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Youth Ministry on the Front Foot

February 8, 2012 in Jesus with 4 Comments

Youthworks have recently launched a brand new youth leadership book, Youth Ministry on the Front Foot. I have a chapter in there… but don’t let that stop you getting a copy!! I haven’t read it in its final form, but am looking forward to gleaning wisdom from the experienced youth pastors who contributed. Intro blurbs etc below.

READ A SAMPLE OR BUY IT NOW

Youth are our future, right?

No! The future of our youth lies in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The truth is, the youth of any generation need to hear and accept this gospel! Youth Ministry on the Front Foot tackles the unique opportunities and challenges of ministry to this age group through the wisdom of experienced youth ministers with a passion for seeing teenagers come to Christ. The biblical principles and practical advice in these pages on key issues such as social media, discipling and leader accountability are ideal for youth ministers, church leaders and anyone interested in youth ministry. Application guides in each chapter also contain helpful questions, checklists and diagrams for your youth ministry context.

Contributors: Mike Everett, Eugene Hor, Cameron Hyslop, Ron Irving, Sarah Macken, Jodie McNeill, Dave Miers, Ken D Noakes, Murray Norman, Scott Petty, Graham Stanton, Zac Veron (series editor) & Kylie Williams

READ A SAMPLE OR BUY IT NOW

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THINK by John Piper

March 28, 2011 in Jesus with 6 Comments

John Piper writes books quicker than I can read them. But I still try! I thoroughly enjoyed one of his recent books: Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. Here’s part of the official blurb from the publisher, Crossway: “We often pit thinking and feeling against each other, especially when it comes to the Christian experience. Glorifying God with our minds and hearts, however, is not either-or, but both-and. Focusing on the life of the mind will help you to know God better, love him more, and care for the world.”

Here’s a promo video for the book:

In Think Piper has two biblical texts that form the main point of the book. 2 Timothy 2:7 – “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (ESV) and Proverbs 2:3-6 – “…if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (ESV)

God, Marriage, and Family | Andreas J. Kostenberger

October 18, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Crossway have recently launched the 2nd Edition of God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation by Andreas J. Kostenberger. You can find out about the book here. It comprehensively deals with the Old Testament, the New Testament and current topical issues. I’m currently studying Christian Ethics at college and it’s a useful text for a theological college student, but I think it’s not beyond the average reader. I know of a number of churches that use this as required reading for couples before they get married. Marriage is currently under attack in our world… there’s no better time to be acquainted with God’s good plans for relationships than now!

Here’s a blurb from the product website:

The release of the landmark first edition of God, Marriage, and Family provided an integrated, biblical treatment of God’s purposes for the home. Since then, explain authors Andreas Köstenberger and David Jones, the crisis confronting modern households has only intensified, and yet the solution remains the same: obedience to and application of God’s Word.

In the second edition of God, Marriage, and Family, Köstenberger and Jones explore the latest controversies, cultural shifts, and teachings within both the church and society and further apply Scripture’s timeless principles to contemporary issues. This new edition includes an assessment of the family-integrated church movement; discussion of recent debates on corporal punishment, singleness, homosexuality, and divorce and remarriage; new sections on the theology of sex and the parenting of teens; and updated bibliographies. This book will prove to be a valuable resource for personal and group study, Christian counseling, and marriage and family courses.

Get your hands on a copy:

Crossway | Amazon | Booko | Browse the whole book online

The Church History ABCs: Augustine & 25 Other Heroes of the Faith

September 5, 2010 in culture with 4 Comments

It’s wise to learn from church history, both the triumphs and the tragedies of those upon whose shoulders we stand. I’ve really liked the church history subjects at college and enjoy reading Christian biographies. Stephen J. Nichols and Ned Bustard recently published The Church ABCs. Here’s the blurb: This book follows the alphabet as it introduces parents and children to twenty-six pillars of the Christian faith. Whimsical, full-colour illustrations and engaging prose teach church history in a fun and creative way.

