Before the month comes to an end and before my American friends disappear for their Thanksgiving holiday, I want to make sure you’re all aware of some new and notable books that came our way in November. We were treated to some excellent new titles this month so be sure to give them a look!

The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (2nd Edition) by Douglas Moo. “A knowledgeable and evangelical guide to Paul’s letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. With brilliant exegesis and sound practical insight, noted commentator Douglas J. Moo explicates the Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, with an eye toward their application for readers today. Moo bases his commentary on the Greek text of the letters, while accessibly explaining the English text to his contemporary audience. Freshly revised and updated, this second edition remains methodologically sound, authentically evangelical, and pastoral in approach. This invaluable volume of the Pillar New Testament Commentary series offers biblical insights to a wide range of readers, from teachers and students, to pastors and parishioners, to scholars and laypersons.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Hebrews (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Douglas Moo. “Designed for the pastor and Bible teacher, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament features today’s top New Testament scholars and brings together commentary features rarely gathered together in one volume. With careful analysis and interpretation of the Greek text, the authors trace the flow of argument in each New Testament book, giving readers the tools they need to properly understand and communicate the meaning of the text. Commentary on each passage follows a clear structure to help readers grasp the flow and meaning of the text. The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series is the go-to resource for pastors and Bible teachers looking for deep but accessible study that equips them to connect the needs of Christians today with the biblical text.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Motyer by the Day: A Psalms and Isaiah Devotional Collection by Alec Motyer. “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. Each of the 144 daily readings consists of a Scripture passage, a wealth of accompanying notes, and a devotional reflection. The text is set in its context, with clear references to other relevant passages. Motyer’s long experience as a linguist enabled him to translate Isaiah and the Psalms from Hebrew into English, bringing us as close to the original text as possible, and helping us perceive familiar passages anew. His rich analysis alongside these translations, aids the reader to delve deeper into the treasures on offer. For a richer understanding of the Psalms and Isaiah, Motyer’s guide is an indispensable resource.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Final Word: A Biblical Response to the Case for Tongues and Prophecy Today (2nd edition) by O. Palmer Robertson. “A call for freshness, spontaneity and life in worship has been resounding through the churches of the English-speaking world, together with a desire to hear God speaking here and now to his people. Many have called for a return to the pattern of worship found in 1 Corinthians 14, merging the biblical emphasis of the Reformation with the vitality of the modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Dr O. Palmer Robertson was previously Director and Vice-Chancellor of African Bible College in Kampala, Uganda. Before going to Africa he pastored churches and taught in seminaries in the USA. Now residing once again in the USA, he continues to write and speak. Dr Robertson is the author of numerous book and commentaries.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Go Forward in Love: A Year of Daily Readings from Timothy Keller by Timothy Keller. “From the works of pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller comes this yearlong compilation with daily readings from his best-loved books. The perfect 365-daily reader for both new and longtime admirers of Timothy Keller’s writing, Go Forward in Love features deep insights, profound truths, and biblical wisdom on topics such as prayer, forgiveness, loving our neighbors, the importance of work, and the hope of the resurrection. Each day’s reading is short, but will lead you into deep reflection, give you a fresh sense of awe and wonder before God, and help you go forward in love as willing servants of God and everyone around you.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Biggest Story Family Devotional by Douglas Sean O’Donnell. “The Bible is a BIG book about the BIGGEST story. Each page tells about the God who created the world, acted in history, and continues to act in the present. These kid-friendly devotions, based on Bible stories as retold by Kevin DeYoung, give parents and children hundreds of easy, memorable opportunities to experience God’s story together. The Biggest Story Family Devotional features 104 Bible stories. Each story includes a brief Big Picture introduction and a Gospel Connection summary to help children understand and apply Scripture. A QR code on each story page links to an animated video retelling that parents and children can watch together. The 104 stories each include 5 individual Bible readings (520 in all) that families can complete whenever they choose―during dinner, before bed, one per day, or several at a time. Each reading has family discussion questions, a prayer, and space for notes.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Our God Reigns: An Amillennial Commentary on Revelation by Sam Storms. “Revelation was written in such a way that it should be not only intelligible to any Christian who reads or hears its words, but also a blessing to the person who obeys and believes what it says. Simply put, contrary to popular opinion, and notwithstanding the often bizarre and mysterious images it conveys, God intends for Revelation to be understandable, edifying, and enjoyable! Scholarly but conversational in style, Storms has written for those who do not have a working knowledge of Greek but does not shy away from the numerous important technical and exegetical details that appear all through Revelation. He provides insight into both the nuances of the Greek text and the deep doctrinal issues in Revelation in such a way that the average Christian adult can grasp. Revelation is profoundly relevant to the issues we face in our society today and Storms keeps the welfare of the church in view, as he includes numerous applications for daily living and growth in your personal relationship with God. An excellent read for those looking to better grasp the blessings to be found in understanding this book.” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Sacred Flame: A Biography of Hannah More by Kevin Belmonte. “There has never been anyone quite like Hannah More. Her books were kept in the homes of presidents, and peers of the realm. They were a best-selling phenomenon, and she ‘the most successful British author of the romantic period,’—more successful, financially, than Sir Walter Scott, and more than Jane Austen. A gifted poet and playwright Hannah More was, by her early 30s, the toast of literary London. Samuel Johnson collaborated with her in writing verse, and David Garrick, one of the greatest Shakespearian actors in theatre history, was her mentor and devoted patron. Hannah, as a member of the Bluestocking circle of the late 1700s, was a pioneering artist and celebrity. Throughout the English-speaking world, she became a household name. In later years, after her passing in 1833, her legacy lived on.” (Buy it at Amazon)

