael Horton takes much of the material in The Christian Faith and writes to help...
Book Review – Church History Volume One: From Christ to Pre-Reformation (The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context)
Of all the various theological disciplines in the Church today; arguably one of the most neglected is church history. Church history I would argue is one of the most important theological disciplines after biblical and systematic theology. I view church history as...
Book Review – The New Calvinism Considered: A Personal and Pastoral Assessment
The past five to ten years have seen a resurgence in what is often called “New Calvinism”. This movement has often been criticized especially among more established Reformed ministers as immature, lacking doctrinal depth and discernment. While some of those criticisms...
Book Review – The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way
Theology is the study of God. In recent years, we’ve seen a steady increase of good solid systematic theologies that seek to lay out for readers what the authors think about a variety of theological issues. One of these recent volumes is The Christian Faith: A...
Book Review – A Better December: Proverbs to Brighten Your Day
The Proverbs are rightly viewed as a book full of wisdom and God-given practical counsel for daily living. What would happen if you took that counsel and applied it to Christmas? This is the purpose of Steven Estes new book A Better December: Proverbs to Brighten...
Book Review – What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible
Recent years have seen a resurgence in biblical theology. From books by Dr. James Hamilton to Dr. Tom Schreiner to many others--- scholars are producing world class material to help Christians understand the storyline of the Bible. Enter into this discussion What The...
Book Review – Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace
One of the concerns I have with the recent resurgence on Calvinism is that many Christians are attracted to a high view of God’s sovereignty and the Gospel but don’t yet understand what the Bible teaches concerning these five points. Recently, Dr. John Piper wrote a...
Book Review – Salvation by Grace: The Case For Effectual Calling and Regeneration
The past five years have seen an explosion of resources aimed at helping Christians think through what the Gospel is and what the Gospel demands. All this writing and preaching on the Gospel is reason for the Church and Christians to rejoice. Before this such...
Review – Eisenbrauns Old Testament Studies Collection – LOGOS Bible Software
A few thoughts on digital libraries and LOGOS 5: One of the difficulties faced by every seminary/grad school student, pastor, and self-proclaimed Bible geek is the question of how large to grow our personal library. This is a question I’ve been reflecting on now for...
Book Review – One Year to Better Preaching: 52 Exercises to Hone Your Skills
Many books on preaching are written every year. Some of these books are of varying helpfulness with some written to help the preacher or teacher interpret the Bible and others focused on assisting the pastor to deliver a “good” sermon. While there is certainly a...
Book Review – The Post-Church Christian: Dealing With the Generational Baggage of Our Faith
The necessity of reaching the millennial generation with the Gospel and the proper method by which to accomplish that has been on the rise in recent years. While much of this discussion has been helpful and even enlightening to this reviewer, some of the concepts...
Book Review – Living By Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon
When it comes to heroes, none is greater than the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is everything to me, without Him I am nothing, and in and through His finished work my sin is addressed, forgiven and washed in the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. With that said, one of the...
Book Review – The End of Our Exploring: A Book about Questioning and the Confidence of Faith
Questions are dangerous because they can lead us negatively down the road to unbelief or positively towards understanding what we believe and why it matters. Questions are often viewed in the evangelical church in the wrong way. Many people think that if you ask a...
Book Review – A Hope Deferred Adoption and the Fatherhood of God
Dr. J.I. Packer once stated, "Adoption is the highest privilege of the gospel. The traitor is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name." With that sentence, we get right to the heart of the Gospel. If there has been one doctrine that has been...
Book Review – Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament
Recent years have seen a massive increase in writing on biblical theology. The field of biblical theology is primarily interested in understanding what the Bible is, how the Bible is put together, as well as if there is a central message to the Bible. While most of...
Book Review – Covenantal Apologetics: Principles and Practice in Defense of Our Faith
Apologetics has quickly become one of my favorite areas of study. Whether it is thinking through issues on a worldview level or contending for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, apologetics has much to offer the people of God. Since apologetics has...
Book Review – Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness
Recent years has seen a marked increase in the number of books on the grace of God, growing from a few to a number of offerings. For many like me, this trend has been deeply encouraging as I was concerned the Church was becoming far too focused on “lists” and...
Book Review – The Pastor’s Justification: Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry
Think back to a time in your walk with Christ when He was most precious to you. Now that you’ve done that, I want you to remember how it felt to know the faithfulness of God, the mercy of God, and the love of God towards you. Do you remember such a time? Or have you...
