Lots of great books and other resources came our way in 2024. Among them were some that were particularly “mega”—that represented an extraordinarily long, big, expansive, or audacious idea, and I wanted to give credit where credit is due. With apologies to any I missed, here is my list of some of the most mega projects of 2024.

The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary (4-Volume Set) by Christopher Ash. Few people are bold enough to write a commentary on the entire book of psalms. Fewer still are bold enough to write a four-volume commentary. Yet Ash came through with a tremendous set that is suitable for general readers and scholars alike. Here is what the publisher says about it: “In this comprehensive, 4-volume commentary, Christopher Ash provides a thorough treatment of all 150 Psalms, examining each psalm’s significance to David and the other psalmists, to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and to the church of Christ in every age. The first volume in the set is a detailed handbook that explains how to interpret the Psalms with Christ at the center. The remaining 3 volumes cover each psalm in depth, with introductory quotations, a deep analysis of the text’s structure and vocabulary, and a closing reflection and response. Ash also includes selected quotations from older readings of the Psalms, including patristic, medieval, Reformation, and post-Reformation scholars. Perfect for pastors, Bible teachers, and students, this commentary set helps readers sing and pray the Psalms with Christ in view.” (Best price at Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Logos)

Missionary: Obeying the Great Commission. Missionary is an original 6-part documentary series created by the missions organization Radius International. Through six episodes it introduces viewers to six Christians who obeyed the Great Commission: William Tyndale, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, William Carey, David Livingstone, and John Paton. The project was filmed on-location which means the filmmakers traveled to every continent except South America. It features John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Rosaria Butterfield, Conrad Mbewe, Ian Hamilton, and others. It is currently sold in a box set that includes all six episodes on DVD or Bluray, digital access to stream the films, Leader’s Guide, Handbook, movie poster, and exclusive postcards from the film. It’s ideal for families, small groups, homeschool, and so on. (Currently available exclusively from Missionary.com)

Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions by Tony Reinke. In 2013, Tony Reinke proposed an idea for a new podcast: He would ask questions and John Piper would answer them. Though the podcast was expected to last for only 400 episodes, it has now stretched to thousands. In this book, Reinke collects, categorizes, and adapts the best of 10 years and 2,000 episodes. Though not every book can survive the transition from one medium to another, this one does it well. Here is what the publisher says about it: “In this unique book, Ask Pastor John host Tony Reinke summarizes and organizes ten years of their most insightful and popular episodes into accessible, thematic sections. Readers will be able to quickly and systematically access Piper’s insights on hundreds of topics including Bible reading, dating, social media, mental health, and more. We discover afresh how asking good questions strengthens faith and grows our understanding of God’s word.” (Best price at Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books)

On Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God, edited by Matthew Barrett. This massive volume was published in part to celebrate the 1,700 anniversary of the Council of Nicea and received a nod from The Gospel Coalition as their Theological Studies book of the year. The publisher says this of it: “Motivated by the longstanding need to retrieve the classical doctrine of the Trinity, theologian Matthew Barrett brings together Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox scholars to intervene in the conversation. With over forty contributions, this ecumenical volume resurrects the enduring legacy of Nicene orthodoxy, providing a theological introduction that listens with humility to the Great Tradition.” Those who have considered the controversy related to the eternal subordination of the Son will find definitive answers in its pages. Contributors include Fred Sanders Scott Swain, Carl Trueman, and many others. (Best price at Christianbook.com; also available at Amazon, Westminster Books; discounted for pre-order at Logos)

Reformed Systematic Theology by Joel Beeke & Paul Smalley. This four-volume systematic theology, which was completed this year, is nothing short of a magnum opus that spans 5,200 pages. The publisher says, “Theology is not just an academic subject—it is also a spiritual practice. In the 4-volume Reformed Systematic Theology set, authors Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley explore central Scripture themes from biblical, doctrinal, experiential, and practical perspectives. The result is a comprehensive yet accessible systematic theology of the Reformed Christian faith that ministers to the whole person―head, heart, and hands. This series includes 4 volumes: Revelation and God (volume 1); Man and Christ (volume 2); Spirit and Salvation (volume 3); and Church and Last Things (volume 4). Drawing on the historical theology of the Reformed tradition, these books help readers grow in their understanding and application of the truth presented in God’s word.” (Similarly-priced at Amazon, Westminster Books, and Christianbook.com; also currently on sale at Logos)

