Book Reviews

Michael 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 God has often been called ‘replacement theology’, or ‘supersessionism’ (p. 1).” More recently, some have argued for the title “fulfilment theology” as well (p. 1).  The main issue the book analyzes is the biblical case for supersessionism.  Vlach identifies three forms of supersessionism (pp. 12-17): Punitive or retributive: due to Israel’s disobedience, God has punished the nation by displacing them as the people of God. Economic: it was God’s eternal plan to transfer Israel’s role as the people of God to the church when it was established. Structural: when Scripture is not read through Jewish eyes, and the NT is…(Read More)

Despite 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)

This 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)

Thomas 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)

This 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)

Gregory 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)

Author 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)

God’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)

Perspectives follows the pattern of similar books presenting contrasting views on doctrinal issues.  In this case, the all-important doctrine of God is in focus with Paul Helm presenting the Classical Calvinistic position, Bruce Ware a modified Calvinism, Roger Olson the Classical Free-Will stance, and John Sanders Open Theism.  Following each …(Read More)

In Follow the Master Paul Barreca is offering a helpful, concise discussion of discipleship.  He primarily follows the pattern given by Jesus in His discipleship of the Twelve.  I appreciated his observation that Jesus’ method was very similar to God’s instruction to Israel found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  Banking off this, …(Read More)

Next is written by two Christian men, one being the research director for Leadership Network and the other the founder of the Vanderbloeman Search Group which connects churches and ministries with the right leadership.  The big idea is that every church and pastor needs a succession plan.  Much of the …(Read More)