Kingdom People

Brief notes on two books I have read recently: Collected Writings on Scripture D.A. Carson Crossway (2010) My Rating: **** 1/2 This collection includes D.A. Carson’s essays and book reviews which touch on a variety of Scripture-related subjects, from the use of redaction criticism to the pitfalls of postmodern hermeneutics. The book is intended for [...]

Notes on two books I’ve read recently: You Can Change: God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions Tim Chester Crossway, 2010 My Rating: **** In this book, Tim Chester leads readers to think about what they want to change and then examine their underlying motivations for such a change. Encouraging us to [...]

Traveling evangelists are quietly disappearing. I’ve listed some reasons for the decline, but I believe there may still be a future for vocational evangelism. Clayton King is the type of evangelist I hope we see more of in the coming years. His evangelistic ministry is church-based and Christ-centered. Though he is young, he is already mentoring those [...]

Notes on two books I have read recently: The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence Thabiti Anyabwile Moody, 2010 My Rating: **** Former Muslim turned Baptist pastor Thabiti Anyabwile believes too many Christians feel they need a special technique for evangelizing Muslims, when what they really need is more confidence in [...]

A couple months ago, I wrote a post about the need for Christians to maintain a distinct vocabulary in keeping with our distinctive nature as the people of God. Shortly thereafter, I began a summer series with my small group in which we explored ten important words in the Christian’s vocabulary. Assisting me in my teaching [...]

Notes on two books I’ve read recently: Rescuing Ambition Dave Harvey Crossway, 2010 My Rating: ***** Dave Harvey of Sovereign Grace Ministries believes that ambition need not be suppressed but instead set free. In this pioneering book, he contrasts godly ambition with selfish ambition. Humans are innate “glory chasers,” but our desire for our own [...]

Want to make a point? Tell a good story. Following in the footsteps of Brian McLaren and others, Marcus Borg – popular scholar and author of Jesus Seminar fame – has written a novel. Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith (Harper, 2010) tells the story of professor Kate Riley, a liberal Christian [...]

Some notes on two books I have read recently: Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels Tullian Tchividjian Crossway, 2010 Rating: **** ½ C.S. Lewis was surprised by joy. N.T. Wright is surprised by hope. Pastor Tullian Tchividjian is surprised by grace, particularly the grace he finds in the Old Testament story of Jonah. [...]

Fretting is a worldly habit, not a Christian virtue. Nevertheless, I have been fretting about how to review the recently released book by Michael Spencer (the Internet Monk). Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality (WaterBrook, 2010) is Michael’s long-overdue, first and only book. Its release is filled with pathos, since the Lord took [...]

Some notes on two books I’ve read recently: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy Eric Metaxas Thomas Nelson, 2010 ***** I have been fond of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer ever since I first read The Cost of Discipleship. I had heard bits and pieces of his life story, and I knew of his involvement in [...]