Systematic Theology, Volume One: From Canon to Concept by Stephen J. Wellum. Though this is only the first volume in a multi-volume set, it is still a substantial accomplishment and one that was decades in the making. The publisher says this about it: “Trinitarian, reformational, and baptistic, Stephen Wellum’s Systematic Theology models a serious evangelical engagement with the Scriptures while being grounded in church history and keenly aware of contemporary issues. Building on decades of research, Wellum formulates doctrine exegetically, covenantally, and canonically for a new generation of students, pastors, church leaders, and seasoned theologians.” If you are interested in the framework of progressive covenantalism it should be of particular interest. (Best price Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Logos)

Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction by Harrison Perkins. Some who don’t love Wellum’s progressive covenantalism may prefer Perkins’ covenant theology. “Covenant shapes our life with God. In Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction, Harrison Perkins shows how Christ and his work are the heart of that covenant relationship. Since God lives in covenant with his redeemed people, covenant theology provides a framework for Christians to grow in their life with God, to read the Bible, and to love the church.” The book promises to help you “see Christ and his work more clearly; learn the biblical basis for the Reformed confessions; and understand the role of grace and works in your salvation.” (Best price Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Logos)

Ruined Sinners to Reclaim: Sin and Depravity in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective, edited by David & Jonathan Gibson. This is the second volume in a 5-part series covering the doctrines of grace. Not only is the series mega, but so is each volume. This one comes in at just over 1,000 pages. The publisher describes it in this way: “Ruined Sinners to Reclaim persuasively reaffirms the doctrine of total depravity from biblical, historical, theological, and pastoral perspectives, drawing on the debates of theologians throughout church history. Edited by David and Jonathan Gibson, this book features contributions from respected theologians―including Michael A. G. Haykin, Gray Sutanto, Garry Williams, Mark Jones, Daniel Strange, and R. Albert Mohler Jr.―to help readers understand the reality of our sinful nature, its debilitating effects, and the Holy Spirit’s role in salvation. This is the second book in the Doctrines of Grace series, which explores the central points of the Canons of Dort, providing a framework for understanding each doctrine in all its historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral richness.” (Best price: Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Logos)

Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology by Kevin DeYoung. This is a fresh idea: dividing systematic theology into daily readings so it can be learned and digested over the course of a year. “Designed to make systematic theology clear and accessible for the everyday Christian, this devotional walks through the most important theology topics over the course of a year. Each month is categorized into broad themes, starting with the study of God and concluding with the end times. Written by bestselling author and associate professor of systematic theology Kevin DeYoung, each concise daily reading contains verses for meditation and application, building upon each other and easing readers into the study of systematic theology.” (Best price: Amazon and Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Logos)

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul David Tripp. Everyday Gospel is a daily devotional that leads readers through the Bible in a year. In it, “Paul David Tripp provides a roadmap for readers who want to spend a full year in God’s word. Tripp, author of the bestselling New Morning Mercies, has now written a second daily devotional, offering 365 fresh, engaging entries that follow an annual Bible reading plan from Genesis through Revelation. Brief and practical, these reflections connect the transforming power of Scripture to all you will experience in your everyday Christian life.” (Best price: Christianbook.com; also available at Westminster Books and Amazon)

Finally, here are a couple of bonuses:

Motyer by the Day: A Psalms and Isaiah Devotional Collection by Alec Motyer. This may not be the most mega project of the year, but it’s a good one nonetheless. “Alec Motyer was a man whose love for God and His Word inspired others to enjoy studying the Bible, and especially the Old Testament. Isaiah by the Day and Psalms by the Day exemplify this passion. Motyer’s scholarly brilliance and devotional warmth have cemented these books as firm favorites in the hearts of many readers. This beautiful cloth-bound box set contains both volumes from this esteemed Bible teacher. Moyter is a master at attending to the details and finding their precise place in the grand sweep of scripture’s redemptive narrative. Rich and full, yet concisely put.” (Best price: Westminster Books; also available from Amazon)

A New Era of Logos Bible Software. This year saw the release of the new edition of Logos Bible Software and its inevitable change from a purchase model to a subscription model. Beyond that change there were many other upgrades to the software. And, of course, Logos continued to extend its library. In my perspective, the software is now better than ever. (Learn more or enjoy a free trial at Logos.com)

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by P&R Publishing. They are offering Perfect Unity: A Guide for Christian Doctrine and Life to 10 winners.
The world is tearing itself apart over identity politics. What is the answer? Recognizing that two things can be distinct yet inseparable. 
This concept—rooted in the writings of Augustine, John Calvin, and others—is in fact key to understanding some of the most precious truths about God, humanity, and salvation. Written to Christians of all ages and backgrounds, Ralph Cunnington’s systematic guide to Christian truth presents a challenging, orthodox message that is desperately needed today.
“Brilliant and concise, rooted in pastoral experience, with an abundance of striking examples, this is a great book for new Christians and older ones alike.”
—Robert Letham, Senior Research Fellow, Union School of Theology
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
There are ten copies to win. All you need to do to enter the draw is to fill in your name and email address in the form below, which will add you to P&R’s mailing list.
Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. Winners will be notified by email on March 25th, 2024.

