As we head toward gift-giving season, publishers are turning up their presses and releasing quite a number of key books. Most of the noteworthy releases from September have already landed in my mailbox and, after looking through them, I have narrowed my list of new and notables to these 10. In each case I’ve included the editorial description. I hope there is something here that you’ll enjoy reading!

The Right Kind of Confident: The Remarkable Grit of a God-Fearing Woman by Mary Kassian. “What if we stopped placing our confidence in the things of this world—and instead put our trust in the only one who is truly trustworthy? As you begin to apply each chapter’s material, you’ll discover the true meaning of confidence, the difference between negative fear and positive fear, and how to turn the Enemy’s tool of fear on its head with strong confidence. Be honest: Who among us isn’t plagued with fears, insecurities, and self-doubt? Popular wisdom says the solution is to simply believe more strongly in ourselves. But award-winning author and speaker Mary A. Kassian explains that the way to combat fear is with more fear—fear of a different kind. In this follow-up to her popular book The Right Kind of Strong, Kassian again draws on her vast biblical knowledge to show us a better way to navigate life. She compares the Bible’s definition of confidence with the world’s well-worn self-help formulas and sets us on the right path. Whether you’re seeking more confidence or already feeling full of it, when you lean into a source of confidence that is unchanging, firm, and trustworthy, you’ll become more like the bold, courageous woman God created you to be.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane C. Ortlund. “’Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ How do Christians grow? Few question the call of the Bible to grow in godliness, but the answer to exactly how this happens is often elusive. In this book, Dane Ortlund points believers to Christ, making the case that sanctification does not happen by doing more or becoming better, but by going deeper into the wondrous gospel truths that washed over them when they were first united to him. Drawing on wisdom from figures throughout church history, Ortlund encourages readers to fix their gaze on Jesus in the battle against sin, casting themselves upon his grace and living out their invincible identity in Christ.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Blessings of the Faith Series by Various Authors. “Reformed theology can seem like a whole different language, and even those of us who have sat under Reformed teaching for years need reminder lessons of its nuances, grammar, and context. The books in the Blessings of the Faith series serve as primers on three components of the ‘Reformed language’: covenantal baptism, expository preaching, and prayer. Each book provides a biblical description and explanation of its topic as well as answers to frequently asked questions and common objections. Informative, encouraging, and practical, these short hardback books are giftable helpful tools for pastors, elders, small groups, and any curious minds seeking to learn or grow more in their understanding of the concepts. Learn why infant baptism is practiced in Presbyterian churches, how expository preaching can spiritually benefit individuals and congregations, and why prayer is such a crucial component of the Christian life. Then you can help your audience do the same!” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him by Jackie Hill Perry. “If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is? Bestselling author Jackie Hill Perry, in her much anticipated follow-up to Gay Girl, Good God, helps us find the reason we don’t trust God— we misunderstand His holiness. In Holier Than Thou, Jackie walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of “holy” as we’ve come to know it and revealing it for what it really is: good news. In these pages, we will see that God is not like us. He is different. He is holy. And that’s exactly what makes Him trustworthy. As it turns out, God being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting Him.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Old Testament Use of Old Testament: A Book-By-Book Guide by Gary Edward Schnittjer. “Old Testament Use of Old Testament, by Gary Edward Schnittjer, surveys the hundreds of Old Testament allusions within the Old Testament and provides hermeneutical guidance for interpreting these interrelated scriptures. The handbook takes an easy to navigate book-by-book approach. Schnittjer provides a list of Scripture allusions for each book and follows with an interpretive profile of how that book uses passages from elsewhere in the Old Testament. Specific criteria are applied to each allusion, providing readers with evaluation of the significance of each interpretive allusion. Minor allusions caused by style, figures of speech, and other minor elements are not included. Responsible exegesis requires careful attention to interrelated scriptures, yet there is a host of interpretive difficulties related to Scripture’s use of Scripture. Designed for ease-of-use for any serious student of the Bible, Old Testament Use of Old Testament offers a thorough, systematic tool to aid in evaluating scriptural interpretation of Scripture.