There are lots of new Christian resources being published these days and, as is so often the case, many of them landed in my mailbox. I spent some time going through them and arrived at a list of the ones I thought might be most interesting to you. Here, then, are this month’s new and notable books (including the editorial description for each).

Gospel People: A Call for Evangelical Integrity by Michael Reeves. “A biblical case for the importance and goodness of being evangelical. The term evangelical is often poorly defined and frequently comes with cultural and political baggage. As the label has become more controversial, many Christians have begun to wonder if they should abandon it altogether. Michael Reeves argues from a global, scriptural, and historical perspective that, while it’s not necessary to discard the label altogether, Christians must return to the root of the term—the evangel, or “gospel”—in order to understand what it truly means. He identifies the theology of evangelicalism and its essential doctrine, calling believers to stand with integrity as people of the gospel.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Bible Doctrine, Second Edition: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem. “How do we know the Bible is God’s Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return? If you’ve asked questions like these, then systematic theology is no abstract term. It’s an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know. The second edition of Bible Doctrine takes a widely used upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible. Abridged from the second edition of Wayne Grudem’s award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics: The Doctrine of the Word of God, The Doctrine of God, The Doctrine of Man, The Doctrine of Christ, The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption, The Doctrine of the Church, The Doctrine of the Future. You don’t need to have had several years of Bible college or seminary training to reap the benefits of Bible Doctrine. It’s easy to understand and packed with biblical answers to your most pressing theological questions.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care by Uche Anizor. “For many Christians, apathy can feel inescapable. They experience a lack of motivation and a growing indifference to important things, with some even struggling to care about anything at all. In Overcoming Apathy, theology professor Uche Anizor explains what apathy is and gives practical, biblical advice to break the cycle. Inspired by his conversations with young Christians as well as his own experiences with apathy, Anizor takes a fresh look at this widespread problem and its effect on spiritual maturity. This short book is an excellent resource for those struggling with apathy as well as parents, mentors, and friends who want to support someone in need.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Calls to Worship, Invocations, and Benedictions by Ryan Kelly. “Highly organized and practical, this resource for worship leaders provides hundreds of calls to worship, invocations, and benedictions and over one hundred optional congregational responses, along with seasonal and topical suggestions for worship planning. Each liturgical element is sourced or adapted directly from the Bible and indexed by topic. Quickly find appropriate passages, and draw on a broader range of Scripture in your worship services. This useful handbook also includes an overview of how churches have historically incorporated these elements into worship, with particular attention paid to early Reformation liturgies. Whether you are new to this pattern of worship or have made it a part of your services for years, you will be helped and encouraged.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
A Biblical Case against Theistic Evolution by Wayne Grudem, General Editor. “Even Christians strongly debate Scripture’s account of creation, with some declaring that major events in the book of Genesis—from the origin of Adam and Eve to God’s curse on the world—were purely symbolic. Several respected scholars endorse this theory, but is it consistent with the Bible’s teaching? In A Biblical Case against Theistic Evolution, condensed and adapted from Theistic Evolution, Wayne Grudem and other leading scholars challenge the belief that Genesis is mostly symbolic, rather than a true, historical narrative.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The God Who Hears: How the Story of the Bible Shapes Our Prayers by Sarah Ivill. “Author Sarah Ivill contends, “As we study prayer through the lens of the unfolding story of Scripture, it will teach us how to pray, but more importantly it will reveal the Covenant God to whom we pray.” And just such an endeavor provides the foundation and motivation necessary to enrich our prayer life. See how Old Testament prayers find their fulfillment and transformation in Christ. Discover boldness and joy in prayer because Christ is the high priest who gives us access to the throne of grace. Moreover, look forward to an eternity in which our prayers will consist of unhindered praise.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith by Nate Pickowicz. “R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith traces the five decades of R.C.’s public ministry, observing a thematic connection to the five solas of the Reformation. While much has already been written, with much more to come, this book takes a unique look at R.C. Sproul as doctrinal defender. In a cultural climate where doctrinal disagreements can easily descend into personal attacks and division, R.C. models the utmost care for doctrinal precision without sacrificing the love and grace needed to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Even after his passing, R.C. still has much to teach us about what it means to contend earnestly for the faith.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
I also wanted to mention a new series from P&R and Third Millennium Ministries called Christian Essentials. “Produced by Third Millennium Ministries for a global, multilingual, evangelical audience, the books in the Christian Essentials series make highly vetted, master’s-level theology clear, personal, and accessible to a broad spectrum of readers.” The series has begun with three volumes:

The tree is trimmed and decorated and glowing with lights. The gifts are wrapped and tied with bows and arranged carefully beneath. The stockings are hung by the fire and bulging with trinkets and surprises and sweet delicacies. The table is set and waiting for a great feast to be laid out upon it. Christmas has come again—again with all its joys, with all its pleasures, with all its precious traditions.