By Life or by Death: The Life and Legacy of John and Betty Stam by Andrew Montonera. “As a young boy Andrew Montonera stumbled upon a cabinet of books in his grandparents’ house. He was captivated by what he discovered—the library of his distant relatives, John and Betty. By Life or by Death shares the story of these two remarkable people—inspirations of contagious joy and kingdom-focused lives. John Cornelius Stam and Elisabeth Alden ‘Betty’ Scott met at Moody Bible Institute in fall 1929. A few years later, their paths crossed again—this time in China. The two were united in marriage and in their love for the Chinese people. Using family scrapbooks and unpublished sources, Montonera takes a fresh look at a famous story—how two missionaries and their baby were kidnapped by Chinese soldiers and ransomed. Montonera recounts the courage and martyrdom of the Stams, as well as the succeeding miraculous tale that captured the world’s attention. The Stams’ lives were cut short, but their faithfulness continues to impact Christianity in China today. By Life or by Death looks at the legacy of the Stams, including new testimonies of those shaped by their commitment to the gospel.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Toward a Reformed Apologetics: A Critique of the Thought of Cornelius Van Til by Keith Mathison. “For almost a century, Reformed theologians, especially in North America, have debated this topic. The debate has often been acrimonious, with serious charges and counter-charges coming from both sides. This book seeks to take the debate in a more constructive direction by clearing away as much misunderstanding as possible in order that we might add to discussions of apologetic methods the actual practice of apologetics. In Part One, Cornelius Van Til’s own system of thought is set forth in a clear way in order that readers may know exactly what it entailed. His doctrine of God, creation, the fall, common grace, redemption, and the antithesis are explained in order that readers might understand the apologetic implications of these doctrines. Part Two is devoted to explaining why many Reformed Christians have not embraced Van Til’s apologetics in spite of its popularity and influence. These chapters outline biblical, philosophical, theological, historical, and practical concerns with Van Til’s system of thought. This book argues that Van Til’s apologetic system of thought is consistent with neither Scripture nor Reformed theology.” (Buy it at Amazon)