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility by Ray Ortlund. “Your Battle against Porn Isn’t about Porn. It’s about Hope. Pornography may seem inescapable, but God can free us from its destructive power. The gospel replaces the dehumanizing lies of pornography with this surprising truth: God created us as royalty. How then can we reclaim our God-given identity to take a stand against—and ultimately starve—the predatory porn industry? In The Death of Porn, Ray Ortlund writes six personal letters, as from a father to his son. Ideal for individuals and small groups, it will give hope to men who have been misled by porn into devaluing themselves and others. Through Scripture and personal stories, Ortlund assures readers that God loves them the most tenderly in their moments of deepest shame. The Death of Porn inspires men to come together in new ways to fight the injustice of porn and build a world of nobility for every man and woman—for the sake of future generations.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
When Home Hurts: A Guide for Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse in Your Church by Jeremy Pierre & Greg Wilson. “This book is intended to equip pastors, church leaders and church members to respond with the heart of God to situations of domestic abuse that occur in their local church. Prioritising the safety of the victim at all times, Jeremy Pierre and Greg Wilson seek to help you be the kind of church leader, church member, friend, parent, sibling, or neighbor who responds wisely. We want the church to be a new normal for those grown accustomed to abuse. A home that doesn’t hurt those inside, but instead welcomes them into the tender care of the Lord. This very practical, pastoral book acknowledges the reality and the horror of domestic abuse, but also the reality and power of God to heal. It will be a helpful guide to anyone who suspects abuse within their church family but is unsure how to help without making things worse.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Humbled: Welcoming the Uncomfortable Work of God by David Mathis. “How do I humble myself? Humility, according to the Bible, is not something we can just up and do. Both the negative and positive examples of Scripture–from Pharaoh to Rehoboam, from Josiah to Ahab, from Hezekiah to Manasseh, and even to Christ himself–teach us that humility first comes from the hand of God. He initiates the humbling of his creatures. And once he has, the question confronts us: Will you receive it? Will you humble yourself in response to his humbling hand, or will you kick against him? This concise, accessible study of Scripture’s humble-self language uncovers two surprising lessons about the pursuit of humility in the Christian–both what we cannot do and also what steps we can take.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Bold Evangelist: The Life and Ministry of Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon by Priscilla Wong. “Many associate the names George Whitefield and John Wesley with the eighteenth-century Evangelical Revival, while the name Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, is less familiar. But this remarkable woman played a crucial role in the revival in Europe, interacting and forming friendships with many of its key players. The Countess leveraged her wealth and high position in English society to widen the evangelistic impact of the revival. Her sacrifices would ultimately see, among her many efforts, the establishment of over 60 chapels and a college for training ministers. Readers will be encouraged not only by how steadfastly Selina laboured but also by how she persevered in the face of illness, the deaths of her husband and children, and devastating setbacks in her gospel ministry. Yet trusting wholeheartedly in Christ her Saviour-and not the vanity and riches prized by her aristocratic peers-Selina lived out a faith characterized by boldness, zeal, and love. One evangelical leader described her influence: ‘I feel from Lady Huntingdon’s example an increasing desire both for myself and for you and all our friends that we may be active and eminent in the life of grace.’” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Love Me Anyway: How God’s Perfect Love Fills Our Deepest Longing by Jared Wilson. “There may be no more powerful desire in the human heart than to be loved. And not just loved, but loved anyway. In spite of what we’ve done or left undone, in spite of the ways we have failed or floundered. We long for an unconditional, lavish love that we know intrinsically we don’t deserve. If you are tired, sad, yet always longing, bestselling author Jared C. Wilson has incredible news for you: that kind of love actually exists, and it is actually something you can experience–whether or not you’re in a romantic relationship. In his signature reflective, conversational, and often humorous style, Wilson unpacks 1 Corinthians 13 to show us what real love looks like. Through engaging stories and touching anecdotes, he paints a picture of an extravagant God who not only puts the desire for love into our very souls but fulfills those desires in striking, life-changing ways.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)

Good morning from Portugal, the final stop in this Worship Round the World journey. I am here for just a few days before heading home at last. (Thankfully, Aileen has been able to join me.)

There is another good little list of Kindle deals today.
(Yesterday on the blog: When You Long to Know the “Why” Behind Your Sorrow)
What Smaller Churches Get Wrong When They Look at Bigger Churches
This is good—a list of things smaller churches can get wrong as they look at larger churches.
Ponytails, Buns, & The Blessing of Small Mercies
“Grief finds its way into even the smallest cracks. Having suffered through bangs and large rim glasses of the 90s, my late wife longed to protect our girls from the world of bowl haircuts. Always possessing an eye for artistic design, April delighted in doing the girls up like Elsa or Belle and in sending them off to school with some new braid that she had picked up from a You Tube tutorial. One needed to only look at my girls’ hair to know that they had a mom that loved them.”
Calvin’s Take on Venerating Relics
Many Protestants are surprised to learn that many Roman Catholics continue to venerate relics. Leonardo De Chirico explains here and tells what Calvin thought of the practice (though I expect you can guess).
What is Natural Law?
You have probably heard the terms “natural law” and “natural theology?” What are they all about? This article explains.
Is God More Wrathful in the Old Testament?
Is God more wrathful in the Old Testament than in the New? If you think that, you probably haven’t read your Bible very carefully.
Never Enough
“Jesus wasn’t joking when he said, ‘Sufficient for the day is its own trouble’ (Matt. 6:34). God’s promises are real and true and trustworthy. Believers stake their lives on them, but they can be hard to remember when the sapping drudgery of each wink of the clock streaks through our consciousness never to be recovered. Believers invest in a future that hovers just beyond our grasp, told over and over that contentment comes from accepting God’s graceful provision for today. But achieving that contentment is hard.”
Flashback: Learning to Be Rich
The temptation to rely on our wealth instead of on God is very real. The God-given response is for you and me: To do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.

We are not called to be like the world, and the world does not need us to be like the world. We have something better to say because we have someone better to follow. —Alistair Begg

The God of love and peace be with you today.
In today’s Kindle deals you’ll find Al Mohler’s The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down.
Westminster Books has the tremendous Focus on the Bible series of commentaries on sale. They are ideal for sermon preparation or personal study. The volumes by Dale Ralph Davis are typically considered especially strong. You’ll find discounts on individual volumes with deeper discounts on sets.

This article will take a measure of time and concentration but will prove rewarding, I think. “With cultural conversations increasingly centered on the radical proposals of critical race theory and queer theory, discussions of gender and feminism seem almost obsolete. However, a deeper analysis reveals that contemporary feminism is a critical social theory which shares the same basic framework as its more extreme ideological cousins.”

Travis shares some of what the Lord taught him through an extended Job season. “I yearned for answers that did not always come and prayed for relief that often seemed long delayed. But there were also plenty of ways in which I saw God’s hand clearly at work, and I want to share just a few of them.”

Denny Burk suggests that we may not have properly translated a well-known passage. “There is one detail in Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well that caught my attention this time because I think it may be rendered incorrectly in most English translations.”

I’ve often thought about the way Abraham haggled with God. “At first glance, Abraham’s conversation with God in Genesis 18 may seem like one of the oddest stories in Scripture. Abraham haggling with God over the destruction of Sodom—and God negotiating the terms of judgment with a mere man? It’s a story I’d never have been bold enough to make up.”

Kim Riddelbarger writes and records lots of interesting material. Yesterday, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, he took a pause from writing theology to share an account of another consequential invasion.

Patrick Miller writes about the problem (or one of the problems, at least) with livestreams. “A digital ministry, if you’re going to have one, can’t be skeuomorphic. It must be native to the digital platform. And the minute you go native, you must reflect on the nature of how that medium changes the message and the content itself—lest the medium become your message.”

Though torn from this world and separated from their bodies for a time, they are not torn from who they were.

…the only way to be productive is to realize we don’t actually have to be productive (our goal is to please God, not appease God).
—Matt Perman