Friday, February 29, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - TONY MIANO

Tony Miano is an 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (retired), where he has also served as a department chaplain. Known also as "the Lawman" from his many appearances on Wretched Radio (formerly Way of the Master Radio), Tony is an outstanding open air preacher who frequents many street corners in southern California. He is the founder of Ten-Four Ministries, which provides practical and spiritual support to the law enforcement community. He is also the director of the Ambassadors' Alliance -an outreach of Living Waters. He frequently speaks at churches, law enforcement fellowships, and chaplain conferences.


TAKE UP THE SHIELD
Tony Miano

Category: Evangelism
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Written by a street cop, this unique publication compares the various pieces of law enforcement equipment to the spiritual armor that the Bible describes in Ephesians chapter 6. Real-life law enforcement stories drive home the importance of each piece of equipment. Although much has been written about this well-known passage of Scripture, little has been written from the perspective of a Christian who wears and uses the physical armor of the police officer every day, fighting both the physical battle against crime in our society and the spiritual battle against evil that all individuals are called to fight. You don't have to be a cop or a Christian to be encouraged and challenged by this book. In addition to building your faith, this book will serve as a helpful introduction to the men and women who protect you and your community.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - JASON C MEYER

Jason C Meyer did his Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently serving as Associate Professor of New Testament at Bethlehem Seminary in Minnesota. Meyer has authored a book on the difference in Paul between the old covenant and the new covenant, entitled The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology (B & H Academic, 2009), contributed the chapter on the prison epistles in The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament (B & H Academic, 2009), and is presently writing a biblical and practical theology of preaching (Crossway).


THE END OF THE LAW
Jason C Meyer

Category: Theology
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Commonly understood as the first theologian of the Christian faith, Paul set forth the categories by which we describe our relationship with Christ. Did he understand the new covenant Jesus announced at the Last Supper primarily as a replacement of the old Mosaic covenant God made with Israel, or as a renewal and completion of the old? Jason C Meyer surveys the various differences that have been argued between the two covenants in The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant In Pauline Theology, carefully and inductively perfoming a semantic, grammatical, and contextual analysis of all the Pauline texts dealing with covenant concepts. This is Book Seven of the New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology series, an extension of the long-respected New American Commentary.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - PETER MASTERS

Dr Peter Masters has been Minister of the world-famous Metropolitan Tabernacle (Spurgeon's) in central London since 1970. He edits the international magazine 'Sword & Trowel' (started by Spurgeon in 1865) and directs the studies of aspiring pastors in the Tabernacle's adjunct seminary. Dr. Masters has continued in the same theological direction as Spurgeon and is renowned as an uncompromising preacher who is staunch in his convictions. Dr. Masters has written numerous books and booklets always demonstrating an excellent grasp of the Christian faith.


THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689
Peter Masters (Editor)
Category: Theology

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C. H. Spurgeon said of this great Confession - Here the youngest members of our church will have a body of Truth in small compass, and by means of the scriptural proofs, will be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them.' This brilliant summary of doctrine (in the same family as the Westminster Confession), with its invaluable proof texts, is here gently modernised in punctuation, with archaic words replaced. Explanations of difficult phrases have been added in italic brackets. A brief history of the Confession, with an index, is included.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - COLIN MARSHALL

Colin Marshall has spent the last 30 years training men and women in the ministry of the Gospel, both in university and local church contexts. He is a graduate of Moore Theological College (BTh, MA) and the author of "Growth Groups", a training course for small group leaders, and "Passing the Baton", a handbook for ministry apprentieship. Until 2006 he directed the Ministry Training Strategy at Matthias Media, and is now heading up Vinegrowers, a new training ministry aimed at helping pastors and other ministry leaders implement the principles laid out in his book "The Trellis and the Vine".


THE TRELLIS AND THE VINE
Colin Marshall, Tony Payne
Category: Church

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All Christian ministry is a mixture of trellis and vine. There is vine work: the prayerful preaching and teaching of the word of God to see people converted and grow to maturity as disciples of Christ. Vine work is the Great Commission. And there is trellis work: creating and maintaining the physical and organizational structures and programs that support vine work and its growth. What’s the state of the trellis and the vine in your part of the world? Has trellis work taken over, as it has a habit of doing? Is the vine work being done by very few? And is the vine starting to wilt as a result? The image of the trellis and the vine raises all the fundamental questions of Christian ministry. Colin Marshall and Tony Payne answer these urgent questions afresh. They dig back into the Bible’s view of Christian ministry, and argue that a major mind-shift is required if we are to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ, and see the vine flourish again.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - C J MAHANEY

CJ Mahaney leads Sovereign Grace Ministries in its mission to establish and support local churches. After 27 years of pastoring Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, CJ handed the senior pastor role to Joshua Harris on September 18, 2004, allowing CJ to devote his full attention to Sovereign Grace. He serves on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and on the board of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. CJ's books include Humility: True Greatness; Living the Cross-Centered Life; and Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God. He is the editor of Worldliness and Why Small Groups?, and has coauthored other books in Sovereign Grace Ministries’ Pursuit of Godliness series.


