Start Your Library With These Three Works

Just wanted to share another video by my friend Pastor Matthew Everhard on three useful, starter books every non-professional ministry leader should have. Be sure to check out his links.

Common Grace and the Gospel By Cornelius Van Til, K. Scott Oliphint

 Common Grace and the Gospel By Cornelius Van Til, K. Scott Oliphint

"Restoring the full text of the original 1972 work, this collection of annotated essays addresses questions on common grace and its relevance to the gospel. A pioneer in presuppositional apologetics, Cornelius Van Til sets forth a Christian philosophy of history; examines the views of Abraham Kuyper, Herman Hoeksema, and others in the debate over common grace; and replies to criticism."

To find out more about this outstanding republication, click over to the Reformed Forum website and listen to their interview with the editor, Scott Oliphint.

Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Butterfield

Rosaria Buttterfield has come out with another outstanding work, Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ. Delving into sexual identity is only one aspect of this book, it has much more. To hear an insightful discussion on her book check out the Mortification of Spin podcast. Also, have a look at TGC's review here.

Book Review: Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God By Joe Thorn

There are few things that can top getting a daily dose of spiritual truth and encouragement.  I often find myself going back to devotional works that carry heavy spiritual truth to get me through the day. Though there are many worthy works out there, Joe Thorn has joined the company of wonderful authors that have contributed to this genre. Experiencing the Trinity has now become a go-to book for me. It combines Biblical truth, with loving, gentle encouragement. If we stop kidding ourselves and openly recognize that life has more problems than earthly joys we will find comfort in a book such as this.

Thorn, in this work, has a gentle, soft, encouraging writing style. He is not beating the reader over the head with Scripture and expecting anyone to stand to attention. Just the opposite, he calmly weaves his way through each member of the Trinity reminding the reader of what each has given to us and will give us. This book isn't fluff, either. There are hard truths expressed, many that being a Christian long enough, we've all heard before. Yet, his style gently pushes the reader to remember the realities and delights of the Christian life as found in Scripture.

As the title suggests, it is about experiencing the Trinity, not just attempting to grasp the academic truths of doctrine. The work is divided into three sections for each member of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each chapter is only a page or two thus the reader has enough to chew on without being overwhelmed. There is no doubt this would be a great asset to anyone's daily devotions. Either starting off your day or ending your day, this is a valuable resource to Christian living. I warmly recommend it.

Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page. 

Bookworms on the Beach

Jump over to the Mortification of Spin website and have a listen to Carl, Aimee & Todd on their Summer reading plans. This is a great podcast and listening regularly is highly recommended. Below are just two of their great pics.

Hidden But Now Revealed by G.K. Beale & Benjamin L. Gladd

The Church of Christ by James Bannerman

The Gospel in the Old Testament?

Here are a couple of books that give us an understanding of how we find the gospel in the Old Testament. Read on, my friends, read on.

From Eden to the New Jerusalem by T. Desmond Alexander

God has given us the reasons for creation and our existence in the Bible. ”by resolving an intricate plot that sheds light on the entire story,“ Alexander writes. Using this theory to start from the denouement, or resolution, in Revelation's last verses and work backward, Alexander pieces together the Bible's overarching plot. The resulting picture reveals the reasons for creation and life that have eluded those who seek to answer life's biggest questions without first placing themselves in God's story.

God Dwells Among Us by G.K. Beale & Mitchell Kim

Preaching's 2014 Best Books for Preachers 2014 Best Missions-Oriented Biblical Study, from Byron Borger, Hearts and Minds Bookstore Just like we do today, the writers and chief actors of the Old Testament felt a deep longing for the presence of God. It is symbolized in the temple ruins, and before it the temple itself, and before that the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle that housed it, and before that the Garden of Eden. In response to this longing, God shares his ultimate mission, in which his people play a part: the expansion of Eden, the temple of God's presence, to all peoples throughout the earth. The temple has always been a source of rich scholarship and theological reflection, but what does it mean for the church's ongoing mission in the world? G. K. Beale and Mitchell Kim take temple theology off the bookshelf and bring it to our modern-day life, where the church is instructed and exhorted in its purpose. From Eden to the new Jerusalem, we are God's temple on the earth in our day, the firstfruits of the new creation. God has always desired to dwell among us; now the church must follow its missional call to extend the borders of God's kingdom and take his presence to the ends of the earth.


                                                      

A Little Eye Candy for the Calvinist Reader

A few and notable works for this month. Take a look...

Merciful: The Opportunity and Challenge of Disciplining the Poor Out of Poverty by Randy Nabors.

Read an online interview here at byFaith magazine.

Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief by John Frame
Available 12 June 2015

Renowned theologian John Frame sheds much-needed light on the message and method of genuinely Christian apologetics in this landmark title. He insightfully examines apologetics in terms of proof, defense, and offense and clarifies the relationships of reason, proofs, and evidences to faith, biblical authority, and the lordship of Christ.

Defending Substitution by Simon Gathercole

Read the new release blog post at Baker here.

The Accidental Feminist by Courtney Reissig

Check out the online interview with the author here.

Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul by R. Kent Hughes

In this insightful commentary, readers will find a gold mine of helpful discussion related to a book of the Bible that is easily misunderstood and often overlooked. Written by a pastor with decades of ministry and preaching experience, this volume abounds with wise insights into the book of Hebrews. With divisions and outlines that are never forced but flow naturally from the Biblical text, this commentary will be a great resource for anyone studying or teaching the book of Hebrews.

What's New and Coming Soon for April

Take a look at what's publishing and available very soon. Click on the links for book descriptions and to buy.

The Korean Pentecost by William N. Blair & Bruce F. Hunt

Christ Set Forth by Thomas Goodwin

What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
by Kevin DeYoung

The Prodigal Church: A Gentle Manifesto Against the Status Quo
by Jared C. Wilson

The Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive by Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop

Blind Spots by Collin Hansen

A Few Books on Inerrancy

The recent Inerrancy Summit at the Shepherd's Conference will no doubt be long remembered as the line up of speakers was something out of a Who's Who of today's most respected theologians. There are a few of the videos from the conference here. Take some time to watch and listen. Need a book on Inerrancy? Have a look here and here and below.

The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority By Gregory K. Beale

The Scripture Cannot Be Broken: Twentieth Century Writings on the Doctrine of Inerrancy From Crossway

Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization By Vern S. Poythress

 

 

A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir by Thomas C. Oden

A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir is a fascinating look into the life of Thomas Oden. If you don't him, you should. Check out the Mortification of Spin podcast as the trio discuss this monograph.

Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement: An Interview with Andy Naselli

Excellent video from B&H Academic on Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement.



Sound good? You can purchase Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement here.

Look what's new...

Take a look what's new on the Academic page at the Reformed Book Cellar and post suggestions on our Facebook page what you would add. Winter is a great time to invest time reading and digging deeper into theological issues. Dig in, enjoy and be blessed.

Look What's Coming

Mark McDowell did us a great service in his post at Ref21 showing us what's up and coming in 2015. Below are a few of the books. See the whole article with his notes here.

Reformed Catholicity: The Promise of Retrieval for Theology and Biblical Interpretation By Michael Allen, Scott R. Swain

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel of Glory: Major Themes in Johannine Theology By Richard Bauckham

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luther on the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom (Theologians on the Christian Life) By Carl R. Trueman

 

 

Coming Soon: "Luther and the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom" by Carl Trueman

An interview with carl Trueman on his new book due out in February 2015, Luther and the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom.

"

Reformed Forum 2014 Books

This past weekend the Reformed Forum held their first conference. Plenary speakers included Dr. Lane G. Tipton and Dr. K. Scott Oliphint. The conference was fantastic and a good time was had by all. Though intentionally small in number, attendees came from Texas, California and Massachusetts. Many of us met for the first time and many of us renewed old friendships.  Reformed Forum has made available the videos and audio. Check 'em out. And, have a look at some of the books that were referenced and offered at the conference here. I'm already looking forward to next years conference.

Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God (Theologians on the Christian Life) By Dane C. Ortlund

I'm just digging into this gem. A review is forthcoming but I've heard nothing but good about this work. Watch the nterview below for more on this book.

Interview: Dane Ortlund and Justin Taylor from Crossway on Vimeo.

Book Review: The Theology of the Westminster Standards by J.V. Fesko

Much has changed since the 17^th century. As we read the Westminster Standards that fact is not always at the forefront in our analysis and understanding. Author J.V. Fesko opens up the context of the writing of the Standards in his TheTheology of the Westminster Standards. Utilizing new data now available on the internet Fesko delves into the major issues and persons that revolved around the writings of the Divines. As Fesko notes, “A benefit of reading the Standards within their original historical and theological context is that the contemporary reader learns how to read a confession of faith. In the present day those who employ confessions of faith often fail to understand that confessions can be highly nuanced documents. The running joke in Presbyterian circles is, “Put three Presbyterians in one room and you’ll get five different opinions.” This humorous observation is equally true of Reformed theology in the early modern period.” (J. V. Fesko. The Theology of the Westminster Standards (Kindle Locations 342-346). Crossway.) Further, “…Early modern Reformed theologians had a slightly different outlook on life and theology than we do today, and despite whatever similarities in doctrine and conviction are shared with theologians in the twenty-first century, the differences can be significant.”(J. V. Fesko. The Theology of the Westminster Standards (Kindle Locations 339-341). Crossway.) Thus, a proper understanding of the historical context and the mindset of the key players is vital.

There are too many fascinating insights this work highlights to explore in this brief review, but let me point out a few that were enlightening to me and likely to you the reader. For example, though John Calvin was often referred to in the debates on various points, he was by far not the “go to” theologian for the Divines. Many past & contemporary 17^th century theologians were cited and even those with opposing theological viewpoints. Hence we see that the Divines were not “Calvinists.” They were all learned, thoughtful, godly men who contended for the truth in their own manner.  To label them Calvinists is completely false and leads to much misunderstanding.

Fesko begins by setting the stage with the historical context. War, religion and politics were all intertwined in the 17^th century and at least a fair understanding of the existing and recent events prior to the convening of the Divines is necessary to apprehend the backdrop to the assembly. Here the author does an admirable job for the reader.

From there, Fesko launches into the Doctrine of Scripture, God and the Decree, Covenant and Creation, The Doctrine of Christ, Justification, Sanctification, The Law of God, The Church, Worship and Eschatology. This is not small work. Though comprehensive it is not exhaustive according to Fesko.

In each chapter the decisive debates are laid out noting the key arguments, the key players and the conclusion resulting in the precise wording of the Westminster documents (at least as it was originally written).  Some of the interesting points brought to light were that there were two parties in the debates over justification; those who believed in the active obedience of Christ and those who did not. There were 70 speeches against the active obedience and 176 in favor. In the chapter on sanctification the reader receives a thorough definition of the various forms of antinomianism and the arguments cited against it. Did you know there was virtually no one of a premillennial disposition during this period? And, it wasn’t as crazy as we may think to label the pope as the antichrist. This is all such fascinating stuff I found myself often glued to my Kindle.

As Fesko notes in his conclusion, “Historical context is all-determinative for understanding the theology contained in the Westminster Standards. As helpful and necessary as popular commentaries on the Standards are, a contextually sensitive reading of the documents must first be established. What political and theological concerns did the divines have, and how do these concerns appear in the Confession and catechisms? Who were the dialogue partners of the divines, whether positively or negatively?” (J. V. Fesko. The Theology of the Westminster Standards (Kindle Locations 9586-9589). Crossway.) We cannot ignore the historical context of the assembly any more than we can ignore the historical context of Scripture. This work starts the reader down the road to more intensive study of the Westminster Assembly and its work. Extensively footnoted with general and Scripture indices as well as an annotated bibliography, this book is a superb foundation.

Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page.      

Knowing God by J.I.Packer

The Mens and Ladies groups at Redeemer Church in Hudson, Ohio will be reading and studying through the well known and foundational book by J.I. Packer, Knowing God this Fall. We look forward to having you join us if you're in the area for a great time of fellowship and edification. Find out more here.

Product Description

One of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals (Christianity Today, 2006) Platinum Book Award, Evangelical Christian Publishing Association For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory and the joy of knowing God. In 2006, Christianity Today voted this title one of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals. This edition is updated with Americanized language and spelling and a new preface by the author. Stemming from Packer's profound theological knowledge, Knowing God brings together two important facets of the Christian faith— knowing about God and also knowing God through the context of a close relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to transform and enrich the Christian understanding of God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know him intimately. This guide leads readers into a greater understanding of God while providing advice to gaining a closer relationship with him as a result.

Pick Three Theology Books of the Week

Here are three works to consider...

Everyone's a Theologian by R.C. Sproul

Product description
Many people react negatively to the word theology, believing that it involves dry, fruitless arguments about minute points of doctrine. Yet as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues,everyone is a theologian. Any time we think about a teaching of the Bible and strive to understand it, we are engaging in theology. Therefore, it is important that we put the Bible's varied teachings together in a systematic fashion, using proper, time-tested methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a theology that is founded on truth. That is precisely what Dr. Sproul does in Everyone's a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. This book is anything but a dry discussion of minute points of doctrine. Dr. Sproul, demonstrating his trademark ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, surveys the basic truths of the Christian faith, reminding us once more of what God is like and of what He has done for His people in this world and the next.

Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets from IVP Academic

Product description
2013 ECPA Book Award finalist! With the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets, IVP's Black Dictionary series completes its coverage of the Old Testament canonical books. A true compendium of recent scholarship, the volume includes 115 articles covering all aspects of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the twelve "minor prophets" and Daniel. Each book's historical, cultural, religious and literary background is thoroughly covered, alongside articles on interpretation history and critical method. Pastors, scholars and students will find this a deep resource for their Old Testament studies.


Introducing Biblical Theology by Sigurd Grindheim

Product description
How do the different books of the Christian bible contribute to telling the story of God's salvation in Jesus Christ? How can the diverse and sometimes confusing range of perspectives in the bible join together in one picture?

Sigurd Grindheim shows students how this picture can be seen as that of the Triune God, the God who interacts. God makes human beings who enjoy a peaceful relationship with him. This relationship is broken because of sin, but God continues to reach out to human beings through covenants. Human failure to be faithful shows that God needs to intervene in a more direct way. In his son Jesus Christ, he comes to earth and brings reconciliation. Grindheim draws on insights from scholarship and tradition to answer the major questions and presents them in a highly accessible form, using examples, revision questions and charts. This book is written specifically for students at the start of courses in the Bible, Theology and Ministry, and for those searching for a deeper understanding of the theology of the Christian bible.

Al Mohler's Response to Matthew Vines; God and The Gay Christian

Al Mohler has an outstanding response to God and The Gay Christian by Matthew Vines and it can be read here. In part Mohler writes

Readers of his book who are looking for an off-ramp from the current cultural predicament will no doubt try to accept his argument. But the real question is whether what Vines claims is true and faithful to the Bible as the Word of God. But his argument is neither true nor faithful to Scripture. It is, nonetheless, a prototype of the kind of argument we can now expect.

...Biblical Christianity cannot endorse same-sex marriage nor accept the claim that a believer can be obedient to Christ and remain or persist in same-sex behaviors. The church is the assembly of the redeemed, saved from our sins and learning obedience in the School of Christ. Every single one of us is a sexual sinner in need of redemption, but we are called to holiness, to obedience, and to honoring marriage as one of God’s most precious gifts and as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church.

Read the entire post here.