Complete New Book List
November, 2015
Owen on the Christian Life: Living for the Glory of God in Christ, by Matthew Barrett and Michael A.G. Haykin.(Theologians on the Christian Life). The 17th century Puritan John Owen is widely regarded as one of the most influential of the English Puritans. As a pastor, he longed to see the glory of Christ take root in people’s lives. As a writer, he continues to encourage us to communion with God. His high view of God and deep theological convictions flowed into practical application and a zeal for personal holiness.
Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach, by Alan S. Bandy and Benjamin L. Merkle. The study of biblical prophecy is about much more than looking at predictions of end-time events. Rather, a proper approach acknowledges that the threads of prophecy crisscross throughout Genesis to Revelation, forming the fabric of canonical Scripture, and a good grasp of prophecy is essential for understanding the message of the entire Bible. The authors further give the readers the big picture of how all prophecy relates to and should be interpreted in the light of Jesus Christ. Of particular note is that in regard to the millennium, Bandy holds to a historical premillennial persepective, while Merkle is amillennial. This is an outstanding and very accessible book, and Sam Storms says it may be the standard text on biblical prophecy for years to come.
The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem, by Colin R. Nicholl. The author, a NT scholar, makes the compelling case that the Star of Bethlehem could only have been a great comet. He takes a fresh look at the biblical text and draws on the latest astronomical research, and the result is this beautifully illustrated volume. Eric Metaxas says, “I am simply in awe of this book. An absolutely astonishing triumph”, and John Lennox says it is “breathtaking in the range of its scholarship”.
J.I. Packer: An Evangelical Life, by Leland Ryken, with an Afterword by J.I. Packer. A portrait of one of Evangelicalism’s most important figures. Packer who is now 89 years old, is known for scores of writings, including Knowing God and Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. A devotee of the English Puritans, he wrote a wonderful book entitled A Quest of Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life.
Knowing Christ, by Mark Jones. Foreword by J.I. Packer, who says: “ Jones, an established expert on many aspects of Puritan thought, also loves the Bible and its Christ, and the Puritans as the expositors of both. And out of this triune love, he has written a memorable unpacking of the truth about the Saviour according to the classic Reformed tradition, and the Puritans supremely”. Rosaria Butterfield calls it “a majestic gem that will be passed down from generation to generation as a beloved devotional”.
Jesus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee, by Mark L. Strauss. The Jesus everybody likes, says Strauss, is not the Jesus found in the Gospels. He’s a figure we have created in our own minds. When we unpack the puzzling paradoxes, we find greater insight into his countercultural message and mission than we could ever have imagined.
A Heavenly Conference, by Richard Sibbes (Puritan Paperbacks). Sibbes was one of the greatest of the Puritan writers, who had a real gift for lengthy titles. The full title of this book was originally A Heavenly Conference Between Christ and Mary After His Resurrection, Wherein the Intimate Familiarity and Near Relation Between Christ and a Believer is Discovered. This is a very original treatment of the doctrine of the believer’s union with Christ.
Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments, by Geerhardus Vos. Originally published in 1948, this book is foundational for the current surge of interest in biblical theology, emphasizing the progressive development of biblical themes.
Awakening the Evangelical Mind: An Intellectual History of the Neo-Evangelical Movement, by Owen Strachan. Foreword by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. The sweeping story of the intellectual roots of a movement. The first major study of the movement leaders, Harold Ockenga (d. 1985) and Carl F.H. Henry (d. 2003), describes the formation of evangelical scholarship as it developed in the middle of the 20th century.
Preparing for Heaven: What Dallas Willard Taught Me About Living, Dying, and Eternal Life, by Gary Black, Jr. Final thoughts of Dallas Willard, in conversation with friend and theologian Gary Black, revealing how Christians have misunderstood heaven, and how to live our lives in view of eternity.
Outposts of Hope: First Peter’s Christ for Culture Strategy, by Douglas D. Webster. First Peter was written to Christians in exile who were nonetheless called a holy nation and God’s own people. Believers today face those same tensions, and Peter’s letter serves as a manual for Christian flourishing in an increasingly hostile culture.
The Pastor As Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision, by Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan. The authors say too often pastors have “laid asunder” the theological aspect of their tasks. Tim Keller says this book is a “ringing call for working pastors to exercise a higher level of theologically informed leadership in our churches”.
ESV Readers Bible, by Crossway. An ESV Bible with the verse and chapter divisions removed, so that you read each book of the Bible as it was originally written, like an unbroken narrative, or a letter in the case of the epistles. Try a new Bible reading experience.
How We Got the Bible, by Timothy Paul Jones. The origin, trustworthiness, and history of the Bible. Lavishly illustrated with color plates.
How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, 4th Edition, by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. This is a classic book offering a practical approach to Bible study in an easy-to-understand style. In print since 1981.
COMMENTARIES: 1-3 John, by Douglas Sean O’Donnell (Reformed Expository Commentary); Song of Songs: A Biblical-Theological, Allegorical, Christological Interpretation, by James M. Hamilton, Jr. Al Mohler calls this “a fresh, biblically informed approach to the Song of Solomon.
YOUTH BOOKS: Anne of Green Gables #1-8, by L.M. Montgomery. The complete series.
CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHIES FOR YOUNG READERS: Marie Durand, by Simonetta Carr. In 1730, 19-year-old Marie was arrested and taken from her village home in Southern France for the crime of having a brother who was a Protestant preacher. Imprisoned in a tower, she would spend the next 38 years there, refusing to recant her Protestant faith which would have gained her release. Beautifully illustrated.
CHILDRENS BOOKS: The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden, by Kevin DeYoung. Beautifully illustrated book which leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ’s death on a cross to the new heavens and new earth. DeYoung is a pastor, best-selling author, and father of six, who blogs at the Gospel Coalition (NOTE: This books assumes a basic knowledge of the Bible stories, and is best used with children who are familiar with them); God’s Gospel, by Jill Nelson. Presents the breadth of the gospel in language children can understand (ages 5-10). .