February is typically a solid month for book releases, and this February was no exception. As the month drew to its close, I sorted through the many (many!) books that came my way this month and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case, I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something here that’s of interest to you!

Delighting in the Old Testament: Through Christ and for Christ by Jason S. Derouchie. “The Old Testament makes up the majority of the Christian Bible, yet incorrect teaching of its texts abounds in the church. Without effectively studying these stories, covenants, and kingdoms within their close, continuing, and complete biblical contexts, believers miss the beauty of the Old Testament, including how it points to Jesus, and why it still matters today. Jason DeRouchie helps Christians delight in the books of the Old Testament and read them the way God intended–as relevant parts of Christian Scripture. This accessible guide stresses the need to keep Christ at the center and to account for the progress of salvation history when applying the Old Testament today. It helps Christians interpret the Old Testament, see how it testifies to Jesus, believe that Jesus secured every divine promise, and understand how Jesus makes Moses’s law still matter. By more strongly comprehending Old Testament teachings and how they relate to the New, Christians will better enjoy the Old Testament itself and increasingly understand all that Jesus came to fulfill.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Are We Living in the Last Days?: Four Views of the Hope We Share about Revelation and Christ’s Return by Bryan Chapell. “Will Jesus’s return be preceded by a single world government? Will every person have a government-issued ID or mark? Does Christ return once or twice? Will believers go through a Great Tribulation? Will there be a literal battle of Armageddon? Does it even matter what we believe about future events? Biblical prophecies about the end times have confused, confounded, and even divided God’s people for centuries. But the reason Scripture gives us hints about the future is to provide the encouragement we need to endure the present, confident that God keeps his promises. In this balanced look at four major views of the end times, bestselling author Bryan Chapell explains the primary ways Christians have interpreted biblical prophecy about the last days, not so that we might pick a hill to die on but so that we can cling to what unites us in Christ. No matter what end times view we find most compelling, in God’s plans we can find strength for today and hope for tomorrow.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Empowered Witness: Politics, Culture, and the Spiritual Mission of the Church by Alan D. Strange. “The goal of the church should be simple–share the gospel to the ends of the earth. But in our highly politicized age, Christians can tend to place earthly political and social agendas over God’s spiritual mission of the church. In Empowered Witness, author Alan D. Strange examines the doctrine of the spirituality of the church, making a clear distinction between the functions of the church and other institutions. Strange argues that if the church continues to push political agendas, no institution will be focused solely on the Great Commission and the gospel will be lost entirely. This book calls readers to become aware of the church’s power and limits and shed light on moral issues in a way that doesn’t alter the deeply spiritual and gospel-centered mission of the church.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity by Carl Trueman. “Historic statements of faith–such as the Heidelberg Catechism, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Westminster Confession of Faith–have helped the Christian church articulate and adhere to God’s truth for centuries. However, many modern evangelicals reject these historic documents and the practices of catechesis, proclaiming their commitment to “no creed but the Bible.” And yet, in today’s rapidly changing culture, ancient liturgical tradition is not only biblical–it’s essential. In Crisis of Confidence, Carl Trueman analyzes how creeds and confessions can help the Christian church navigate modern concerns, particularly around the fraught issue of identity. He contends that statements of faith promote humility, moral structure, and a godly view of personhood, helping believers maintain a strong foundation amid a culture in crisis. This is a revised edition of Trueman’s The Creedal Imperative, now with a new section on the rise of expressive individualism.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Pastoral Perseverance: Helping Pastors Stay, Endure, and Thrive by Brian Croft & James Carroll. “The call to ministry is a call to lay down your life for others. It seems we have reached an unprecedented time of burnout and depression among pastors. These men often dedicate their lives to shepherding congregations without anyone who will care for them. Pastoral Perseverance could not have come at a more crucial time. Seasoned pastors and authors, Brian Croft and James Carroll, strengthen pastors by pointing them to God’s word for help in facing the unique challenges of pastoral ministry in the modern day so that they will not merely survive, but stay, endure, and even thrive.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Warrior Savior: A Theology of the Work of Christ by Owen Strachan. “In this stirring systematic theology of atonement, Owen Strachan turns our gaze to the biblical Jesus—the greater David, a mighty king who comes in the power of God to save sinners and destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The true Jesus is the most fascinating subject in all history: he is Lamb and Lion, gentle and ferocious, divine yet a humble servant. All these graces bear down on one moment in time: the cross. The Warrior Savior brings together strands of doctrine that are too often separated, notably penal substitutionary atonement and Christus Victor. Instead of arguing for an unweighted blend of “models” or “theories” of the cross, Strachan argues that the cross accomplishes a propitiatory atonement, which in turn secures the defeat of the dread foe of God’s people, Satan. Throughout the book, he weaves in rich devotional and spiritual commentary, focusing on the love of God as the chief message of the cross of Christ. The result is a vivid, dramatic, and inspiring study of the most important salvific event ever to occur.” (Buy it at Amazon)

