Crossway Christian Life Collection (14 vols.)

by John Piper; Justin Taylor; Ben Patterson; David Powlison; Richard Albert Mohler Jr.

and

22 more

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2005–2015

Overview

More than just a set of morals or ideas, Christianity calls its adherents to a profound way of life. Full of spiritual and practical wisdom from some of Christianity’s most beloved teachers, pastors, and scholars—including J.I. Packer, John Piper, and David F. Wells—this collection includes an array of titles on topics on grace, love, sanctification, sexual ethics, and how Calvinism faithfully expresses the Christian life. Full of sound biblical teaching, these books will challenge and inspire you to reflect on how Jesus touches every part of your life, the life of the church, and the lives of those around you.

Whether you are a pastor engaged in ministry, a Christian attempting to follow Christ more closely, or a seeker interested in understanding what it means to live a Christian life, these resources will equip you with the biblical understanding necessary to tackle a whole host of present-day issues.

Key Features

• Includes biblically based reflections on a wide variety of important themes in the Christian life
• Tackles culturally relevant and challenging topicsin sexual ethics, human ability, and the nature of Christian faith
• Challenges Christians to examine Calvinism at a deeper personal level and avoid superficial theological propositions

Product Details

• Title: Crossway Christian Life Collection
• Publisher: Crossway
• Volumes: 14
• Pages: 3,040
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topics: Sexual Ethics, Calvinism, Sanctification

Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification

• Editors: John Piper and David Mathis
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 176

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Fighting sin is not easy. No one ever coasted into greater godliness. Christian growth takes effort. But we are not left alone. God loves to work the miracle of sanctification within us as we struggle for daily progress in holiness. With contributions from Kevin DeYoung, John Piper, Ed Welch, Russell Moore, David Mathis, and Jarvis Williams, this invigorating book will help you say no to the deception of sin and yes to true joy in Jesus.

I love this book. One meets real holiness here and it has real drawing power. C.S. Lewis said it well when he quipped, ‘How little people know who think holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing, it is irresistible.’ The content in these chapters awakened within me a deeper hungering and thirsting for righteousness. I pray it will cause those same hunger pangs to spread so that many more will taste and see that the Holy One Himself is an irresistible treasure.

—Jason C. Meyer, pastor for preaching and vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Reformed view of sanctification has resonated with me for a long time. More importantly, it is biblically rooted, realistic, hopeful, and doesn’t fall into the error of perfectionism. Now we have a wonderfully accessible presentation of the Reformed view of sanctification. The scriptural support for a progressive view of sanctification is persuasively made. The realistic struggle that characterizes our lives is set forth, and the hope we have in Christ Jesus is proclaimed. I was encouraged and convicted in reading this work.

—Thomas R. Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

A great combination of theological insight and practical advice on one of the most important of all Christian doctrines.

—Douglas J. Moo, chair of biblical studies, Wheaton College

John Piper is the founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and the chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He served for 33 years as the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than 50 books, including Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, Desiring God, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, The Pleasures of God, and The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed. Piper has also written thousands of sermons, many of which can be found in the The John Piper Sermon Archive (1980–2014).

David Mathis serves as executive editor at desiringGod.org, pastor at Cities Church, and adjunct professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Thinking. Loving. Doing.: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind, Finish the Mission: Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged, and With Calvin in the Theater of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life.

Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging

• Author: J.I. Packer
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 112

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Thinning hair, failing eyesight, and arthritic hands reveal an inescapable truth: we’re only getting older. But that doesn’t mean we should simply sit back and take it easy. In Finishing Our Course with Joy, renowned theologian and author J.I. Packer challenges us to embrace old age as an opportunity for continued learning, careful planning, and heartfelt discipleship. Packer’s pastoral words and personal stories encourage us to press on toward the upward call of God with endurance and grace—that we might continue to glorify God in our aging and finish our lives with joy.