Proverbs: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible by Christopher Ansberry. “Designed for the pastor and Bible teacher, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament features today’s top Old Testament scholars and brings together commentary features rarely gathered together in one volume. With careful discourse analysis and interpretation of the Hebrew text, the authors trace the flow of argument in each Old Testament book, showing that how a biblical author says something is just as important as what they say. Commentary on each passage follows a clear structure to help readers grasp the flow and meaning of the text. The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament series is the go-to resource for pastors and Bible teachers looking for deep but accessible study that equips them to connect the needs of Christians today with the biblical text.” (Buy it at Amazon)

I know my American friends will be taking a day away from the Internet tomorrow. But since Thanksgiving has long since come and gone in Canada, I’ll keep up with things on your behalf! Check back Friday for my annual list of Black Friday deals for Christians. There will be lots of great sales to browse through!

Today’s Kindle deals include a lot of great options, many of them by and for women. Also be sure to see the Pre-Black Friday print book deals here and Pre-Black Friday Kindle deals here.

Stephen McAlpine: “Trans isn’t really about trans. It’s about presenting a competing vision of humanity to the culture that reframes reality, redirects our teleology, which is now trans-human, actually. Faced with withering hopes for this world and the failing bodies we inhabit, we are seeking to loose ourselves from their surly bonds. We are seeking an identity to be constructed, not to be received.”

It is so important to be reminded of this, that though God chooses to use us, he does not need us.

Did you know that writing your thoughts down improves memory and retention? Journalling as you study God’s Word is a great way to keep record of your prayers and reflections, as well as impress the truths of Scripture deep into your heart. Get started at 21Five, Canada’s gospel-centred Christian bookstore, with their 50% off sale this week on ESV Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journals—just $5.50 each! (Sponsored)

I really appreciate this little liturgy for rest.

Sharon Mueni: “I joked with a friend sitting next to me at the event: being single sometimes feels like you belong to the last tribe of Israel, waiting to be allotted land (marriage); at other times it feels more like you belong to the tribe of Levi, where the Lord is your portion, and you will be single forever. Right? Here are a few reflections on what I learnt.” These are valuable reflections.

David Kaywood considers what Ephesians 5:16 means when it calls us to make the best use of the time.

And think you’ll appreciate Andrea’s meditative prayer of gratitude.

This is a loose format I follow in many of my reviews and I have found it quite effective in reaching a general audience with an interest in popular-level books. I hope you find it helpful!

Gratitude is a lifestyle. A hard-fought, grace-infused, biblical lifestyle.
—Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Today’s Kindle deals include a pair of really helpful books by Deepak Reju and Jonathan Holmes. There’s a good number of other options as well. In other book news, I’ve expanded the list of pre-Black Friday print book deals.

I noticed that Amazon has lots of board games on sale. You can browse a full list here, but to save some time I’ve grabbed a few highlights: Ticket to Ride, Ticket to Ride Europe, Ticket To Ride Legacy, CATAN, Azul, Scattergories, Taboo, Clue, 7 Wonders, Pandemic, Everdell, Trekking the National Parks, and so on.

Logos users will want to look at the various Cyber Week deals. They include Zondervan Academic New Testament Collections: Gospels and Acts at 60% off, the Puritan Ultimate Collection at 80% off, Theological Commentary Collection at 65% off, and much more. Also, grab your free ebook. There will be lots more deals as the week continues.

Joshua Budimlic: “That’s the dirty little secret about grief: it doesn’t just go away, it lingers. With each passing year it takes on a different form to be sure, but it still clings to our souls. As we journey through this world, our grief grows with us. However, as the years ebb and the Lord continues His work in our hearts, there is a sweetness to grief that begins to take hold.”

Though this article is written from a Presbyterian perspective, I appreciate much of what it says about the proper relationship between baptism and the Lord’s Supper. “This baptismal prerequisite for partaking of the Lord’s Supper is thoroughly biblical and for that reason has been the consistent practice of the church since its earliest days.”

