New Books–February 2010

Complete New Book List

February 2010

A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God, by John Piper. Ruth and Boaz were risk-takers—a younger, immigrant, peasant widow and a middle-aged, Jewish landowner, walking along the precipice of social exclusion with absolute integrity. And what an unexpected outcome, affecting all generations to follow. Their story of sexual intrigue and racial alliance plays out uncannily under the invisible hand of God. And in their hazardous acts of faithfulness, the reward of Providence was unimagined—they would bring forth a line leading to the King of kings.

The Scofield Bible: Its History and Impact on the EvangelicalChurch, by R. Todd Mangum and Mark S. Sweetnam. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible. It was uniquely responsible for popularizing dispensational theology, eventually making dispensationalism the theology assumed by everyday English-speaking Christians for much of the 20^th century. This book provides insight into the approach, intention and theology of the Scofield Bible, and rare insight into the life of C.I. Scofield himself, which has become a subject of interest and controversy in recent years.

Holy Subversion: Allegiance to Christ in a Age of Rivals, by Trevin Wax. A challenge to live subversively against the powers of this world, putting the lordship of Christ on display in our lives.

Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters, by Joshua Harris. Harris is the popular author of Stop Dating the Church, and Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, and is the senior pastor of CovenantLifeChurch in Maryland, which belongs to the Sovereign Grace network of churches. This book tells of his personal journey from superficial Christianity as he learned to dig into truth and build his life on a real knowledge of God. He learned that seemingly worn-out words like theology, doctrine and orthodoxy were the pathway to the mysterious, awe-filled experience of truly knowing the living Jesus Christ.

When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany, by Erwin W. Lutzer. Looks at seven trends that transformed a society much like our own into Nazi Germany, and asks what we would do in that situation.

Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything, by Adrian Warnock. As Al Mohler says, the author “points us all to the centrality of the resurrection for every dimension of the Christian life”. Warnock is a medical doctor by trade, and has been a regular preacher at JubileeChurch in London for more than ten years. He also runs a popular Christian blog at adrianwarnock.com.

What Does the Future Hold?: Exploring Various Views on the End Times, by C.Marvin Pate. Highlights the three major views of when Christ will return—premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism—as well as a fourth skeptical interpretation.

Worshiping with the Church Fathers, by Christopher A. Hall. The practice and teaching of the Early Church Fathers on worship and spirituality.

The Virtuous Reader: Old Testament Narrative and Interpretative Virtue, by Richard S. Briggs (Studies in Theological Interpretation). Interpreting the Old Testament narratives with the aim of showing what it takes to be a virtuous reader of scripture, and showing the connection between the act of reading and the character of the reader.

John, by R.C. Sproul (St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary). Second volume in a new series of expositional commentaries by Sproul.

How to Inherit the Earth: Submitting Ourselves to a Servant Savior, by Scott A. Bessenecker. One reviewer said that “in an age of narcissistic entitlement, these humble but straight-forward reflections challenge a leadership-enamored church to discover the grace in service and submission”.

America’s Prophet: Moses and the American Story, by Bruce Feiler. This exploration of how the story of Moses has influenced America’s history traces the biblical figure’s role in inspiring change, from the Pilgrim’s journey and the visions of the Founding Fathers, to the ideologies of the civil rights movement.

Samuel Adams: A Life, by Ira Stoll. Samuel Adams, cousin of John Adams and one of the most religious of the Founding Fathers, was a devout Christian with a strong Puritan heritage who sincerely saw the hand of God in America’s struggle for independence. He was a newspaper editor, favored state and local government over federal power, and his fiery rhetoric was full of biblical allusions. One reviewer stated that Adams was “the jump-starter of our independence whom we have unaccountably lost track of”, but that Stoll’s biography “lets the Founding Firebrand shine once more”.

Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians, by Stephen R. Haynes and Lori Brandt Hale (Armchair series). Written by experts but designed for the novice, the Armchair series provides accurate yet witty overviews of some of the most profound theologians in Christian history. Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis for his part in a plot against Hitler.

The Praise of Folly: The Enigmatic Life and Theology of C.I. Scofield, by David Lutzweiler. This book is the result of historical research into the life and character of Scofield, a towering yet enigmatic figure in 20^th century dispensationalism, and author of the incredibly influential Scofield Reference Bible. The author is a former dispensationalist who is a graduate of both Moody Bible Institute and WheatonCollege.

