The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Tim Keller's much anticipated new book will soon be on the FCC book stand. This book is being called, probably unfairly, the Mere Christianity of the 21st century. Be that as it may, I do not know of a man more gifted and fit to write this book. Hot off the presses and in hardcover only, it will set you back a bit ($16.50).

You can listen to sermons related to the book here.

There's also a website dedicated to the book. It hasn't been updated yet but can be found here.

I can't wait to read it myself. Let me know what you think.

John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

Pastor Tim recently taught from the life of Newton and mentioned this book. There are two copies on the book stand. It is an awesome cover! $16.00

Most Christians know John Newton as a man who once captained a slave ship, was dramatically converted to Christ on the high seas, and later penned one of the greatest hymns of the faith, "Amazing Grace." But he also had a huge impact on his times as an icon of the evangelical movement, as a great preacher and theologian, and as a seminal influence on abolitionist William Wilberforce. Newton's friendship with Wilberforce is portrayed in the major motion picture Amazing Grace.

Jonathan Aitken's new biography John Newton explores all these facets of Newton's life and character. It is the first biography to draw on Newton's unpublished diaries and correspondence, providing fresh insight into the life of this complex and memorable Christian. The result is a fascinating, colorful, and historically significant portrait of John Newton, a self-described "great sinner" redeemed by a great Savior through amazing grace.

David: Man of Prayer, Man of War

New to the book stand is this book by Walter Chantry on David. $12.50

Only the supreme providence of God and the unfathomable depths of divine grace could have conceived and forged the life of David. God made the son of Jesse into the emblem of the kingly office which only Christ would fulfil more gloriously. He embodied all the qualities of manly nobility and charm. Everyone in his day loved David, except the most ugly and despicable figures.

No matter how high David rose above other men, his spirit was childlike toward the Lord. He who was equally at home holding the shepherd's staff, the warrior's sword, the poet's harp, and the ruler's sceptre, was completely transparent in the humbling of himself before the God of all the earth. This ease and simplicity in worship draws out our deepest emotions as we read the life of David, King of Israel. We love this man for showing us how to pray from every point of life's compass. We love him for showing us how, in the midst of spiritual failure, we too can draw near to the Lord again in trust and devotion.

Perfectionists will not be comfortable with David. Those who stumble often, but who always turn with melted hearts to God for pardon and help, will find in him a brother for all situations. Such people will love the sacred history of his life and find it totally engrossing.

Words to Winners of Souls

Dr. Whitney mentioned this book in last Sunday's sermon. It will soon be on the book stand for around $4.00.

This timeless classic by Horatius Bonar, Scottish Presbyterian divine of 1808-89, offers spiritual, heart-searching counsel to all believers, especially ministers of the gospel.

The Loveliness of Christ

Pastor Fred mentioned this little book by Samuel Rutherford, the 17th century Scotsman, in his recent sermon. The book is actually a collection of extracts from the letters of Rutherford that was compiled in 1909 by Ellen S. Lister. Many of the extracts deal with the sweetness of Christ in the midst of Christian suffering and the purpose of the Lord in bringing about His fruit in His children (See the quotes below). His language is beautiful. You can almost hear his Scottish accent. The book itself is quite nice. It is small (almost breast pocket small) and the cover is imitation leather, very similar to the little ESV covers. There should be a current bunch on the stand for $10.60 per.

"Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? I know he is no idle husbandmen, he purposeth a crop." Page 8

"'In all their afflictions he was afflicted.' Then Christ bore the first stroke of this cross: it rebounded off him upon you, and ye got it at the second hand, and he and ye are halvers in it. And I shall believe for my part, he mindeth to distil heaven out of this loss, and all others the like; for wisdom devised it, and love laid it on, and Christ owneth it as his own, and putteth your shoulder only beneath a piece of it." Page 77-78

"This soul of ours hath love, and cannot but love some fair one; and O, what a fair One, what an only One, what an excellent, lovely ravishing One is Jesus." Page 53

What Jesus Demands from the World

Pastor Tim recently mentioned John Piper's What Jesus Demands from the World as a resource we will use at FCC in discipleship. We currently have these on the book stand and will hope to keep them always in stock. Don't forget too, that you can read it for free online, here.

