New Books – September 2008

The Surprising Work of God: Harold John Ockenga, Billy Graham, and the Rebirth of Evangelicalism, by Garth M. Rosell. The story of how America’s mid-twentieth-century spiritual awakening became a worldwide Christian movement. Looks through the window of the life, ministry, and writings of Ockenga (co-founder of Fuller Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the National Association of Evangelicals and Christianity Today magazine) and Billy Graham.

The Christian in an Age of Terror: Selected Sermons of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones 1941-1950, edited by Dr. Michael Eaton. Sermons of MLJ originally preached in London during and following WWII

Gems from Martyn Lloyd-Jones: An Anthology of Quotations from “The Doctor”, by Tony Sargent. Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was among the finest Evangelical preachers of the twentieth century. His sermons at London’s Westminster Chapel drew large crowds, and his published works continue to have a wide influence today. His only doctorate was a medical degree that he earned before going into the ministry, but he was lovingly referred to as “The Doctor” by the countless beneficiaries of his ministry.

Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists, by R. Albert Mohler. Instead of becoming just another voice in the rising debate between Christians and New Atheists, D.A. Carson says Mohler has “provided us with masterful coverage of the dominant writers on both sides”.

To the One Who Conquers: 50 Daily Meditations on the Seven Letters of Revelation 2-3, by Sam Storms. Craig Keener calls this an “ideal combination of solid research and practical, devotional, pastoral insight”.

A New Inner Relish: Christian Motivation in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards, by Dane Ortlund. The author says that the main reason Jonathan Edwards should be listened to today is that he “exhaled the air of eternity as one intoxicated with the resplendent beauty of the immortal God in the person and work of Jesus Christ”, and in this book he shows how the “new sense of heart,” divinely and graciously imparted by God, governs Edwards’ understanding of motivation in Christian obedience.

Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling, by Andy Crouch. It is not enough to condemn culture, nor is it sufficient to merely critique, copy or consume culture. The only way to change culture is to create culture, and the author unleashes a manifesto calling Christians to be culture makers.

Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America, by John G. Turner. Founded as a local college ministry in 1951, Campus Crusade has become one of the world’s largest evangelical organizations, and Turner offers an accessible and colorful history of the organization and its founder, Bill Bright.

When Answers Aren’t Enough: Experiencing God as Good When Life Isn’t, by Matt Rogers. The author was copastor of a church at Virginia Tech when 33 students died in the worst massacre in modern US history.

The Certainty of the Faith: Apologetics in an Uncertain World, by Richard B. Ramsay. The author seeks to integrate the insights of both presuppositional and evidential apologetics.

The Lord’s Supper: Five Views, edited by Gordon T. Smith. The five views presented are the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, and Pentecostal.

Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 1-7, by John Calvin. The publisher reminds us that sermons serve a very different purpose from a commentary. While explanation and interpretation are enough for students, they are never enough for a congregation of sinners. That is why Calvin’s sermons always combine the essential elements of all preaching–exposition, exhortation , and practical application.

Things That Cannot Be Shaken: Holding Fast to Your Faith in a Relativistic World, by K. Scott Oliphint and Rod May. Responding biblically to every challenge you are likely to face in the dorm, the classroom, or the workplace.

A PurpleState of Mind, by Craig Detweiler. Finding middle ground in a divided culture, not to compromise but to converse.

Atonement Matters, by Tom Barnes. A call to declare Definite Atonement, which the author holds to be the biblical view. This is the classic view of five-point Calvinism, also known as Limited Atonement.

For Zion’s Sake: Christian Zionism and the Role of John Nelson Darby, by Paul Richard Wilkinson. The author locates Christian Zionism firmly within the Evangelical tradition, takes issue with those who say that it is a “roadmap to Armageddon”, and vindicates Darby from the charge that he stole the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture from his contemporaries.

Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation, by Richard J. Foster with Kathryn A. Helmers. Instead of transforming the text to meet our needs, the author urges us to let the text transform us.