Understanding Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to America’s Theologian, edited by Gerald R. McDermott. Edwards is now widely recognized as America’s greatest religious mind, but his reputation has also generated controversy. While post Revolutionary War America revered his piety and intellectual prowess, the Unitarians who gained cultural power after the Civil War dismissed him as an anachronistic symbol of Puritanism. Intellectuals generally did not take Edwards seriously again until 1949 when Harvard historian Perry Miller published his acclaimed biography of the New England thinker. Since mid-century, scholarship on Edwards has exploded. This collection offers an overview of his life and thought.

Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful: A Biblical Vision for Education in the Church, by Gary A. Parrett and S. Steve Kang. A core curriculum for recovering the full scope of Christian proclamation and reinvigorating the teaching ministry of the church.

The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ, by James Bryan Smith. Following the Sermon on the Mount, the author guides us to look behind the character flaws Jesus pointed to, and replace our false beliefs with Jesus’ narratives about life in the kingdom of God.

Reading Revelation: A Comparison of Four Interpretative Translations of the Apocalypse, by C. Marvin Pate. The study of Revelation has customarily fallen into four major approaches: preterist (past), historicist, futurist, and idealist (spiritual). Pate compares these four major approaches by laying out the different interpretative translations in parallel columns compared to the Greek text and a literal word-for-word translation.

Introverts in the Church: Finding our Place in an Extroverted Culture, by Adam S. McHugh. Many churches tend to be extroverted places where introverts are marginalized, and some end up feeling that it is not as faithful to be an introvert. However, the author says introverts are called and gifted by God too, and he shows how they can live and minister in ways consistent with their personalities.

The Historical Jesus of the Gospels, by Craig S. Keener. A comprehensive account of the study of the historical Jesus, proving why the Gospel writers’ view of Jesus is preferable to the modern constructs of many critical New Testament scholars.

Duets: Still in the Word…Still in the Mood, by John and Anita Renfroe. Devotionals for couples, designed to get couples “laughing, sharing, touching, praying, and making beautiful music together”.

Living on the Edge: Dare to Experience True Spirituality, by Chip Ingram. Describes how Romans 12 addresses the five critical relationships that everyone must master in order to live authentically as a Christian.

Commentaries on Romans and 1-2 Corinthians, by Ambrosiaster, translated and edited by Gerald L. Bray (Ancient Christian Texts). Ambrosiaster (“Star of Ambrose”) is the name given to the anonymous author of the earliest complete Latin commentary on the epistles of Paul. The author wrote in 366-384 AD, and he was a witness to Nicene orthodoxy, frequently commenting on themes related to the Trinity. He had a keen eye for moral issues, and often offers comments that reflect how the church had changed from the time of the apostles to his own day.

The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Revised Edition (5 volumes), by Moises Silva, Revision Editor, and Merrill C. Tenney, General Editor. A revised, full color edition of a classic Bible study resource for 30 years. The five volume set, first published in 1975, has been extensively revised, with up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship.

Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible, edited by Don Kistler. Contributors include John McArthur, R.C. Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson and others.

COMMENTARIES: 1-2 Samuel, by J. Robert Vannoy (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary).

ADULT/FAMILY DVDs: Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson, and Jesus are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World, by Joel C. Rosenberg; Fire on the Mountain, by Ray Vander Laan (That the World May Know, Faith Lessons vol 9; six faith lessons from the Exodus, filmed on location in the Middle East); Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, starring Cuba Gooding; No Greater Love, starring Anthony Tyler Quinn; Love Takes Wing, by Janette Oke; The Lee Strobel 3-Disc Film Collection (The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator).

CHILDRENS BOOKS: The Princess and the Three Knights, by Karen Kingsbury.

ADULT FICTION: Reclaiming Nick, Taming Rafe, and Finding Stefanie, by Susan May Warren (Noble Legacy #1-3); Trusting for Tomorrow, by Jennifer Arrington; Rocky Mountain Oasis, by Lynnette Bonner (The Shepherd’s Heart #1);

Beguiled, by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand; Burn, by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy