Complete New Book List
July 2015
Baptists in America: A History, by Thomas S. Kidd and Barry Hankins. The Puritans hounded the Baptists out of Massachusetts Bay Colony due to their rejection of infant baptism and state control of the church. Yet 400 years later, they have grown from a persecuted minority into America’s largest denomination and a culture-shaper on the American stage.
HISTORICAL NON-FICTION: Princes at War: The Bitter Battle Inside Britain’s Royal Family in the Darkest Days of WWII, by Deborah Cadbury. When in 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne after one year to marry twice-divorced Wallis Simpson, stepping down to his former title the Duke of Windsor, which left his younger brother the Duke of York to assume the throne as King George VI. The new king was painfully shy and had a serious problem with stuttering; he felt unequipped to lead the nation especially in the face of the gathering Nazi menace. In addition, Windsor and Wallis (now Duchess of Windsor) were pro-German and the Nazis wanted to use them as pawns to prod Britain to reach an agreement with peace allowing Germany to dominate Europe with the enticement that Windsor could be returned to the throne. All during the war, both Britain, German and American intelligence agencies kept extensive files on the near-treasonous actions of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor which are now available for public scrutiny. King George VI emerges as a man of valor and sterling character who rose to the occasion in leading Britain to ultimate victory, although at the cost of his health. This is an absolutely fascinating account, told against the background of World War II, recommended by Al Mohler. The Great Leader and the Fighter Pilot: The True Story of the Tyrant Who Created North Korea and the Young Lieutenant Who Stole His Way to Freedom, by Blaine Harden. Interweaves the stories of Kim Il-Sung who grabbed power in North Korea and plunged the country into the Korean War with the US, and the young North Korean fighter pilot who stole his MIG-15 jet and defected to the US. A riveting account which also includes the roles of Mao and Stalin in Kim’s shadowy rise to power, creating a dynasty that still plagues the US today. Runner-up selection to World Magazine’s History Book of the Year. What If? The World’s Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley. What might we be if history had not unfolded the way it did? Historians re-imagine events from the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701BC to the Cold War; recommended by Kevin DeYoung. The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall, by Mary Elise Sarotte. The event that shocked the world on November 9, 1989 was not planned or negotiated by Great Powers; it was an accident due to a perfect storm of unexpected events. Runner-up selection to World Magazine’s History Book of the Year.
Walking With Jesus Through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures, by Dennis E. Johnson. Every text in Scripture contains a path to Christ, but Johnson shows us signs and markers to make sure we are on the right path.
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its Origin and Role in the 21st Century, by Leonardo de Chirico. Essential insights into what for many Christians is a mystery, unpacked by a trusted evangelical theologian.
The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing, by Jonathan K. Dodson. In a digital, secular age, rehearsed gospel presentations seem quaint and antiquated. Dodson shows us how to communicate and embody a gospel that is believable, personal, and culturally engaging, by sharing Christ through rich gospel metaphors. When Francis Schaeffer was asked what he would do if he had an hour to spend with a non-believer, he replied that he would listen for 55 minutes, then for 5 minutes he would have something to say.
The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God’s Good Design, by Courtney Reissig. The author recounts her journey out of “accidental feminism”, and says that we unconsciously reflect our culture’s ideas about womanhood, instead of what is found in the Bible. Instead of being concerned to tell “our” story, she encourages women to be telling God’s story.
Archibald G. Brown, Spurgeon’s Successor, by Iain H. Murray. Brown, 1844-1922, was a Calvinistic Baptist pastor who was a student, friend and associate of Charles Spurgeon. While in his 20s, he founded and then pastored for 30 years the huge East London Tabernacle; he also led mission work among the poor. In 1887, he joined with Spurgeon in withdrawing from the Baptist Union in the “Downgrade Controversy” over the nature of Scripture. After the death of Spurgeon, he served as pastor of Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle from 1908-1911.
After Acts: Exploring the Lives and Legends of the Apostles, by Bryan Litfin. What happened to the biblical characters after Acts, from Matthew to Bartholomew?
Rethinking Genesis 1-11: Gateway to the Bible, by Gordon J. Wenham. Builds on his highly-regarded Word commentary on Genesis to focus on central ideas, demonstrating first their literary art, and then tracing themes present at first, resurfacing later and throughout Scripture to their fulfillment.
Things As They Are, by Amy Carmichael. She served the people of India over 55 years as a missionary without a single furlough. This is arguably Carmichael’s best known work of her efforts among the impoverished people of southern India.
Defending Substitution: An Essay on Atonement in Paul, by Simon Gathercole. A strong defense of the fact that substitution remained central for Paul in his understanding of the meaning of Christ’s death.
The Flow of the Psalms: Discovering Their Structure and Theology, by O. Palmer Robertson. Contains full color charts showing the overall structure of the Psalter which equips us to see the clear redemptive-historical progression that develops across the five books of the Psalms.
Charles Spurgeon: Preaching Through Adversity, by John Piper. Drawing on Spurgeon, Piper presents an inspiring vision of gospel ministry and offers practical counsel for how pastors keep going when the times are the toughest.
The Incarnation of God: The Mystery of the Gospel as the Foundation of Evangelical Theology, by John C. Clark and Marcus Peter Johnson. Grounded in Scripture and informed by church history, this book will lead readers to examine afresh the greatest mystery of the universe, our Lord’s assumption of human flesh.
Saturate: Being a Disciple of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life, by Jeff Vanderstelt. What does it look like to live for Jesus in the ordinary stuff of life? God has called his people to experience the ordinary, the extraordinary, and everything in between.
Motivate Your Child: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Raising Kids Who Do What They Need to Do Without Being Told, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller.
One God in Three Persons: Unity of Essence, Distinction of Persons, Implications for Life, edited by Bruce A. Ware and John Starke. Essays with contributions from Scott Oliphint, Wayne Grudem, Michael A.G. Haykin, and others.
ADULT DVDs: Images of the Armenian Spirit, by Andrew Goldberg. Award winning PBS documentary celebrating more than 3,000 years of art, culture, religion, and survival of the Armenian people. Includes the 1915 genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, and transports the viewer to today’s Republic of Armenia.
ADULT FICTION: The Quiet Professionals #1-3, by Ronie Kendig; Taken, by Dee Henderson; No Place to Hide, by Lynette Eason (Hidden Identity #3).