Book Reviews

PrintWhen Bryan Chapell wrote Christ-Centered Preaching he was president and professor of practical theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis.  He now pastors Grace Presbyterian church in Peoria, Illinois.  Apart from the last two chapters, this volume is a relatively standard, and excellent, manual on homiletics.  It resembles the classic Biblical Preaching written by Haddon Robinson and covers much of the same material and more. Chapell recognizes that there is no one right style of preaching, but he is convinced of the importance of expository preaching (pp. 15-16, 30-33), as opposed to topical, moralistic and therapeutic preaching that has become increasingly common (p. 19).  Chapell believes that expository preaching is committed to proclaiming the actual revelation of God (pp. 30-31, 46, 59, 75-77).  In structuring such sermons the author addresses all the important elements of the message: introduction, proposition, outline, conclusion, content, application, and illustrations.   Much practical instruction is…(Read More)

PrintIn the 1920 and 1930s the most famous person in America was not a Hollywood star or a political leader but a young Pentecostal woman, Aimee Semple McPherson (pp. 260, 315). While pastoring a megachurch in L.A., Aimee was best known as a traveling evangelist, faith healer, and leader of …(Read More)

PrintGod’s Word Alone is part of the 5 Solas series published by Zondervan and edited by Matthew Barrett. This work is dedicated to Sola Scriptura often called the formal principle of the Reformation (whereas Sola Fide is known as the material principle).  Barrett defines Sola Scriptura as “only Scripture, because …(Read More)

PrintMichael Vlach, professor of theology at The Master’s Seminary, addresses thoroughly and with clarity one of the major debates within conservative evangelical theology: Has the church replaced Israel?  “The position that the church is the ‘new’ or ‘true’ Israel that replaces or fulfills national Israel’s place in the plan of …(Read More)

PrintDespite our vast knowledge in virtually every area of life, Gawande believes we are still deeply prone to failure.  He believes many such failures could be overcome (and, conversely, much success obtained) through a simple but often ignored tool, the checklist.  He writes: That means we need a different strategy …(Read More)

PrintThis handbook accompanies a student manual and is designed to lead a small group of unbelievers on a seven-week study through the Gospel of Mark.  Attention is focused on three threads that are traced throughout the Gospel.  The identity of Jesus is examined during the first two sessions; the mission …(Read More)

PrintThomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, contributes this volume on Sola Fide to the 5 Solas Series, published by Zondervan and edited by Matthew Barrett.  The book is broken down into three parts, the first being a “Historical Tour of Sola Fide.”  This is …(Read More)

PrintThis primer is published by a ministry which calls itself Q Place, which is an organization focused on evangelism and fellowship through “small groups of 2-12 people who meet to discuss questions about life, God and the Bible” (p. 7).  It is a companion to the 9 Arts of Spiritual …(Read More)

PrintGregory was considered one of the “big three” church fathers (along with Gregory of Nazianzus and our subject’s older brother Basil) who fought for Trinitarian theology when it was attacked in the fourth-century.  This book is a paraphrase of his fourth-century sermons on the Beatitudes.  Unfortunately, the paraphraser, Michael Glerup, …(Read More)

PrintAuthor Kevin Swanson is attempting to trace the philosophical and literary threads that have shaped our modern Western civilization.  He believes that the ideas created by certain influential thinkers and authors are responsible for the destruction of the Christian West.  These ideas are now being popularized by influencial forms of …(Read More)

PrintGod’s Forever Family tells the story of the rise, development and influence of the Jesus People (or Freaks, as they were called at the time).  The actual movement was short lived, being birthed directly after the 1967 “Summer of Love” in Haight-Ashbury.  As the hippies flocked to San Francisco to …(Read More)