Each entry includes a short paragraph or two with great illustrations of the person and some of the things they’re well known for. At the end of the book there are longer paragraphs that provide some more background for each of them. The reading level is aimed at 8-12 year olds. But it would be a great book for parents to read with their children (perhaps one entry per night for a month?). Nichols does a good job of explaining some key historical figures, as well as some encouraging gospel content.

Here’s the A to Z lineup: Augustine, Anne Bradstreet, John Calvin, John Donne, Jonathan Edwards, John Foxe, Lady Jane Grey, Hippolytus, Ignatius, Absolom Jones, John Knox, Martin Luther, Monica, John Newton, John Owen, Patrick, Queen Jeanne of Navarre, Bishop Nicholas Ridley, Charles Spurgeon, Tertullian, Zacharias Ursinus, Antonio Vivaldi, John & Charles Wesley, Francis Xavier, Florence Young, Ulrich Zwingli.

There are 9 Johns in the list! That’s crazy. There are probably a disproportionate number of Americans on the list, but that is not to be unexpected from an American author.

Any suggestions for people you’d ditch and someone to replace them on the list?

Get your hands on a copy:

Crossway | Amazon | Booko | Browse the whole book online

New Dietrich Bonhoeffer Biography by Eric Metaxas

September 2, 2010 in culture with 4 Comments

I said that my Bonhoeffer essay was my favourite essay of the year. Now that I’ve written it, I retract that statement! While I thoroughly enjoyed all the reading, I think I stuffed up the actual essay. Here’s a quick book review of one of the books I read.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy is a new biography written by Eric Metaxas (he’s the guy who wrote the recent bio of William Wilberforce). It’s brilliant! I couldn’t put it down. Bonhoeffer’s story is incredible and Metaxas’ writing is is simple, yet compelling. It’s comprehensive (600 pages) and also includes extended extracts from Bonhoeffer’s writings. Understanding his life is useful for understanding more fully the context in which he wrote. Gripping stuff.

It’s very good. Read it. Pick it up on Amazon: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Humble Orthodoxy – chapter from Josh Harris

August 10, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

If you haven’t heard of Humble Orthodoxy, now is your chance. I’ve posted on it a bunch of times, you can read those posts. Or even better you can download Josh Harris‘ chapter on ‘Humble Orthodoxy’ from his new book Dug Deep Down. Basically, Humble Orthodoxy is all about believing and living the truth of the gospel without being a jerk.

Link to the chapter | Link to Josh’s blog post

What Did You Expect?? by Paul Tripp

August 6, 2010 in Jesus with 4 Comments

Protecting your marriage matters. Normally, Row and I read the bible together at night. But one of the things we’ve done in the last few of years is – for a period of time – replaced our nightly bible reading with a different book that will help us to protect our marriage. It’s been a really useful practise. The latest book we’ve been reading is brilliant! It’s called, What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage.

It’s written by Paul Tripp. He’s a dude. I’ve recently started following him on Twitter and most of his tweets are retweetable (for non-twits, that’s a compliment!!). Here’s how the publishers Crossway summarise the book:

What is the Gospel? By Greg Gilbert

July 26, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

The word ‘gospel’ simply means ‘good news’. Of all the gospels in the world, there is no gospel that is more momentous or more important than the gospel of Jesus. My life was changed when I came to understand this gospel. But what is ‘the gospel’?

Greg Gilbert from 9 Marks ministries has recently written a book that answers this question with great clarity in a small and very readable book.

Here’s the description from Crossway books:

What is the gospel? It seems like a simple question, yet it has been known to incite some heated responses, even in the church. How are we to formulate a clear, biblical understanding of the gospel? Tradition, reason, and experience all leave us ultimately disappointed. If we want answers, we must turn to the Word of God.

Greg Gilbert does so in What Is the Gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world. Both Christian and non-Christian readers will gain a clearer understanding of the gospel in this valuable resource.

The God, man, Christ, response formula is nothing new. So the book isn’t offering a new or fresh understanding of the gospel, but rather restating the gospel as it is revealed in the Bible. I really love the way that Gilbert writes. This book is only 100 (small-sized) pages, but in those pages he packs in a lot of quality content without some of the technical clutter you might find in a more academic work. That doesn’t mean that this book lacks academic integrity, rather it’s written at a level that is accessible to a general readership.

