Barcellos, Richard: Baby Dedications Ancient and Modern: Are They Biblical? (G)(11pgs) Shows convincingly the lacking support of scripture for this ceremony and the negative impact it has on the way God has taught us to worship Him.
Berry, Wendell: Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community (Eight Essays) (173pgs)(G)
Blackburn, Earl M. : Covenant Theology: A Reformed Baptist Overview (G)(17pgs) This is a great short introduction into what covenant theology is, making proper distinctions between the continuity and discontinuity of the covenant of grace from the old covenant administrations to the final new covenant administration. Shows that God works with humanity through covenants. He spends a significant amount of time discussing the newness of the new covenant and how it is superior. The booklet also includes a small appendix by Kenneth Puls showing helpfully how the new covenant is not like that which came before.
Bridges, Jerry: The Pursuit of Holiness
This was an excellent book that I read alongside studying for a small group going through R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God video series. This book is a great compliment to it showing how we as believers are to live holy lives. The book is full of great material but one chapter that to me was worth the price of the book was chapter 5, “A Change of Kingdoms” drawing from Romans 6:6-7. He explains in clear ways what our union with Christ means and how it is crucial for pursuing holiness. I would highly recommend this book.
Publisher: Navpress
Pages: 159
Boards: Paperback
Binding: glue
Dallimore Arnold: Spurgeon: A New Biography (G)(247pgs) A great bio of spurgeon. Easy to read and always exciting. Spurgeon was used mightily by God and is an encouragement to many Christians today. Is my favorite bio to date.
Ferguson, Sinclair B.: Faithful God: An Exposition of the Book of Ruth (G)(157pgs) Enjoyed reading through this commentary on Ruth preparing for a small group bible study. Ferguson brings a lot of helpful information out of the book. The only part I’m not sure I agree with is that he seems pretty sure that Naomi was wrong in her plans for Ruth in Ch. 3. All I can say is I wouldn’t give that same advice to my daughter.
Ferguson, Sinclair B.: A Heart For God
This was a great book looking at God and many of His attributes. The book was not a systematic study of His attributes like reading a systematic theology. Every chapter more or less took a section of a book of the Bible or a whole book of the Bible and exposited its teachings on who God is. For someone who may be turned off from using theological terms and reading systematic theology this book would suit them well. I am not against the use of theological terms to describe God, but Ferguson uses biblical language throughout which can be helpful for understanding as well. He argues convincingly that knowing God is one of the most important task for Christians. And then spends the rest of the book helping us to learn about God and then concludes with exhortation to remember the Lord we have just learned about for the rest of our lives. This book would be a helpful introduction for someone starting a study of the attributes of God as well as a great devotional read for a long time Christian.
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Pages: 128
Boards: Paperback
Binding: Glue
Year: 2008 (first published 1987)
Fuller, Andrew: The Backslider: His Nature, Symptoms, and Recovery with biographical sketch by Michael Haykin and introduction by John A. James
I found this book on the subject of backsliding to be very helpful. Having seen some folks become backsliders it was an honest account of them but it is helpful also in encouraging watchfulness so that I myself do not backslide. The author writes with a balanced and I would argue biblical point of view. He holds to the sovereignty of God as taught in Calvinism namely the perseverance of the saints, but does not neglect the teachings on backsliding showing how it may show that one was never a Christians but also that a true Christians will come to repentance. Fuller says, “Backsliding, it is true, always supposes a profession of the true religion; but it does not necessarily suppose the existence of the thing professed.”
The book has a helpful biographical sketch and then is four chapters. The author looks at what a backslider is in general first. Secondly he looks at the symptoms of backsliding which is basically not repenting of sin and how we may think that we have but what unrepented sin looks like. He then shows the dangers effects and consequences of unrepented or what he calls “sin lying upon the conscience unlamented”. Finally in the last chapter He discusses the means to recovery from this state. The helpful lines in this book are too many to quote here.
I read this book under the recommendation of Dr. James Renihan and Michael Gaydosh’s compiled list of a year with Baptist classics. I’m am enjoying finding the great theology in Baptist history.
