Complete New Book List
June, 2019
Christ Has Set Us Free: Preaching and Teaching Galatians, edited by D.A. Carson and Jeff Robinson, Sr. How can a sinful human stand before a holy God—a question that stands at the heart of the gospel. In this book, nine seasoned Bible teachers walk through the entirety of Galatians, chapter by chapter. Contributors include Tom Schreiner, John Piper, D.A. Carson, Sinclair Ferguson, Timothy Keller, and others.
Seek First: How the Kingdom of God Changes Everything, by Jeremy Treat. Invites regular Christians to focus on the one thing that really matters: the kingdom of God. Derek Rishmawy says Treat “gives us an integrative vision of what it means to embrace, experience, and seek the kingdom of God in our everyday lives…and he does this in every chapter by fixing our eyes firmly on the person and work of King Jesus, who is the kingdom in his very person”.
Untangling Emotions, by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith. Our emotions are complex, but the Bible teaches us that our emotions are an indispensable part of what makes us human, and play a crucial role in our relationships with God and others. This book will lead us to engage with our emotions in good and fruitful ways.
HISTORICAL NON-FICTION: The D-Day Warriors Who Led the Way to Victory in WWII, by Alex Kershaw. June 6, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary. Beginning in the predawn hours of June 6, 1944, The First Wave follows the remarkable men who carried out D-Day’s most perilous missions; Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier’s First Gunfighter, by Tom Clavin. Separating fact from myth in an exciting biography of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, the first lawman of the Wild West, by Tom Clavin, author of Dodge City.
40 Questions About Calvinism, by Shawn D. Wright. Explains the tenets of Calvinism, answers common misconceptions, and refutes objections. The accessible format enables readers to look up topics they are most interested in.
The Great Athanasius: An Introduction to His Life and Work, by John R. Tyson. An introductory survey of the life and work of the most dynamic pastor-theologian of the fourth century. Central to his story is the “Arian controversy”, the Council of Nicaea, and the subsequent difficulties that emerged in building a consensus around the “very God, very Man” affirmation of the Nicene Creed.
Prophetic from the Center, by D.A. Carson. A brief (54 pages), but crystal clear exposition of the gospel and its implications, based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-19. Carson shows us that if the gospel is centralized, prioritized, and pondered, it powerfully directs us on how to think about everything else. The best way to speak God’s truth on secondary issues is to stand firm on the gospel.
Plugged In: Connecting Your Faith with What You Watch, Read, and Play, by Daniel Strange, with Foreword by Tim Keller. Whether it’s TV shows, Instagram stories, or novels, there is a whole world of culture out there, and the author wants us to engage with it positively. His aim is to free you to enjoy culture in a way that feeds your faith and helps you to share it with others. In his Foreword, Tim Keller says “there is really nothing else like this book”.
Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices That Brought Peace, by J. P. Moreland. Moreland is a professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, a highly regarded Christian apologist, and the author of numerous books. He has been recognized as one of the 50 most influential living philosophers in the world. In this book, he reveals his extended battle with debilitating anxiety and depression while pointing readers toward sound sources of information, treatment, and recovery. Lee Strobel calls it a masterpiece of scholarship, transparency, and compassion.
The Future of Everything: Essential Truths About the End Times, by William Boekestein. Michael Horton says “this is definitely the book I’d give my friends who want to understand the end times…it is immensely practical”. And it is only 160 pages.
Humble Calvinism, by J.A. Medders, with a Foreword by Ray Ortlund and an Afterword by C.H. Spurgeon. In this honest, warm-hearted, witty book, Medders challenges Calvinists to look to their hearts as well as their heads, and shows everyone else that Calvinism may not be quite what they thought it was. Kevin Vanhoozer calls it “laugh-out loud Reformed theology”, while Mike Bird says it is “about how to be robustly Reformed and savor the doctrines of grace without being a jerk about it”.
Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of “And” In an Either-Or World, by Jen Pollock Michel. Karen Swallow Prior says Michel “reveals and revels in the mysteries of a faith that cannot be contained by human categories or understanding but beckons us to embrace its certainties and its wonders alike”. In his review of the book, Trevin Wax recommended the book, but said he wished Pollock had focused more on the certainties of the faith.
Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age, by Tony Reinke. Among all of the competition in the media age, what images should I feed my eyes? John Piper says this book is rooted in the profound biblical strategy of sanctification by seeing (2 Corin 3:18). The spectacle of Christ’s glory is the “supreme power plant of Christian sanctification”.