PREACHING THE CROSS
Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, John Macarthur, C J Mahaney, Al Mohler, John Piper, R C Sproul

Category: Church
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Proclaiming the gospel is without a doubt the most important task of pastoral ministry, yet often other, seemingly more urgent activities obscure it. From time to time all pastors and preachers need to be reminded of the primacy of the gospel. Preaching the Cross does just this. It is a call to expository, gospel-centered preaching as the center of pastoral ministry. This volume showcases an unprecedented combination of pastors representing a variety of evangelical traditions. Though they differ on some secondary points of church practice, they all enthusiastically celebrate the centrality of the cross of Christ — keeping the main thing the main thing. That message every reader can take away from this book and adopt in his pastoral ministry.


SEX, ROMANCE, AND THE GLORY OF GOD
C J Mahaney
Category: Marriage
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Sex is a gift from God to his people. It is to be enjoyed within marriage. This book teaches a husband how to cultivate the intimacy with his wife that God intends for him. Scripture illuminates the path of marital intimacy. The Song of Solomon shines brightly, showing us the way to the best sex we can possibly experience. If you are looking for a book that will give you a few easy tips for spicing up your sex life, look somewhere else. This book invites you instead to completely revolutionize your romantic relationship with your wife. It calls all of us to a more profound and deeply satisfying kind of countercultural sex than most of us have ever experienced.


THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE
C J Mahaney
Category: Theology
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Remember Jesus Christ? Although it seems almost too obvious, the center of our faith is surprisingly easy to forget. Dynamic pastor C.J. Mahaney shows how to overcome our tendency to move on from the gospel of grace. Finding joy in the gospel - whose promises allow us to escape condemnation whenever it attacks - helps us avoid the prevalent trap of legalism. With practical suggestions, Mahaney demonstrates the difference between knowing the gospel... and making it the main thing in daily decisions and daily living. Many Christians search in vain for something new that will pull all the pieces of their faith together. But the missing ingredient is really not missing at all. C J Mahaney shows that the truth of the gospel is not only the entry point of the faith, but the only true help for the present and hope for the future. Reading this book will reset the compass of your life to always point to the atoning work of Christ.

Monday, February 25, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - JOHN MACARTHUR

Dr. John MacArthur is pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church. Following in the steps of his father, Dr. Jack MacArthur, John represents five successive generations of pastors in his family. He is also president of The Master's College and Seminary and is heard daily on "Grace to You," a nationally syndicated radio broadcast. The Grace to You ministry has distributed more than 10 million audiocassettes of his messages. John is also the author of many books, including The MacArthur New Testament Commentary series, The Gospel According to Jesus, and the newly-released The MacArthur Study Bible.


A TALE OF TWO SONS
John Macarthur

Category: Theology
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Charles Dickens. William Shakespeare. Garrison Keillor. They're all part of the chorus of literary geniuses who expressed admiration for The Parable of the Prodigal Son as outstanding literature. After all, it is a powerful drama, rich in detail, powerfully succinct, and intensely personal. But beyond the literary critiques-besides being one of the most celebrated written works of all time-the message of this parable is one we can't afford to ignore. In A Tale of Two Sons, John MacArthur takes the story back to its roots, when Jesus' words were absolutely revolutionary. As one of America's most beloved Bible teachers, MacArthur leads us through the minefields of interpretation and restores the simple yet profound brilliance of this passage. Giving engrossing historical background, A Tale of Two Sons will reveal Christ's original message as intended for the Pharisees, the disciples, and the world today.


ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
John Macarthur

Category: Theology
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With small congregations struggling to keep their doors open, and larger churches competing for their share of the unchurched market, many are looking to new techniques to draw bigger crowds. In Ashamed of the Gospel (third edition), John MacArthur offers a biblical analysis of the user-friendly philosophy of ministry and church growth that is sweeping through many congregations. The third edition features two new chapters responding to the modern phenomenons of the emergent church and the latest fads in "church growth" methodology. The appendixes on Finney and Spurgeon's Down-Grade controversy are worth the admission price alone. Read this book and exercise faithfulness to the once for all delivered faith.