Book Review – Red Like Blood
Stories are powerful. People read fiction to be caught up in a world they will never belong, but yet the author through the art of storytelling invites them to be become a part of that story. In the church, people are fascinated by other’s stories or testimonies on...
Book Review – Preaching? Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching
Preaching is a high and holy task as preachers have been called to preach the whole counsel of God and to make much of Jesus. That task alone is daunting and intimidating for even the strongest of preachers. When one combines that with the task of coming up with a...
Book Review – Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace
Pornography is a massive problem inside and outside the Church. It is also a problem that has affected me personally as one who has overcome an addiction to pornography. While I’ve often written about pornography and how to overcome it, I’m always amazed that there is...
Book Review – Judges For You
For many, reading the Old Testament can be a challenging and daunting task. In my experience in the Church, people tend to just give up and then turn to the New Testament to read the Gospels. If people read the Old Testament, it is likely just Proverbs and Psalms. Yet...
Book Review – A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home
Family worship. Just those two words make many to include myself feel like they aren’t good husbands. Do I have to pray every day and read the Bible with my family? A new book, A Neglected Grace Family Worship in the Christian Home by Pastor Jason Helopoulos, seeks to...
Book Review– The Gospel Call and True Conversion
Over the past five years there has been a huge increase in the amount of books on all things “Gospel related”. Added into this mix on the current Gospel-centered movement is the Recovering the Gospel series by Paul Washer. His second book in this series, The Gospel...
Book Review – Prepared by Grace, For Grace
Many people may read Prepared by Grace, For Grace and wonder what is preparation of grace? As I read through this book, I quickly realized the importance of this book to the ongoing discussion about the law and the gospel. Prepared by Grace, For Grace addresses the...
Book Review – Encouragement for Today’s Pastors: Help from the Puritans
Ministry is very hard and demanding work. The Scriptures advise us to learn from the example of faithful ministers (Heb. 13:7). The Puritans were a group of such ministers whose teaching and living can be particularly encouraging to troubled and discouraged pastors...
Book Review – Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? A Surgeon-Scientist Examines the Evidence
Imagine with me for a second if a respected scientist whose been widely published in scholarly journals, lectured at prestigious universities and served in a prestigious role for the National Institutes of Healthy for twenty-six years wrote a book on the resurrection...
Book Review – Ethics For A Brave New World (2nd Edition Updated and Expanded)
Within our lifetimes developments in technology have brought staggering changes to the way people can be conceived, born, healed or die. And prospects for the future are as mind-boggling as what has already happened. Ethics intends to set forth what ought to be, not...
Book Review – Getting Back in The Race: The Cure For Backsliding
Nearly every week, I talk to Christians throughout the world who are struggling with appropriating their identity in Christ. They tell me, “I am struggling with (insert issue).” Often in such conversations with people, I wonder if they understand the root symptoms and...
Book Review – What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission
What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission is written by Pastors Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert. This book has three parts; part one discusses understanding our mission, part two, understanding our categories,...
Book Review – Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God’s Word
Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God’s Word is written by Dr. Stephen J. Nichols research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School. In this book, Dr. Nichols outlines the story of the Bible in four words:...
Book Review – The Deity of Christ
The Deity of Christ is part of a series of books titled Theological in Community edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson. The purpose of this series is to assemble a team of scholars to explore key theological themes and apply them to contemporary...
Book Review – Don’t Call It a Comeback: An Old Faith for a New Day
Don’t Call it a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day is edited by Kevin DeYoung with contributions from Tim Challies, Ted Kluck, Russell Moore, Darrin Patrick, Justin Taylor and many more. Kevin DeYoung opens the book by stating the book’s purpose, which is to...
Book Review – Entrusted with the Gospel: Pastoral Expositions of 2nd Timothy
Entrusted with the Gospel: Pastoral Expositions of 2nd Timothy is a collection of six sermons from the six plenary sessions of the 2009 Gospel Coalition Conference. The plenary speakers at the conference were John Piper, Philip Ryken, Mark Driscoll, K. Edward...
Book Review – God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity
God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity is written by Kelly M. Kapic Professor of Christian Studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia along with Justin Borger who serves as the Generosity Content Director for the Maclellan...
Book Review: Inerrancy and The Gospels: A God-Centered Approach To The Challenges of Harmonization
Following in the footsteps of his book, Inerrancy and Worldview, Dr. Poythress wrote Inerrancy and The Gospels. Serious Bible readers all recognize that there are differences between accounts of the same events in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and no responsible...
A Book Review of Jeremiah Burroughs’ “Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory”
Jeremiah Burroughs, Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory, Edited by Phillip L. Simpson (originally published in 1675; republished by Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2013). Paperback, 119 pgs. $10.00. Jeremiah Burroughs’ (1599-1646) Contentment,...
Book Review: Sensing Jesus: Life and Ministry as a Human Being
Ministry is hard work, and requires that one be growing in an abiding relationship with Jesus, otherwise they will burn out. In his new book Sensing Jesus Life and Ministry as a Human Being seasoned Pastor and Professor Zack Eswine writes about recovering Christians...
Book Review: Bitesize Biographies – John Newton
John Newton is well-known and well-loved in many sectors of evangelicalism, for his famous hymn “Amazing Grace.” What is not typically known about Newton is that he and his friend William Wilberforce took a bold stance against slavery, and became acquainted with the...
Book Review: Gospel’s Power and Message
In the past few years, much has been written in books and blogs on what the Gospel is and what it demands. It may seem with all this writing that nothing new can be said about the Gospel. The truth of the matter; however, is that there can never be too much written...
Book Review: Pleasing God Discovering The Meaning and Importance of Santification
Few theologians in our day have had the impact of Dr. R.C. Sproul. Whether through his writing, teaching or preaching, Dr. Sproul has made a huge impact to the glory of God and for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. In his latest book in the Classic...
Book Review: God’s Good Design What The Bible Really Says About Men And Women
If one were to pick a topic, any topic and examine the validity of its arguments and then choose to pick a controversial topic, I don’t think one could pick one more controversial than the one Dr. Claire Smith picked in her new book God’s Good Design What the Bible...
Book Review: Reading the Gospels Wisely
I've long enjoyed reading and studying the Gospels, because they help me gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done and what He demands of me as His follower. Every time I read the Gospels, I gain a fresh and deeper understanding of all Jesus has...
Book Review Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible
The Bible is the Word of God given to man that teaches man about God. The Word of God testifies to the Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Having been a Christian for the vast majority of my life, I know how easy it can be to treat the Bible just as some...
Book Review: Passion Driven sermon
"Preach the Word" isn’t a suggestion but a command from God. The Bible opens with God speaking His Word and creation coming into existence. God uses the preached Word of God to bring sinners from death to life by transforming them from rebels to saints. A lot of...
Book Review: Puritan Portraits
The Puritans are rightly regarded as some of the greatest theologians the Church ever produced. With men like John Flavel, Thomas Boston, John Bunyan, Matthew Henry, Henry Scougal, John Owen and Stephen Charnock among others it would be hard to overstate the case that...
Book Review: Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel With Hidden Idols
Idolatry is serious in the eyes of the Lord, because in idolatry we abandon the gospel as our first love and begin to treasure and cling to something else as our reason for living. In his helpful book Gospel Treason Betraying the Gospel With Hidden Idols Pastor Brad...
Book Review: The Man Christ Jesus Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Jesus Christ
The majority of Christians rightly understand Jesus as the Son of God but often also overlook Jesus as the Son of Man. In his helpful new book The Man Christ Jesus Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Jesus Christ Dr. Bruce Ware, a seasoned theologian and Bible...
Book Review: Inerrancy and Worldview Answering Modern Challenges To The Bible
The past few years have seen the rise of inerrancy--an issue that many thought was resolved in previous generations come to the forefront of current theological debate, once again. Inerrancy is an important theological truth that while not directly tied to the Gospel...
Jesus the Son of God: A Christological Title Often Overlooked, Sometimes Misunderstood, and Currently Disputed
The past year saw a massive increase in theological conversation about Jesus’ divine Sonship for how Christians think and speak about Christ, especially in relation to Bible translation and missionary engagement with Muslims across the globe. Some may think that this...
Book Review – The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything
The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything is written by Fred Sanders an associate professor of theology at Biola University Torrey Honors Institute. On page 23 the author using Billy Graham as an example says, “Graham is a perfect example of an...
Book Review: Sexual Sanity For Men Re-Creating Your Mind in A Crazy Culture
Sexual sin is a rampant problem in the Body of Christ and in our world today and by the looks of it—the issue of sexual sin is not going anywhere, but rather increasing. Sexual sin like all sin causes brokenness and loneliness. There was a time in my own Christian...
