- This was my first time working completely through Calvin's classic work of theology, and this new edition, based on the 1541 French version, was a joy to read. Calvin gets a bad rap for being very dry and technical at times, but this work is anything but. It is largely devotional, and he writes movingly about the God he is attempting to know through the Scriptures. Beautifully written and theologically rich. Every Christian really should be familiar with the Institutes, and this version would be the one I would recommend for most.
The Christian Ministry – Charles Bridges
- This was required reading during my pastoral internship in Louisville, and I am certain I will be coming back to this work in the future. First published in 1830, there are some things that Bridges says about pastoral ministry that are bound to his specific context, but most of what he says still applies today powerfully. This book helped solidify in my mind and heart a call to ministry. Bridges vision for the calling and work of a pastor is wonderful, motivating, challenging, and glorious.
- With the 500-year anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation coming up in 2017, Zondervan is publishing a book on each of the 5 solas. This is the first in that series, on sola fide, or "faith alone." Tom Schreiner was my pastor and professor down in Louisville during seminary, and he is absolutely one of my favorite authors to read. He has a skill for taking complex ideas and explaining them in straightforward ways that assist understanding without being simplistic. He applies those skills in this book to the truth that we are saved by faith alone, not by works. He engages many who would disagree with that idea (primarily Roman Catholics) with his usual fairness and irenic spirit. I am incredibly thankful for his ministry and writing.
- This book (from 9Marks, and I highly recommend almost anything they put out) is a beautiful vision for the local church, one that embraces diversity because of our unity in Christ, and one that shows forth genuine community because of the power of the Spirit. There is a fantastic critique of some of the strategies churches use that unintentionally feed into a consumeristic mindset (even a "sanctified" consumer mindset). The church only exists because of God's supernatural power. Dever and Dunlop argue that our community within the church should reflect that reality, and they do this very well.
- Butterfield's first book, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, was extremely good. This book is even better in my opinion. In a culture that tries everything to convince people that their identity is buried in their sexuality, Butterfield, a former lesbian now married to a pastor, argues against that notion with wit, candor, and biblical beauty. Her writing is moving, poetic, and theologically packed.
- A Puritan work written in 1652, Brooks explores the nature of temptation and how to combat the strategies Satan uses to deceive us to sin. I love the Puritans, and I love how Brooks wrote. Some may have a little bit of trouble with the somewhat archaic language but the payoff is worth the struggle. There is much gold in these kinds of works.
- Keller is always an entertaining, challenging, and stimulating read. This book on the nature and practice of preaching is no different. His insight into our postmodern culture (and how to communicate within that kind of ethos) is absolutely brilliant. As someone just beginning to preach, I learned a great deal from this book. Preaching is in many ways a complicated endeavor, and not everyone will agree with everything Keller says here, but what he does say and how he says it will stimulate thinking on this critical topic regardless.
- I became a pastor for the first time this past July. As someone just learning what it really means to be a pastor, I was really helped by this extremely practical book on the first years of ministry. Helopoulos deals with everything I've encountered so far, sharing mistakes he made early on that he wants to help young pastors avoid, and giving guidance on just about everything a pastor faces. This was a very quick read, and I plan on reading it again in the next 6 months to help keep myself on track.
- I had Dr. Moore for a Christian Ethics class in seminary, and this book reminded me very much of that class (which was one of my favorites). When Christians look around at the world with everything that has changed especially in the last 10 years or so, it can be difficult to know how to move forward. It may even cause many to have fear about the future or become paralyzed. This book helps make the argument that while everything has changed, nothing has really changed. Jesus is still on the throne. God is still sovereign over all things. The gospel is still true and the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. I hope many Christians will read this book and be encouraged by the hope of the gospel amidst an ever-changing cultural landscape.
- I think Tim Keller recommended this book at some point. Ferry walks through the development of philosophy in the western world, hitting all the high points and explaining the unique contribution of each era of thought. Not a believer, Ferry misunderstands a good amount of Christianity, but he tries very hard to be fair to it and takes no gratuitous shots. His deconstruction of much of the postmodern way of thinking is really good, too, especially coming from him. He is honest enough to see through much of it. A really good, quick, fair overview of western thought that will help you understand why people today think and act the way they do.
- Ryan Anderson is one of the most articulate and intelligent defenders of traditional marriage out there. He's Catholic, but his arguments come mainly from natural law, making the non-religious case for marriage as the union between 1 man and 1 woman. In this book, he makes that case and also looks at the various issues that have arisen in our culture recently because of the redefinition of marriage as it relates to religious liberty. A graduate of Princeton, Anderson is able to articulate the conservative case for marriage in a winsome way, not sounding artificial alarms but not downplaying the real challenges either.
- Bloom takes 35 stories from the Bible and imaginatively retells them, filling in gaps in stories based on biblically-informed imagination. What might John the Baptist have thought when he sat in prison and sent disciples to question Jesus? What was it like in the room when Mary poured out the perfume on Jesus' feet and began to wipe them with her hair? Bloom uses the medium of story to teach these biblical accounts in fresh ways, illuminating the biblical text very helpfully. I really enjoyed these stories, and they made me want to read my Bible more.
How People Change – Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp
- We know the doctrines, but how do we connect what we know to be true to how we actually live? How do we produce fruit in our lives rather than thorns (sin)? These are the questions Lane and Tripp explore in this book. It's been around for a while now, but I finally got around to reading it and then was able to teach a Sunday School class based on the content. I found it extremely helpful in terms of how to think about the pursuit of sanctification and Christlikeness in everyday life.
- Ernest Shackleton and his crew were stranded for over a year in the Antarctic seas, moving from one piece of ice to the next after seeing their boat slowly crushed by the ice, struggling for survival against all reasonable odds. This true story reads like a fictional account with fantastic narration and incredible detail. Thoroughly enjoyable.