BECAUSE THE TIME IS NEAR
John Macarthur

Category: Eschatology
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The end of the world is coming. From roadside signs to science fiction films, this slogan underscores our society’s nervous fascination with the future. God has told us how the world will end. And He has assured us that the end of this age will mark the beginning of a new, glorious one in which we will serve and worship Him in sinless perfection. All of this is laid out in the book of Revelation. Not only is Revelation the inspired Word of God, it is also the only New Testament book that includes a promised spiritual blessing for those who study and apply its message. Those who ignore Revelation deprive themselves of a rich treasure of divine truth, and the promised blessings that come from understanding that truth. Join John MacArthur as he explains the book of Revelation in a way that is both doctrinally precise (though Amillenialists and Postmillenialists may beg to differ) and intensely practical.


CHARISMATIC CHAOS
John Macarthur

Category: Apologetics
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Recognizing the importance of the charismatic movement and the need for a biblical evaluation of it, MacArthur analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatics and non-charismatics in the light of Scripture. The charismatic movement of the past quarter-century has made an impact on the church unparalleled in history. But one legacy of the movement is confusion and mushy thinking. "My principal concern," writes MacArthur, "is to call the church to a firm commitment to the purity and authority of the Scriptures, and thereby to strengthen the unity of the true church." To tough questions that seem to divide, Charismatic Chaos provides tougher answers that strive to unite. This book tackles such questions as - Is experience a valid test of truth? - Does God still give revelation? - Prophets, fanatics, or heretics? - Does God still heal? - What should we think of the Signs and Wonders movement? - Does the Bible promise health and wealth? A beneficial read regardless of which side of the fence you are on.


HARD TO BELIEVE
John Macarthur

Category: Theology
Click Here To OrderPopular perception of Jesus Christ is that of a tempered, genteel man who walked the earth, offering nuggets of wisdom to His followers. But what we sometimes fail to recognize is that although Jesus Christ offered a message of forgiveness, He also spoke challenging, demanding words about what being a follower of Christ requires. In contrast to the superficiality of much modern Christian teaching, Dr. John MacArthur serves up the unvarnished truth of what Christ taught and lived. In simple, compelling terms, he spells out what is required of those who would follow Him. Going beyond Jesus' life to include the crucifixion and resurrection, MacArthur shows readers that Jesus modeled the commitment and loving obedience He requires of us by making the ultimate sacrifice for humankind.


PREACHING THE CROSS
Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, John Macarthur, C J Mahaney, Al Mohler, John Piper, R C Sproul

Category: Church
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Proclaiming the gospel is without a doubt the most important task of pastoral ministry, yet often other, seemingly more urgent activities obscure it. From time to time all pastors and preachers need to be reminded of the primacy of the gospel. Preaching the Cross does just this. It is a call to expository, gospel-centered preaching as the center of pastoral ministry. This volume showcases an unprecedented combination of pastors representing a variety of evangelical traditions. Though they differ on some secondary points of church practice, they all enthusiastically celebrate the centrality of the cross of Christ — keeping the main thing the main thing. That message every reader can take away from this book and adopt in his pastoral ministry.


SAFE IN THE ARMS OF GOD
John Macarthur

Category: Parenting
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Every parent who has lost a child has dealt with disturbing, haunting questions. Why my child? Where is my baby now? Will I ever see my child again? Renowned Bible expositor John MacArthur tackles the question of infant death (in the womb or following birth) in his trademark style--with detailed attention to Scriptures that hold the answers. No death occurs apart from the purposes of God, MacArthur assures readers, just as no life occurs apart from the purposes of God. With a pastor's heart, he leads readers to an understanding of the eternal destination of these precious little ones. His conclusion: Babies - and anyone else who has not reached the condition of accountability - go to heaven when they die, and there will, indeed, be a time of blessed reunion with these souls. This is a beautiful and comforting apologetic on the eternal destiny of souls with an all too brief sojourn on this planet.


THE FULFILLED FAMILY
John Macarthur

Category: Marriage, Parenting
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With traditional family values in decline and under assault, how can parents convey Godly principles and morals amid competing messages? In The Fulfilled Family, John MacArthur, respected Bible teacher as well as experienced father and grandfather, takes a look at strategy for families as outlined in Ephesians 5 and 6. What is MacArthur's secret to his successful family? "There's no magic. There's no formula. There's no gimmick," he says. "It's not about how many times we did something, or who was in charge of this or that, or what kind of processes or methods we used. It comes down to questions that have to start in my heart: Am I committed to obedience to the Spirit of God? Am I committed to the controlling influences of the Word of God? Am I going to live out a Christian life? Because you must first answer yes to all of those questions before you have a successful family."