Resurrection and the Eschatology: Theology in Service of the Church: Essays in Honor of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., edited by Lane G. Tipton and Jeffery C. Waddington. Gaffin, a Reformed theologian, is known for his tireless service to Westminster Theological Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. This is a collection of essays, with contributions from D.A. Carson, G.K. Beale, Vern Poythress, and others.

The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson, edited by Robert L. Penny. This collection of essays seeks to honor Robertson by embodying the Reformation and Westminster flavors of Old Princeton theology and Old Southern Presbyterianism. Contributors include Bruce Waltke, Simon Kistemaker, Douglas Kelly, et al.

In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God, by J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler. While many books focus on either intellectual or emotional barriers to faith, this one combines both.

The Complete John Ploughman: Combined Edition of John Ploughman’s Talk and John Ploughman’s Pictures, by C.H. Spurgeon. Classic books on “plain talk for plain people”, demonstrating Spurgeon’s gift for presenting Christian truth in a way that captured the imagination. Gives answers to the common questions of the day on doctrine and behavior as explained by a ploughman to his wayward audience.

Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: The Three Essential Books in One Volume. Contains Schaeffer’s three foundational books: The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent.

Reasons We Believe: 50 Lines of Evidence That Confirm the Christian Faith, by Nathan Busenitz. Shows how scripture and documented evidence from history, science, and human experience come together to demonstrate the reality of God.

Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue, edited by E. Ray Clendenen and Brad J. Waggoner. The Calvinist/Non-Calvinist debate has recently had a significant impact in the Southern Baptist Convention, and this book seeks to address misperceptions, stereotypes, and caricatures of the debate over Reformed theology.

God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door, by Alan Chambers and the Leadership Team of Exodus International. Practical and biblical insights for how both individuals and churches can reach out to men and women seeking freedom from same-sex attraction.

The Documentary Hypothesis and the Composition of the Pentateuch, by Umberto Cassuto. After subjecting the favored theory of liberal critics to a critical review by comparing the Pentateuch to ancient Near Eastern literature, investigating Hebrew grammatical structures, and analyzing the literary aspects, Cassuto argues for the integrity of the biblical text. Originally published over 50 years ago, this book remains a classic in the field of biblical studies.

Fanny J. Crosby: an Autobiography (Hendrickson Classic Biography). Life of the beloved blind hymnwriter, told in her own words.

FAMILY READING: Keeping Holiday, by Starr Meade. An acclaimed work of fiction which combines an imaginative story with God-centered theology, and is recommended for both children (age 5 up) and adults. R.C. Sproul says it reminded him of both John Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress and C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.

ADULT FICTION: When the Cat’s Away, by Gilbert Morris (Jacques & Cleo Cat Detectives #3); Deeper Water, by Robert Whitlow (Tides of Truth #1); Riven, by Jerry B. Jenkins.

BOOKS ON CD: Martin Luther’s Here I Stand: The Speech That Launched the Protestant Reformation, narrated by Max McLean. This speech by Martin Luther, delivered in 1521 in Worms, Germany, marked the beginning of the Reformation; Augustine’s Conversion: Taken from The Confessions of St. Augustine, narrated by Max McLean. Next to Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, Augustine’s conversion was the most significant conversion story in Christian history (Both of these CDs are from The Listener’s Collection of Classic Christian Literature

ADULT CDs: Contending for the Truth. The 2007 Ligonier National Conference, 14 forty-five minute addresses, by John Piper, John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, R.C. Sproul, et al (MP3 format).

ADULT/FAMILY DVDs: Behold: The Gospel According to Mark, by Lonnie Polson. A solo reading of Mark from the majestic language of the King James Version.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Psalms for Young Children, by Marie-Helene Delval.(paraphrased for children 4-8); The Big Book of Bible Questions, by Sally Ann Wright and Paola Bertolini Grudina (drawn from the main characters and main events of the Bible).

CHILDRENS DVDs: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry’s Red River Rescue (from Veggie Tales: a lesson helping others).