Books I Finished In 2009

Alcorn, Randy: The Treasure Principle (G) (93pgs) Paperback LifeWay Press (2005), glue binding  Went through this book the lifeway edition which comes with a study guide with a small group from church.  I enjoyed the book.  I think the main thing that hit me throughout was that “God owns everything, and I am his money manager”.  That fact for me helps answer a lot of questions.  I would recommend this book.  I also really appreciate the eternal perspective that Alcorn has in his writings.

George, Robert P. and Christopher Tollefsen: Embryo: A Defense of Human Life (217pgs)(G)  This is a great book for understanding the current debates involved with embryonic stem cell research.  I hope this book receive a wide reading.  I first became interested when I listen to a lecture Robert George gave at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on this topic.  This book is not overly technical, there are some difficult portions that one may need to read more than once but for the most part anyone could read this book and come away with a good understanding of what is at stake in this debate.  The book was very convincing that all human beings are persons worthy of basic rights and all embryos are human beings from the time of fertilization.  It deals with a lot of the tough questions.  I would recommend this book for anyone interested or involved in the pro-life movement.  Also those considering IVF there are some things you will want to consider when fertilizing eggs and deciding what to have implanted.  Overall, this book was very helpful.

Horton, Michael: Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church (259pgs) (G)  This was very helpful book is showing what God grace to sinners really can mean and how refreshing it can be.  It shows how across the board, liberals and conservatives have been neglecting delivering the Gospel in their churches on the Lord’s Day.  It shows how much of what is preached is bad because of a confusion between the law and the Gospel, imperatives(things to do) and indicatives(facts to believe).  It shows the good that many want to serve their neighbors, but the problem of how they long to see this done.  It shows that cultures can be changed not by forming programs that directly address the certain problems in culture but by a proper feeding of the sheep on Sunday where they in turn can serve their neighbors and share the gospel, and change culture in their vocations activities throughout the week.  There is a lot packed into this book and I would recommend it for all Christians and I think it would be especially helpful for all pastors and those in the ministry to read.  There are some difficult terms that all may not be familiar with but for the most part I think he does a good job of explaining what he means.

Horton, Michael: The Gospel Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World (G)(266pgs)

Lawson, Steven J.: Foundations of Grace 1400 BC – AD 100; A Long Line of Godly Men Volume One (564pgs)(G)  This book accomplish was it sets out to do very well.  It shows that all the biblical authors believed and taught the doctrines of grace or Calvinism and in doing this shows that the inspired word of God teaches what is called Calvinism.  This is a great book for understanding what the bible teaches on these doctrines.  It is a little lengthy but necessary to cover the vast amount of text that teach on God’s sovereignty in salvation.  The book also talks about passages that teach God’s sovereignty in general and the doctrine of reprobation or the opposite side of election, those God passes over.

Mahaney, C.J.: Why Small Groups? Together Toward Maturity (113pgs)(G)  This was formative in helping me understand the importance of small groups for a church.  There is also a lot of great material for leaders and those in the group on their roles.  I feel like they slightly presented small groups as a must have for a church as the only way to really fulfill some scriptural commands and I don’t think I’m quite as gun hoe about them as the authors.  I do though feel more convinced of the good that can happen with them.  I would definitely recommend this book for those looking to implement a small groups ministry or wanting to improve an existing one.  I was pleased to see the last chapter emphasize the importance of the groups working towards growing the local church and not just becoming some parachurch organization.  I would like to see an emphasis on daily family worship a God given small group and hope that a small group would not take fathers away from leading worship in their families.  Overall good book.

Mahaney, C.J.: Humility True Greatness (173) (G) This was a good book.  A largely practical book, the first little bit goes through what biblical humility is, then proceeds with practical ways to kill pride and cultivate humility.  Much of the advice is great for the subject of killing sin, which pride is at the root of most all of our sin.  I have not been disappointed by C.J. yet in the 3 or 4 books of his I have read, he consistently takes you back to the gospel and shows how this motivates true greatness or humility.

Marcellino, Jerry : Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship (25pgs) (G)  A small and good argument for the importance of family worship.

Murray, John: Redeption Accomplished and Applied (181pgs)(G)  This was a great book not a super easy book but one that deserves a re-read in my opinion.  It clarifies a lot and really makes more clear what exactly happen on the cross and what that means to believers.  I would recommend this book, but take your time and soak it in, there where quite a few words I didn’t know but it didn’t hinder my reading, I only had to look up a few.

Pink, A.W. : The Attributes of God (G)(117pgs)  After finishing this book I now have a new book to add to my list of favorites.  So much valuable material is presented in this small volume.  Pink does not waste anytime shattering the view of a small God presented in so much of the preaching today in America.  The first chapter is on the “Solitariness of God”.  Pink states “During a past eternity, God was alone: self-contained, self-sufficient, self-satisfied; in need of nothing” and “that he did create was simply for his manifestative glory.”  Simply put God doesn’t need us, nothing he created added anything to him.  This is humbling and opens the eyes to see how great the love of our God that he has revealed himself to us, and sent his Son to redeem the elect.  Pink shows this later in the book in describing God’s patience, mercy, and grace.  Pink also destroys the typical view of God’s wrath, not neglecting how terrible this is for the reprobate, he shows how for the elect even God’s wrath is merciful.  “Even the casting of the reprobate into the Lake of Fire is an act of mercy… But from the standpoint of the redeemed the punishment of the wicked is an act of unspeakable mercy. How dreadful would it be if the present order of things, when the children of God are obliged to live in the midst of the children of the Devil, should continue forever! Heaven would at once cease to be heaven if the ears of the saints still heard the blasphemous and filthy language of the reprobate. What mercy that in the New Jerusalem “there shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither worketh abomination” (Rev. 21:27)!” –Pink  READ THIS BOOK! http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/4886/nm/The+Attributes+of+God+(Paperback)/?utm_source=kclayton&utm_medium=kclayton

Pratt, Richard L. Jr.: Every Thought Captive: A Study Manual for the Defense of Christian Truth(142pgs)(G)

Prime, Samuel: The Power Of Prayer The New York Revival Of 1858 (260pgs) (G)

Ramsey, Dave: Financial Peace Revisited (314pgs)(G)  This book helped me get a better grasp on money and how to plan for the future.  I can see how this book would be very helpful to many.  I am glad that I read it early in my marriage and will use its advice to help us make wise financial decisions.

Robertson, O. Palmer: Jonah A Study in Compassion (64pgs)(G)

Thomas, Geoffrey: Reading The Bible (24pgs)(G)  This was a very short but helpful and spurring guide to the importance of reading your Bible with some helpful tips and some recommended resources to help you in your reading.

Wilcox Thomas: A Choice Drop of Honey From The Rock of Christ (30pgs)(G)  This is a small tract published by Chapel Library and can be obtained free of charge from www.mountaion.org.  This was a great gospel centered tract that just hammers on the point of looking to Christ for the assurance of your salvation and encourages to look at our justification before we look at our sanctification.  It is encouraging and shows the power of the Cross is mean for those who are sinners and weak.  A good quote from the book is “If you believe, you must every day renounce as dung and dross (Phil.3:7,8), your privileges, your obedience, your baptism, your sanctification, your duties, your graces, your tears, your meltings, your humbling; and nothing but Christ must be held up.  Every day your workings, your self-sufficiency, must be destroyed.”

April 2009’s Resource of the Month ["Christless Christianity" by Michael Horton]

I would second this recommendation

Books I Finished Reading In 2008

Adler, Mortimer J. & Charles Van Doren – How To Read A Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading(G)(346pgs) This was a helpful book but I probably could of given it a better reading, I found much of it helpful but it will be difficult to apply much of it but I see how it could be really good for people to read like they teach to read in this book.

 

Anyabwile, Thabiti M. – What Is A Healthy Church Member? (G) (120pgs) This book is short but very helpful and would be a great book to have members read and maybe study as a small group or as a church together.

 

Barnes, Peter – Open Your Mouth for The Dumb: Abortion and the Christian (G)(28pgs) This is a great booklet for understanding some about abortion and its background and how a Christian ought to view it.  It shows that the scriptures are not silent on this topic.  I would highly recommend it especially since it says so much clearly in a short work.

 

Bennett, Arthur – The Valley Of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions(G) (223pgs) This is a great book to use for devotions.  Seeing how these men prayed is a neat experience.  There are some great parts that just stir you up and help you to focus on Jesus.

 

Ensor, John – Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart (G)(160pgs)  This is a great book on biblical relationships.  It hits a lot on the different roles of men and women and gives a lot of great practical examples.  Great for preparing for marriage and I would think even for married couples.

 

George, Timothy – The New American Commentary vol. 30 Galatians (G) (443pgs) This was not a boring read but a rather devotional commentary.  I learned a lot and enjoyed reading this book.

 

Harris, Joshua – Stop Dating The Church: Fall in Love With The Family of God (G) (129pgs) (great book for getting thinking about the importance of the church with a few things to look for in a healthy church)

 

Harris, Joshua – Sex is not the problem (lust is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World (G) (182pgs) (great book on sexual sin.  Really helpful for understanding this and how the Gospel relates and practical wisdom for dealing with this sin.)

 

Harvey, Dave – When Sinners Say “I Do” : Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage (G) (189pgs)

 

Hulse, Erroll – The Story of The Puritans: Who were they? What did they accomplish? Why should we listen to them today? (G) (30pgs) (Chapel Library www.mountzion.org) This was a nice little short history of the puritans more than anything, at the beginning it also gives reasons why the puritans are relevant to us today which were convincing reasons.  This made the puritans even more interesting to me and helped me with my history.  The puritans were always a minority but what a powerful witness to how God can work through a small group of men. I recommend this booklet.