I wish I had thought more about growing older when I was younger. If I had, perhaps I wouldn’t need wisdom from J.I. Packer. But I didn’t, and therefore I do! And what wonderful wisdom it is, the sort that challenges us, redirects our energy, and equips us with biblical truth to face our latter years. I’m at that stage in life where ‘engaging’ with my ‘aging’ has become increasingly more urgent. And I can’t think of anyone who can provide more helpful and encouraging insight than J.I. Packer. Don’t wait until you’re sixty or seventy to read this book. Start now and finish well.

—Sam Storms, lead pastor for preaching and vision, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Experts say that the proportion of the elderly population in the United States will grow by 80 percent in the decades to come. It is more important than ever to have a biblical mind about how we spend our latter years for God’s glory. We want to finish well (2 Tim. 4:7). And good pastors care to prepare their people to do precisely this. Finishing Our Course with Joy comes as wise, true, timely, and edifying biblical reflection and pastoral counsel on this significant subject. Dr. Packer’s book speaks to senior adults, those who love and care for them, those who will become them, and those who pastor them. As one who has had the privilege of knowing J. I. Packer since my teen years, reading these words—written from his own personal experience, communion with God, and knowledge of the Word—is poignant for me, to say the least. But that only makes the truth go in deeper. And that is good.

—J. Ligon Duncan, chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

J.I. Packer is his usual wise self as he gives his counsel herein for older people to pursue their aging with ‘zeal’! He urges us to serve God and his church however we can while we can. This is devout and inspiring motivation.

—Marva J. Dawn, teaching fellow in spiritual theology, Regent College

J.I. Packer is the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College and an executive editor for Christianity Today. Best known for his bestselling classic Knowing God (audio) (audio edition), Packer has authored numerous other books, including A Quest for Godliness, A Passion for Faithfulness, and his very helpful introductory book on systematic theology Concise Theology.

God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy-love of God Reorients Our World

• Author: David F. Wells
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 272

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Building on years of research, writing, and cross-cultural ministry, renowned author and theologian David Wells calls our attention to that which defines God’s greatness and gives shape to the Christian life: the holy-love of God.

In God in the Whirlwind, Wells explores the depths of the paradox that God is both holy and loving, showing how his holy-love provides the foundation for our understanding of the cross, sanctification, the nature of worship, and our life of service in the world. What’s more, a renewed vision of God’s character is the cure for evangelicalism’s shallow theology, with its weightless God and sentimental gospel. Written by one of evangelicalism’s most insightful minds, this book will help you stand firm in your faith despite the changing winds and raging storms of the modern world.

Rich, deep, and faithful—God in the Whirlwind invites us to come before the very heart of God. No theologian understands the modern world better than David Wells, yet no theologian uses the modern world more powerfully to wrench us back to truths that are foundational and never to be superseded by the latest anything. To be read slowly and with prayer.

—Os Guinness, cofounder, The Trinity Forum

In this important book, David Wells begins the process of bringing his influential critique of late modern culture and the church down into practice. Here we have a ‘practical theology’ for conducting the church’s life based on the reality of a God of ‘holy-love.’ This particular way of understanding and preaching the doctrine of God, Wells believes, protects the church from either being co-opted by the culture or becoming a ghettoized subculture. Decades of teaching theology is boiled down here into accessible, practical chapters. I’m glad to recommend this volume.

—Timothy J. Keller, pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

Almost fifteen years ago, I enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, in large part so I could learn from David Wells. His books opened my eyes to a host of ecclesiastical problems and to a lost world of glorious truth. As a student, I continued to learn from his deft analysis and careful theological critique. Now it’s my pleasure to commend this terrifically unique book, a fitting capstone to all that he has been building in the last two decades. Part biblical theology, part systematic theology, and part cultural reconnaissance, this is a powerful work that my generation—really any generation—cannot afford to ignore. After years of pointing out the shallowness of evangelicalism, this is Wells’s masterful summary of what should be our depth, our ballast, our center. What the world needs, and what the church needs, is a fresh encounter with the holy-love of God. This book will help you start down that path.

—Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor, University Reformed Church, East Lansing, Michigan

David F. Wells is the Distinguished Senior Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In addition to serving as academic dean of its Charlotte campus, Wells has also been a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and is involved in ministry in Africa. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including What Is the Trinity? and The Courage to Be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World.

