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03/08/2010
God is gracious and the door of salvation is still open. He is still saving men and women, boys and girls, young and old. All praise to Him for being as Peter put it--"patient, not wanting any to perish but for all to come to salvation". I heartily agree with Peter. When the gospel is preached or spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit, God is at work. When people do come to a saving relationship with Christ, what should we teach them? Besides sitting under the regular preaching of the Word in your local congregation, what other good things can we do for the new Christian? Allow me to take you on a guided tour of the best materials to help young believers of whatever age grow in grace!
FIRST STEPS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Peter Jeffrey, FROM RELIGION TO CHRIST; Calvary Press--the new birth
Peter Jeffrey, SEEKING GOD; Solid Ground Christian Books
Peter Jeffrey, ALL THINGS NEW; Brynterion Press--what is true now
that they have become a Christian.
Peter Jeffrey, WALK WORTHY; Brynterion Press--the basics of beginning
to waLk with God, from Bible selection to church involvement.
Peter Jeffrey, STAND FIRM; Brynterion Press--how not to be knocked
over by the devil but stand firm in spiritual warfare.
Peter Jeffrey, CHRISTIAN HANDBOOK; Brynterion--how we got our
Bible, what has happened in church history for the past 2,000 years
and what are the basic doctrines of Christianity--all in a short book
with photos!
Peter Jeffrey, FIRM FOUNDATIONS; Brynterion Press--55 daily readings
on important chapters of the Bible to anchor the new believer.
[Converted at age 19 out of a blue collar background in Great Britain,
Peter was working in a factory when he came to Christ. He was a
much used pastor and evangelist in the U.K. He always writes with
the young student or seldom reading layman in mind. He puts the
cookies down where we all can reach them!]
THE CHARACTER OF OUR GREAT GOD
R. C. Sproul, THE HOLINESS OF GOD: Reformation Trust--the basic
place to start, as all of God's attributes flow out of His holiness--His
love is holy love, His mercy is holy mercy, His justice is holy justice,
His wrath is holyi wrath, etc.
Arthur Pink, THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: Banner of Truth--best edition
Sinclair Ferguson, A HEART FOR GOD; Banner of Truth--worth its
weight in gold!
Stuart Olyott, THE THREE ARE ONE; Evangelical Press--the best simple
explanation of the Triune nature of the One God.
Peter Jeffrey, GREAT GOD OF WONDERS; Evangelical Press--good
overview and summary.
MAN--AS GOD MADE HIM, SIN LEFT HIM, GOD REMAKES HIM, AS HE
WILL BE IN GLORY
Martin Luther, BORN SLAVES; Grace Publications--a modern
simplification and abridgment of THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL which
helped begin the Protestant Reformation.
J. Gresham Machen, THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF MAN; Banner of Truth--
a great theologian and defender of the faith is a great communicator
to the man in the street.
Thomas Boston, HUMAN NATURE IN ITS FOURFOLD STATE; Banner of
Truth--a beautiful book as to its printing, it is so helpful and clear that
once every household in Scotland had a Bible, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS,
the WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM, and Boston's FOURFOLD
STATE. (I took the title of the sub-section from him.)
JESUS CHRIST: WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN HIS LIFE
AND DEATH
Stuart Olyott, SON OF MARY, SON OF GOD; Evangelical Press--clearly
explains how Jesus is truly God and truly man.
John Blanchard, WILL THE REAL JESUS PLEASE STAND UP?;
Evangelical Press--exposes and refutes all the false ideas of Jesus in
popular culture and shows the truth of the Word of God.
John Benton, GOD'S RICHES (Workbook); Banner of Truth--a workbook
on the doctrines of God's saving grace.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, THE CROSS; Crossway--what Jesus did on the
cross and why it matters.
Michael Horton, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED; Evangelical Press--Christ
purchased what He came for and accomplished all that the Father
sent Him to do!
Caesar Malan, THE CROSS: WHERE ALL ROADS MEET; Evangelical
Press--true dialogue between a pastor and a hiker in the Swiss Alps.
How the pastor led the man to see the truth of the gospel of grace
and how the man was trying to save himself by his own works.
Tom Wells, A PRICE FOR A PEOPLE; Banner of Truth--the only book I
know on the doctrine of definite atonement that is written for
laymen.
These should get you started. Next week I will continue with more categories and books for building up the young in the Lord.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 01:40:24 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
03/02/2010
Some twenty years ago, evangelical historian Mark Noll noted the impact of British theologians and preachers on American evangelicalism. F. F. Bruce was then the dean of New Testament scholars, John Stott was exercising a wide ministry though his preaching in London and wider ministry through commentaries and other Christian books, Martyn Lloyd-Jones had put the Reformation back at the center of Protestant evangelicalism through his preaching and leadership, Iain Murray was helping Protestants recover experiential Calvinism in the Puritan and Great Awakening varieties, and Jim Packer was the eloquent theologian of orthodoxy and historical theology, especially the Puritans.
How blessed I have been and undoubtedly many of you readers that God saved these men, gifted these men and made their ministries available to a wider audience. Where would my life, my understanding of the Christian faith, and my ministry be if God had not introduced me to these fine and good men.
Recently I was surprised to see two books available by two British heroes of mine that I had not heard of before. I was surprised to find out that one had actually been available for some time and the other just came back into print. Let's look at both of them briefly.
J. I. Packer, GOD'S PLANS FOR YOU; Crossway--I had casually flipped through GOD'S PLANS FOR YOU and put it aside, thinking it but a collection of articles by Packer that I had already read in other places. However in God's kindness, He had me retrace my steps and I discovered that GOD'S PLANS FOR YOU (2001), though out for almost a decade, was really fresh and new. Even articles listed on the copyright page are noted by Packer as having been revised and expanded. While I had so much enjoyed (spiritually) the articles before, they are even better now. And most of the articles are new to me. Here are the 15 chapters with brief remarks on their purpose and value:
1. DANGER! THEOLOGIAN AT WORK (What These Chapters Are Meant
to Do)--Packer shows us how theologians are to be God's water and
food inspectors, making sure that which comes into the church is
health giving and not sickening or deadly.
2. THE PLAN OF GOD (The Basic Christian Orientation)--shows the big
picture as to why God saves sinners, as opposed to being an
explanation of how God saves sinners. Very, very good.
3. MEETING GOD (The Basic Christian Relationship)--fine rewrite of a
booklet that came out years ago and deserved to be in print again.
4. HOT TUB RELIGION (Toward a Theology of Enjoyment)--originally
written as the first chapter in a book of the same name, this chapter
has been extensively rewritten. It was originally more of a critique
of the hedonism in evangelical circles, symbolized by the hot-tub.
Now Packer seeks to show a biblical theology of enjoyment, seeking
enjoyment in God is the good and real goal.
5. A CHRISTIAN STYLE OF LIFE (Managing Our Labor, Leisure, Pleasure
and Treasure)--just what it says, showing the full-orbed life meant to
be lived before God by all Christians.
6. GUIDANCE (How God Leads Us)--expert counsel that originally
appeared in three articles in the now defunct ETERNITY magazine
in the late 1980's.
7. JOY (A Neglected Discipline)--see if he does not convince you, unless
you are an unentreatable ascetic. (If you are, you might have to
look up one or two words here and that search might help you to
see that you have a spiritual problem.
8. SCRIPTURE AND SANCTIFICATION (How the Bible Helps us to
Holiness)--classic Packer!
9. THE TRANSFORMATION TRACK (What It Means to Follow Christ)
the Christian life is meant to be a life-transforming work of God,
lived out by us believers.
10. POOR HEALTH (Physical Cures and Healing)--God's purposes in
healing us AND IN NOT CHOOSING TO HEAL US.
11. DISAPPOINTMENT, DESPAIR, DEPRESSION (How the Great Physician
Touches Troubled Minds)--wise, biblical counsel.
12. KNOW YOURSELF (Identity and Self-Image)--you cannot grow as a
Christian unless you know God and know yourself (how God made
you) and Packer enlists Augustine, Calvin, Lloyd-Jones and himself
as writers who find such in the Bible.
13. POWER PATH (Taking the Holy Spirit Seriously)--instead of pushing
the pendulum away from the charistmatic/pentecostal extreme,
let's place it where the Bible does, at the center of the Christian life.