Book Review: Delighting in the Trinity An Introduction to the Christian Faith
Mention the word “Trinity” or any other theology word and you’re likely to get some weird looks and even some question why you’re talking above people’s heads. The word Trinity conjures up for many people the idea that God of the Bible is three gods, and that idea to...
Book Review: The Kingdom of God from the Theology in Community Series
The Kingdom of God is the rule of a eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3). The Kingdom of God is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the Kingdom of...
Book Review Heart of the Matter
Every morning when I wake up, I open up my Bible either on my phone or crack open one of my study Bible’s or regular Bible’s and read it. After I do that I typically start reading books by publishers. It’s not often that I read a devotional in fact I think the last...
Book Review Systematic and Historical Theology
The Christian faith is organically linked to the New Testament by Christians who have lived before us. Church history is a study of the continuing influence of Christianity, so Historical Theology is a study of man’s expression of his faith by each generation in...
Book Review Indoctrination Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity
When I first heard the book Indoctrination Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity edited by Charles Laverdiere with contributors like R.C. Sproul Jr., Ken Ham, Doug Phillips, Voddie Baucham and more, I was excited by what I would learn from this book. As I...
Subversive Kingdom by Ed Stetzer: Book Critique
A critique and review of Ed Stetzer’s Book Subversive Kingdom: Living as Agents of Gospel Transformation.
Book Review Church Discipline How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus
Church discipline is a highly controversial, sensitive and important topic in the Church today. Church discipline is controversial because many people question whether it’s biblical or even helpful for local Church’s to discipline other Christians. Due to this view...
Book Review Date Your Wife
I remember when my wife and I got married five and a half years ago that we got many gifts from family and friends, but the one gift that meant the most to us wasn’t something we would use for cooking or furniture or anything else. Instead the gift that meant the most...
Book Review Four Views On The Spectrum Of Evangelicalism
Evangelicals take their name form the koine Greek word euangelion, translated into English as “good news” which is also known as the evangel. It is from the evangel that evangelicals derive their identity. In the past fifty or so years, cracks have appeared over what...
Book Review Warfield on the Christian Life: Living in Light of the Gospel
Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield was a professor of Theology at Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. He is rightly considered one of the greatest if not the greatest American born theologians America ever produced. B.B. Warfield’s ministry continues to influence...
Book Review How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture
Recent years have seen been an increase in quality books addressing the Christ-centered nature of Scripture. Following in this tradition, Dr. Michael Williams wrote How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens. Written in the tradition of the best-selling How to Read...
Book Review Licensed to Kill
Licensed to Kill: A field manual for mortifying sin is written by Brian Hedges, a Pastor, and author. In Licensed to Kill, Brian seeks to explain what mortification is and why it is important in the life of the Christian. To mortify sin is to put sin to death. The...
Review of the Deity of Christ
The Deity of Christ is part of a series of books titled Theological in Community edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson. The purpose of this series is to assemble a team of scholars to explore key theological themes and apply them to contemporary...
Review of Redeeming Sociology
Redeeming Sociology A God Centered Approach is written by Vern Sheridan Poythress, Professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Poythress challenges believers in this book on the foundations of their relationships and shows the...
Review of Hitler in the Crosshairs
Hitler in the Crosshairs: A GI’S Story of Courage and Faith is written by Dr. John Woodbridge Research Professor of Church History and Christian Though at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Maurice Possley a Pulitzer Prize winning author. This book quite simply...
Review of Rediscovering the Church Fathers
Rediscovering the Church Fathers Who They Were and How They Shaped The Church is written by Michael A. G. Haykin Professor of church history and spirituality at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This book explores the importance of the church fathers to...
Review of O Love that will not let me go
O Love that will not let me go: Facing death with courageous confidence in God is edited by Nancy Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie is a conference speaker, bible teacher and author of many books. This book is a collection of articles, essays and sermons by a collection of...
Review of God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment
God’s glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology is written by Dr. James M. Hamilton Jr., Associate Professor of Biblical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The purpose of this book is to do for biblical theology what Kevin Vanhoozer...
Review of How People Change by Tim Lane and Paul David Tripp
How People Change is written by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp. Both men are experienced Pastors, counselors and Professors. Every year tons of books come on the market that seeks to help readers grow in understanding their problems and overcoming their...