Here’s a video of Gilbert explaining why he wrote the book:

The Prodigal God – By Tim Keller

March 18, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

Luke 15 is one of my favourite chapters in the Bible. I’ve spoken on the chapter 10+ times in the last couple of years. Some of my thinking on the passage has come from sermons and articles from Tim Keller. I recently read his book, all about Luke 15, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith. It’s very good.

Here’s a basic overview of each chapter.

The People Around Jesus – one of the keys to understanding this parable is understanding the two kinds of people that have gathered to hear Jesus. There are the tax collectors/sinners and the cranky Pharisees.
The Two Lost Sons – often this parable is focused on the ‘Lost Son’. Keller argues that there are actually two lost sons. The younger brother, just like the tax collector/sinners, is obviously lost. The elder brother, is lost in the same way as the cranky Pharisees.
Redefining Sin – this chapter kicks off with two ways to find happiness: moral conformity, like the elder brother/Pharisees; and self-discovery, like the younger brother/tax collectors. Both are wrong because both are on about self-salvation. Yet both are loved by God. Continue Reading…

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

November 20, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Guest Post. The following is a brief review by Martin Shadwick. Martin is an uber-smart guy who works with AFES on the main campus at Newcastle Uni. He’s also my brother-in-law.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller. This is now my default book to give to university students who want to find out about Christianity.

The first half thoughtfully answers the standard objections people have to Christianity (e.g. how could a God allow suffering? hasn’t science disproved Christianity? isn’t Christianity a straitjacket?). The second half explains what Christians believe and offers reasons for faith.

Keller’s style is engaging, humble, and sympathetic to the sceptic. His apologetic approach is largely (although not entirely) presuppositional – that is, Keller suggests that Christian presuppositions actually provide the best explanation for our experience of the world. He does not shy away from difficult subjects, showing, for example, how the doctrine of the Trinity makes sense of our experience of relationships, and how the Trinitarian God invites us a true life centred on other people, not ourselves.

There are perhaps a few too many C. S. Lewis quotes, but Keller is quick to acknowledge his debt to Lewis’ thought.

I am thankful to Keller (and God!) that he wrote this book. It has filled a much needed place as a contemporary, readable, sensitive book to give the thoughtful enquirer.

Find out more about Martin’s ministry here.

Original Sin – Henri Blocher

March 4, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

I’m currently reading Original Sin, Illuminating the Riddle by Henri Blocher for a Doctrine book review. I’ve read some Blocher before, and it’s good stuff. Here’s a thorough book review that will help others doing the same question… or likewise if you’re not in my doctrine class, read it to get an idea of his argument. THE REVIEW.

Original Sin by Henri Blocher

Here’s a brief summary of the book from the same website (basically the back of the book): “This is a philosophically sophisticated (and hence difficult!) treatment of the biblical evidence for original sin. Interacting with the best theological thinking on the subject, Blocher shows that while the nature of original sin is a mystery and riddle, only belief in it makes any sense of evil and wrong-doing. The book contains a general survey of the biblical evidence; a study of Genesis 2-3 and its relation to modern scientific, literary and theological thinking; a new and ground-breaking interpretation of Romans 5; a consideration of some of the intellectual difficulties that antagonists have with the doctrine itself. Not an easy read but invaluable for understanding original sin and working out what you think about Romans 5!”

Don’t know Jesus? Have a read of Colossians 1:15-23

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Nothing in my hand I bring

April 21, 2008 in culture, Jesus with 4 Comments

Nothing in my hand I bring – by Ray Galea

Book Review

Nothing in my hand…

In preparation for some recent talks on the 5 Solas of the Reformation, I read Ray Galea’s new book Nothing in my hand I bring (published by Matthias Media). I believe that Galea’s book is a very helpful read for all Protestants in the lead up to the World Catholic Youth Day 2008 (which incidentally will cost NSW tax payers $86million).