Donna shares her prayers that God would raise up some Daniels for our generation. “Tucked away in the book of 1 Chronicles is a little verse that is forming the content of my post-election prayers for our newly elected leaders. The men of Issachar, one of the twelve tribes in ancient Israel around 1000 BC, are described as ‘men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’” (1 Chronicles 12:32)

Vanessa Doughty shares honestly about some of her struggles and successes. “I am an over-achiever. An A+ kind of girl. I will work myself to exhaustion on a task I’ve promised to finish—and finish well. I am also slow to ask for help because I am prideful. For many years I’ve labored under the tyrant of pride. Self-sufficiency its siren call.”

Sam Crabtree offers counsel on raising grateful kids. “If our kids are born thankless, how can we raise kids to recognize with heartfelt gratitude that they are served by an endless conveyor belt of divinely supplied benefits including life, breath, and everything? How can we help them see that God is working all things together for the good of those who love him?”

“Take your children to funerals, and teach them how to mourn. You might be surprised by what they teach you in return. Children often know something is wrong at a funeral, since they haven’t yet learned to forget. But we can explain why we cry and who receives our tears—a Lord who wept at death (John 11:35) yet trampled the grave in resurrection. As we mourn, we’re comforted (Matt. 5:4), and as we grieve, we’re called to hope (1 Thess. 4:13–14). What might feel like a cascade of loss can be a glimpse of the death Christ conquered and of why eternal life is good news.”

If you are at all like me, you probably find it easy to pray those prayers of petition (“Please give me…”) but far more difficult to pray those prayers of gratitude (“Thank you for…”). Here is some valuable assistance from The Valley of Vision.

Make no mistake: to be at peace with your sin is to be at war with God.
—Kevin DeYoung

I believe in church membership. I believe in membership as a practical matter that allows a church to function well. But even more so, I believe in membership as a biblical matter that allows a church to faithfully follow the Scriptures.

I suppose we ought to define our term. While acknowledging that membership can vary from church to church and context to context, the essential core is some kind of a formal agreement between the institution of a local church and the people who make up that church—an agreement that these individuals belong to that church in a way others do not. Hence, you are free to visit Grace Fellowship Church and participate in its worship services, but we will regard you a little differently than we regard the members. For example, you will not be able to conduct the business of the church and neither will you be permitted to participate in all of the church’s ministries. Some privileges and responsibilities are the exclusive domain of the members—those who are formally affiliated with the church.

With that in mind, let me offer some reasons why I believe church membership is a crucial practice for a healthy church.

Church membership makes sense of a Christian’s obligation to other Christians. The New Testament is replete with instructions on how Christians are to relate to other believers. Yet many of these commands can either only be carried out or can best be carried out in local contexts. You may be able to bear my burdens from a thousand miles away, but those who are closer are much more able. And so membership answers this question: Who are the people I am especially called to love? Or who am I primarily meant to serve with the gifts God has given me? It narrows the answer from the entire global church to one specific congregation. To become a member of a church is to say that these are the people God has most explicitly called me to love, serve, and pray for. These people are my “one another.”

Church membership makes sense of a Christian’s obligation to his spiritual leaders. Hebrews 13:17, for example, instructs Christians to “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” Are Christians to obey and submit to all Christian leaders? Or are they to obey and submit to particular Christian leaders? It makes the most sense to understand this command as local, as saying that Christians are to submit to and obey the leaders of their own local church. This means, of course, that they must be formally associated with that church.

Church membership makes sense of a pastor’s obligation to his church. All Christians are called to obey and submit while elders or pastors (words I use interchangeably) are called to keep watch—and to keep watch in such a way that they are prepared to give an account to God for the souls that have been entrusted to them. Whose souls will God demand an account of? Will every pastor be responsible for every Christian in the world? Or perhaps every Christian who walks through the doors of his church? It seems intuitive that pastors will be responsible for the souls of those who formally place themselves under their care. Church membership makes sense of all of these relationships—Christian to Christian, Christian to pastor, and pastor to Christian.