14. MUSINGS ON THE LIFE OF FAITH (Double-Mindedness, Seriousness,
Balance, Dying)--aspects of living before God this side of glory.
15. CHURCH REFORMATION (Outward Re-ordering and Inward Renewal)
What needs to happen to the American church and how it might
happen.
[This book is so good that we plan to study this book next in our Saturday morning men's group, Lord willing.]
Alec Motyer, ROOTS: LET THE OLD TESTAMENT SPEAK; Christian Focus
Long a leading scholar on the evangelical and Reformed scene in
Great Britain, one time head of Trinity College, Bristol and an eminent
Old Testament theologian, Professor Motyer needs no plug from me.
His commentaries on Isaiah (two different and good ones), James,
Philippians, and other Old Testament books are well known and well
used. First issued at THE STORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT by Baker
Books in 2001, this rich book has been required reading by my
students desiring to enter seminary. To master this book is to master
an undergraduate degree in the Old Testament. Or better, it is to
understand the book which was the Bible of our Lord and His Apostles,
as the New Testament had not yet been canonized and brought
together in one document. This book has been re-type set and its
bibliographies updated. It is a premier introduction at a lay level of
each book of the Old Testament and the general themes and types
of literature (genres) found in the Old Testament. How thankful I am
to Christian Focus for putting this much appreciated volume back
into print. Alec Motyer is a pre-eminent Old Testament scholar whose
ministry has blessed Brits and Americans (look for R. C. Spoul's citing
Motyer in THE HOLINESS OF GOD) and Packer's regular plugs. Every
pastor should have everything Alec Motyer has written on the Old
Testament.
May the Lord keep raising up good men in other countries and let us profit here in the states from the wealth of good things being printed in our lifetime.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 06:30:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
02/22/2010
God calls men to fulfill a calling He gives them. The man's orientation is toward his calling from God. Should the man marry, his wife has a calling from God to her husband. Her orientation is to her husband and he in turn has orientation to his calling from God. That may seem well and good and biblically evident but it has almost been lost in our culture at large and the church in particular.
Modern writers and speakers want to make men and women the same, but God did not create them the same physically, emotionally or spiritually. It is not wrong for men to have as their primary orientation their calling from God. It is not wrong for a woman to have as her primary orientation her calling to her husband. But therein is the rub. Women are deemed more "relational" and that is true only in a narrow sense. They are relationally oriented to their husband. Men are relation too but in a different way. They are relational to their calling from God. It is a different way of being relational. Rather than curse the difference or make fun of the differences (WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS, MEN ARE FROM MARS, etc.) we should accept the differences built into us by God.
Ask any counselor and they will tell you that if there are marital problems, it will be the woman over 80% of the time who asks for help.
It will usually be the woman who comes in first seeking aid and answers. What's more, the wife is the primary caregiver of infants and small children and provides their early orientation to the world. A woman's calling is all about relationships! She is derelict in her duty before God if she is not.
The following books are for a suggested BOOK TABLE for a ladies' retreat or ladies' fellowship. They are not the final word but many good words to help in relationships.
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BOOKS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS--some of the materials in book form are also available on CD's and DVD's. When you call to make your order, check about their availability. [CVBBS--1-800-656-0231
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THE FRAMEWORK OF REALITY (God and the World and what He is doing)
Bruce Milne, KNOW THE TRUTH; IVP--a Calvinistic Baptist theology
James Boice, FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH; IVP--a
Presbyterian theology
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE; Crossway--an
eclectic mix of Baptist and Presbyterian theology
Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson, COUNSEL FROM THE CROSS;
Crossway--how to counsel yourself and your loved ones from the
realities of the Cross.
RELATIONSHIPS IN GENERAL
H. Clay Trumbull and Maurice Roberts, FRIENDSHIP: THE MASTER
PASSION; Solid Ground Christian Books--a great place to begin
Jonathan Edwards, CHARITY AND ITS FRUITS; Banner of Truth--an
exposition of 1st Corinthians 13 and the Bible explanation of God's
covenant love ("charity" was the KJV word for love)
Timothy Lane, RELATIONSHIPS: A MESS WORTH MAKING; New Growth
Press--many people under 35 in our culture grew up in broken
homes. In many this has led to a certain cynicism--"Can anything
good come out of relationships?" Timothy Lane tells us why they are
truly important and worth it.
Paul David Tripp, INSTRUMENTS IN THE REDEEMER'S HANDS (People
of Change Helping People in Need of Change); P & R--how to be
involved in other's lives all the while knowing you have not arrived
and need God's grace too.
BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF RELATIONSHIPS (and Sins Which Inhibit
Relationships from developing biblically)
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, CHOOSING FORGIVENESS (Your Journey to
Freedom); Moody Press--being sinned against brings hurt which can
fester and turn to necrotic bitterness in our souls. If we do not
forgive, then the sin against us keep on winning and doing its thing.
Freedom comes with forgiveness.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, CHOOSING GRATITUDE (Your Journey to Joy);
Moody Press--shows us how we are to give thanks in all things and
how this discipline of gratitude leads to a life of joy.
Nancy DeMoss, THE POWER OF WORDS; Moody Press--what you say
reveals your heart and has the power to make or destroy others.
James warns us about our tongues. We must take James seriously.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss does.
Wayne Mack, FEAR FACTOR; Focus Christian Publishing--how to lose
the cape of fear that settles around our shoulders and saddles our
lives with misery.
Wayne Mack, HUMILITY; Focus Christian Publishing--the building block
of a Christian's relationship with the Lord and with others.
Wayne Mack, ANGER & STRESS MANAGEMENT GOD'S WAY; Calvary
Press--practical, biblical counsel on facing and dealing with anger
Lou Priolo, HEART OF ANGER; Calvary Press--how to face anger in your
children and in your own heart.
Lou Priolo, PLEASING PEOPLE (How Not To Be An Approval Junkie);
P & R--very practical help for chronic people's pleasing
Ed Welch, WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG AND GOD IS SMALL (Overcoming
Peer Pressure, Co-Dependency and Fear of Man; P & R--great
beginning point to see how you may have become a man-pleaser.
Ed Welch, RUNNING SCARED (Fear, Worry & the God of Rest); New
Growth Press--facing up to the fears that can cripple
Paul David Tripp, WAR OF WORDS (Getting to the Heart of Your
Communication Struggle); P & R--the best book on learning how to
communicate with each other, particularly when there is conflict.
THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP
Paul David Tripp, MARRIAGE: WHOSE DREAMS?; P & R-a great booklet
to help you begin to see false assumptions that you brought into
your marriage that are inhibiting your marriage.
Paul David Tripp, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? (Redeeming the Realities of
Marriage); Crossway--you are a sinner married to a sinner in a fallen
world and you say you have problems? What did you expect?
Powerful help for good, indifferent and bad marriages.
Wayne Mack, YOUR MARRIAGE GOD'S WAY; P & R--the basic design of
Christian marriage
Wayne Mack, STRENGTHENING YOUR MARRIAGE; P & R--how to
argue, disagree and differ as Christians.
Wayne Mack, SWEETHEARTS FOR A LIFETIME; P & R--how to keep
the home fires burning.
COUNSEL FOR WOMEN SPECIFICALLY:
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, LIES WOMEN BELIEVE (And the Truth That Sets
Them Free); Moody Press--women are uniquely manipulated by
the world here in America. How to avoid getting sucked into the pit
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, LIES YOUNG WOMEN BELIEVE (And The Truth
That Sets Them Free); Moody Press--ditto for young women, teens
through college.
These books should keep your women equipped and able to minister to themselves and others.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 02:22:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
02/16/2010
Since the 1st century followers of Christ witnessed His life, death and resurrection, all true believers have placed their faith in the Messiah who lived, died and was raised to life, finally to ascend back to heaven. Many if not most Easter messages or series leading up to Easter take as their focus the death of Christ on the cross. That is well and good. But the New Testament's uniform witness to the substitutionary nature of Christ's sin-bearing has as its capstone the approval of God the Father to Christ's work by raising Him from the dead. The only person in history every to come back from the grace alive was shown with power to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4 and others). [For the time being, I am leaving aside the important event of Christ's ascension back to heaven and His heavenly coronation, while He waits until all His saints are safely gathered in and His enemies are to be made His footstool!)
