Weekend A La Carte (April 22)
I am once again grateful to Children’s Hunger Fund for sponsoring the blog this week. “Across the US and in 29 countries around the world, faithful pastors and church volunteers from Children’s Hunger Fund church partners have dedicated their time to serving children and families in desperate situations.”
(Yesterday on the blog: The Gospel of Jesus)
Political Life Begins in the Church
Patrick Schreiner has an important article about the church’s primary (though not necessarily sole) political witness to the world.
Trusting God with The I-Don’t-Knows
“A mysterious curtain hangs just beyond this immediate present moment shielding our gaze from endless I-Don’t-Knows. Those I-Don’t-Knows are numerous, quite humbling, and often painful.”
Moses, the Mountain, and a Mass of Email
“Christians and non-Christians alike constantly talk about the need for ‘self-care’ these days. I wonder if farmers, working 80 hours a week in 1950s America, thought about ‘self-care.’ That is a rhetorical question.” Of course it is!
Once More, Church and Culture
There is a lot to ponder in this long article about the relationship of church and culture. “To ask about the church’s place in society while living in Christendom is redundant. The question answers itself. The question is genuinely new, however, when posed after Christendom.”
Freedom from the Burden of People Pleasing
Susan Narjala: “As a child, I learned to colour inside the lines. I do not mean just in art class, but that nature and nurture moulded me into a rule-follower.” She goes on to discuss how we can find freedom from people pleasing.
Could AI replace my pastor?
“The latest iteration of the chat bot can apparently produce sermons. You tell it your passage, how many points you want and point and shoot and away it goes. What you end up will be grammatically correct and may read well, though I think it comes across as a bit sterile. But to think that it is a sermon is to think wrongly about what preaching is.”
Just as evangelicals will fight their own individual sin as they keep in step with the Spirit, so we must fight the collective sin of allowing anything but the gospel to be the cause of our unity. —Michael Reeves
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10 New and Notable Christian Books for October 2022
October has been quite a month when it comes to releases of Christian books. I sorted through the huge stacks that came my way to arrive at this list of 10 new and especially noteworthy picks. In each case I have provided the editorial description so you can have a bit of information about it. I hope there’s something here that catches your eye!
The Existence and Attributes of God (Volumes 1 & 2) Updated and Unabridged by Stephen Charnock, edited by Mark Jones. “This two-volume set, edited by Mark Jones, contains an updated and unabridged edition of Charnock’s classic work, Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God, written to instruct and encourage Christian pastors, theologians, and laypeople. Jones precedes each discourse with an introductory summary that explains Charnock’s general approach. In this clear, modernized presentation of this classic work, readers will experience his skillful exegesis, his influential way with words, his insight into human nature, his concern with the practical implications of who God is, and his Christ-focused approach to theology.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Embracing Complementarianism: Turning Biblical Convictions into Positive Church Culture by Jane Tooher & Graham Beynon. “It can be tempting to shy away from addressing the issue of gender roles in church because it’s often controversial. But this can result in churches either being increasingly influenced by secular culture or simply sticking with the status quo when it comes to what men and women do in church. Building on the belief that complementarianism is both biblical and positive, this book focuses on what these convictions look like in practice. Moving beyond the familiar discussions around ‘gender roles,’ and leaving room for variety in how readers implement these ideas, it will encourage a church culture where men and women truly partner together—embracing their privileges and responsibilities, and maximizing their gifts, in joyful service of God’s kingdom.” (Buy it from Amazon)
Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church (Prayers of the Church) by Elmer, Robert (editor). “The hearts of the first Christians beat with praise for Christ. The strength of their devotion is remarkable, considering the times of uncertainty and persecution in which they lived. Despite all of this, the early church flourished, sustained by the God to whom they prayed. Christians today have a lot to learn from the devotional life of the early church. In Fount of Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from the first six centuries of the church, we can pray with our spiritual forefathers. Prayers from luminaries such as Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, and Augustine are arranged by theme to reveal the right prayer for the moment. The prayers have been slightly updated to read more easily, but they retain their joy and mystery. As we turn to the prayers of the first Christians, we can return to the foundations of our own faith.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Redeeming Productivity: Getting More Done for the Glory of God by Reagan Rose. “What image forms in your mind when you think of productivity? An assembly line? Spreadsheets? Business suits or workplace uniforms? In the ancient world, productivity didn’t conjure images like these. Instead, it referred to crop yield and fruit bearing. This agrarian imagery helps us understand productivity through a biblical lens. Jesus taught, By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 15:8). Who doesn’t want to have a truly productive life—to bear much fruit? But how does this happen in the places we hold dear—the home, workplace, and in our communities? We often feel overworked and overrun, defeated and discouraged. The world says be productive so that you can get all you can out of this life. The Bible says be productive so you can gain more of the next life. In Redeeming Productivity, author Reagan Rose explores how God’s glory is the purpose for which He planted us. And he shows how productivity must be firmly rooted in the gospel. Only through our connection to Christ—the True Vine—are we empowered to produce good fruit. This book shows how we can maintain the vitality of that connection through simple, life-giving disciplines. Readers will discover manageable applications like giving God the first fruits of our days. Additionally, Reagan discusses how our perspective on suffering is transformed as we see trials as God’s pruning for greater productivity.” (Buy it from Amazon)