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS
John Macarthur

Category: Theology
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What did Jesus mean when He said, “Follow me”? Twenty years ago John MacArthur tackled that seemingly simple question and provided the evangelical world with the biblical answer. For many, the reality of Jesus’ demands has proved thoroughly searching, profoundly disturbing, and uncomfortably invasive; and yet, heeding His words is eternally rewarding. The 20th-anniversary edition of MacArthur’s provocative book has revised and expanded the original version to handle contemporary challenges. The debate over what some have called “Lordship salvation” hasn’t ended — every generation must face the demands of Christ’s Lordship.


THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES
John Macarthur

Category: Theology
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Ever since the days of the apostles Paul and James, who seemed to be in contradiction, Christians have struggled to define the proper tension between faith and works. Salvation, Paul stresses, is "not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). But James argues, "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). In clear and compelling terms, John MacArthur reconciles these two seemingly divergent threads of biblical truth, addressing the difficult questions head on: What is cheap grace? Have some Christians adopted a "no-lordship" theology? What must a person do to be considered righteous by God? Do your works have any affect on your salvation? This book is the companion to "The Gospel According To Jesus".


THE JESUS YOU CAN'T IGNORE
John Macarthur

Category: Apologetics
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If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with false teachers and their bad theology, where better to look than Jesus and His example. So how did Jesus deal with religious leaders who taught error and rejected the gospel? Did He seek common doctrinal ground and engage in dialogue? Did He soften and adapt the gospel so it wouldn’t confront or make them uncomfortable? In this book, John MacArthur explores the Lord’s many personal, often explosive encounters with the influential teachers of His day. You’ll see how both Jesus’ message and His manner have direct application for believers who love truth in this age of accommodation and compromise.


THE MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE
John Macarthur (Commentaries)

Category: Theology
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For years, the spiritual lives of countless men and women all over the world have been strengthened with the help of The MacArthur Study Bible. This all-in-one spiritual library contains John's personal study notes below the full-length Bible text. Virtually every Scripture has a matching study note with detailed information, explanation, and helpful insight. The MacArthur Study Bible is a resource that can transform your personal time in God's Word by clarifying difficult passages, bringing unseen cultural and historical details to life, and helping you understand and apply biblical truth.


TRUTH WAR
John Macarthur

Category: Apologetics
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Right now, truth is under attack, and it's going on within the boundaries of evangelicalism. With the "emergence" of the emergent movement there has been an unprecedented increase in attacks on the authority of Scripture and it's claims on absolute truth. There's a lot at stake and there's no middle ground — no safe zone for the uncommitted in this war. John MacArthur has written this book to unveil the enemy's tactics and equip you to fight. Here's what you'll learn: The pitfalls of postmodern thinking; the inherent flaws of the Emerging Church Movement; the historic skirmishes in the truth war and their effect on the contemporary church; the vital importance of truth and certainty in a postmodern age.


WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PARENTING
John Macarthur

Category: Parenting
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More than ever, Christians need to know what the Bible actually teaches about parenting, and put it into practice. In What the Bible Says About Parenting, pastor/teacher John MacArthure presents time-proven principles of biblical parenting clearly and carefully to help parents make sense of their duties before God and to bring up their children in the ways of the Lord. In addition to this new trade paper edition (previously titled Successful Christian Parenting), there is also a resource kit and two workbooks available to help Christian parents instruct their children in a godly manner.

Friday, February 22, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - MARTIN LUTHER

Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk whose teachings inspired the Protestant Reformation and deeply influenced the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions. On Halloween of 1517, Luther changed the course of human history when he nailed his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg, accusing the Roman Catholic church of heresy upon heresy. This act was the primary starting point of the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s call to the Church to return to the teachings of the Bible resulted in the formation of new traditions within Christianity and the Counter-Reformation in the Roman Catholic Church, culminating at the Council of Trent. Luther was a prolific writer and his catechism is a landmark Christian work. His translation of the Bible finally put the Scriptures in the hands of the common people and also helped to develop a standard version of the German language. Luther's hymns sparked the development of congregational singing in Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora, a former nun, began the tradition of clerical marriage within several Christian traditions.


CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
Martin Luther

Category: Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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It is argued by many that this essay is one of Luther's most important theological treatises. It has sometimes been rendered into English as The Freedom of a Christian, or simply On Christian Liberty. The Christian life is marked by faith working through love. When a man applies himself with joy and love to his works he is satisfied in the fullness of his own faith. No Christian lives in himself, but in Christ and too his neighbor. It is not from works that we are set free by our faith in Christ, but our belief in Christ will justify us before God. One of Luther’s main aims in this piece was to condemn belief in works, and establish a right view of salvation by faith alone, in Christ alone. Christian freedom was being free from the idea that good works were a means to salvation, yet in Christian freedom one would exercise good works in light of the grace God had shown in salvation.


