Complete New Book List
February, 2017
Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality, by Wesley Hill. As a celibate gay Christian, who is also a theology professor, Hill gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to wrestle firsthand with God’s “no” to same-sex sexual intimacy. He advocates neither unqualified “healing” for those who struggle, nor accommodation to temptation, but rather faithfulness in the midst of brokenness.
A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter, by Miriam Huffman Rockness. Although art critic John Ruskin proclaimed her potential as one of the best artists of the 19th century, her devotion to Christ compelled her to abandon the life of art and privilege, and leave London for Algeria where she ministered for 40 years (she died in 1928). Her love of art and literature became tools for ministry, and she ministered faithfully despite frail health and many obstacles.
Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ, by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale.
Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts, by Trillia J. Newbell.
HISTORICAL NON-FICTION: Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, A Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill, by Candice Millard. At the age of 24, Winston Churchill, wanting to prepare himself for a later political career, sought battlefield experience to prove himself, and arrived in South Africa in 1899 as a journalist to cover the colonial war the British were fighting against Boer rebels. His James Bond-like adventures there included capture by the Boers, and a daring escape from prison. Millard’s book is a slam-bang and exciting narrative.
Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage, by Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage. Every man and woman wants to be cherished by their spouse, and marriages thrive when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another. “My dove, my perfect one, is the only one.” Song of Songs 6:9 ESV.
The Righteous Judgment of God: Aspects of Judgment in Paul’s Letters, by John R. Coulson, with Foreword by Michael Bird. Investigates what Paul’s letters have to say about God’s judgment: 1) as fundamental to our human life as Adam’s descendants, 2) at work in the world today, 3) of the final judgment as the certain future of every person, and 4) as the decisive judgment of our sin in Christ at the cross. Includes an interesting section on the judgment of God’s people.
God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ, by Stephen J. Wellum. Greg Allison says this Christology is “at once biblical, historically grounded…theologically robust, covenantal, canonical, confessional and devotional”.
Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology, by Thomas C. Oden. A systematic theology with an emphasis on the whole Christian tradition and the classical Christian writers. One review said it is “anti-trendiness with a vengeance”. Oden, who died this year, experienced a dramatic turnaround from liberalism, to become an expert in the theologians of the early church.
American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, by Matthew Avery Sutton. Argues for the centrality in the American evangelical tradition of apocalypticism—a preoccupation with how the world will end.
Martin Luther and the Enduring Word of God: The Wittenberg School and Its Scripture-Centered Proclamation, by Robert Kolb. Luther’s biblical exegesis and theology, both in his own day and as developed by his students.
Guaranteed Pure: The Moody Bible Institute, Business, and the Making of Modern Evangelicalism, by Timothy E.W. Gloege. How a consumer-oriented “orthodoxy” and a modern individualism displaced traditional creeds and undermined denominational authority, forever altering the American religious landscape.
How I Changed My Mind About Evolution: Evangelicals Reflect on Faith and Science, edited by Kathryn Applegate and J.B. Stump. How did they come to embrace both evolution and faith? Contributors include Francis Collins, John Ortberg, N.T. Wright, Tremper Longman, Scot McKnight, Oliver Crisp and others.
40 Questions About the Historical Jesus, by C. Marvin Pate. A competent guide through the thicket of questions and controversies that surround the historical Jesus.
John Knox, by Jane Dawson. In this definitive new biography of the famous preacher, prophet and reformer, Dawson shatters the myths, misconceptions and stereotypes concerning the fiery and controversial leader of the Protestant Reformation in 16th century Scotland. Critics call it both scholarly and a thoroughly good read.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ: The Doctrine of Imputation, by J. V. Fesko. The doctrine of imputation is the ground in which salvation is rooted, with three great “assignments” in Scripture: 1) Adam’s original sin assigned to mankind, 2) Sins of God’s people assigned to Christ, and 3) Christ’s righteousness assigned to all of his people. The study begins with the early church, and moves through the Reformation up to the present day, as well as examining both OT and NT.
Confessing the Faith Today: A Fresh Look at the Belgic Confession, by Allan J. Janssen. Encourages the church to enter into a conversation with our forebears of the faith, acknowledging the historical nature of not only the 1561 confession, but of God’s involvement in all creation.
How to Read Job, by John H. Walton and Tremper Longman III. Daniel Carroll says “the authors argue that readers should redirect their efforts at seeking reasons for human suffering to instead recognize the lesson to trust in a sovereign God within the incongruities of life”.
Don’t Call It Love: Breaking the Cycle of Relationship Dependency, by Dr. Gregory Jantz and Dr. Tim Clinton, with Ann McMurray.Unravelling why you are drawn back to the same types of people and relationships over and over again.
Five Views on Law and Gospel, edited by Wayne Strickland (Counterpoints series). The views are the Non-Theononic Reformed View (Willem VanGemeren), the Theonomic Reformed View (Greg Bahnsen), the Evangelical View (Walter Kaiser), the Dispensational View (Wayne Strickland), and the Modified Lutheran View (Douglas Moo).
Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible and Church, edited by Preston Sprinkle (Counterpoints series). The traditional view is presented by Wesley Hill and Stephen R. Holmes, and the affirming view is presented by William Loader and Megan K. DeFranza. Wesley Hill, who presents the traditional view, is a celibate gay Christian who is an outstanding writer and theologian.
Transgenderism, by Vaughan Roberts. A brief (74 pages) examination of this newly prominent issue.
EXPLORE THE BOOK SERIES: 90 Days in John 14-17, Romans, James, by Timothy Keller and Sam Allberry; 90 Days in Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Galatians with Calvin, Luther, Bullinger and Cranmer, edited by Lee Gatiss.
COMMENTARIES: John, by Edward W. Klink III (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the NT); Revelation, by Joel R. Beeke (The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the NT).
ADULT FICTION: Tangled Webs, by Irene Hannon (Men of Valor #3); A Hidden Truth, by Judith Miller ( Home to Amana #1); Because You’re Mine, by Colleen Coble.
FAMILY DVDs: Many Beautiful Things: The Life and Vision of Lilias Trotter, a film by Laura Waters Hinson (see the biography above for Lilias’ story).