New Books–January 2011

Complete New Book List

January 2011

God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment: A Biblical Theology, by James M. Hamilton, Jr. A strong case for the centrality to biblical theology of what has been called the two-beat rhythm of biblical history: salvation through judgment. Hamilton finds this theme in every book of the Bible.

God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution, by Thomas S. Kidd. A critique of mainstream interpretations of the American Revolution, revealing the central role that the Christian faith played in the revolutionary era, with a surprising partnership of devout believers and deistic doubters to secure America’s victory.

Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ, by John MacArthur. What does it mean to be a Christian the way Jesus defined it? MacArthur says it all boils down to one word: slave. We have been bought with a price; we are His possession.

Tell Them We Are Singing for Jesus: The Original Fisk Jubilee Singers and Christian Reconstruction, 1871-1878, by Toni P. Anderson. Between 1871 and 1878, the Jubilee Singers, an African American group, introduced black spirituals in concerts that won the applause and admiration of the Western world , and provided a unique platform to advance its Christian views for social change.

Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, by Anthony Esolen. Confronts contemporary trends in parenting and schooling, and shows how they snuff out the child’s imagination. Examples include rearing children almost exclusively indoors, denial of the transcendent, loss of traditional childhood games, dismissal of the power of memory, erasing the glorious differences between the sexes, et al. Justin Taylor calls it “elegantly written”.

What I Learned in Narnia, by Douglas Wilson. A rich response to stories that hold a world of wisdom.

The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam’s Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda, by Yaroslav Trofimov. Story of the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by Islamic fundamentalists.

The Secret of Contentment, by William B. Barclay. The temptation to be discontented is everywhere, and the seeds of discontentment are already present in our hearts. Almost 400 years ago, the great Puritan writer Jeremiah Burroughs wrote of the “rare jewel” of contentment. In this book, Barclay addresses the heart of the matter, based on the writings of Burroughs and another Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. J.I. Packer says this book is “planted in Philippians and watered with Puritan wisdom”.

Awakening the Quieter Virtues, by Gregory Spencer. Some of the more colorful virtues like courage and decisiveness easily get our attention, while some of the quieter virtues get lost in the shuffle. But the author unfolds the beauty and nature of such virtues as discernment, innocence, generosity, authenticity, modesty, reverence, and contentment.

Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom, by Peter J. Leithart. A defense of the great military emperor of Rome, who established Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire. .

Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God, by Paul Copan. The New Atheists have attacked the morality of the OT with a vengeance, accusing God of being an oppressor, a murderer and a bully. In this book, Copan addresses virtually every criticism they have raised, and sets forth a powerful defense of OT ethics.

Bible Matrix: An Introduction to the DNA of Scriptures, by Michael Bull. The author says the Bible is one story told over and over again, with many variations on the same theme, and that structure is the Bible’s DNA, seen in a basic seven-point pattern. In his analysis, he shows how Genesis 1 unlocks the whole Bible.

Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History, by Carl R. Trueman. Examples of problems faced by historians and the kinds of fallacies frequently encountered in historical argumentation.

Key Events in the Life of the Historical Jesus: A Collaborative Exploration of Context and Coherence, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Robert L. Webb. A carefully defined approach to historical Jesus studies, examining 12 key episodes in the life of Jesus, examining the case for authenticity, the social and cultural background, and how it shapes our overall understanding of who Jesus was and what He did. Contributors include Craig Blomberg, Craig Evans, Scot McKnight, I. Howard Marshall, et al.

A Taste of the Classics, Volumes 1-4, by Kenneth Boa. In each volume, Boa summarizes and analyzes 4 classic works of literature that helped shape Western civilization. Vol 1: Mere Christianity; Pilgrim’s Progress; The Brothers Karamazov; The Imitation of Christ; Vol 2: The Screwtape Letters; Paradise Lost; Confessions of Augustine; The Pursuit of God; Vol 3: Crime and Punishment; Pensees; The Great Divorce; Christian Perfection; Vol 4: The Divine Comedy; The Knowledge of the Holy; Pride and Prejudice; The Love of God.

The Gospel and the Mind: Recovering and Shaping the Intellectual Life, by Bradley G. Green. Focuses on the church’s responsibilities for shaping and preserving the great intellectual traditions so crucial to human flourishing, and shows that historic periods of Christian witness are always accompanied by an intellectual awakening.

2000 Years of Christ’s Power: Part Three: Renaissance and Reformation, by N.R. Needham. The third volume in a very fine and highly recommended church history.

Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture, by Barry Hankins. A study of the key figures in the bitter struggles from 1979 to the 1990s for control of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention.

Entrusted with the Gospel: Pastoral Expositions of 2 Timothy, edited by D.A. Carson. Six expositions of Paul’s last charge to Timothy. Contributors include, John Piper, Philip Ryken, Mark Driscoll, K. Edward Copeland, Bryan Chapell, and J. Ligon Duncan.

COMMENTARIES/BIBLE STUDIES: A Theology of James: Wisdom for God’s People, by Christopher W. Morgan (Explorations in Biblical Theology); Acts, by R.C. Sproul (St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary).

FAMILY DVDs: Behold the Lamb of God: Live in Concert, by Andrew Peterson (Christmas musical presentation of the Incarnation); Flight and Spike, vol 2 by Dr. Jobe Martin and Dan Breeding (Creation Proclaims series); Evolution vs Creation/Dinosaurs, Fossils, and the Age of the Earth, by Dr. Ron Carlson.

HEROES OF THE FAITH (for children), by Sinclair B. Ferguson: Polycarp of Smyrna: The Man Whose Faith Lasted; Irenaeus of Lyons: The Man Who Wrote Books; Ignatius of Antioch: The Man Who Faced Lions.

CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHIES FOR YOUNG READERS, by Simonetta Carr. Beautifully illustrated biographies for ages 7-10: Augustine of Hippo; John Owen; John Calvin.

YOUTH BOOKS: The Action Bible, edited by Doug Maas, with graphic style comic illustrations by Sergio Cariello.

CHILDRENS BOOKS: 100 Prayers, 100 Praise Songs, by Stephen Elkins (prayers and praise songs God loves to hear); The Boy Who Changed the World, by Andy Andrews (how everything YOU do matters).

FICTION: Cowboy Christmas, by Mary Connealy