God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church by Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves. “Evangelism and missions are parts of the Christian life often accompanied by fears, insecurities, and cultural pressures. In this addition to the Union series, Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves argue that an individual’s relationship with God influences their evangelism and missions more than anything else. To illustrate how knowledge of God influences evangelism and missions, Hames and Reeves address biblical themes such as the glory of God, Christ’s sacrifice, the fallenness of man, and the church’s future hope. There is hope for those who find these topics intimidating—when believers focus on the glory of the lamb of God, the gospel will shine through them.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Words from the Cross by Ian Hamilton. “Paul’s words in Galatians 6:14, ‘Far be it for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,’ highlight how central and personally significant the cross of Christ is to Christians. Jesus himself saw the cross as his divinely appointed destiny. As he began to experience the unimaginable agony that lay before him, he said, ‘Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? But for this purpose I have come to this hour’ (John 12:27). In Words from the Cross Ian Hamilton places Jesus’ seven expiring words of grace and hope in their wider biblical context and explores their theological, pastoral, and evangelistic significance. The short chapters encourage us to reflect and meditate on the love of God which is ‘the fountainhead of the gospel’ (John Owen) and bring us to devote all we are to the Saviour who gave his all for us.” (Buy it from Banner of Truth)
The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith by Trevin Wax. “Every generation faces the temptation to wander from orthodoxy–to seek out the jolt that comes with false teaching, and to drift with cultural currents. And so every generation must be awakened again to the thrill of orthodoxy, and experience the astonishment that comes from stumbling afresh upon the electrifying paradoxes at the heart of the Christian faith. In The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Trevin Wax turns the tables on those who believe Christian teaching is narrow and outdated. Returning to the church’s creeds, he explains what orthodoxy is and why we can have proper confidence in it, and lays out common ways we can stray from it. By showing how heresies are always actually narrower than orthodoxy–taking one aspect of the truth and wielding it as a weapon against others–Wax beckons us away from the broad road that ultimately proves bland and boring, and toward the straight and narrow path, where true adventure can be found.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Live Your Truth and Other Lies: Exposing Popular Deceptions That Make Us Anxious, Exhausted, and Self-Obsessed by Alisa Childers. “Are you tired of feeling like you have to check social media to find out what you’re supposed to think? Are you weary of the latest self-help books that promise to set you free but only imprison you with laundry lists of studies to consider, positive affirmations to recite, and Facebook groups to join? We’ve all seen the memes that populate the internet: live your truth, follow your heart, you only have one life to live. They sound nice and positive. But what if these slogans are actually lies that unhinge us from reality and leave us anxious and exhausted? Another Gospel? author Alisa Childers invites you to examine modern lies that are disguised as truths in today’s culture. Everyday messages of peace, fulfillment, and empowerment swirl around social media. On the surface, they seem like sentiments of freedom and hope, but in reality they are deeply deceptive.” (Buy it from Amazon)
The Excellencies of God: Exploring and Enjoying His Attributes by Terry Johnson. “God’s attributes is the most practical of subjects, inspiring and shaping the entire Christian life. Contemplating who God is and what He has promised to do can bring great comfort to the most despairing soul. Moreover, it brings immense delight to all those who recognize their chief end as the glory and enjoyment of God. In The Excellencies of God, Terry L. Johnson explores several aspects of the divine character and shows how they play a crucial role in our Christian experience. May God’s mercy and grace, His patience and wisdom, His truth and faithfulness, His spirituality and blessedness prove to be a blessing to all who peruse these pages.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books)
Reactivity: How the Gospel Transforms Our Actions and Reactions by Paul David Tripp. “Digital media and technology are altering the way people act—and react—toward each other. Criticism, outrage, and controversy dominate social engagement and unfortunately many Christians have joined in the chaos. Award-winning author Paul David Tripp instructs believers to view digital media and technology through the lens of the gospel and points them toward a biblical framework for communication. Explaining how God wants the church to engage with culture and each other, Tripp encourages Christians to think wisely about their interactions and be a beacon of light in an age of toxicity.” (Buy it from Amazon or Westminster Books) -
Free Stuff Fridays (Reformation Fellowship)
This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Reformation Fellowship. They are giving away two tickets to the Reformation Fellowship Conference in Atlanta (November 11–12), and 5 exclusive copies of Right with God, the new book from Michael Reeves.
This Fall, Michael Reeves – with Dane Ortlund, Philip Ryken, Jeff Norris, Gwenfair Adams, and Bradley Green – will be hosting the first Reformation Fellowship conference. Over two days, November 11–12, 2022, a new network of friends will be gathering at Perimeter Church, Atlanta, for teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer. We would love you to join us there: you can book your place online now.
The theme of the conference will be The Gospel: Our Hope, Our Banner, for it is under the banner of the gospel that Christians find true unity and deep fellowship. At the heart of the gospel is God’s free justification of all those who simply trust in Christ, and at the conference, we will be launching a short, readable introduction to this life-changing doctrine from Michael Reeves called Right with God. It is the perfect book for anyone who does not yet know Christ, those struggling with assurance, or readers who need warm-hearted clarity to strengthen their faith.
“Lurking beneath the stresses and anxieties of modern life lie the age-old questions ‘Am I good enough?’ and ‘Have I done enough?’ They haunt some, drive others, and exhaust many into indifference or despair. In these pages—as readable as they are reliable—Michael Reeves exposes both the roots of our problem and the bankruptcy of our own answers to it. But then, simply and engagingly, he points us to the life-transforming resolution that is offered to us in the Christian gospel. Right with God is a short book with an eternity-long message.”Sinclair B. Ferguson
Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary;
Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
“A small key can open a massive door that leads to freedom. This small treatise by Dr. Reeves, a very able writer, holds the key of God’s promise to justify the ungodly as a free gift through faith in Christ alone. May God use it to bring many to spiritual freedom. Buy copies of this easy-to-read, highly recommended book and pass them on to the unsaved, to the saved who are struggling for assurance, and to established believers to shore up their convictions.”Joel R. Beeke
President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MichiganEnter here
1 winner will receive two copies of Right with God by Michael Reeves and two free tickets to the Reformation Fellowship Conference in Atlanta, November 11–12. 4 winners will receive a copy of Right with God by Michael Reeves.
By entering, you consent to becoming a member of Reformation Fellowship and joining the Union mailing list. Winners will be notified by email. Tickets to the Reformation Fellowship conference will be issued by email and are subject to terms and conditions. Right with God is scheduled for release on October 1, 2022, and winners will receive their copy immediately upon publication. Entrants must be 18 years of age or over. -
A La Carte (July 3)
Good morning. Grace and peace to you.
Today’s Kindle deals include a long list of good books.
Logos is kicking off a new month with a sale on many of the best commentaries you can get. (Also, use the code EXTRASAVINGS to get $10 off a purchase of $100, $25 off $200, $45 off $300, or $75 off $500.)
(Yesterday on the blog: Fourteen Signs That You Might Be Legalistic)
Supreme Court Issues Ruling Protecting Religious Free Speech
Joe Carter explains an important Supreme Court decision. (See also Denny Burk)
Money Makes a Horrible Master and a Valuable Servant
Randy Alcorn: “Money has social and economic benefits that can be used for the betterment of people. As a plow can be used for honest labor and a sack of grain for feeding a family, so money, which simply represents their value, can be used for good.”
The Story of Us
Shane Rosenthal writes about words and stories and other important things.
Yearning for Oneness: A John 17 Meditation
What does it look like to yearn for oneness with God, and how do we get there? That’s the topic of this article.
Why Is it Better That Jesus Went Away?
“God never leaves his people. If the Holy Spirit has been God’s tangible presence among his people throughout their history, surely the Spirit’s descending on Jesus at his baptism and the pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost are continuations of the same story. We see this promise coming to fruition in John 14–16.”
Not THAT Kind of Homosexual Behavior? (Video)
This is a good answer to a very common (but misguided) understanding of some Greek words.
Flashback: The Utter Horror of the Smallest Sins
…our hearts are so desperately wicked that there’s no area of life in which we won’t express our rebellion against God.There is a difference between the preaching of someone who is, in disposition, on his knees before you and someone who is on his feet lording it over you. —Sinclair Ferguson