Book Reviews

PrintMichael Vlach, Professor of Theology at the Master’s Seminary, has written what I would consider the finest book on the kingdom of God since Alva McCain’s The Greatest of the Kingdom.   He writes from a decidedly dispensational position and argues that the kingdom is the central and unifying theme of Scripture (pp. 5, 21-28, 582).  His goal, as stated in the introduction, is “To present a comprehensive biblical theology of the kingdom of God from a new creationist perspective” (p. 11).  He unpacks this statement on pages 14-16.  Vlach rejects theological positions which advocate replacement theology (pp. 17, 367), or that attempt to reinterpret the Old Testament via the New Testament (pp. 32-41), and any ideas that the Cultural Mandate of Genesis 1:26-28 is incumbent on the church today (pp. 15-17, 60-67, 456-458, 544-545).  Prophecies and promises concerning and given Israel in Scripture will be literally fulfilled (p. 17) in…(Read More)

PrintMatt Mikalatos is an energetic and enthusiastic evangelist who has served with Cru for over 20 years and has experimented with numerous methods of proclaiming the gospel to the lost.  In Good News for a Change he shares some of his passion and methods as he encourages his readers to …(Read More)

PrintIt is common knowledge that seminary can be a spiritual graveyard (pp. 18, 34).  Intellectual accessibility exceeds spiritual capacity in a hurry (p. 16).  The purpose of this small book is “not to steer Christians away from seminaries, but to help those studying at seminary, or preparing to do so, …(Read More)

PrintThe prosperity gospel has emerged from the roots of the 19th century New Thought movement, coupled with elements of 20th century Pentecostalism and the American “can-do” spirit, to become the dominant force in 21st century Christianity, especially in America but increasingly exported globally (chapter one).  Professor Kate Bowler spent years …(Read More)

PrintWhen Kevin Vanhoozer wrote this book, he was professor of Theology at the Wheaton College and Graduate School. He is now research professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  In 1988 he wrote Is There a Meaning in This Text? revising it ten years later into its present …(Read More)

PrintAndrew Naselli is associate professor of New Testament and Theology at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis.  Believing himself and others to have suffered spiritual harm as a result of higher life teachings, he writes this small volume (which is a miniature version of his longer and more detailed book …(Read More)

PrintCosti Hinn is the executive pastor and Anthony Wood the teaching pastor at Mission Bible Church in Orange County, California.  These men are uniquely equipped through study and experience (Hinn is a nephew of Benny Hinn and formerly deeply involved in Benny’s ministry) to expose the false teachings of the …(Read More)

PrintAbner Chou, professor at The Master’s University, has written an important book concerning biblical hermeneutics.  But Chou’s book is not covering standard interpretation issues, rather its focus is on how the human authors of the Bible handled and understood Scripture even as they wrote it. A key concern among Bible …(Read More)

PrintWestminster Theological Seminary (WTS) is at the heart of the so-called Christocentric hermeneutical approach to Scripture in which Christ is found in every text, Old and New Testament.  This short and general book written by five professors at the seminary, documents what WTS now teaches concerning Scripture and its interpretation, …(Read More)

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 …(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)