 

Metzger, Will – Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel, to the Whole Person, by Whole People; A Training Manual on the Message &Methods of God-Centered Witnessing (G) (259pgs) (really good book that encourages, motivates, and gives solid practical instruction.  The appendixes are very helpful, this can be read alone or for a group study, has study questions.  Very helpful book)

 

Owen, John (Edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor) – Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works (G) (407 pgs) (very difficult read but some really solid material)

 

Wells, David F. – The Bleeding of The Evangelical Church (G) (13pgs) (insightful)

Books for Trinidadian Pastors

How important is the doctrine of imputation to your ministry?

Imputation is the Heart of the Gospel. (WHI – 2of4)

How important is the doctrine of imputation to your ministry?

Obama’s Abortion Extremism

Robert P. George has written an excelent must read article regarding Obama’s radically “pro-abortion” stance.  Read it here

Imputed Righteousness Quote 4

Imputation

Related program: “A Tale of Two Mediators” and “Current Controversies Over Justification”
July 9, 2006 and September 30, 2007

Simply, to credit or reckon. Through Adam, the guilt of sin is imputed to all men; through Christ, righteousness is imputed to believers (Rom 5:12-21). On the cross, Christ exchanged his righteousness for man’s sinfulness (2 Cor 5:21) by means of imputation. The sins of believers were imputed (credited) to Christ on the cross, and the righteousness that belonged to Jesus Christ was imputed (credited) to believers. Thus, believers possess an “alien” righteousness and can stand before a righteous God.

http://www.whitehorseinn.org/newsletter/terms.htm#imputation

 

Imputed Righteousness Quote 3

This righteousness of the Surety is conveyed unto us by imputation.

[This] is abundantly plain from many places of Scripture, particularly Romans

4:6, 11, 12, 23, 24. Now, this imputation of the Surety’s righteousness runs

principally upon these three things: (1) Upon the eternal transaction between

the Father and the Son, wherein the Son of God was chosen and sustained as

the Surety of an elect world. Then it was that He gave bond to the Father to

pay their debt in the red gold of His blood saying, “Sacrifice and offering thou

didst not desire . . . Lo, I come . . . I delight to do thy will” (Psa 40:6, 8). (2) It

is grounded upon the actual imputation of our sins unto Him: “The L

ORD

hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6). There is a blessed exchange

of places between Christ and His people: He takes on our sin and unrighteousness,

that we may be clothed with the white robe of His righteousness:

“He was made sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness

of God in him” (2Co 5:21). (3) This imputation goes upon the

ground of the mystical union between Christ and the believer. When the poor

soul is determined in a day of power to embrace the Lord Jesus in the arms of

faith, Christ and he in that very moment do coalesce

1 into one body. He

becomes a branch of the noble Vine, a member of that Body whereof Christ is

the glorious Head of eminence,

in fluence, and government. And being thus

united to Christ, the long and white robe of the Mediator’s righteousness is

spread over him, whereby he is not only freed from condemnation, but for

ever sustained as righteous in the sight of God: “But of him are ye in Christ

Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifi-

cation, and redemption” (1Co 1:30).

 

From the sermon “The Believer Exalted in Imputed Righteousness” in

 

The Whole

Works of the Late Ebenezer Erskine

 

, Vol I, reprinted by Free Presbyterian Publications.

http://www.mountzion.org/PDFs/irigfg.pdf

Imputed Righteousness Quote 2

Imputation, so far from being an exceptional case with regard to the righteousness of Christ, lies at the very bottom of the entire teaching of Scripture.  How did we fall, my brethren? We fell by the imputation of Adam’s sin to us.  Adam was our federal head: he represented us.  And when he sinned, we sinned representatively in him; and what he did was imputed to us.  You say that you never agreed to the imputation.  Nay, but I would not have you say thus, for as by representation we fell, it is by the Representative system that we rise.  The angels fell personally and individually, and they never rise.  But we fell in another, and we have therefore the power given by divine grace to rise in another.  The root of the fall is found in the federal relationship of Adam to his seed; thus we fell by imputation.  Is it any wonder that we should rise by imputation?  Deny this doctrine, and I ask you — How are men pardoned at all? Are they not pardoned because satisfaction has been offered for sin by Christ?  Very well then, but that satisfaction must be imputed to them or else how is God just in giving to them the results of the death of another unless that death of the other be first of all imputed to them?

From C.H. Spurgeon’s sermon preached June 2, 1861 Online Copy

you can order this sermon in the form of a small booklet for free here titled Jesus Christ Our Righteousness

find other great Spurgeon titles here

Imputed Righteousness Quote

As for him who, conscious of unfitness to draw near to God by reason of personal imperfection, is willing to be represented by the Son of God and to substitute a divine claim and merit for a human; let him know that God is willing to receive him with all his imperfection because of the perfection of another, legally transferred to him by the just God and Judge; that God is presenting to him a righteousness not only sufficient to clear him from all guilt and to pay his penalty to the full, but to exalt him to a new rank and dignity such as he could not possibly acquire by the labors or prayers or goodness of ten thousand such lives as his own.
from The Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar