The Best of Christianity Today: Books by John Stott and Carl Henry

For over 60 years, Christianity Today (CT) has set a high standard in Christian publishing. Covering everything from current events to theological trends, the magazine and its authors have modeled evangelical cultural engagement at its finest.

CT’s archives contain a rich history from beloved pastors and theologians, including John Stott, Carl F. H. Henry, Billy Graham, Eugene Peterson, and many more.

And now, Lexham Press is bringing the best of Christianity Today to the forefront with the release of three incredible books by some of the magazine’s most prominent leaders.

Christ the Cornerstone, by John Stott

From 1977–1981, John Stott wrote for “Cornerstone,” a monthly column in Christianity Today. Stott’s trademark warmth and accessibility—especially when explaining difficult topics—made his column memorable for CT readers.

Many of the essays that appeared in that column are now assembled into this book. In it, Stott winsomely covers topics related to Scripture, discipleship, the Church, and ethics. Chapters include:

• Scripture: The Light and Heat for Evangelism
• Must I Really Love Myself?
• What Makes Leadership Christian?
• Economic Equality among Nations: A Christian Concern?
• And 45 more

Two things about Stott’s writing in these essays stand out: his simple, direct style of writing and his concern for the worldwide Church. Throughout this book, he gives attention to churches in specific regions and countries, reminding CT readers (and now us) of the global mission of God.

Get Christ the Cornerstone now.

Basics of the Faith, edited by Carl F. H. Henry

Originally appearing in the pages of Christianity Today from 1961 to 1962, Basics of the Faith includes essays from influential theologians and biblical scholars from around the globe. Approachable yet scholarly, Basics of the Faith is both a relevant systematic theology and a celebration of evangelical heritage.

In his introduction, Kevin J. Vanhoozer asks, “Why should evangelicals today study this doctrinal time capsule from the Greatest Generation?” His response is fourfold:

• “First, it helps us understand how the first generation of neo-evangelicals understood their theological vocation in contrast to the liberals and modernists of their day. The authors neither ignore, nor vilify, nor worship modern thinking: they simply subordinate it to Scripture.”
• “Second, it is always worthwhile to retrieve valuable insights from the past, and this volume contains many precious theological gold nuggets. Stated differently: there are many cups of cold water in these pages for those who are parched with thirst due to a lack of doctrinal instruction in evangelical churches.”
• “Third, in an era of increasing polarization, it is good to be reminded of the unity-in-diversity that characterized the evangelical movement in the mid-twentieth century. As such, it provides positive proof that such a thing as ‘mere evangelical theology,’ where the common theological core outweighs the secondary doctrinal differences, is indeed a possibility.”
• “And this leads to a fourth possibility, namely, that these essays might encourage further exploration about what makes evangelical theology evangelical. After all, in the present context, it seems clear that evangelicalism as a movement is in crisis, with many card-carrying members wondering what the term means and others wondering if they should find another means of self-identification. In light of our present confusion, might Basics of the Faith provide evangelical pastors, churches, and theologians with an opportunity to rediscover their theological center of gravity?”

Get Basics of the Faith now.

Architect of Evangelicalism: Essential Essays of Carl F. H. Henry

Carl F. H. Henry was CT’s founding editor, the man Billy Graham and Harold Ockenga enlisted to carry out their vision for an evangelical publication. In his tenure at CT (1956–1968), the monthly column he maintained after he returned to teaching (1969–1977), and his fifty books, Henry helped clarify and establish the evangelical movement across denominational lines.

As David S. Dockery explains in his introduction to Architect of Evangelicalism,

This book represents the best of Henry’s contributions to the pages of CT, laying out themes that are also regularly found in the fifty books that Henry authored or edited. Throughout his writings, Henry convictionally articulated an unflinching commitment to the centrality of the gospel and the authority of Scripture while calling for serious engagement with the culture and the pressing issues of the day. Henry’s irenic spirit enabled him to interact with others in an engaging way while holding unapologetically to the truthfulness of historic Christianity.

Henry’s work is a needed corrective and guide to help Christians today understand evangelicalism at its best.

Get Architect of Evangelicalism now.