Church membership protects Christians. Christians walk a perilous path in this world and face the fierce enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Little wonder, then, that God has given Christians pastors to watch over them and guard them. Yet in most churches, pastors only consider themselves responsible for the people who formally associate themselves with that church. Christians who will not join the membership of a church fail to have God’s appointed overseers keeping watch over their souls.

Church membership guards the Lord’s Supper. Let’s set aside the matter of how a church welcomes visitors to the Lord’s Supper and focus instead on the people who regularly attend that church. We all acknowledge it is a grave matter when a church treats the Lord’s Supper flippantly and fails to keep people from “eating and drinking judgment on themselves.” Thus most churches follow some kind of a pattern in which an individual must be baptized (in baptistic churches) or make a public profession of faith (in paedobaptist churches) before they can participate in the Lord’s Supper. Typically and traditionally, that baptism or profession also begins with (or expands upon) becoming a member of the church. Participating in the Lord’s Supper is a Christian’s joy and responsibility and one that is rightly viewed as being bound to membership and protected by it.

Church membership makes sense of church discipline. Church discipline is a kind of measure of last resort that is meant to give a professed Christian one final opportunity to see the gravity of their sin and to repent of it. When carried out properly, and when an individual remains unrepentant, church discipline results in excommunication—a person being removed from the church. More specifically, the individual is removed from membership in the church. While in many cases they can and should still attend the church’s gatherings where they can hear the gospel, they can no longer do so as members and cannot take the Lord’s Supper since their lack of repentance has caused the church to doubt the genuineness of their faith. In this way, church discipline is an act of grace in which a church puts someone out so they can understand just how gravely they have sinned. Yet it is impossible to put someone out if they aren’t first in. In other words, for someone to be excommunicated they must have first been “incommunicated.” The whole process of church discipline only makes sense when it involves formally joining a church body and then being formally removed from it.

While I freely admit that the words “church membership” are not found in the pages of the Bible, I am increasingly certain that the concept is. It is there because it is an essential mark of a healthy church and a core practice of a healthy Christian.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

There is a great batch of Kindle deals to work through today. The highlight might be Alex DiPrima’s Spurgeon: A Life which is brand new and a fraction of its usual list price. Besides that, there’s a collection of books for women and a good selection for scholars.

As Black Friday approaches, remember that I’ve got a collection of Kindle books and a separate collection of print books from various booksellers that I’m adding to day by day.

I really appreciate what J. V. Fesko says here about confessionalism and fundamentalism (and the superiority of the former over the latter).

This is a situation we all run into from time to time, isn’t it? “When someone senses that we have goodwill and respect for them, it enables them to lower their defenses and really hear what we are saying. Sincere kindness can therefore help us make progress in a disagreement. It helps unmake caricatures and promote understanding of what the other side is saying. Someone once said, in the context of preaching, that ‘unless love is felt, the message is not heard.’ So it is in our conversations.”

Looking for faith-inspired Christmas gifts for your loved ones (or yourself)? A great place to start is the Christmas Gift Guide from 21Five, Canada’s gospel-centered Christian bookstore. Explore hundreds of unique Christian books and products for everyone on your list! (Sponsored)

I take this as a helpful reminder that even while we continue to value apologetic instructions and tactics, there is also great value in personal testimony.

This is a perennial question, isn’t it? Kevin DeYoung answers it well.

Aaron talks about some unexpected evidence that he is growing as a Christian.

Wyatt is right that sexual ethics stand or fall upon our doctrine of God. He uses a recent book to illustrate the point.

Some critics will be well-intentioned while others will be bent on destruction; some will be attempting to do the right thing (even if in a ham-fisted way) while others will be attempting to wreak havoc. Yet the prideful and troubling temptation can be to treat them all the same. 

God’s providence is like God’s nature. Among the stars there are no haphazard movements. The sun never rises late. No star sets too early. So in providence, everything comes in its set time. God’s clock is never a second slow.
—J.R. Miller