New Books–July 2014

Complete New Book List

July, 2014

Jesus or Nothing, by Dan DeWitt. Demonstrates there are only two worldviews in constant conflict: theism versus nihilism, and challenges readers to think carefully about the choice between Jesus or nothing by comparing the Christian worldview with the notion of a godless universe without meaning or significance.

Discovering the Joy of a Clear Conscience, by Christopher Ash. Discovering the biblical teaching on the conscience. Is it possible to have a clear conscience without either self-righteousness or self-deception? Ash argues that it is, through the good news of Jesus Christ.

Ruth and Billy Graham: The Legacy of a Couple, by Hanspeter Nuesch. She was born in 1920 on the east coast of China, the daughter of an American missionary doctor in the midst of a civil war. He was born the son of a dairy farmer in 1918 in North Carolina where milking cows was a daily chore. Together they would live a life of influence neither could have imagined on their own.

To the Ends of the Earth: Calvin’s Missional Vision and Legacy, by Michael A.G. Haykin and C. Jeffery Robinson, Sr. For a long time, Calvinists have been portrayed as indifferent to missions. But here the authors show that this portrayal is false. From training pastors at his Genevan Academy to sending missionaries to the jungles of Brazil, Calvin consistently sought to encourage and equip Christians to take the good news of salvation to the very ends of the earth, and his Reformed successors have carried on that vision and legacy.

The Psalms as Christian Lament: A Historical Commentary, by Bruce K. Waltke, James M. Houston and Erika Moore. Often neglected, the lament psalms are some of the most valuable parts of Scripture. This commentary on ten of those psalms unpacks their riches by drawing on the interpretations of the early Church Fathers and Reformers, so that the church will know how to pray in the midst of suffering.

Augustine’s Confessions: A Biography, by Gary Wills (Lives of Great Christian Books). A sensitive and informed appreciation and introduction to one of the greatest literary and theological works of Christian history

Here Is Our God: God’s Revelation of Himself in Scripture, edited by Kathleen B. Nielson and D.A. Carson, with contributions by John Piper, Tim Keller, and others. Chapters include God revealed: On the Mountain (Ex 19); In the Temple (1 Kings 8); In the Throneroom (Isa 6); In the Third Heaven (2 Cor 12); In the Center (Rev 21-22); and others.

Job: The Wisdom of the Cross, by Christopher Ash (Preaching the Word). Justin Taylor says this is the “richest, most moving, most deeply cross-centered and God-glorifying treatment of Job I have ever read,” while Alistair Begg says that this exposition “reminds us that like the rest of the Bible, Job is ultimately a book about Jesus”. This book has been garnering unusual praise for a homiletical commentary.

A Godward Heart: Treasuring the God Who Loves You, by John Piper. 50 meditations for your journey.

The First Chapters of Everything: How Genesis 1-4 Explains Our World, by Alasdair Paine. Who are we, why are we here, why is this both beautiful and tragic, and where is real hope? The opening chapters of Genesis were written to answer such questions as these, but modern controversies of interpretation have overshadowed the key teaching. In this brief book, Paine refuses to allow the elephant of secondary issues to stand between us and the text.

Chance and the Sovereignty of God: A God-Centered Approach to Probability and Random Events, by Vern S. Poythress. What if all events—big and small, good and bad—are governed by more than just blind chance? What if they are governed by God? In this mathematically adept and theologically deep work, the author demonstrates that God is the foundation of both causation and randomness. Poythress has doctorates in both mathematics and New Testament, and teaches at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Proof: Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace, by Daniel Montgomery and Timothy Paul Jones. PROOF stands for God’s Planned grace, his Resurrection grace, his Outrageous grace, his Overcoming grace, and his Forever grace. Together these truths help us to withstand the attacks of legalism or cheap grace which cause us to lose sight of the joy and freedom of the gospel. As the words of Augustine and Luther and Calvin rang out in their day, so might these truths be proclaimed anew in our day.

Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands, by Gary Thomas. God calls women to influence and move their husbands in positive ways.

Did Adam Exist? by Vern S. Poythress (Christian Answers to Hard Questions). A brief but theologically and scientifically informed evaluation of the claims that genetic analysis shows that Adam cannot have existed (39 pages).

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief, by John M. Frame. John Piper says: “Few in our day champion a vision of God as massive, magnificent and biblical as John Frame’s…he brings together a rare blend of big-picture thinking”, while Al Mohler calls Frame “one of the great theological minds of our age”.

Exploring Christian Doctrine: A Guide to What Christians Believe, by Tony Lane. The essential points of Christian doctrine from a broadly evangelical perspective, including initial questions, positions taken, objections raised, errors to avoid, and Lane’s own succinct answers. Robert Lethan says, “if you think doctrine is dull and boring, think again”.

Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men: An Utterly Invigorating Guide to Being Your Most Masculine Self, by Stephen Mansfield.

COMMENTARIES/BIBLE STUDIES : Romans 1-7 For You, by Timothy Keller; Ezekiel (Shepherd’s Notes), by Paul Enns. A quick-study guide to the book of Ezekiel in 100 pages, in a Cliff Notes-like format.

YOUTH BOOKS: Passages: The Marus Manuscripts, Vols 1 and 2, by Paul McCusker (ages 10 up; each volume contains 3 stories).