Pierced for Our Transgressions

The subtitle of the book is Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution. Should be on the book stand by Sunday, November 4. 384 Pages, $15.20

Description

The belief that Jesus died for us, suffering the wrath of his own Father in our place, has been the wellspring of hope for countless Christians through the ages. However, with an increasing number of theologians, church leaders, and even popular Christian books and magazines questioning this doctrine, which naysayers have described as a form of “cosmic child abuse,” a fresh articulation and affirmation of penal substitution is needed. And Jeffery, Ovey, and Sach have responded here with clear exposition and analysis.

They make the case not only that the doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture, but that it has an impeccable pedigree and a central place in Christian theology, and that its neglect has serious consequences. The authors also systematically analyze over twenty specific objections that have been brought against penal substitution and charitably but firmly offer a defining declaration of the doctrine of the cross for any concerned reader.

Endorsements

“The Bible historically has been understood to teach explicitly and implicitly that Christ died as a penal substitute for sinners. That’s what this excellent volume teaches us, too. Carefully studying the primary biblical texts and then answering numerous objections, this book explains and defends the understanding that Christ died in our place, taking our penalty for us. From the biblical material to patristic quotations, from pastoral implications to present objections, this book is a responsible and comprehensive introduction. All the authors’ careful work promises to make this book the new standard text on Christ’s atoning work. Now, I can’t wait to read it again, devotionally.”
- Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church

“This book is important not only because it deals so competently with what lies at the heart of Christ’s cross work, but because it responds effectively to a new generation of people who are not listening very carefully to what either Scripture or history says.”
- D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“One of the most comprehensive treatments available of the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. The writing is clear and understandable to non-specialists, but its authors fully understand the technical issues, so that the book makes a real contribution to the academic discussion as well.”
- John M. Frame, Reformed Theological Seminary, formerly of Westminster Theological Seminary

“This book is faithful to Scripture, knowledgeable of history, conversant with current debate, and deeply committed to seeing the church flourish in our day.”
- David F. Wells, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

“An important scholarly contribution to a current doctrinal debate with enormous spiritual and pastoral implications.”
- Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School

“The authors defend the doctrine of penal substitution with sparkling clarity and winsome logic.”
- Thomas R. Schreiner, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“I commend this book for its comprehensive and fair scrutiny of the many objections brought against the doctrine of penal substitution in recent years.”
- I. Howard Marshall, emeritus professor, University of Aberdeen

“A very significant book. The authors have carefully and convincingly evaluated the biblical material on which the teaching of penal substitution has been based and reaffirmed it.”
- Peter T. O’Brien, Moore Theological College

Communion with the Triune God

In the same way Kapic and Taylor edited John Owen's Sin & Temptation, so now have they edited Owen's Communion with the Triune God. In John Piper's endorsement of this work he said,

No one else has laid open the paths of personal fellowship with the three persons of the Trinity the way Owen does. It is simply extraordinary.

The book is broken into three parts with each part devoted to communion with a Person of the Trinity.

I have two copies on the way and they should be available by Sunday, October 21st. 448 Pages, $15.00.

The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousnesss

Jerry Bridges has recently published two new books, this one and Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate (FYI - WTS says that due to overwhelming demand the first printing of Respectable Sins has completely sold out and they are waiting for a second printing, available perhaps at the end of November. Considering the subject matter, this seems a good sign for the body of Christ.)

Those of us fortunate enough to go to the Desiring God National Conference this year were able to hear Jerry Bridges speak. This was my first encounter with Bridges of any kind. He exhorted us in enduring to the end 1) to keep a daily time of focused personal communion with God, 2) to daily appropriate the Gospel to our souls, 3) to daily commit our lives as a living sacrifice to God and 4) to firmly believe in the sovereignty and love of God. He struck me as a very wise man, unromantic about the doctrine of sin and serious about holiness.