LUTHER GOLD
Ray Comfort (Editor), Martin Luther

Category: Biography, Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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Martin Luther was a man of prayer who said: "all who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired." Martin Luther was a church leader and reformer, who said at his trial: "here I stand, I can do no other, God help me. Amen." Martin Luther was an evangelist, who said: "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." Ray Comfort has gleaned pure gold from Luther's writings for our benefit so that we can learn what the greatest reformer in the history of the Church had to say about many things, particularly our need to reach out to the lost. Luther's key revelation of salvation by grace through faith alone sparked the Reformation, which spread the Gospel throughout Europe.


LUTHER'S LARGE CATECHISM
Martin Luther

Category: Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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Luther's Large Catechism consisted of works written by Martin Luther and compiled Christian canonical texts, published in April of 1529. This book was addressed particularly to clergymen to aid them in teaching their congregations. Luther's Large Catechism is divided into five parts: The Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, and The Sacrament of the Eucharist. It and related documents was published in The Book of Concord in 1580. The Large Catechism typifies the emphasis which the churches of the Augsburg Confession placed on the importance of knowledge and understanding of the articles of the Christian faith. Primarily intended as instruction to teachers, especially to parents, the Catechism consists of a series of exhortations on the importance of each topic of the Catechism. It is meant for those who have the capacity to understand, and is not meant to be memorized but to be repeatedly reviewed so that the Small Catechism could be taught with understanding.


THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL
Martin Luther

Category: Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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What is at the heart of Luther’s theology and of the doctrine of justification which struck his soul with a bolt of divine lightning? It is the original depravity and sinfulness in man – that which he knew well as an ascetic monk in the Augustinian order. No doubt this is a cornerstone work for the Reformation and for the truth. Luther thought that of everything he wrote, this was his best and most useful work. Every Christian should read this work. If we do not understand how our wills work, who we are before God, and how we ought to continually view our standing before Him as a result of Christ’s work, then we can never understand salvation.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - CHARLES LEITER

Charles Leiter studied Physics and Mathematics before he was led into full-time Christian service in 1972. In 1974, he moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where he and his present co-pastor, Richard Ochs, began ministering to college students. They have now pastored together at Lake Road Chapel for almost 35 years. Charles and his wife Mona have five children. He has been a conference speaker in the United States, South America, and Eastern Europe. Charles is the author of the the highly acclaimed "Justification and Regeneration. You may learn more about his ministry at http://www.lakeroadchapel.org


JUSTIFICATION AND REGENERATION
Charles Leiter

Category: Theology
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What is regeneration? What is justification? Why do all men desperately need to be justified? If I have died to sin, why am I still affected by it? The answers to these and many other questions become clear once we gain a biblical understanding of justification and regeneration. These two great miracles lie at the very heart of the gospel, yet even among genuine Christians they are surrounded by confusion and ignorance. This book by noted Bible teacher, Charles Leiter, attempts to set forth in clear biblical light the nature and characteristics of justification and regeneration that God may be glorified and His children brought to know more fully the liberty that is theirs in Christ.

Monday, February 18, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - STEVE LAWSON

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He also serves as president of New Reformation, a ministry designed to bring about biblical reformation in the church today, and on the executive board of The Master's Seminary and College. He is a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries and a visiting professor at the Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies. A noted biblical expositor, Dr. Lawson speaks around the world at churches and conferences. He has written fifteen books, including Foundations of Grace, The Expository Genius of John Calvin, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, and Famine in the Land. He has contributed to numerous book compilations and evangelical publications.


PILLARS OF GRACE
Steve Lawson

Category: Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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The doctrines of grace are often known as the five points of Calvinism, but they were not the invention of John Calvin or his reforming cohorts of the sixteenth century. Rather, they are biblical doctrines, as Dr. Steven J. Lawson demonstrated in his book Foundations of Grace (2006). Now, in Pillars of Grace, Dr. Lawson shows that the doctrines of grace have been understood and taught sometimes in embryonic form, sometimes with great clarity throughout church history. From the time of the early church fathers to the years of the Reformers, there have been key men in the church, pillars as it were, who stood on the foundation of Scripture and upheld the truth of God's sovereign role in salvation. In Pillars of Grace, Dr. Lawson walks readers through the ups and downs of church history, profiling these voices for the truth. The inescapable conclusion is that the doctrines of grace are no innovation, but the consistent witness of some of the greatest men of the church. This book is a vital, honest, and inspiring work on a much neglected part of church history.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - DOUG KELLY

Douglas Kelly is Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Kelly received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Diploma from the University of Lyon, his B.D. from the Union Theological Seminary, and his Ph. D. from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of many written works including, If God Already Knows, Why Pray?, Preachers with Power: Four Stalwarts of the South, New Life in the Wasteland, Creation and Change, and The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World. His firm grasp of multiple languages and his theological competence are capably demonstrated in translating such works as Sermons by John Calvin on II Samuel. He is serving with David Wright of the University of Edinburgh as a general editor for a revision of Calvin’s Old Testament Commentaries.


