Book Reviews

PrintAndy Johnson, associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, has contributed this short volume to the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches Series. As advertised, Johnson is not promoting a complicated missions program, but rather providing straight forward, wise and biblical insights into how a local church can develop and maintain a ministry of global outreach. The author carefully, and graciously, challenges some of the church’s treasured traditions and current fads and trends, and directs the reader to Scripture for a more biblical model.  The goal of the book is summed up well in the introduction: Imagine a local church where the congregation’s mission to the nations is clear and agreed upon.  Elders guide the congregation toward strategic missions. Missions is held up as a concern for all Christians, not just the niche “missions club.” The tyranny of new trends and demands for immediate, visible results holds no sway. …(Read More)

PrintIt would be impossible to improve on the author’s given outline: The present author will provide a consistent and accurate biblical verse by verse exegetical commentary of Romans 5:12-21.  Following this exegesis, several scriptural proof texts from both the Unlimited Atonement and Limited Atonement proponents will be presented and correctly …(Read More)

PrintThe Cost, written by well-known author and preacher Steven Lawson, is a simple, straight-forward proclamation of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ based upon Luke 14:25-35. In the biblical account, a large crowd was listening to Jesus.  The crowd was composed of many levels of interest …(Read More)

PrintJourney is a short book devoted to the basics of hermeneutics. It is a rather standard guide, varying little from other conservative grammatical-historical approaches to interpreting Scripture, however it has several unique features.  First it is a short work, easily read and thus highly accessible for most Christians wanting a …(Read More)

PrintFor over two decades, John Metzger has been involved in Jewish Ministries and is well qualified to tackle the controversial role of the Mosaic Law in the church age.  In short, he views the Old Testament Law as no longer operative, having been replaced by the Law of Christ.  Actually, …(Read More)

PrintIn the opening words of the Preface, professor Kevin Vanhoozer lays out the intention of the book: “Hearers and Doers is intended to help pastors fulfill their Great Commission to make disciples, with emphasis on the importance of teaching disciples to read the Scriptures.”  Later he elaborates his thesis: To …(Read More)

PrintWhile the extent of the atonement has been debated since the Reformation it has taken on new energy recently.  One of the best ways to get a handle on any difficult theological subject is to allow opposing views to be expressed by scholars who truly know, and can clearly represent …(Read More)

PrintThe Storm-Tossed Family was honored with Christianity Today’s 2019 Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year Award, so I was curious as to why. I found the book interesting in places, even if Moore often wrote in generalities and loaded the work with clichés.  I was bothered by his constant references …(Read More)

PrintThe Apostles’ Creed is one of the first (fourth century), and most universally accepted and honored, of the ancient creeds and confessions (pp. xxiii, xvii, 199). It is a summary of what the Bible teaches on many cardinal doctrines (p. xxii), however, it is not the embodiment of “the entire …(Read More)

PrintThere has been a renewed interest in the lives and writings of the Puritans in recent years.  But, for most Christians, actually diving into their literature is an overwhelming task due to archaic language and intensity of their theology and writing style.  For those who nevertheless would like to dip …(Read More)

PrintSubversive Sabbath won Christianity Today’s 2019 Book of the Year award in the spiritual formation category, and thus represents well spirituality as understood by mainstream evangelicalism today. Written by a pastor and seminary professor, the book’s strength lies in its reminder of the believer’s need for rest as grounded in …(Read More)