The following resources will equip you to do justice to the amazing and blessed reality that Jesus CHrist rose from the dead and all the truths and aspects of reality that flow out of those truths.
James Montgomery Boice, THE CHRIST OF THE EMPTY TOMB; P & R--
vintage sermons by a great expositor of the 20th century.
Marcus Loane, JESUS HIMSELF; Banner of Truth--meditations upon the
resurrection of Christ and its present application.
Charles Spurgeon, SERMONS ON THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF
CHRIST; Hendrickson--great sermons not to be copied or worse yet,
plagiarized, by to be meditated upon, saved and lived out.
Maurice Roberts, UNION AND COMMUNION; Reformation Heritage--the
resurrection of the Son of God is part of a whole complex series of
events which the New Testament teaches are part of the believer's
"union with Christ".
Paul Beasley-Murray, THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION; IVP--
thorough New Testament studies on how all the apostolic authors
opened up the reality and meaning of the resurrection.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, THE NEW MAN (Romans 6); Banner of Truth--a
masterful treatment of what it means to be in union with Christ
in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Christians are
truly new people.
Girard Chrispin, RESURRECTION: THE UNOPENED GIFT; Day One
Brings the reality of the resurrection into our daily lives.
There is plenty of ammo for the faithful and thorough teacher, preacher or Christian layman can use the coming of Resurrection Sunday (Easter)
for his/her own growth and conformity to Christ.
May the Lord help us to walk in newness of life. You might try memorizing Romans 6:1-14 as part of your preparation for Easter!
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Adrian Warnock, RAISED WITH CHRIST (How the Resurrection Changes
Everything); Crossway--contemporary application of the resurrection
of Christ as it relates to the believer's life.
Posted: 10:01:00 AM :: permalink :: discuss ::
02/09/2010
Biographies are like mini-history books. Instead of covering a whole nation or century or political movement like a history book might, biographies tell the history of one person or possibly a couple (think of Edith Schaeffer's history of Francis and Edith's life and ministry together, TAPESTRY). The best history books exalt the grace of God, paint the person as they really were (warts and all) and do not make it seem that they were plastic, perfect saints. Neither do they teach that every Christian should be just like the person studied. Richard Lodie was a laymen in Martyn Lloyd-Jones first congregation, in Aberavon, Wales. Drl Lloyd-Jones took them on a day trip to view historic sights where great men of God (like Daniel Rowlands of Langeitho and William Williams of Pantecelyn) preached and God came down and sent a revival. But he told the story of these men in such a way that Richard Lodie took it to heart. He said upon his return home: "William Williams was the best William Williams he could be for Christ; I want to be the best Dick Lodie I can be for Christ!" That is the attitude that we should desire to see drawn out of our hearts too.
This week I have included some biographies that you may already know about but have not read (well, buy them and read them) and others may be books or persons you did not know about. Trust me when I say that all of these books will exalt the grace of God and stir your heart to be a better Christian.
Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE; Whitaker House--
our first biography is a "self-biography" or the first "autobiography"
as the genre came to be known. A gem by a giant, in modern English.
G. R. Evans, JOHN WYCLIF: MYTH AND REALITY; IVP Academic--one of
the greatest scholars of the medieval period takes us back to the
confused days prior to the Reformation when Christendom was
everything and the gospel was nearly. Who was John Wyclif and what
did he do that still has importance today?
Roland Bainton, HERE I STAND (A Life Of Martin Luther); Abingdon and
Hendrickson--in my opinion the best biography of the man who
changed the world by submitting to God as He is revealed in Christ,
the gospel and the Scriptures.
Brian Edwards, THROUGH MANY DANGERS (The Story of John Newton);
Evangelical Press--a great introductory biography of a great man who
was a great sinner but who found great grace to do great things for
His great Savior.
Iain Murray, WESLEY (and those who followed); Banner of Truth--what
kind of a man was John Wesley, and what kind of men were that first
generation of Methodist preachers?
Faith Cook, SELINA, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGTON (Her Pivotal Role in the
18th Century Evangelical Awakening); Banner of Truth--a great read
about a great woman who used her wealth to mightily advance the
preaching of the gospel in the Great Awakening (the English call it
the "Evangelical Awakening").
Iain Murray, JONATHAN EDWARDS: A NEW BIOGRAPHY; Banner of Truth-
-arguably the best autobiography by a man most in tune with
Edwards' theology. A great way to get introduced to the great man
and where to begin to read Edwards and what to save for later!
Jonathan Edwards, THE DIARY AND JOURNAL OF DAVID BRAINERD;
Banner of Truth--a most inspiring look into the heat and soul of a
man devoted to Christ despite ill health and adverse circumstances.
Heidi Nichols, ANNE BRADSTREET (A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought
of a Puritan Poet); P & R--a great introduction to a Puritan poetess
who is too little known.
Courtney Anderson, TO THE GOLDEN SHORE (The Life of Adoniram
Judson); Judson Press--one of the two or three best missions
biographies to remind us that we are not going to reach the world
for Christ lying on beds of flowered ease!
Sharon James, MY HEART IN HIS HANDS; Evangelical Press--the amazing story of the amazing wife of Adoniram Judson.
John G. Paton, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN G. PATON; Banner of
Truth--one of the other one or two best missionary biographies ever
written.
Eric Russell, THAT MAN OF GRANITE WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD (A
New Biography of J. C. Ryle); Christian Focus--many Christians have
been blessed by one of Ryle's classic books or commentaries but know
little to nothing about the man. Eric Russell puts us in his debt with
this clear biography.
Geoff Thomas, ERNEST REISINGER; A LIFE; Banner of Truth--a great
biography which does not receive the press it deserves. Pastor
Thomas has captured "Ernie's" life and impact with great sensitivity.
Compelling reading for Christian men who want their lives to count
for Christ. A developer, diary farmer, businessman, lay preacher,
encourager supreme whose life touched so many.
Your heart be stirred and your vision of God enlarged as you view His glory in the lives of these saints of whom the world was not worthy.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 07:41:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
02/01/2010
Apologetics is making a defense of the faith which you hold. It is not apologizing for your faith; the word comes from the Greek word, apologia, which means to make a defense. Are they cogent reasons why you believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Is the Bible really the Word of God written? These and so many other questions have to do with defending the truth against critics and explaining the way of the faith more correctly to those who are untaught or mistaken as to the contents of the faith.
The devastating earthquake in Haiti and the subsequent loss of life, and the suffering and misery of the survivors bring to many sensitive minds the questions: "Where was God in all this?" "If He cares, why did this happen?"
"Couldn't He have prevented it?" "Were Haitians worse sinners than other sinners such that they were killed and their land destroyed?"
Apologetics is the branch of Christian theology that seeks to answer the legitimate questions raised by questioners of the faith. Here are some books and booklets that will help you answer questions, either in your own mind or in the minds of those you minister to. If you are a father who wants to relate the Word of God to current events, or a campus Bible study leader wanting to answer the accusations of skeptical dorm residents, or a Sunday School teacher teaching a short class on the subject, or a pastor preaching a message or two on the subject, or simply a faithful Christian rising to defend the honor of Christ at the water cooler at work, in homeroom or at a family gathering.
BOOKLETS:
John Blanchard, WHERE WAS GOD ON SEPTEMBER 11TH; Evangelical
Press--written in the aftermath of the infamous attacks of that day,
it makes a cogent case for the sovereignty and love of God and the
compassion of the Son of God who visited this planet and waded
through misery after a miscarriage of justice to ransom guilty sinners.
John Blanchard, WHERE IS GOD WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?;
Evangelical Press; an updating of the above booklet, geared to the
bigger questions about the devastation of Hurrican Katrina, and the
tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Very, very good. [Our church is
purchasing as many French language copies as we can afford to send
to Haiti to speak to the questions which have arisen among many
Haitians.
John Gerstner, THE PROBLEM OF PLEASURE; Soli Deo Gloria--a
prominent theologian, now with the Lord, Professor Gerstner was
R. C. Sproul's mentor. He asks the question never raised by skeptics.
They might ask, "If God is good, why do bad things happen to nice
people like us?" The Bible asks the question: "IF God is holy, holy,
holy, why do sinners ever have a nice day, or a happy marriage, or
a day of good health?" Why do good things happen to bad people?