CREATION AND CHANGE
Doug Kelly

Category: Creation/Evolution
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In this book Professor Douglas Kelly persuasively argues for a literal interpretation of the seven day account of creation found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. He assesses both the biblical details and the scientific data to show that there is a convincing case for this understanding and how it is scientifically viable. How are Christians to develop their thinking on origins? Where do we start? “The Bible is God's revelation of his Word to us and includes all we need to know concerning his will for our lives. Notice how God chose to begin this all important book. He initiated his whole revelation with a description of creation, demonstrating that it is not only primal in the historical sense, but primary for the understanding of other doctrines as well” (p.16). This emphasis pervades the book: Douglas Kelly sets out to expound, teach and discuss the text of Genesis 1:1 – 2:4 regarding it as foundational for Christians.

Friday, February 15, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - STEVE JEFFERY

Steve Jeffery is the Minister of Emmanuel Evangelical Church. He studyied theology at Oak Hill Theological College, London. He has a PhD in physics from Oxford University. He co-authored Pierced for Our Transgressions (IVP, 2007), a defence of the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement.



PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS
Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach

Category: Theology
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With the central Christian doctrine of penal substitution increasingly under attack, these authors articulate a series of responses to specific theological and cultural criticisms. The belief that Jesus died for us, suffering the wrath of his own Father in our place, has been the wellspring of hope for countless Christians through the ages. However, with an increasing number of theologians, church leaders, and even popular Christian books and magazines questioning this doctrine, which naysayers have described as a form of "cosmic child abuse," a fresh articulation and affirmation of penal substitution is needed. And Jeffery, Ovey, and Sach have responded here with clear exposition and analysis. They make the case not only that the doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture, but that it has an impeccable pedigree and a central place in Christian theology, and that its neglect has serious consequences. The authors also systematically analyze over twenty specific objections that have been brought against penal substitution and charitably but firmly offer a defining declaration of the doctrine of the cross for any concerned reader.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - MICHAEL HORTON

The Rev. Dr. Michael S. Horton is the J. Gresham Machen professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California. He is the main host of the
White Horse Inn radio broadcast and editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. He received his M.A. from Westminster Seminary California, his Ph.D. from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and the University of Coventry, and also completed a research fellowship at Yale University Divinity School. Dr. Horton is author of more than 20 books and is a minister in the United Reformed Churches of North America.


CHRISTLESS CHRISTIANITY
Michael Horton

Category: Church, Theology
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Is it possible that we have left Christ out of Christianity? Is the faith and practice of American Christians today more American than Christian? These are the provocative questions Michael Horton addresses in this thoughtful, insightful book. He argues that while we invoke the name of Christ, too often Christ and the Christ-centered gospel are pushed aside. The result is a message and a faith that are, in Horton's words, "trivial, sentimental, affirming, and irrelevant." This alternative "gospel" is a message of moralism, personal comfort, self-help, self-improvement, and individualistic religion. It trivializes God, making him a means to our selfish ends. Horton skillfully diagnoses the problem and points to the solution: a return to the unadulterated gospel of salvation. This book is an outstanding expose and apologetic revealing how the gospel of works righteousness has infiltrated the "Christian landscape". Horton reveals its presence in prosperity theology, postmodern emergent circles, and seeker sensitive mega churches.

Friday, February 8, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - D G HART

D. G. Hart is the Director for Partnered Projects at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Previously he was dean of academic affairs and professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in California where he remains an adjunct member of the faculty. Earlier still he directed the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals and taught American history at Wheaton College. Dr. Hart is the author of many books, such as John Williamson Nevin: High Church Calvinist; A Student's Guide to Religious Studies; Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Era of Billy Graham; Recovering Mother Kirk: The Case for Liturgy in the Reformed Tradition; The Lost Soul of American Protestantism; That Old-Time Religion in Modern America: Evangelical Protestantism in the Twentieth Century; With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship (co-author); The University Gets Religion: Religious Studies and American Higher Education; Fighting the Good Fight: A Brief History of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (co-author); and Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America.