We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death with Loved Ones Transforms Us by Whitney K. Pipkin. “When Whitney K. Pipkin’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she wasn’t ready. How could she be? She searched for resources that could help her walk through this heavy yet sacred time in her life. But she struggled to find the guidance she longed for in a season of anticipatory grief. We Shall All Be Changed is a companion for those experiencing the lonely season of suffering and death. In this book, Whitney reaches across the pages to hold the hand of the caregiver. Walking through death with a loved one can be incredibly isolating and unsettling. This book reminds us that we can experience God’s very presence in life’s dark and deep valleys. As Whitney draws from her own experience, she sheds light and hope. She shows that we are not alone. And she reveals the mysterious way that God ministers to and transforms us through death and suffering. Beautifully honest and theologically rich, Whitney invites us to consider death so that we might understand life and how to live it.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Scattering Seeds of Hope by Jeremy Marshall & Mary Davis. “Nearly all of us are discouraged when it comes to evangelism. We love the Lord, and we want others to become Christians, but we are afraid and have many reasons and excuses for why we don’t or can’t share the gospel. After being diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2013, until his death in 2023, Jeremy told countless people the gospel. Scattering Seeds of Hope explains the method Jeremy found so effective: simply sharing Bible stories, being a good friend and asking questions. There are no long gospel outline to learn, no special techniques to rehearse and absolutely no guilt trips. What if the secret to effective evangelism is to simply scatter seed abundantly and indiscriminately and watch while God does the rest?” (Buy it at Amazon)

Moral Vision: Leadership from George Washington to Joe Biden by Marvin Olasky. “What makes a leader truly great? Is it simply a matter of management style and personality? Or is it character that matters most? Moral Visions takes an insightful look into America’s leaders of the past to answer these questions and demonstrates that values and moral convictions are critical to the strength of a nation. Supposedly, we learn about the candidates for the highest office through a series of tests called “debates,” which are instead an exchange of soundbites. We can’t know whether an aspirant to the presidency has the ability to ask good questions or only a suave or belligerent ability to answer them. Moral Vision is a human-interest introduction to American history through studies of nineteen leaders: presidents, almost presidents, a tycoon, a crusading journalist, and even a leading 19th century abortionist. Its lessons can help voters sort through the candidates in 2024 and beyond by measuring them against previous leaders—none of whom was faultless. It shows how the deepest views often grow out of religious belief and influence political goals, racial prejudices, sexual activities, uses of power, and senses of service.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Kindness of God: Beholding His Goodness in a Cruel World by Nate Pickowicz. “Kindness has fallen on hard times. Almost daily, we witness or experience cynicism, impatience, or incivility. And it begins to wear on a soul. Overall, we’re not doing well. We need hope. We need truth. We need God. In The Kindness of God, pastor and teacher Nate Pickowicz shows how our lives must be understood and lived in light of God’s kindness. Pickowicz brings the reader along a joy-filled journey of discovering God’s lifegiving lovingkindness and compassion. This book is for Christians overwhelmed with their life circumstances. It’s for anyone who is feeling disappointment or hurt from a fractured relationship. It’s for all those who are discouraged by caustic political discourse. And it’s for those who are saddened or frustrated, desiring more from life . . . more from God. This book offers biblical salve to spiritual wounds and answers how God’s own character remains intact even when wounds are inflicted by others. You will come away from this book, marveling and thanking God for His immeasurable kindness. And you will come to reflect His kindness more deeply in your own life toward others. In a world that can feel dark and cold, this resource is a light of God’s kindness!” (Buy it at Amazon)

Defeating Evil: How God Glorifies Himself in a Dark World by Scott Christensen. “Revised, adapted, and condensed for a broader audience, this companion edition to Scott Christensen’s lauded What about Evil? shows how sin, evil, corruption, and death fit into redemptive history. Exploring the storyline of Scripture and addressing practical concerns, Christensen shows that God’s ultimate end in creation is to maximize his glory before his image-bearers by defeating evil through Christ’s atoning work.” (Buy it at Amazon)