If you like me have not read anything by Bridges, I can't imagine a more worthy topic to cut your teeth on. For the rest of you who have previously been blessed by Bridges (his Transforming Grace has recently been taught at FCC), you need no encouragement from me to pick up this book.

I hope to have this on the stand on Sunday, October 21th. 304 Pages, $11.00. Let me know what you think.

Growing Up Christian

By request of Pastor Tim and a Sunday School teacher at FCC, I have ordered 5 copies of Growing Up Christian and should have them on the book stand on Sunday, October 21st. 235 Pages, $10.35

Publisher's Description: Many teens are active in church youth programs, yet drop out of church later in life and never return. Other young adults rest on the merits of their parents’ faith without ever experiencing their own relationship with Jesus Christ. In Growing Up Christian, Karl Graustein and Mark Jacobsen seek to help teenagers who have grown up in Christian homes by reminding them of the blessings of growing up in a Christian home, warning them of some of the dangers they face, providing practical suggestions for avoiding these dangers, and urging them to think and live in a way that pleases God.

"Growing Up Christian is a great book. Karl Graustein gets it! He understands the pitfalls and dangers that track with the rich privilege of growing up in a Christian home. He addresses all the standard temptations; getting ensnared by sin, presuming oneself to be saved, craving for popularity. In winsome, “kid friendly” ways he turns the reader to knowing God, knowing the Bible, solid theology, fellowship with others. This book has a look and feel that young people will appreciate. Much of the teaching is found in engaging interactive text boxes that will make this book a small group leader’s dream. I look forward to seeing this book used in the church I serve. " - Ted Tripp, Author of Shepherding a Child's Heart.

The Expository Genius of John Calvin

Steven Lawson may be a pastor we are not as familiar with but I believe that will soon change. He has begun a series of books entitled, A Long Line of Godly Men. Below is a description of the first book in the series (Foundations of Grace) and of the series of books in general from ligonier.org

From the lawgiver Moses to the apostle John, and from the early church fathers to modern defenders of the faith, there has marched onto the stage of human history a long line of godly men, a triumphant parade of spiritual stalwarts who have upheld the doctrines of grace. In this book, the first in the five-volume A Long Line of Godly Men series, Dr. Steven J. Lawson takes readers on a heart-stirring survey of the Scriptures to show that the Bible in its entirety teaches the doctrines of grace.

The research for this work was originally done for a teaching series for the men of his church. You can download that teaching series and other sermons, and subscribe to the podcast here. The Expository Genius of John Calvin is an individual profile in this series.

I have ordered a single copy of Expository Genius for the book stand. It should be there by Wednesday, October 17 for $11.00. 142 Pages. Let me know if there is interest in the Long Line of Godly Men series. The books are a bit expensive (about $20.00 at wts) and long (Foundation of Grace is 584 pages).

Stop Dating the Church!

By request we now have Josh Harris' book, Stop Dating the Church! Fall in Love with the Family of God. I haven't read this one but the TOC looks good.

Table of Contents

1. Can This Relationship Be Saved? What We Miss When We Date the Church

2. He Still Calls Her Bride. Seeing the Church from Heaven's Perspective

3. Why We Really Need the Local Church. Thinking Globally, Loving Locally

4. Join the Club. What Passion in Action Looks Like

5. Choosing Your Church. The Ten Things That Matter Most

6. Rescuing Sunday. How to Get More from the Best Day of the Week

7. The Dearest Place on Earth. It's Time to Say Yes

WTS Bookstore

If you are looking for good prices on books, it is hard to beat the Westminster Theological Seminary Bookstore. They almost always beat Amazon prices (sometimes substantially) and their prompt shipping is $5 for all orders.

The Gospel and Personal Evangelization

I have long benefited from the 9 Marks interview series conducted by Mark Dever. One of the most recent interviews is not by Dever but of Dever and by CJ Mahaney. This is a great and funny listen of a conversation between three close friends (Matt Schmucker is also in the interview). At one point in the interview, Dever is discussing his beautiful study and he calls it his "golden cage". He says that he would rather be out with people than tucked away in his study. This has been my impression of him. He is warm, funny and a great conversationalist. I am sure that this book was written with that warmth and theological precision.

128 Pages, $8.00 at the FCC Book stand on Sunday, October 7.

A Call To Spiritual Reformation

Pastor Tim has mentioned this book a couple of times in recent sermons. It is a book by DA Carson on the reformation of our prayer life through a study on the prayers of Paul. Should be on the stand on 10/3 for $12.25.

The Truth of the Cross

Sproul's latest is on the cross. 178 Pages. I haven't read it yet. Let me know if you have.

"The Truth of the Cross is the best book on the cross I have read. It is a 'must' for every church library and a book that I will give away many times to friends. This is so because it is sober (i.e., it contains historically informed reflections on salient biblical texts), sensible (i.e., it is well-argued), simple (i.e., it holds the reader's attention through grabbing illustrations and even a seventh-grader can its substance), and spiritual (i.e., it comes from a heart set ablaze by the Spirit)." — Dr. Bruce K. Waltke, Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary

Polishing God's Monuments

Publisher's Description: Polishing God’s Monuments is the true story of a young woman and her devoted husband who face it all (and then some) as a baffling, mind-boggling illness hijacks their youth and shatters their dreams. Polishing God’s Monuments blends straightforward theology with the account of this young couple’s afflictions. A sober reality in the life of faith is that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” God’s people are buffeted in two ways: sometimes we suffer for the faith and other times we suffer with faith. Either way, our faith remains a work in progress. In the midst of troubles, our emotions can vacillate between hope and despair, submission and rebellion. Our understanding can alternate between moments of comprehension and times of total confusion. This book confronts these issues head-on and offers believers biblical perspective, practical direction, and sustaining hope.

Joni Eareckson Tada says, "This book doesn't tiptoe around the topic of suffering, but hits head-on the hardest questions we have about the goodness of God and the problem of suffering. Juli's story will shake you as well as inspire you!"

I put two copies of this on the book stand last week. I have not read it. If anybody has read it, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Update 9/27/2007: I have been told by a reader that this is one of the best books they have read in a long time. Tim Challies agrees.

Update 10/3/2007: Placed 5 more copies on the book stand.

The Mark of the Christian

My reading this year has been consumed in large measure by Francis Schaeffer and my soul is the better for it. When ever I need an example of loving people, I take a shot of Schaeffer. We currently have The Trilogy, True Spirituality, and a book by Bryan Follis called Truth with Love: The Apologetics of Francis Schaeffer on the book stand. I hope to say more about those at a future time. Coming to the book stand on Wednesday, 9/26 is the little book by Schaeffer, The Mark of the Christian. What is the mark? Schaeffer says, "Love - and the unity it attests to - is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father." Read this to be stirred to this consideration and as a short intro into Francis Schaeffer. 59 pages, $4.50

Reformed Expository Commentaries

The Reformed Expository Commentary Series is a new set of commentaries edited by Richard Phillips and Phillip Ryken. These Reformed commentaries were first preached as sermons before a congregation before being worked into a book. They are thus less technical and more devotional in manner. Their plan is to come out with two commentaries each year until every book in the bible is covered. Now available are Esther & Ruth, Zechariah, Galatians, 1 Timothy, Hebrews and James. I am currently reading with profit Iain Duguid's commentary on Esther & Ruth. James is currently being taught in Sunday School at FCC and Daniel Doriani's James commentary has been noted as helpful.

Here's a taste from Duguid's commentary on Esther. This comes as Duguid comments on the morality of Mordecai's edict to allow "the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods." Esther 8:11

"It is important that we see why we are not called to this kind of holy war. It is not because holy war was somehow wrong in its original historical context, or was a sub-christian procedure, unworthy of the followers of Christ. It is not even because holy war seems out of date and old fashioned, a barbarous and uncivilized practice. We have not abandoned holy war simply because we have become modern people and have grown more civilized. Rather, we have abandoned holy war in its Old Testament form because we live in a different era in the history of redemption. We live in the era of the outpouring of grace, in which we fight with spiritual weapons to bring the gospel to the nations, defeating God's enemies by seeing them graciously transformed into His friends. Now we fight with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which instead of turning live foes into dead corpses can transform dead sinners into live saints. Now we wrestle in prayer, seeking God's enlivening work in the hearts and souls of our friends and neighbors." Iain Duguid, Esther & Ruth, pages 108-109

To find out more read Tim Challies interview with Richard Phillips.

Overcoming Sin & Temptation

I just finished reading Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic's edited version of John Owen's classic work on Temptation and Sin (Volume 6 of Owen's works). This is no abridgment; it's all here. Below is a list of the editing that Taylor and Kapic provide

• provided overviews of the thesis and arguments for all three books
• footnoted difficult vocabulary words or phrases (at their first occurrence in each book) and collected them into a glossary
• Americanized the British spelling (e.g., behaviour to behavior)
• updated archaic pronouns (e.g., thou to you)
• updated other archaic spellings (e.g., hath to have; requireth to requires)
• updated some archaic word forms (e.g., concernments to concerns, surprisals to surprises)
• corrected the text in places where the nineteenth-century edition incorrectly deviated from the original
• modernized some of the punctuation
• placed Owen’s Scripture references in parentheses7
• added our own Scripture references in brackets when Owen quotes or alludes to a passage but does not provide a reference
• transliterated all Hebrew and Greek words, and provided a translation if Owen didn’t provide one
• translated all Latin phrases that Owen leaves untranslated
• provided sources for quotations and allusions where possible
• removed Owen’s intricate numbering system, which functioned as an extensive outline
• added headings and italics throughout this volume, and extensive outlines of our own at the end, to aid the reader in following the flow of Owen’s thought. Pages 17-18

I started reading this book on July 6th and just finished on September 21st. Reading it was a fairly severe beat down. It is the best help in understanding sin I have read.

The book is made up of 3 individual books, Of Mortification of Sin in Believers, Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of it, and Indwelling Sin. I suggest that you read Indwelling Sin first then on to Mortification and Temptation. It was half way thru Indwelling Sin that I realized I was going to have to read it again; it's that good.

Here's a taste...

Indeed, in opposition unto this deceit lies much of the wisdom of faith and power of gospel grace. When the mind is fully possessed with, and cast habitually and firmly into, the mold of the notion and doctrine of gospel truth about the full and free forgiveness of all sins in the blood of Christ, then to be able to keep the heart always in a deep, humbling sense of sin, abhorrency of it, and self-abasement for it, is a great effect of gospel wisdom and grace. This is the trial and touchstone of gospel light: If it keeps the heart sensible of sin, humble, lowly, and broken on that account—if it teaches us to water a free pardon with tears, to detest forgiven sin, to watch diligently for the ruin of that which we are yet assured shall never ruin us—it is divine, from above, of the Spirit of grace. If it secretly and insensibly makes men loose and slight in their thoughts about sin, it is adulterate, selfish, false. If it will be all, answer all ends, it is nothing. Hence it comes to pass that sometimes we see men walking in a bondage-frame of spirit all their days, low in their light, mean in their apprehensions of grace; so that it is hard to discern whether covenant in their principles they belong unto—whether they are under the law or under grace; yet walk with a more conscientious tenderness of sinning than many who are advanced into higher degrees of light and knowledge than they—not that the saving light of the gospel is not the only principle of saving holiness and obedience; but that, through the deceitfulness of sin, it is variously abused to countenance the soul in manifold neglect of duties, and to draw off the mind from a due consideration of the nature, desert, and danger of sin. John Owen, Indwelling Sin, Pages 301-302

We also have an abridgment of The Mortification of Sin on the FCC bookstand which I have not read but have been told is good
Also, Kris Lundgaard's book, The Enemy Within, which has been studied at FCC in Sunday School, is a meditation on Owen's work on sin. I am looking forward myself to reading this soon.