Publisher: Solid Ground Christian Books
Boards: Paperback
Binding: Glue
Year: 2005 (original publication of work 1801)
Pages: 122
Scripture index: no
Subject index: no
Ham, Ken and Britt Beemer: Already Gone: why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it (ok) (166pgs) Some good insight in this book, but seems to oversimplify some problems. It seems their answer to the problem was to have answers for critics of Genesis and not much beyond that. I believe we need to have answers but the Bible is not mainly a science book. Where it teaches science we can trust it fully but it is about God, creation, man, sin, Christ as redeemer, and his return to glorify. I think that is what we need to be teaching from genesis to revelation and along side that as our main teaching we ought to address the skeptics and their doubts of the Genesis account. I believe we need to ask questions about how old our children are before attending the main church service instead of being kept apart from everyone in their own classes. How long should our children be kept from viewing baptisms, and if baptized partaking of the Lord’s Supper. I think we need to be promoting family worship where many of these questions can be dealt with in the home, something the book did seem to press for. Genesis seems to be an area where many have begun to question the authority of scripture, but lets not think it is the only one, we must beware of other areas as well.
Jeffery, Peter: The Lords Supper
This was an excellent introduction to understanding the Lord’s supper (aka communion, Lord’s table, eucharist) on a little deeper level. This book is great because it looks at the Lord’s supper but it does it at a level that goes into understanding the gospel more clearly because the Supper is a presentation of the gospel for us. Each chapter essentially looks a little bit deeper into what is being taught in the Supper.
In the first chapter he gives a brief introduction into what the Supper is generally and discusses its names and argues against the Roman catholic view of sacrament but uses the terms ordinance and sacrament interchangeably in a protestant view throughout the book. Jeffery quotes Dr. Ernest Kevan saying “ The Lord’s Supper is a special means of grace, but not a means of special grace.” I found that distinction helpful.
The second chapter looks at what is meant by 1 Cor. 11:25 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” This chapter is a small introduction to covenant theology essentially.
The third chapter through fifth chapters look at the phrases “This is my Body” “Do this in remembrance of me”, and “until he comes”. These chapters are really helpful because you get a little into the discussion of what happens at the supper and the differing views. Jeffery seems to fall into the strictly symbolic view but doesn’t ever teach against Calvin’s “real presence” view when he does teach against The Roman Catholic and Lutheran views. He gives helpful word of caution not to make the supper more than it is. You also learn what it means to remember the Lord’s death. In the chapter on “until he comes” we get a small overview of eschatology and see how the Supper looks back to what Christ did for us, what he is doing presently, and what he will do in the future when he comes.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth chapters look at what it means to not come in an unworthy manner, what the fellowship or communion aspects of the meal are, and finally who should come to the table. These chapters were once again very helpful. He argues well that the supper is for sinners and we do not have to be perfect to come to the table but we must be united with Christ. This flows into the communion aspect and how the regular taking of the Lord’s supper promotes unity within the body. If we are to work sins against our brothers and theirs against us out before we come to the table. The last chapter looks briefly at ways to fence the table and offers a few options arguing that we must all agree to not allow the unbeliever to the meal.
The only critique I offer is that the cover is not so great it has a painting of what looks like lily pads on a pond.
Publisher: Evangelical Press
Boards: Paperback
Binding: glue
Year: 1997
Pages: 96
Malone Fred A. : The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Verses Paedobaptism Revised and Expanded (G)(185pgs + appendixes) This was a great book in learning what the bible teaches about baptism. It was a bit technical in places but for the most part not to bad of a read. It was helpful in understanding what the differences where between paedobaptist covenant theologians and credobaptist covenant theologians. It was actually a decent introduction into covenant theology. It was helpful in understanding the regulative principle of worship also. He starts by allowing John Murray to speak for himself about baptism so as to prevent forming a straw man. Malone then helps us understand a biblical hermeneutic and how the paedobaptist is inconsistent with his hermeneutic. Malone explains the paedobaptist don’t have specific verses they point out necessarily to support infant baptism but rather have a “string of pearls” and teaching and inferences they make when strung together allow them to form the doctrine of infant baptism. Malone takes each pearl of the necklace and refutes it leaving the paedobaptist in my opinion with nothing to hold on to and only to turn to biblical baptism of disciples alone. I was impressed by the book and am currently working through the appendixes. I would recommend this to all who are serious about understanding what the bible teaches about baptism, but especially to those who agree with many paedobaptist on their soteriology and may be considering their ecclesiology as well. Malone was a Baptist, to a Presbyterian, and back to a Baptist so reading his story at the beginning of the book will be of interest to many as well.
McCartney, Dan and Charles Clayton: Let the Reader Understand: A Guide to Interpreting and Applying the Bible (2nd edition) (G)(312pgs)
Paperback P&R Publishing (Biblical Studies/Exegesis & Hermeneutics)
This book was a very helpful study of hermeneutics. It was not a really easy read but not unnecessarily difficult. The authors do a good job of writing in a way that most anyone could understand without out specializing in this field. There are smaller easier books on this topic, but I think it was worth putting the time into this one. The authors show the helpfulness of the grammatical historical method but show that it is not sufficient by itself. This is a very important and highly practical book, if we base our lives on what the Bible teaches we ought to be sure we are interpreting and applying it correctly.
Nettles, Thomas J. : Teaching Truth, Training Hearts: The Study of Catechism in Baptist Life (G) (222pgs) I enjoyed this book it has the history and the text of 6 different Baptist catechism. If children were taught these again I believe it would make a big difference in the health of our churches. Great read!
Nettles, Thomas J. : By His Grace And For His Glory: A Historical, Theological and Practical Study Of the Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life (Revised and Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition (G) (469pgs) The thesis of the book as stated on pg. ix is “The writer’s thesis is that Calvinism, popularly called the doctrines of grace, prevailed in the most influential and enduring arenas of Baptist denominational life until the end of the second decade of the twentieth century.” This is accomplished and done so very convincingly. The book show the history of Calvinism in Baptist life, showing that Baptist especially particular Baptist then later in America southern Baptist were deeply rooted in Calvinism. The book shows the value of this theology and also the scriptural support of it. I would recommend this book to any who are interested in understanding where historically Baptist have stood on these issues. The only thing I would of like to have seen included in the book is a bio of the authors journey in the reformed faith.
Petty, James C.: Step by Step: Divine Guidance For Ordinary Christians (G)
Year:1999
Publisher: P&R
Binding: glue
Boards: Paperback
Pages: 261
Pink, A.W. : The Sovereignty of God (G)
This is a great book. Pink explains not exhaustively but concisely and very helpfully what the Bible teaches about the sovereignty of God. If you are confused or find the doctrines known as Calvinism offensive this is a book that could be very helpful. The author does not water down the Bible’s teachings but also does not go beyond the teachings. For those who embrace the sovereignty of God this book will show you again the importance of this doctrine and how it is practical in the Christians life. The book is a fairly simple read apart from a small technical part discussing the will of man, but even this section could be understood I just needed to focus more. You can not go wrong with this one. I only wish this book was a hardback.
Publisher: Banner of Truth Trust
Pages: 160
Boards: Paperback
Binding: glue
Year: 2004
Piper, John: A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (G) (160pgs) This is an excellent commentary on the book of Ruth.
Piper, John: Ruth: Under the wings of God (G) a great four part poem on the book of Ruth. I especially enjoyed reading while listening to Piper read it audio.
Reisinger, Ernest C : What Should We Think of The Carnal Christian? (G)(24pgs) This is a good and concise booklet that shines light on the false teaching of the “Carnal Christian” doctrine which makes three categories for man. The categories are 1. Unregenerate or lost, 2. is the carnal Christian who is regenerate but is following the flesh and as not made Christ Lord of their life only accepted him as savior, 3. is the Spiritual Christian who has Christ as their Lord and Savior. Reisinger shows clearly the dangers of this teaching and shows that the Bible only teaches 2 categories of man “regenerate and unregenerate, converted and unconverted, those in Christ and those outside of Christ…” A good read especially if this is something you have been confronted with.
Strauch, Alexander: Biblical Eldership: Restoring the Eldership to Its Rightful Place in the Church (booklet abridged from larger book 36pgs)(G)
Stellman, Jason J.: Dual Citizens: Worship and Life between the Already and the Not yet with forward by Michael Horton
A helpful read in better understanding the reformed doctrine of two kingdoms.
Publisher: Reformation Trust
Year: 2009
Pages: 178
Boards: Hardback
Binding: Sewn
Dust Cover: Yes
Scripture Index: Yes
Subject Index: Yes
Thomas Derek: Let’s Study Galatians (185pgs) (G) Enjoyed this book. It was helpful for leading a bible study through Galatians and helpful for coming up with questions. Agreed with most of the book apart from a small section on baptism.
United States Capitol Historical Society: Understanding Congress: A Citizens Guide.
This was a very helpful booklet on who, what, how, and why of congress the house and senate. Was very helpful in breaking down the basics allowing me to understand what takes place. Especially relevant to the visit of Washington D.C. that I was on when I purchased and read the booklet.
Binding: Staples
Boards: Paperback
Pages: 24
Year: 2007
Wilson, Douglas: Reforming Marriage (G)(144pgs)
