I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Here are some of the notable books that I’ve received:
Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther by Steven J. Lawson. “In The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther, author Steven J. Lawson shows the convictions and practices that fed Luther’s pulpit boldness. It all began with his deep commitment to the Word of God, through which he had come to his freeing understanding of justification by faith alone. Luther was outspoken in the pulpit because he was so deeply devoted to Scripture, seeing it as inspired, inerrant, clear, sufficient, and supremely authoritative. For these reasons, he believed that the preaching of the Word was to be at the heart of the church’s worship.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
Gospel-Centered Leadership by Steve Timmis. “Our world is awash with Leadership trainers and gurus, claiming to show how people can do their job better. But Christians only have one role model for leadership in practice—the Lord Jesus Christ. And the leadership he calls us to is radically different to the kind of leadership the world looks to. It is humble and servant-hearted. The aim of this book is to help us think through what shape, color and texture the gospel gives to leadership. It is for all kinds of leaders – formal or informal, experienced or novice, actual or aspiring, skilled or simply doing the best they can. It is for leaders of churches, small groups, youth groups, large groups and even tiny groups of one or two. The short, punchy chapters – with Bible studies, questions for reflection and ideas for action – build into a manual for testing and improving your own leadership as well as helping others grow into gospel-centered leaders.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
Pilgrim Theology by Michael Horton. “Pilgrim Theology is based–in part–on the much larger The Christian Faith, although it is no simple abridgment; rather, Michael Horton has sought to write for an entirely new and wider audience, intentionally making it more useful for both group and individual study. Horton reviews the biblical passages that have given rise to particular doctrines in addition to surveying past and present interpretations. Also included are sidebars showing the key distinctions readers need to grasp on a particular subject, helpful charts and tables illuminating exegetical and historical topics, and questions at the end of each chapter for individual, classroom, and small group reflection. Pilgrim Theology is especially appropriate for undergraduate students, educated laypersons, or anyone looking to gain a basic understanding of Reformed theology’s biblical and historical foundations.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
James by Chris A. Vlachos. “The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: James is the second book in a projected series of twenty volumes that seeks to bring together classroom, study, and pulpit by providing the student or pastor with information that is helpful to understand and expound the Greek text of the New Testament. Author Chris Vlachos aims to close the gap between grammatical analysis and exegesis, leading readers into an in-depth understanding of the New Testament Greek text by guiding them through an exegetical process that flows into sermon construction.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon.)
Paul and Union with Christ by Constantine R. Campbell. “Union with Christ is a debated theological theme in Pauline studies, yet surprisingly a comprehensive exegetical analysis of the theme within the Pauline canon has not been produced. Until now. This book offers the first thorough exegetical and theological investigation of union with Christ in Paul’s letters, carefully examining every occurrence of the phrases ‘in Christ,’ ‘with Christ,’ ‘through Christ,’ ‘into Christ,’ and other related expressions. Relying on his contextual and linguistic analysis, both builds a holistic portrayal of Paul’s thinking and engages current theological perceptions of union with Christ.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)
And finally, three recent editions to The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series: Colossians and Philemon by David W. Pao, 1 and 2 Thessalonians by Gary S. Shogren, and Acts by Eckhard J. Schnabel. “Designed for the pastor and Bible teacher, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament brings together commentary features rarely gathered in one volume. Written by notable evangelical scholars, each volume treats the literary context and structure of the passage in the original Greek and each author provides an original translation based on the literary structure. The series consistently provides a main point, exegetical outline, verse-by-verse commentary, and theology in application in each section of every commentary. Critical scholarship informs each step but does not dominate the commentary, allowing readers to concentrate on the biblical author’s message as it unfolds. While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Greek, all who strive to understand and teach the New Testament will find these books beneficial.”