He turns the tables on sinners and instead of putting God on trial,
he puts guilty sinners on trial.
BOOKS:
R. C. Sproul, SURPRISED BY SUFFERING ?; Reformation Trust--many
people are shocked when they must undergo suffering. Many
Christians are shocked when they face suffering. It seems almost
"unAmerican" to them. Isn't that why people buy a house in the
suburbs and send their children to safe schools, and purchase
automobiles with a high safety rating. I repeat: it is unAmerican to
suffer, not to mention die, before the age of 88--and then we want
to die in our sleep with no heartaches, literal or figurative. Sproul
shows us the role of suffering in God's plans.
R. C. Sproul, THE HOLINESS OF GOD; Tyndale--has a chapter that
speaks to this question of seemingly unjust human suffering
(whether it was the Jewish pilgrims at the hand of Pontius Pilate's
Roman thugs or a seeming "act of God" when the tower of Siloam
fell down on the construction workers}. He puts things in God's
perspective.
C. S. Lewis, THE PROBLEM OF PAIN; Harper One--a classic study of what
God is doing in times of suffering.
John Piper and Justin Taylor, SUFFERING AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
GOD; Crossway--a study I hope becomes a long-running classic. It is
a compendium of many essays by godly, good men on the inter-
section of God's sovereignty and human suffering.
We need grace to size up those who ask us to give a reason for the hope that is within us (1st Peter 3:15). May the Lord give you grace to stand by Christ and His Word and speak the truth in love and compassion to those who deny or at least question the goodness of God.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 05:43:09 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
01/26/2010
The events in American culture of the past years had led to a financial meltdown, tightening of credit, loss of jobs, loss of savings, and grave economic uncertainty. What are Christian to do? How are they to view their jobs, their money, their work, their retirement? Some recent books give great help in these important areas of life. Men especially would benefit from studying this material as the heads of homes and usually leaders in their workplace.
Michael Haykin, IN GOD WE TRUST ? (What is God saying in the Midst of
this Financial Crisis?); Audubon Press--a simple booklet that packs a punch. Haykin was once a committed Communist growing up in England before the hardships of life in a fallen world brought him to an end of himself. He later became a Christian and went on to become a professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He writes about the parallels of our financial meltdown and those of the past. He shows us how we are to view our money biblically and rather than hunker down and pull our portfolios closer to our vests, he shows us that biblically we are to be faithful and generous givers.
Craig Blomberg, NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES (A Biblical Theology of
Material Possessions); Apollos/IVP--a supplement to Haykin's booklet and great for someone teaching a Sunday School class or doing a sermon series on the Bible's view of money, wealth and material possessions.
John Piper, RETHINKING RETIREMENT (Finishing Life for the Glory of
God); Crossway--the American dream became to work hard until you are 65 (or perhaps 60 or younger) then retire and live off your retirement package, playing golf or sight-seeing and traveling, purchasing an RV, moving to Florida or Arizona where the climate is favorable to aching bodies and live the rest of your life for yourself. There are a million variations on this theme but the central idea is to save, work for a company that will pay toward your retirement and then finally retire with benefits to do what you have always wanted to do--whatever that is. But the operative idea is to DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO. But in biblical Christianity, disciples of Christ die to themselves and deny themselves and the old egoistic residue of remaining sin. Christ did not sacrifice and die for us that we can throw away our remaining years and fortune in a determined pursuit of self-indulgence.
John Piper's booklet is just the antidote we need to begin to escape the cultural trap that have ensnared most Americans.
May the Lord help us to finish well, to run our race with perseverance until the end, and not turn aside to the By-path Meadow (to use Bunyan's phrase) of retirement. Having once left the path of righteousness for the path of self-indulgence, we may find ourselves never returning. And that would be a tragedy! To have lived our life and then to end it living for seashells, shuffleboard, bingo, early morning coffee klatches at McDonald's, "Silver Sneakers Day Outings" and such
would be so sad. Hard working tradesmen, million dollar salesmen, foremen, doctors, teachers and professors, lawyers, pastors, and barons of industry living in a fool's paradise--such is the current conception of retirement in America.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 08:29:00 AM :: permalink :: discuss ::
01/18/2010
Everything depends upon the Being whom God is. If God has revealed Himself in a book, then by all means study and know that book. God is a Being of incredible but revealed attributes. He is the One, True and Living God. He is a God of mercy and grace and justice and wrath. He has supremely revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said: "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." The Bible is the other revelation of God that contains what we know about God the Father and Jesus His Son. If we want to understand what Christianity is all about, we must study the Bible and we must begin with the doctrine of God--what God teaches about Himself in the Bible.
This week I have broken down the books to study God according to how difficult they are to read--BASIC, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED. Begin where you feel comfortable, but by all means begin. It is a grievous sins to spend one's life as a professing Christian and never know more about your God. Willful ignorance is culpable. Protestants have always been people of the Book. May the Lord give us each grace to study our Bibles and especially the subject of first importance in the Bible--what kind of a Being is God?
BASIC BOOKS ABOUT GOD
Sinclair Ferguson, A HEART FOR GOD; Banner of Truth--a great study
of making sure your heart is right and then looking at what God has
revealed of Himself in the Bible. For example, his chapter on the book
of Ruth and the faithfulness of God is worth the price alone!
Peter Jeffrey, GREAT GOD OF WONDERS; Evangelical Press--a fine
introduction to the doctrine of God by a master of putting the cookies
down where we can all reach them.
R. C. Sproul, THE CHARACTER OF GOD; Servant Publications--popular
exposition of the main attributes of God.
Stuart Olyott, THE THREE ARE ONE; Evangelical Press--excellent
introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity--the Triune God.
Richard Belcher, A JOURNEY IN PROVIDENCE; Richbarry Press--Dr.
Belcher continues his best-selling studies of theology disguised as
novels. Professor/Pastor Ira Pointer continues his study of God's Word
as life unfolds before him and his friends.
Jerry Bridges, TRUSTING GOD (Even When Life Hurts); NavPress--the
most practical book on the doctrine of God's sovereign control over
all things--the doctrine of Providence.
Jerry Bridges, IS GOD REALLY IN CONTROL ?; NavPress--additional
material on the sovereignty of God over even the tragedies of our
lives.
INTERMEDIATE BOOKS ABOUT GOD
James R. White, THE FORGOTTEN TRINITY; Bethany House--an
excellent study of the Trinity, intra-Trinitarian relations and why it
matters.
Arthur W. Pink, THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD; Banner of Truth--one of
the best books on a subject paid lip service to by many but denied in
practice. I have looked up every one of the hundreds of verses he
cites and they are all true and in context.
R. C. Sproul, THE HOLINESS OF GOD; Tyndale--perhaps Sproul's
greatest contribution to the Christian faith--reminding us that God is
holy, holy, holy and very near.
A. W. Tozer, THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY; Harper-Collins--a classic
of holy theology on our holy God.
R. C. Sproul, THE INVISIBLE HAND; P & R--is God really in control? Is
the doctrine of Providence really true? Is Providence really the hand
of God in the glove of circumstances?
John Flavel, THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE; Banner of Truth--a golden
Puritan classic on God's mysterious ways in His providential
outworking of His holy, loving, wise and sovereign will.
ADVANCED BOOKS ABOUT GOD
R. C. Sproul, IF THERE IS A GOD, WHY ARE THERE ATHEISTS?;
Ligonier--examines Romans 1 and explains how so-called atheists
have a psychological bias against God because He makes them very
nervous!
Paul Helm, THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD; InterVarsity Press--excellent
study by a Reformed theologian and philosopher.
Iain H. Murray, SPURGEON VS. HYPER-CALVINISM; Banner of Truth--
examines how Charles Spurgeon fought against unbibical views of the
sovereignty of God by "hyper" (going above and beyond) Calvinists--
men who so emphasized the sovereignty of God that they denied
human responsibility. This error is a mirror image to Arminianism,
which denies God's absolute sovereignty if man if to be responsible.
The Bible teaches both.
Robert Letham, THE HOLY TRINITY (In Scripture, History, Theology and
Worship); P & R--the best study available on this most important
subject. Shows how many areas of the doctrine of God impacts in our
lives and our churches and even our families.
