Complete New Book List
April, 2019
None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God, by Matthew Barrett, Foreword by Fred Sanders. Tim Challies calls this a book which doesn’t attempt to solve God or neatly package him, but “grapples with his immensity, his transcendence, and his incomprehensibility”. Jared Wilson says “perhaps not since R.C. Sproul has there been a treatment with such careful devotion and accessibility”. This marks the renewal of an interest in classical theism, and Steven Wellum says it is “one of the most readable books on the attributes of God I have ever read”. Barrett frequently calls upon his “A Team” of Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas. The glossary of terms in the back is worth the price of the book.
The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction, by Justin Whitmel Earley. Habits form us more than we form them.
The Prayers of Jesus: Listening to and Learning from Our Saviour, by Mark Jones. Listening to the prayers of Jesus first for what they tell us about Jesus, and second what they tell us about prayer. This is a book of high classical Christology. One reviewer said Mark Jones has done it again, by “distilling the beauty, majesty, and mystery of Jesus” into transformative food for the soul, while Sinclair Ferguson adds that Jones is “assisted by some of the great Puritans of the past”.
The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel, by Dean Inserra. How do you share your faith with people who call themselves Christians but don’t know Christ? Especially in the Bible belt, pews may be filled with “cultural” Christians who are not regenerate. “Cultural” Christianity is a huge mission field in desperate need of laborers.
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, by Mark Vroegop, with Foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada. Exploring how the Bible—through the Psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations—gives voice to our pain and invites us to grieve, struggle, and tap into the rich reservoir of grace and mercy God offers us in the darkest moments of our lives. We need to recover the practice of honest spiritual struggle that gives us permission to vocalize our pain and wrestle with our sorrow.
Assured: Discover Grace, Let Go of Guilt, and Rest in Your Salvation, by Greg Gilbert. Despite professions of faith and membership in a church, many Christians secretly wonder, Am I truly saved? This book cuts through the fog of confusion surrounding our questions and fears regarding assurance. Includes a chapter on “The Confirming Source of Assurance: The Fruits of Obedience”, which focuses on how good works are a confirming source of our assurance as it looks at 1 John, Galatians 5:16-24, and James 2. Another chapter deals with the subject of besetting sins.
Interpreting Eden: A Guide to Faithfully Reading and Understanding Genesis 1-3, by Vern Poythress, with Foreword by D.A .Carson. Highlighting proper interpretive principles, Poythress offers clear direction on approaching these early chapters correctly.
Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life, by Sinclair Ferguson. The NT writers had a deep concern to see Christians grow into spiritual maturity. Ferguson looks at their most important lessons for us.
Irresistible Faith: Becoming the Kind of Christian the World Can’t Resist, by Scott Sauls. What if Christians and the Christian church became the best advertisements for Jesus?
Reforming Apologetics: Retrieving the Classic Reformed Approach to Defending the Faith, by J.V Fesko. Presents an approach to apologetics that reaffirms the theological outlook of 16th and 17th century Reformed fathers. Its peculiar strength is in arguing for God’s revelation in the created order as the source of common principles shared by believer and unbeliever alike. Includes thoughtful criticism of various neo-Calvinist approaches to apologetics, including those of Dooyeweerd and Van Til.
Mere Calvinism, by Jim Scott Orrick. Calvinism is more than just five points; it has huge implications for the believer’s life. Orrick teaches its basic but profound ideas, addresses rebuttals, and clears up misunderstandings.
When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel According to Paul, by Beverly Roberts Gaventa. When reading the book of Romans, we often focus on the quotable passages, not staying long enough to grasp some of the big ideas it contains. Beverly Roberts Gaventa invites us to linger in Romans so we can see how Paul’s most famous letter reframes our tidy categories and dramatically enlarges our sense of the gospel.
Reformed Creeds and Confessions, edited by Ben Woodring. Includes 11 creeds/confessions, including The Nicene Creed, The Athanasian Creed, The Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, the Heidelberg Catechism, etc.
The Essential Tozer Collection, by A.W. Tozer, edited by James L. Snyder. Contains 3 Tozer classics: The Pursuit of God, The Purpose of Man, and The Crucified Life (The Crucified Life is not currently in the library).
COMMENTARIES IN THE “GOD’S WORD FOR YOU” SERIES: Revelation for You, by Tim Chester.
OTHER COMMENTARIES: 2 Samuel, by Richard D. Phillips (Reformed Expository Commentary); Psalms 73-150, by Daniel J. Estes (New American Commentary).
ADULT/FAMILY DVD’s: American Gospel: Christ Alone, by Media Gratiae. Outstanding feature length documentary examining how the prosperity gospel and Word of Faith movement has distorted the gospel of Jesus Christ. Features Michael Horton, Tim Challies, Paul Washer, Nabeel Qureshi, Steve Lawson, John Piper, Jackie Hill Perry, and many others.
ADULT FICTION: The Persian Gamble, by Joel C. Rosenberg. An international thriller about a nuclear alliance between Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Goodbye to Goodbyes: A True Story About Jesus, Lazarus, and an Empty Tomb, by Lauren Chandler. Teaching your children about death.