The God of love and peace be with you, my friends.
In case you missed it, yesterday I shared how AI Is Coming For Your Systematic Theology. It describes and explains the flood of AI-generated theology books on Amazon and elsewhere.
Sales & Deals
Today’s Kindle deals include titles for those struggling with cancer or chronic illness, those preparing for marriage, and those who want to better understand baptism. There is a good collection of general market titles as well.
If you’re looking for new books, you might consider Westminster Books’ deals on The Lord Saves Me and a selection of releases from New Growth Press.
Recommended Reading
Your Body is a Temple, So Act. If it is true that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, there are ramifications we need to consider. Alan Noble lays out a few of them here. “It’s one thing to read that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). It’s another thing entirely to believe it and live it. This is especially true in a culture that degrades the body, that consumes the body, that commodifies the body, that abuses the body, that teaches men that women’s bodies are there to be tortured for sexual gratification, that teaches women to torture their bodies for the male gaze, that teaches both sexes to give into their fleshly passions instead of developing chastity.”
What Christian Athletes Can’t Do. Cody Benjamin looks at the recent situation with basketball player Jaden Ivey and considers what Christian athletes cannot do. “Ivey’s fall may also reflect the unwritten rules of platforming faith in professional sports.”
7 Ways a Husband Can Take Initiative in Showing Love to His Wife. Jonathan Leeman: “Brother, when you wake up in a funk, or get to the end of a long day and you’re exhausted, or sit and watch her do that thing that annoys you, or she fails to meet your expectations about something, or she spends too much money, or when the well of romantic feelings seems to run a little dry, or even when she fails you in more dramatic ways, you do not sit back and sulk and say, ‘I’m not satisfied. I’m not happy. I’m not fulfilled.’”
Hope for Gen Z’s Financial Nihilism. I have read in several places that many Gen Zers are so convinced they will never be able to get ahead in life that they are falling into a kind of financial nihilism (which may go a long way to explaining the rise of sports gambling). This article at TGC speaks to them and gives them hope.
I Don’t Know. I agree with J.V. Fesko that often the best thing a pastor (or anyone else) can say is “I don’t know.” And I suppose I agree that pastors sometimes seem less likely than most other people to actually say it!
From Sermon to Life: The Powerful Story of Lloyd-Jones and Stott’s Reconciliation. I enjoyed reading this account of the fallout and reconciliation between Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Stott. There is a lot we can all learn from it.
Book Releases
Generally speaking, new Christian books are released on Tuesdays. Here are some of this week’s new titles.
- To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times by Alan Noble. “Alan Noble shows you how you can not only endure but flourish in life. Through exploring the seven virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and love, you’ll learn how to choose gracefully, act justly, suffer steadfastly, live moderately, believe soundly, hope resolutely, and love rightly.”
- Crossway is launching a new series of “Conversational Commentaries,” which are edited by Lydia Brownback and Megan Hill. The first two volumes are Ephesians and 1 Peter. “Choosing a Bible commentary can be a daunting prospect. With complex terms and dense exposition, many are tailored to scholarly theologians rather than everyday believers. And for those selecting resources in order to lead a small-group Bible study, speak at a women’s gathering, or simply grow in their knowledge of God’s Word, it can be hard to know where to start.” That’s where these come in.
- The Lord Saves Me: 40 Christ-Centered Family Devotions from the Psalms by Iain Duguid. “Show your children that the Psalms reflect their own experiences—and, more importantly, Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Child-friendly translations of select psalms accompany gospel-centered devotional readings and prayers.”
Flashback
Whatever Is Not Christ. We are the block of marble and he the artist, we the medium and he the one who must remove from it whatever is not Christ. From the moment of our salvation he begins to conform us to the image of his Son, to pare away whatever is earthly until there is nothing left but that which is heavenly.
It is a great mercy when our name outlives us; it is a great punishment when we outlive our names.
—William Jenkyn