But look again, look more carefully, look and see that there are fewer gifts than there were in years past. There is one less stocking than there was before. The table has been set with one less place. When the family gathers to celebrate this year, there will be one member who will not be gathering with the rest, one person who will not be home for Christmas, one person who will be sorely missed.
(Note: I was asked to prepare this devotional for Devotionals Daily, but thought I’d share it here as well.)
This will be the reality for so many families this season, so many families who have had to bid farewell to one of their own. And never do those losses stand out so starkly, never do they cut so deep, never do they cause so much pain as during the holidays, as during times of celebration. For holidays are about gathering with the ones we love, spending time with the ones God has given us, observing the season together.
This will be the reality for my family this Christmas, for just a couple of years ago, the Lord saw fit to call one of us to himself. Nick was seemingly healthy and well, thriving in life and preparing himself for marriage and pastoral ministry, when he very suddenly collapsed and died and was gone. Christmas has never been the same. Christmas never will be the same, never can be the same, for our little fellowship has been shattered, our little family has suffered a grievous loss, our little home circle has been broken.
My mind sometimes drifts back to the evening we learned the news that broke our hearts and changed our lives. My mind sometimes drifts back to the thought that flashed through it in that moment when my entire world was rocked: God knows what it is to have a son and God knows what it is to lose a son. And this thought reminds me today that even though Christmas is the day when the pain of my loss is particularly sharp, it is also the day when my hope is particularly strong. For without Christmas I would be despondent, but because of Christmas I have the greatest of all hopes.
The wonder of the Christian faith, the miracle that we celebrate every Christmas, is that God became man. The Son of God who had existed from all eternity, the God who had been present at the creation of the world, the God who holds together all things by the word of his power, took on flesh and was born as a weak, helpless, crying baby. He grew up surrounded by the chaos and sin of this world, he proclaimed the glorious message God had given him, and at the end of it all, he was crucified and died. The Father witnessed the death of his beloved Son.
But that is not the whole story, of course, for death could not hold him! Death could not keep back the one who lived a sinless life and died an atoning death. He left the tomb and ascended to heaven and now prepares a place for each of us who have loved him and believed in his name and received his forgiveness. 
In order to save us, Christ had to die for us. And in order to die for us, Christ had to live for us. And in order to live for us, Christ had to be born for us. It is at Christmas that we tell the beginning of the story of his incarnation, at Christmas that we celebrate his birth, at Christmas that we mark the dawning of hope. For when Christ was born on Christmas morning, hope was born with him—the hope that our loved ones are not lost forever, but merely separated from us for a time, the hope that though we may grieve for a while, sorrow will at last give way to a joy beyond all we’ve known or even imagined. Our hope and our confidence is rooted and grounded in this day.
I wish Nick could be in our home this year to celebrate Christmas with us. But I know God has called him to a different home, a higher home, what I know to be a better home. And if Nick is experiencing nothing but happiness, as I truly believe he is, why would I spend the day in nothing but sadness? Why should I mourn as he rejoices? And so as we gather to celebrate Christmas, we’ll pause for at least a time to turn our hearts away from this home and instead fix them on the home above, the home where there is a much greater celebration, the home where Nick dwells with his Savior. We will fix our hearts on the time when all our tears will be dried and the time when the circle that has been broken will be fully and finally restored. And then we will return to celebrating the wonder of that baby in a manger, for this is the day when he was born—the day when hope was born.

May the Lord bless and keep you on this fine day.

This week’s deal from Westminster Books is on a collection of books for kids.
There are a few new Kindle deals to look at today.
Why Mainstream Scholars often Differ with Evangelical Pastors on the Gospels
“Why is it that if you read what Wikipedia says about the date and authorship of the Gospels, it is very different from the way most pastors in evangelical churches and most ordinary Christians talk about the Gospels?” George Sinclair takes a shot at an answer here.
Cultivating an Affectionate Marriage
“I am no expert on marriage. But I have been married long enough to experience those times when coldness creeps in and distance grows. The simplest lesson that the Lord has taught us is the importance of time spent together. Taking time to stop, look each other in the face, and really talk, has proven crucial.”
How to Partner with African Churches Well
“How should Western churches partner with churches in Africa?” I found Ken Mbugua’s answers very helpful.
Two letters and a cute dog photo …
Whether you attend a small group or lead one, these two letters may prove useful to you. And challenging.
The curse of being “Decent But Dull”
“The biggest curse in leadership – whether that’s private, civil or in church, is to be decent, but dull.” Well, not really, but that seems to be a message we come across quite often.
The First Commentator to Plead His Case
This is a good little article about the importance of consulting more than one commentary in preparing a sermon or study.
Flashback: A Secret Way to Kick-Start Your Theological Library
I’ve got a secret to share with you that will help kick-start any theological library: You can build an electronic library of excellent theological journals and magazines without spending a dime.

In the Old Testament, Jesus Christ is latent; in the New, He is patent. In the Old, the reference to Him is implicit; in the New, it is explicit. In the Old, we have foresight; in the New, insight. —F.B. Meyer