WITH REVERENCE AND AWE
D G Hart, John R Muether

Category: Theology
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“Reformed Christians,” write D. G. Hart and John R. Muether, “are increasingly divided over how they ought to worship their God.” Considering it an urgent matter “to recover a biblical view of worship,” the authors have written With Reverence and Awe. Drawing on Scripture and Reformed confessions and catechisms, the authors answer such questions as: When are we to worship? How do we worship with reverence and joy? How does the regulative principle guide our worship? What is the place of the means of grace? How do the elements of worship differ from its circumstances? Finally the authors tackle "the most divisive issue" - music! This book is both thorough and compelling.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - JOSHUA HARRIS

In 1997, Harris published his first book,I Kissed Dating Goodbye, advocating a Christian approach to dating and courtship. Sequels included Boy Meets Girl, in part describing his engagement to his wife, Shannon, released in 2000, and Not Even a Hint: Guarding Your Heart Against Lust in 2003. In 1998, he moved to Gaithersburg to serve as a pastoral intern under C.J. Mahaney, then senior pastor of Covenant Life Church, the founding church of Sovereign Grace Ministries. The next year Harris hosted the first annual New Attitude Conference in Baltimore, which he ran until assuming the role of senior pastor in 2004. Harris' brothers, twins Alex and Brett, are the hosts of the The Rebelution, which includes a blog proclaiming a biblical worldview for teenagers.


I KISSED DATING GOODBYE
Joshua Harris

Category: Marriage
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While most Christians agree to seek purity and save sex for marriage, few have been given a blueprint for how that should affect their view of dating and love. In I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris exposes the "Seven Habits of Highly Defective Dating" and offers a realistic outline of how to have a biblical vision of marriage. Harris contends that one must begin with a new attitude, viewing love, purity, and singleness from God's perspective rather than thinking that love and romance are to be enjoyed "solely for recreation." Harris encourages the reader to look at one's character rather than reveling in infatuation, to regard love as a truly selfless, biblical act rather than a feeling. He refutes the concept that we are victims of "falling in love", saying that "God wants us to seek guidance from scriptural truth, not feeling. Smart love looks beyond personal desires and the gratification of the moment. It looks at the big picture: serving others and glorifying God." Before you roll your eyes, moaning that this sounds terribly unromantic, know that Harris does a superb job of couching his convictions in the sincere belief that if we are purposeful in our singleness and date with integrity, a fulfilled marriage awaits us - in God's timing.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - GREG HARRIS

Greg Harris grew up in Raleigh, NC. After graduating college he taught 8th grade in Garner, NC. The Lord called him to seminary, and he went to seminary at both Talbot Theological and Dallas Theological Seminaries. Dr. Harris taught Bible Exposition for seven years at Washington Bible College and ten years at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, teaching Bible and Greek. He has been on the international faculty with Jordan Evangelical Seminary in Amman, Jordan and also is an adjunct faculty member at The Master's College. In 2006 he joined The Master's Seminary as Professor of Bible Exposition. He has pastored churches in Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, and is currently the teaching pastor at Lake Hills Community Church in Castaic, California.


THE CUP AND THE GLORY
Greg Harris

Category: Prayer
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The Cup and the Glory explores the lessons of suffering and the glory of God. Using his own story as a starting point, Greg Harris transparently shares the confusion and misunderstanding that can come into a child of God's life when suffering encroaches. Honest, sensitive, and biblical, this book is full of hope for those who are suffering. God beckons 'place your life in my hands.' It is only when we reach the point of absolute surrender that we embrace the absolute sovereignty of God. God then allows entrance into the pathway of His will and wonder of His glory. In The Cup and the Glory, Greg Harris unlocks the Scripture and opens the doorway into his personal experience so we see more clearly that we can trust God with our lives.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

RECOMMENDED BOOKS - PETER HAMMOND

Rev. Peter Hammond is the Founder and Director of Frontline Fellowship, the Founder and Chairman of Africa Christian Action, the Director of the Christian Action Network and the Chairman of The Reformation Society. He is the authored more than a dozen books and has co-authored many others. He is the Editor of both Frontline Fellowship News and Christian Action. For over 26 years, Peter has been dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians and to working for Reformation and revival in Africa. Peter has developed the Biblical Worldview Seminar and Great Commission Course to mobilise Churches to comprehensively apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life and to fulfill the Great Commission. Peter was born in Cape Town (in 1960) and brought up in Bulawayo (in what was then war torn Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe). He was converted to Christ in 1977, worked in Scripture Union and Hospital Christian Fellowship, served in the South African Defence Force and studied at Baptist Theological College, Cape Town. He also earned a Doctorate in Missiology and has an honourary Doctorate of Divinity.