Herman Bavinck, THE DOCTRINE OF GOD; Banner of Truth--a classic
study by perhaps the greatest Dutch Reformed theologian.
John Frame, THE DOCTRINE OF GOD (A Study in Lordship); P & R--a
recent study which may well become a classic.
John Frame, NO OTHER GOD (A Response to Open Theism); P & R--the
best of a number of excellent refutations of this recent heresy which
has invaded some churches, denominations and theologians.
These books are obviously not to be read tomorrow. They would take time to read and even more time to digest. But they are truly worth it and no one should begrudge the money to buy them or the time to read them or the time to reflect and pray over them. How much richer would your Christian life be if you truly knew these things.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 08:05:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
01/11/2010
One of the naive things bordering on sad things that many Christians have done is to not re-think or better renew their minds about what makes for a good marriage, a Christian sex life, Christian child raising and a biblical view of aging, retirement and the elderly. I can remember being converted at age 20 and knowing that baptism did not wash away my faulty understanding of marriage and family, sex and aging. I went to conferences on marriages as a Christian single that I might better understand the life to which God had called me. I knew that neither of my parents were Christians though we had a nominal Christian home. Jesus Christ and His will, revealed in the Bible, did not determine what we did or did not do.
If you wanted to renew your mind on the subject of Christian marriage, Christian sexual intimacy, biblical child rearing and such, where would you begin.? Let me heartily recommend the following.
BIBLICAL VIEW OF GENDER AND ROLES IN THE FAMILY
John Piper and Wayne Grudem, eds.; RECOVERING BIBLICAL
MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD; Crossway--the foundational
document written by evangelical and Reformed Christians to
reestablish the biblical foundation for gender.
Stuart Scott, THE EXEMPLARY HUSBAND; Focus Christian Publications
Stuart Scott, BIBLICAL MANHOOD; Focus Christian Publications
Martha Peace, THE EXCELLENT WIFE; Focus Christian Publications
Mark Chanski, MANLY DOMINION; Calvary Press
Mark Chanski, WOMANLY DOMINION (More Than A Gentle and Quiet
Spirit); Calvary Press
Wayne Grudem, ed.; BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR MANHOOD AND
WOMANHOOD; Crossway
BIBLICAL VIEW OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
Andreas Kostenberger and Tom Schreiner, eds.; WOMEN IN THE
CHURCH; Baker
Wayne Grudem and Dennis Rainey, eds.; PASTORAL LEADERSHIP FOR
BIBLICAL MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD; Crossway
BIBLICAL VIEW OF MARRIAGE and MARITAL INTIMACY
Andreas Kostenberger and David Jones, GOD, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY;
Crossway
Daniel Heimbach, TRUE SEXUAL MORALITY; Crossway
O. Palmer Robertson, THE GENESIS OF SEX; P & R
Ed Wheat, INTENDED FOR PLEASURE; Revell/Baker
CHRISTIAN CHILD-REARING
Tedd Tripp, SHEPHERDING A CHILD'S HEART; Shepherd Press
Paul David Tripp, AGE OF OPPORTUNITY (Raising Teenagers); Shepherd
Press
CHRISTIAN VIEW OF AGING AND RETIREMENT
Jay Adams, WRINKLED BUT NOT RUINED; Timeless Texts
John Piper, RETHINKING RETIREMENT; Crossway
You might be tempted to throw up your hands and say: "Man, what does he expect? I have to work for a living! I'm not a pastor with a lot of free time to read and such. Maybe not. But when I began, I wasn't a pastor, I was a man who saw that he could not "leave and cleave" to his wife unless he left behind the programming of my original family, Otherwise, I would surely replicate the family I grew up in. Genesis, Matthew and Ephesians each quote the same verse: "A man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." You are free to take short-cuts and build a mediocre family or worse. But I did not want to wreck my marriage and become another statistic. I didn't want my children to curse my name because they despised me because I was such a poor father and husband. I gave myself to study this subject. Maybe you should too. Your marriage is to be a portrait of Christ's relationship with His Bride, the Church. Is it? A loving Christian family should be the 2nd best place in the world after a loving Christian church. Is yours? May I suggest that you have all the time you need . Print out my list and go to work. In under two years you could easily read all these books and have your Christian life, marriage and family impacted for eternity!
May God give you grace to build a better marriage and family than your parents...and bring real glory to God in the process.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 06:41:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
01/04/2010
Book readers read for many reasons. Perhaps the number one reason is to solve a problem. "How To" books from gardening and home improvement to smaller thighs and larger IQ's are but the tip of the iceberg of the "problem solving genre" of books. (If you use "genre" in a sentence, it appears that you are an educated person--or vain and self-referential.) That is what the experts in adult education say about how adults learn. Adults no longer read to explore knowledge or the mysteries of life, they read for to fix a problem and secondarily for entertainment (i.e. books to read at the beach while your skin is loading up on carcinogenic rays from the sun).
But the new birth by the Holy Spirit changes a person's orientation. Those who had no good reason to read before their conversion now find themselves reading their Bible and Christian books to help them understand this amazing new relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. After a few years of reading and reading, one frequently finds oneself getting behind and wishing he or she had read this book and that book. Your Christian friends that you respect recommended a certain book but you have never gotten to it. Your pastor encouraged the congregation from the pulpit to read a certain book. And you were going to but you got sidetracked.
2010 is your year to correct that. Put aside what else you might read and make it your aim to read just six books that you have heretofore skipped. They will bless you. Read them prayerfully and they will really bless you.
HERE ARE SIX BOOKS I AM GOING TO READ BY GOD'S GRACE IN 2010
(I hope they will not be the only 6 books I read this year, but they are books I have not read or only read in and not fully digested. They are not in any particular order.)
1. John Owen, COMMUNION WITH GOD; Crossway--I read Volume 6 of
Owen's WORKS, TEMPTATION AND SIN, while in seminary to keep me
sane. I was getting good grades but not growing in holiness. I quickly
saw why. But I not only want to put my sins to death, I want to do so
so that I might commune more intimately with Christ. I could want to
put my sins to death so that I would feel better or feel superior to
those who don't. And I am not above that. That is the way of the
Pharisee. He wants to do right neither to please God nor be closer to
God but to be right, to attain the top of the Hill of Vain Glory. Surely
the reason to put our sins to death is that we might please Him and
enjoy Him more!
2. Timothy George, ed.; J. I. PACKER AND THE EVANGELICAL FUTURE;
(The Impact of His Life and Thought); Baker Academic--based upon a
symposium hosted by Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham,
Alabama, scholars from many backgrounds and denomination weigh
in on Dr. Packer's contributions to the health of the evangelical (and
Reformed) faith. Some of the contributors are Charles Colson, Mark
Dever, Timothy George, Paul House, Bruce Hindmarsh, Alister
McGrath, and Carl Trueman. (I want to learn more about the man,
who along with Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Iain Murray, who has most
taught me the things of God.)
3. John D. Hannah, AN UNCOMMON UNION (Dallas Theological Seminary
and American Evangelicalism); Zondervan--having recently read
Gregory Wills excellent history of The Southern Baptist Seminary in
Louisville (Oxford University Press), I was eager to find out how Dallas
has evolved over the years. My early years as a Christian were in a
parachurch setting and many of the speakers I heard had a direct
connection to Dallas. I want to understand how God has used
seminaries in our land and how our culture has impacted our
seminaries.
4. Paul Miller, A PRAYING LIFE (Connecting with God in a Distracting
World); NavPress--David Powlison writes the forward to a book that
"everyone has said is a great book on prayer". Whose prayer life could
not use some help? Who could not learn from those God has taught?
I hope to read at least one other book on prayer this year too. J. I.
Packer and Steve Brown say its a great book. I want to pray more and
better.
5. Steven Keillor, THIS REBELLIOUS HOUSE (American History and the
Truth of Christianity);IVP or GOD'S JUDGMENTS (Interpreting History
and the Christian Faith); IVP Academic. Dr. Keillor wrote two books
on American history and how a Christian might interpret what has
happened here. THIS REBELLIOUS HOUSE, which came out in 1997.
shows the positive impact that the Christian faith has had on
America's development and overall history. GOD'S JUDGMENTS, which
came out in 2007, asks hard questions about what God was and is
doing through such things as the War of 1812 and the Burning of
Washington, the Civil War, 9-11 and other events. I want to under-
stand how to interpret the signs of the times by the Bible's way of
looking at history.
