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Book Review Updates

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Lucado and R.C. and Moore, Oh My!

Here is your update on the latest reviews at Discerning Reader. We have uploaded six new reviews for you this week–reviews that come from the pens of four different reviewers and which examine books by some of the Christian world’s most popular authors. It’s a banner week!

Leslie Wiggins, who writes reviews of books that are of particular interest to women, has a courageous review of Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore. I say “courageous” because Leslie dares to suggest that perhaps this book has some poor theology and too little focus on the cross. Read the review and see if you agree.

I have reviewed Max Lucado’s upcoming book, 3:16: The Numbers of Hope (a review I’ve also posted here). A guaranteed bestseller that is going to receive massive publicity, this book is an examination of John 3:16. Though not without its strengths, the book suffers by not defining the target audience. This leads the author to make promises that are not his to make. I have also reviewed Quiet Strength, the autobiography of Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Dungy is a Christian who is very outspoken about his faith and this biography tells his story. Finally, I’ve added a review of A Taste of Heaven by R.C. Sproul.

From Scott Lamb comes a review of Foundations of Grace, the first volume of Steve Lawson’s series (five volumes are planned) dealing with the history of Reformed theology.

And finally, Colin Adams brings a review of Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger. He says, “This is not to say there is nothing helpful in the book. … Church is never truly simple, and Simple Church over-reaches by claiming that it is “returning to God’s process for making disciples.” (book subtitle). Put simply? Gain insights from this book; don’t build your ecclesiology on it.”

You know we’ll be back next Tuesday with more reviews…


  • A La Carte (November 9)

    Christianity under the progressive gaze / Why Christians must reject the conspiratorial mind / Wise people strive to be wiser / The pro-life movement’s midterm reckoning / How evil works / Preaching in paragraphs / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Works and Wonders November 8

    Works & Wonders (November 8)

    This week’s Works & Wonders: the power of God, Nikon’s microscope photos, three Come, Thou Founts, a brain-injured musical genius, and Prepare Him Room live.

  • Weekend A La Carte (November 7)

    The Hutterites’ guide to technology / Searching for jobs, Gen Z feels like it’s staring into ‘the void’ / The gospel according to Peter (Thiel) / Scientism and the allure of control / Can science explain sparkling rivers? / What led to Christianity Today’s crisis?

  • I Regret to Inform You That Heaven Tourism Is Back

    I Regret to Inform You That Heaven Tourism Is Back

    I regret to inform you, dear reader, that heaven tourism is back. The genre possibly never went away entirely, but it did at least disappear from the bestseller lists for several years. Sadly, it has returned in Gabe Poirot’s 18 Days in Heaven.