FAITH UNDER FIRE IN SUDAN
Peter Hammond

Category: Persecution
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Africa's Forgotten War - The longest war of the twentieth century in the largest country in Africa, Sudan. Since 1955 the Muslim Arab North has been attacking the Christian Black South. Faith Under Fire In Sudan is the book that lifted the virtual news blackout on the colossal conflict and exposed the scorched earth tactics, systematic terror bombing of civilian targets and the resurgence of the slave trade in Sudan. This book includes firsthand accounts of the horrific atrocities and the inspiring stories of Christian faith under fire. Dr. Peter Hammond also explores the vast history of Muslim atrocities and persecution of Christians in Sudan that goes all the way back to the seventh century.


REFORMING OUR FAMILIES
Peter Hammond

Category: Parenting
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The family is the basic building block of society. The battle for the family is in the very frontline of the World War of Worldviews. This powerful new resource for families is packed with positive and practical insights and strategies that fathers and mothers can use to raise God-fearing children. Reforming Our Families is a compendium including contributions from 8 different authors from a wide variety of backgrounds. Contributors include two young home schooled teenagers, one from America and the other from Africa; and parents from both sides of the Atlantic. The primary author is Lenora Hammond (wife of Peter Hammond) who is a home schooling mother of two daughters and two sons coupled with a wealth of missionary and ministry experience.


SLAVERY, TERRORISM, AND ISLAM
Peter Hammond

Category: Persecution
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Slavery, Terrorism, and Islam - The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat is a fascinating, well illustrated and thoroughly documented response to the relentless anti-Christian propaganda that has been generated by Muslim and Marxist groups as well as Hollywood film makers. As Karl Marx declared: “The first battlefield is the re-writing of History!” Dr. Hammond's book sets the record straight with chapters on “Muhammad, the Caliphas and Jihad”, “The Oppression of Women in Islam”, “The Sources of Islam” and “The Scourge of Slavery the Rest of the Story”. With over 200 pictures and 15 maps and charts, this book is richly illustrated. It consists of 16 chapters and 13 very helpful appendixes including demographic maps of the spread of Islam, a Glossary of Islamic Terms, a comparison of Muslim nations' military spending vs. their national prosperity, a chart on how Jihad works depending on the percentage of Muslims in the population and guidelines for Muslim evangelism.


THE GREATEST CENTURY OF REFORMATION
Peter Hammond

Category: Heroes, Puritans, And Reformers
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The Greatest Century of Reformation gives the broad sweep of the unforgetable characters and momentous events that made the 16th Century the greatest century of Reformation. Dr. Peter Hammond aims to inspire, inform and involve the readers in a hunger for Revival and Reformation in our own day. The book begins with a fast moving overview of the dramatic events and geo-strategic conflicts involved in the 16th Century, then it takes a good look at the pre-Reformers, the Waldensians, Wycliffe and Hus. There are chapters on each of the great Reformers Luther, Zwingli, Tyndale, Farel, Calvin, Cranmer, Viret, Bullinger, Melanchthon and Bucer. There are also chapters on the politicians behind the English Reformation, the martyers of the Reformation, how the Reformation changed the church, how the Reformation changed the world, and Luther's Practical Programme to Revive Your Prayer Life.


THE POWER OF PRAYER HANDBOOK
Peter Hammond

Category: Prayer
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“Are you on fire for Christ? …. Lukewarm Christians make the Lord sick. We need to repent of half-hearted, worldly, superficial… easy believism. We need doctrinal steel in our backbones and Holy Fire in our bellies. ‘Is not My Word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘and a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29) What can we say to that, except: Thank you Lord, for reminding us! Peter Hammond has illustrated his book with pictures of the Reformers and written it in a simple, warm, and direct way which speaks to the heart. It will make a great difference in our personal, Church, and national prayer life. Also includes a fascinating study on the imprecatory Psalms/prayers given from Dr. Hammond's insightful African perspective.


THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Peter Hammond

Category: Apologetics
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This work by Dr. Peter Hammond is an invaluable resource for Discipleship and Reformation. Dr. Martin Luther declared: “the first duty of the Gospel preacher is to declare God’s Law and to show the nature of sin.” The Puritan author of Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyan, said: “A man who does not know the nature of the Law cannot know the nature of sin.” Charles Spurgeon declared: “They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and Holy Law.” “Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). The Ten Commandments – God’s Perfect Law of Liberty identifies the contemporary idols for destruction and clearly shows, step by step, how we can seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life. “The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7).