6. O. Palmer Robertson, THE CHRIST OF THE PROPHETS; P & R--his
earlier book, THE CHRIST OF THE COVENANTS, drew many admirers
and critics. This second volume has drawn mostly admirers. I want to
learn more about the Savior. Our Lord and the first century believers
relied upon their Old Testaments to see Christ until the New
Testament canon was complete. The prophets will help me see Christ.
What books are you finally going to read this year? Make your list, purchase them if you have not already, and get to your enjoyment. I almost said "work" but I don't view reading as "work". It has become a pleasure for me, especially after I became a Christian in college. Ask the Lord to make it your joy too!
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 07:25:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
12/28/2009
Whether you are a layman or a pastor, an elder or a deacon, a housewife or a university student, a plumber or a university professor, if you are a Christian you need to have the best possible books available and at your side. When issues are raised, when circumstances demand a response, when a trial hits, when an opportunity strolls into your life, you need to know what your Lord and Master thinks about it. The following books are working tools that each Christian should have at hand. You don't have to have a large, working library to be a faithful Christian, but it would help immensely if you had the following books besides your well-worn Bible.
1. CONCORDANCE-geared obviously to which version you use--key words can be looked up and screened for how God uses these words and what they mean to Him.
2. STUDY BIBLE--let me suggest that you have two. A good study Bible is like having a good commentary or seminary professor readily at hand. You want to check and make sure that you are seeing the full picture so checking one study Bible against the other keeps you from whatever bias might lurk in one study Bible. [I recommend the ESV STUDY BIBLE and THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE. Each has strengths. The ESV is more in the free church and credo-Baptist traditions on matters of the sacraments and church and state; the REFORMATION reflects a more paedo-Baptist understanding of the sacraments and view of church and state and church and culture.
3. BIBLE HANDBOOK--I heartily recommend the new RYKEN BIBLE HANDBOOK. It gives brief, succinct introductions to each book of the Bible, suggestions as to the proper interpretation of that book and how you might teach or communicate that to others. Worth far more than its price. The older HALLEY'S BIBLE HANDBOOK and UNGER'S BIBLE HANDBOOK had their day but I believe them to be surpassed by Leland and Philip Ryken's work.
4. TOPICAL BIBLE--Orville Nave wrote his original topical Bible years ago when stationed at Ft. McPherson here in Atlanta. It has been updated and amplified by other men and various publishers. I recommend the DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL THEMES from Zondervan. Edited by Martin Mansoor, James Packer, Alistair McGrath and D. J. Wiseman, it is a compendium of verses gathered under the many issues the Word of God speaks to.
5. CROSS REFERENCES--For over a hundred years, THE TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE (Hendrickson) has had pride of place as number 1. For my money, it still is the best one. Originally it was the almost half million marginal notes from Thomas Scott's commentary on the whole Bible. In Christian history, Thomas Scott's commentary is second only to Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible for sales and general usefulness. In the late 19th or early 20th century, R. A. Torrey took Scott's references and added his own and it became known as THE TREASURE OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE. It is mostly the spade work of Scott. As you are studying a verse, this book will tell you every other place in the Bible where that phrase or clause is used to that you can compare Scripture with Scripture.
6. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY--having a faithful and concise systematic theology book at hand keeps you on track and keeps you from making serious errors in judgment. You might be tempted to take the verse you are studying and come up with a novel or crazy interpretation had not you read what the systematic theology book said about it. I recommend
the following for those who are just getting started in the faith:
a. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE; Crossway--
an evangelical and Reformed classic by the greatest preacher in the
English language of the 20th century.
b. James Montgomery Boice, FOUNDATIONS OF THE FAITH; IVP--laid
out like Calvin's INSTITUTES, it is very readable, organized and
helpful. I know one seminary graduate who finally figured out what
he believed by working through Boice.
c. James Packer, CONCISE THEOLOGY; Tyndale--for my money, this
book packs more punch than almost any other theology book.
Don't be fooled by it s small size; it is concise--jam packed with
biblical insights that have stood the test of time and have been
honored by God over the centuries.
d. James Packer, EIGHTEEN WORDS (formerly titled GOD'S WORDS);
Christian Focus. For many years, dictionaries of biblical theology
(Kittel's, Colin Brown, etc.) have provided us with lengthy word
studies of the main words of the Bible. How does the Word of God
use words? Professor Packer takes 18 of the most important words
found in the Bible and shows us what they mean. This is a great
supplement to his CONCISE THEOLOGY.
e. Bruce Milne, KNOW THE TRUTH; IVP--formerly professor of theology
at Spurgeon's College in London and then pastor of 1st Baptist
Church of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Milne's work is not as well
known as it should be. It is a fine work that is Reformed and
Baptist, readable and clear.
For those a bit more mature and farther down the road as Christians, let me recommend:
a. Louis Berkhof, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY; Eerdmans--classic theology
by a master teacher of systematic theology and historical theology.
b. Wayne Grudem, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY; Zondervan--the best
Baptist and free church systematic theology, marred by his
charismatic understanding of the Holy Spirit (e.g. in over 100 pages
on the Holy Spirit, there are no references to preaching or revival,
surely two classic works of the Holy Spirit--but lots of talk about
gifts, charisma, etc. Other than that, this is a very good theology
book.
c. Robert Reymond, A NEW SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY; Nelson--a very
good and short systematic theology by a long time professor of
systematic theology at Covenant Seminary.
7. BIBLE DICTIONARY--the NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY wins hands down. It is a bit pricey and has some contributors who are not as conservative as I would like, but it has the most up to date information in the smallest space currently available. What was the High Priest's ephod? What is the Bible's own doctrine of its inspiration, sufficiency and authority? These and a zillion other issues and questions are handled very well.
8. SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND ITS THEOLOGY--such a book
gives the reader an overview of each book of the Old Testament and
how it fits into God's plan of salvation.
a. Hill and Walton, SURVEY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; Zondervan
b. Mark Dever, THE MESSAGE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (Promises
Made); Crossway--a book by book overview of the Old Testament
and its message.
9. SURVEY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND ITS THEOLOGY--such a book
shows how each book of the New Testament fits into God's bigger
picture of salvation and what each particular book has to teach us.
a. J Gresham Machen, THE NEW TESTAMENT (An Introduction to Its
Literature and History); Banner of Truth-great place for beginners
b. Kostenberger, Kellum and Quarles, THE CRADLE, THE CROSS AND
THE CROWN (An Introduction to the New Testament); Broadman
and Holman--great introduction to the books and message of the
New Testament.
c. Tom Schreiner, THE THEOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTMENT; Baker--
also very good and aimed at intermediate and above readers.
c. Mark Dever, THE MESSAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (Promises
Kept); Crossway--the fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises
in the New Testament revelation.
10. Alan Stibbs, etc., ed.; SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES; IVP--a book with a
forty year history, its takes the reader through the whole Bible by
asking questions of each paragraph and chapter of the Bible. This
book truly is a great help to reverent and intelligent Bible reading
and understanding.
Perhaps you already have your favorites that did not make this list. Let me know if you have a suggestion or criticism.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 04:37:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
12/22/2009
When we come upon a New Year, we make resolutions to change or make plans to plot out a course of action for the year. Resolutions usually go the way of the dodo, but plotting a course of action, prayerfully followed in dependence upon God the Holy Spirit, can yield great benefit (even if the course plotted is not followed to the "T").
A BAKER'S DOZEN OF BOOKS TO READ FOR TO IMPACT YOUR LIFE
1. Aurelius Augustine, CONFESSIONS; Whitaker House--you might have heart of Augustine but never dreamed you would be reading something by him. If you read this modern English version of the CONFESSIONS, you get some reason why he is remembered today and how he impacted so many Christians down through the century, from Luther and Calvin right down to today's Christians. His insights into the heart and our sinfulness as well as the necessity of the free grace of God mark him out as the first great "Augustinian" (Pauline) theologian (Luther and Calvin and the Puritans and Edwards come to mind as later Augustinians).
2. S. M. Houghton, SKETCHES FROM CHURCH HISTORY; Banner of Truth
I have given away books to many people, but this one always gets read and people find themselves to be surprised that they loved a church history book! With its many pictures and photos and fast pace, it keeps the plot line of God's redemptive history moving. Like a peg board in a garage that help you keep your tools in place and find them next time, this book is a peg board to see how church fathers, hermits, monks, Reformers, Puritans, awakening preachers, heretics and so many others fit on the great peg board of God's history.
3. Roland Bainton, HERE I STAND (Biography of Martin Luther); Hendrickson--an outstanding biography that is a half-century old but none written since read better and still capture the great essence of the man and his times. If you want to know why a Reformation was needed, how it came about, and what kind of a man Martin Luther was, there is no better place to start.
4. Richard Stauffer, THE HUMANNESS OF JOHN CALVIN; Solid Ground Christian Books--you have heard that John Calvin was "the theologian" of the Reformation. And he was. You may have heard other things about him that were less flattering. But to know the man, see how he related to his family and friends. Many have testified that this book forever changed their view of the man.
5. John Bunyan, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS; Banner of Truth and other editions--the greatest allegory every written by a man who wrote it while in jail for preaching the gospel! John Bunyan spent 12 years in prison for preaching the gospel. This is the story of the progress of a man from his time of conviction and conversion throughput his pilgrimage until he gets to heaven. The second half picks up where his wife comes under conviction and wants to be saved and go to heaven too. Who "Christian" meets and what dangers and follies confront him are the stuff of legend as Bunyan makes reality and theology and art blend in this best of studies of the Christian life pilgrimage.
6. Samuel Rutherford, THE LETTERS OF SAMUEL RUTHERFORD; Banner of Truth--Charles Spurgeon thought them so full of Christ and godliness that they were the most inspired writings, after the Bible, that he had ever read. Who am I to argue with that?
7.Andrew Bonar, REMAINS AND MEMOIR OF ROBERT MURRAY McCHEYNE; Banner of Truth--inspiring and convicting life of a Scot's minister who died at 29 but not before impacting his generation for Christ and godliness.
8. Jerry Bridges, TRUSTING GOD (Even When Life Hurts); NavPress--the first book written in English in the 20th century on the doctrine of God's providence (the hand of God in the glove of circumstances). A sanity saver for sure and one not to be missed. Great theology well applied!
9. James Packer, KNOWING GOD; InterVarsity Press--by acclamation, one of the few books of the 20th century that is destined to become a classic. I read it almost every year with great profit.
10. R. C. Sproul, THE HOLINESS OF GOD; Tyndale--shows how God's holiness is His primary attribute and how all other attributes flow out from that as spokes from the hub of a wheel. Everything depends upon the kind of being that God is. A life-changing book.
11. Jerry Bridges, THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS; NavPress--the best book on the Reformed and biblical understanding of sanctification in print. Should be read slowly and applied each year.
12. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT; Eerdmans--a classic exposition of the Sermon on the Mount (how the citizens of Christ's Kingdom live compared to the citizens of this world). Dr. Lloyd-Jones was arguably the greatest preacher in the English language in the 20th century and Dr. James Packer called him the greatest man he ever met who taught him more about God and godliness than any man he ever met!
May the Lord show you His glory and make you a more useful vessel in the New Year.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 11:28:00 AM :: permalink :: discuss ::
12/15/2009
When my own children were young (they are in their thirties now), I was on the lookout for really good books for them, secular and Christian. Since that time there has been a rapidly growing number of good books for children in Christian families. Today I wanted to look at some overlooked ones. They are overlooked because they are from a source that most of CVBBS customers do not check--the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. This historically conservative Lutheran denomination has produced good materials over the years which Calvinistic and Reformed people missed to their impoverishment. Let me show you some of their excellent books for children and humble adults from the renowned historian Paul Maier. If an historian cannot document conversation noted in his work, then it must be called "historical fiction". Don't let the fiction word stop you. Many have greatly profited from Michael Shaara's THE KILLER ANGELS (the story of Civil War battle at Gettysburg, made into the movie of the same name). His son Jeff has picked up his father's mantle and produced other well-received historical studies (with undocumented conversation to make the narrative flow). This is just one family of examples. Paul Maier provides dialogue that is plausible to pull you through to the facts which are record in Scripture.
Justin Taylor in his excellent blog, BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, also highlights Dr. Maier's excellent work and highly recommends his books.
The following are books for children and youth which parents and adults can enjoy also.
FLAMES OF ROME--what was the fall of the Roman Empire like?
PONTIUS PILATE--what kind of a man was Pontius Pilate?
LUTHER: A MAN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD--what kind of a man was
Martin Luther?
THE REAL STORY OF THE CREATION--since no human being was there but only God the Creator we must rely on what the Bible says!
THE REAL STORY OF THE FLOOD--what does the Bible data say?
THE REAL STORY OF THE EXODUS--what really happened?
THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS--makes that first Christmas come alive.
THE VERY FIRST EASTER--makes that first Easter come alive.
THE VERY FIRST CHRISTIANS--makes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost come alive.
May the Lord help us read the best books to our children and give the best books to our children.
NOTE: If you are looking for more excellent children's books, check out
CVBBS's list of books from these two publishers:
1. Solid Ground Christian Books which as a publishing venture gleans the best of the 19th century books and reprints them for the 21st century church. Their offering of children's books is superb. Look especially for books by Richard Newton and J. R. Miller for a starter.
2. Christian Focus Publications--Carine MacKensie and others have produced so many good books for children of all ages.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 10:32:18 AM :: permalink :: discuss ::
12/08/2009
Years ago, Ernie Reisinger wrote an article in BANNER OF TRUTH MAGAZINE on "Twenty Six Good Soldiers for Christ". The "good soldiers" were the English alphabet. His article promoted the giving away of good books and literature as a means of impacting others' lives for Christ. While human witnesses are not always faithful or reliable, the written word never "chickens out" or loses its train of thought or has an "off day". It remains on duty and at its post until such time as someone picks up the booklet or book and reads it. A book can sit on a shelf unread and then it is picked up and it snaps to attention and performs its duty. I love to read and I love to receive books and give books as gifts. Books, have under God, changed my life third only to the Bible and the preached Word. I am indebted to more men and women authors than I can count. Back in the seventies, Zondervan had an ad campaign to promote its books and it went this way: "Read for your life!". And I thought it was true then and true now. Others have had ad campaigns that said: "Readers are leaders!". That slogan is true too. In age when people have all kinds of instant information through text messages, tweets, and blogs, the best information is that which has been studied, thought about and digested before it becomes a book or booklet. Who can speak to the multitudes of people whose lives were changed by a book or booklet. One of my favorites is the story of a shepherd boy in Australia who was out tin the Australian "outback", far from a city or church. As he watched the sheep, a piece of paper blew by in the ever present outback wind. He ran over and grabbed it and it turned out to be a page from a newspaper in London that had apparently been wrapped around a package mailed to Australia. The newspaper had been unwrapped and thrown aside but its printed message was still in tact. It was a sermon by Charles Spurgeon!
The boy reading the newspaper came under conviction of sin and was converted reading this printed sermon. How like our God and how like the printed word to due their duty!
WHAT BOOKS DO I RECOMMEND FOR THIS CHRISTMAS ?
FOR MEN, HUSBANDS AND DADS:
Stuart Scott, BIBLICAL MANHOOD (Masculinity, Leadership and
Decision Making); Focus Christian Publishing--what could be a
life-changing book to help a man learn how to be more of a biblical
man. Six chapters with four appendices which are helpful and
convicting and enlightening.
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; NavPress--
our whole church is going through this right now in our Wednesday
evening small groups. Jerry is profoundly helpful because he
combines the best doctrine with practical application. How to avoid
smug self-righteousness and crippling guilt are the problems met by
the righteousness of Christ. The power of God the Holy Spirit to
transform your life is the other bookend.
Wayne Grudem, BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD; Crossway--little
is in print on this important theme. As millions of men (and women)
get up each morning and go to work, how should they view their
jobs? Or how do their jobs matter to God? How can they be
motivated each day by their work as Christians?
Timothy Keller, COUNTERFEIT GODS (The Empty Promises of Money,
Sex, and Power and the Only Hope That Matters); E. P. Dutton--
perfect gift to give men in the rat race of their careers whether
they are professing Christians or not.
Michael Haykin, THE CHRISTIAN LOVER; Reformation Trust--a heart-
warming collection of thoughts by different Christian men originally
written to their wives on how they love them.
Geoffrey Thomas, ERNEST REISINGER: A BIOGRAPHY; Banner of
Truth--one of the best biographies of a Christian businessman and
lay preacher who late in life became a pastor. It covers his life and
conversion and growth and struggles without glossing over his
weaknesses. Heart-warming and inspiring!
FOR WOMEN, WIVES AND MOTHERS:
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; NavPress
Just as important for a woman to master as a man.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, LIES WOMEN BELIEVE AND THE TRUTH THAT
SETS THEM FREE; Moody Press--confronts the cultural lies that
weigh down and often warp women's lives. A great, helpful read!
Elyze Fitspatrick, COMFORTS FROM THE CROSS; Crossway--a wonder-
ful book, warm, practical, Christ-centered and suffused with reality.
The author shows how the cross applies to everyday, every minute
life.
Martha Peace, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS; P & R--practical advice for
women of every age and situation.
John MacArthur, TWELVE EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN; Nelson--shows
how these women in Bible times faced their lives by the aid and
enablement of their God.
FOR TEENS THROUGH COLLEGE AGE:
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, LIES YOUNG WOMEN BELIEVE AND THE TRUTH
THAT SETS THEM FREE; Moody Press--a sequel to her book for
women, this helps high school and college girls to see ways the
culture is trying to deceive them (and in the process ruin their lives)
Donald Drew, LETTERS TO A STUDENT; Christian Focus--reminding
one of the letters of C. S. Lewis, this is a helpful book of counsel to
a college student who is trying to find their way in college and in
this fallen world.
Harris, DO HARD THINGS! (Rebelling Against a World of Low
Expectations; Multnomah
FOR CHILDREN:
Diana Kleyn and Joel Beeke, REFORMATION HEROES; Reformation
Heritage Books--a fine introduction for children 8-12 about the
Reformation and the men and women who made it happen and
its on-going impact.
Bruce Ware, BIG TRUTHS FOR YOUNG HEARTS; Crossway--a great
book for children 8-14 on who God is.
FOR PASTORS AND ELDERS:
Iain Murray, HEROES; Banner of Truth--lifestories of Christian pastors
(and their wives) who can become heroes for us today (in a world
without heroes). A great and inspiring read.
Iain Murray, D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: THE FIRST FORTY YEARS;
Banner of Truth--the best biography I know of to teach and inspire
a pastor or preacher.
Cornelius Van Dam, THE ELDER (Today's Ministry Rooted in All of
Scripture); P & R--good book to give to the Elders of your church.
Jerry Bridges, THE GREAT EXCHANGE (My Sin for Christ's
Righteousness); Crossway--most professing Christians only hear
half of the gospel--"Christ died for your sins". The other half has
dropped out of evangelical pulpits and hearts--"Christ's
righteousness is imputed to the believing sinner as their
righteousness forever". Combs through the New Testament in the
heritage of 19th century Free Church of Scotland scholar George
Smeaton.
FOR SUFFERERS:
Jerry Bridges, TRUSTING GOD (Even When Life Hurts); NavPress--
the first book in English in the 20th century (published in 1988)
on the doctrine of providence--God is holy, holy, holy (and nothing
sinful ever crosses His mind about how to treat His people);
sovereign (nothing beyond God's ability or power ever thwarts His
plans); omniscient (infinitely wise such that the path taken is
always the perfect path for us); and infinitely loving with His
covenant love (and always has our best interests at heart). Salve
for the wounded soul.
Jerry Bridges, IS GOD REALLY IN CONTROL?; NavPress--sequel to
TRUSTING GOD but focusing more on "fiery harpoons" than "fiery
darts".
Paul Wolfe, MY GOD IS TRUE (Lessons Learned Along Cancer's Dark
Road); Banner of Truth--just what it says.
FOR UNBELIEVERS AND PROFESSING BELIEVERS (without fruit)
Timothy Keller, COUNTERFEIT GODS (The Empty Promises of Money,
Sex and Power and the Only Hope That Matters); E. P. Dutton--
exposes the emptiness of the promises held out to today's
worldlings that money, sex and power will satisfy their soul.
Timothy Keller, THE REASON FOR GOD; E. P. Dutton--like C. S. Lewis,
Keller tries to answer the big questions and turn the table on the
unbeliever showing the Christianity is the only reasonable faith.
Sinclair Ferguson, THE PUNDIT'S FOLLY; Banner of Truth--booklet
based on the book of Ecclesiastes showing on its cover a masked
clown holding a golden crown just out of the reach of grasping
crowds. Our hearts are restless and empty until they are filled by
Christ.
Cesar Malan, THE CROSS: WHERE ALL ROADS MEET; Evangelical
Press--a Reformed pastor meets an older man one day on a hike
in the French Alps. The older man claims to be a Christian but the
back and forth conversation reveals that he is not trusting in the
Christ of the Bible but his own works. Christ wasn't enough. Very
helpful to show religious people that they are not to add their works
to Christ but trust in His finished work alone!
May those on your Christmas List thank God for your thoughtful gift!
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 12:23:00 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::
Years ago, Ernie Reisinger wrote an article in BANNER OF TRUTH MAGAZINE on "Twenty Six Good Soldiers for Christ". The "good soldiers" were the English alphabet. His article promoted the giving away of good books and literature as a means of impacting others' lives for Christ. While human witnesses are not always faithful or reliable, the written word never "chickens out" or loses its train of thought or has an "off day". It remains on duty and at its post until such time as someone picks up the booklet or book and reads it. A book can sit on a shelf unread and then it is picked up and it snaps to attention and performs its duty. I love to read and I love to receive books and give books as gifts. Books, have under God, changed my life third only to the Bible and the preached Word. I am indebted to more men and women authors than I can count. Back in the seventies, Zondervan had an ad campaign to promote its books and it went this way: "Read for your life!". And I thought it was true then and true now. Others have had ad campaigns that said: "Readers are leaders!". That slogan is true too. In age when people have all kinds of instant information through text messages, tweets, and blogs, the best information is that which has been studied, thought about and digested before it becomes a book or booklet. Who can speak to the multitudes of people whose lives were changed by a book or booklet. One of my favorites is the story of a shepherd boy in Australia who was out tin the Australian "outback", far from a city or church. As he watched the sheep, a piece of paper blew by in the ever present outback wind. He ran over and grabbed it and it turned out to be a page from a newspaper in London that had apparently been wrapped around a package mailed to Australia. The newspaper had been unwrapped and thrown aside but its printed message was still in tact. It was a sermon by Charles Spurgeon!
The boy reading the newspaper came under conviction of sin and was converted reading this printed sermon. How like our God and how like the printed word to due their duty!
WHAT BOOKS DO I RECOMMEND FOR THIS CHRISTMAS ?
FOR MEN, HUSBANDS AND DADS:
Stuart Scott, BIBLICAL MANHOOD (Masculinity, Leadership and
Decision Making); Focus Christian Publishing--what could be a
life-changing book to help a man learn how to be more of a biblical
man. Six chapters with four appendices which are helpful and
convicting and enlightening.
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; NavPress--
our whole church is going through this right now in our Wednesday
evening small groups. Jerry is profoundly helpful because he
combines the best doctrine with practical application. How to avoid
smug self-righteousness and crippling guilt are the problems met by
the righteousness of Christ. The power of God the Holy Spirit to
transform your life is the other bookend.
Wayne Grudem, BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD; Crossway--little
is in print on this important theme. As millions of men (and women)
get up each morning and go to work, how should they view their
jobs? Or how do their jobs matter to God? How can they be
motivated each day by their work as Christians?
Timothy Keller, COUNTERFEIT GODS (The Empty Promises of Money,
Sex, and Power and the Only Hope That Matters); E. P. Dutton--
perfect gift to give men in the rat race of their careers whether
they are professing Christians or not.
FOR WOMEN, WIVES AND MOTHERS:
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; NavPress
Just as important for a woman to master as a man.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, LIES WOMEN BELIEVE AND THE TRUTH THAT
SETS THEM FREE; Moody Press--confronts the cultural lies that
weigh down and often warp women's lives. A great, helpful read!
Posted: 12:21:19 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::