October 2011

Grieving: Your Path Back to Peace by James R. White

All of us will experience a time or multiple periods of grief if we have not already. Death and loss are part of life in this fallen world. White’s quick read on this topic is pastoral, practical, and helpful for all of us wrestling with loss. You could read this book in one or two sittings and find a true companion and help on your journey.

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August 2011

Communion with God by John Owen

John Owen is one of the preeminent theologians in the history of the church. His well-trained mind was wed to a pious heart. And we are the benefactors of that blessing of the Lord. This Puritan Paperback is a condensed and readable introduction to the work of John Owen. Be careful though, once you start reading a theologian-pastor like this, your mind and soul will no longer be delighted with prattle.

July 2011

Deserted by God? by Sinclair Ferguson

Anything written by Sinclair Ferguson is worth reading; and this book is no exception to the rule. Dr. Ferguson explores eleven different psalms in this pastoral book. He walks through these psalms with the aim of comforting the individual who feels God has possibly deserted them. The Puritans called this “the dark night of the soul.” Others have referred to it as melancholy, spiritual depression, the blues, etc. Most Christians have experienced a season or longer in their lives for which this book would be a welcome aid in that time of trouble.

May 2011

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments Geerhardus Vos

D.A. Carson is a famous theologian. His father was not. Tom Carson was an ordinary pastor who labored for years in the tough field of French-speaking Canadians. The D.A. Carsons of the Christian world are often celebrated, but most of us are not such ten-talent men. We are those who are called to faithfully labor without acclaim and sometimes without even apparent success. Here is the testimony of a life well-lived in daily, faithful, committed ministry. Tom Carson honored His Lord and shall surely here, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” If you need an encouragement to continue the hard work of ministry then this is the book for you.

April 2011

Reformed Confessions Harmonized edited by Joel Beeke and Sinclair Ferguson

This is a helpful resource for the shelf of any Reformed Christian. The editors have harmonized the most used confessional documents of the Reformed Tradition: Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Second Helvetic Confession, Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Westminster Larger Catechism. It is helpful to have these different confessions “side-by-side.”

March 2011

Memoirs of An Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson by D.A. Carson

D.A. Carson is a famous theologian. His father was not. Tom Carson was an ordinary pastor who labored for years in the tough field of French-speaking Canadians. The D.A. Carsons of the Christian world are often celebrated, but most of us are not such ten-talent men. We are those who are called to faithfully labor without acclaim and sometimes without even apparent success. Here is the testimony of a life well-lived in daily, faithful, committed ministry. Tom Carson honored His Lord and shall surely here, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” If you need an encouragement to continue the hard work of ministry then this is the book for you.

February 2011

Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs by J.I. Packer

What a wonderfully simple and helpful idea this book is. Packer, one of this past centuries great theologians, walks through the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. However, this is not a laborious book. He takes one to two pages to briefly introduce each doctrine. This book is helpful for the new Christian or those seeking a refresher on the foundations of the Christian faith.

January 2011

Is God A Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God by Paul Copan

Copan interacts with the New Atheists and their critiques of Christianity. However, this is not a purely polemical book. Copan is truly wrestling with the texts of Scripture that many would label “the hard texts.” He wrestles and answers questions that many have asked when reading the Bible. His answers are lucid and well-thought out. Not all of his reasoning or responses are helpful, but more than not they are “spot-on.” This is a helpful book for thinking through difficult questions that arise when reading the Scriptures and how to answer the questions others are raising.

December 2010

Book of Divinity by Thomas Watson

This book is an exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism by one of the great Puritan preachers. Watson’s teaching and application of the truths contained in this majestic document are profound, heart-warming, and challenging. Many fruitful hours of reading would be enjoyed by anyone taking a Bible in one hand and Watson’s exposition of the catechism in the other hand. There is enough here to study for a lifetime.

November 2010

Calvin by Bruce Gordon

As we approach the end of the year in which we have celebrated the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth it is appropriate that we acknowledge one of the most recent works on Calvin to be produced. There were a flurry of Calvin books released over the past two years and one of the best is Gordon’s biography. It has been warmly received in the academic and evangelical communities. It has no doubt set the standard for Calvin biographies. It is comprehensive without being laborious, accurate, accessible, and well-written.

October 2010

The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson

Many people have never read anything written by any Puritan. They have heard rumors and innuendos about how stiff and rigid the Puritans were, but they have never encountered their writings. It is intimidating to know where to start with reading the Puritans. Thomas Watson is a good place to start! He was a brilliant preacher and illustrator of biblical truth. One will not be disappointed at having spent an hour or even an evening reading Thomas Watson. He can paint a picture with words like very few communicators. Let me just give you three random quotes from the book to stir your desire to “pick it up and read.” We could have chosen a quote from about any page. Here are a few: “The Scripture reveals Christ to us, but the Spirit reveals Christ in us;”  “A broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God’s praise;” and “The deepest springs yield the sweetest water. Hearts deeply aware of God’s love yield the sweetest praises.”

September 2010

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts by Isaac Watts

“In those moments of quiet before bed or in the peace of the early morning it is good to quiet one’s soul with prayer and devotional reading. This book will help in that endeavor. Isaac Watts was a prolific hymnist in the 18^th century. This volume includes all of his hymns, but even better—it also includes all of his psalms. Watts was a master poet and he applied his trade to rhyming the psalms of the Scriptures. Take a Bible in one hand and Watt’s psalms in the other and read. You will find much to be blessed by.”

August 2010

Pocket History of the Church by D. Jeffrey Bingham

“The study of church history is essential for every Christian. It is not primarily a study of what men have done, it is a study of what God has done in and through His Church. If we want to know the works of our Lord, we will curl up in a good chair and read the history of the church. Now some of us may be less excited about reading church history. If so, this is the book for you. Dr. Bingham is an expert in church history and he has boiled it down to a readable, concise, and entertaining booklet. He covers each of the major periods of church history in this small book and yet the reader does not walk away feeling short-changed. It is as thorough as it is concise. This is a good place to begin in reading about the history of God working salvation among His people.”