Jesus or Nothing

• Author: Dan DeWitt
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 144

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

It’s time to make a choice. Many young adults are abandoning the Christian faith, convinced that it’s an outdated and uneducated belief system. Dan DeWitt counters these misconceptions and challenges us to think carefully about the choice between Jesus and nothing by comparing the Christian worldview with the notion of a godless universe devoid of true goodness and ultimate significance.

This winsome book describes the rock-solid foundation for life that Christians enjoy in and through the gospel—offering an explanation for our existence, grace for our guilt, and meaning for our mortality.

This book will challenge you to rethink how you view atheists and others who seriously question our faith, and it will leave you better equipped to point them toward the only one who can ultimately give meaning and hope.

—Kevin Ezell, president, North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

To be alive today is to be at the intersection of worldviews. Different worldviews compete for allegiance, but Dan DeWitt clearly demonstrates that there are really only two worldviews in constant conflict: theism versus nihilism. The superiority of the Christian worldview is demonstrated not only by its inherent truth claims, but also by the tragic inadequacy of nihilism. DeWitt sets the issue clearly in his title: it’s Jesus or Nothing. Any thinking person will benefit from reading this important new book.

—R. Albert Mohler Jr., president and professor of Christian theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Life really does boil down to Jesus or nothing. Without Christ, we are left with relative morals, meaningless lives, and no hope. Dan is a learned theologian, but never arrogant or judgmental. He has a genuine compassion for those in search of truth, no matter how big or ‘dangerous’ their questions are. Jesus or Nothing is a book that matters, because its proposition is the ultimate matter.

—Josh Wilson, award-winning singer and songwriter

Dan DeWitt is the dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate school of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses on worldview, philosophy, apologetics, and C.S. Lewis.

Love Your Neighbor: Thinking Wisely about Right and Wrong

• Authors: Norman L. Geisler and Ryan P. Snuffer
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 192

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Love Your Neighbor is a concise introduction to Christian ethics. It begins with a look at the biblical basis for morality, defines and describes various philosophical approaches to the subject of ethics, then connects biblical morality with the idea of absolute truth in philosophy.

The book then moves from its philosophical basis to a practical application of Christian ethics, considering a wide range of social, biomedical, and personal issues. It does not take a partisan or denominational approach to these issues, but squarely faces them with an open mind and open Bible.

The book is based on sound biblical and philosophical reasoning and does not tell readers what to think but encourages them to think biblically and critically through these issues.

I’ve never seen a single book that covers the waterfront of ethical issues in a biblically faithful way at a level available to high school readers. That is, until now. Love Your Neighbor is clear, concise, broad, biblical, and readable.

—J.P. Moreland, professor of philosophy, Biola University

Those who are looking for simplistic answers will not find them here; those willing to grapple with both the Bible and real life will welcome this opportunity to think carefully about the choices that confront us every single day.

—Erwin W. Lutzer, senior pastor, The Moody Church

Though they tackle head-on the key philosophical questions, Geisler and Snuffer write in a style that will be easily understood and greatly appreciated by youth and adults alike.

—Josh McDowell, author, Evidence for Christianity

Norman L. Geisler has taught at the university and graduate level for over 50 years. He holds degrees from Wheaton College, William Tyndale College, and Loyola University, and is known for his scholarly contributions to the subjects of Christian apologetics, theology, and philosophy. In 1992, Geisler co-founded Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2007, he co-founded Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California, where he serves as chancellor and distinguished professor of apologetics. Geisler is the author or co-author of over 80 books, including The Battle for Resurrection, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, and Biblical Errancy: An Analysis of its Philosophical Roots.

Ryan P. Snuffer serves as minister of discipleship at the United Methodist Temple and teaches philosophy and religious studies at Mountain State University in Beckley, West Virginia.

Joy for the World: How Christianity Lost Its Cultural Influence and Can Begin Rebuilding It

• Author: Greg Forster
• Series Editors: Timothy J. Keller and Collin Hansen
• Series: Cultural Renewal
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 320

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Can the church regain its cultural influence? The church in America is losing ground. Unfortunately, our efforts to reverse this trend often seem to do more harm than good. In Joy for the World, Greg Forster explains how the church lost its culture-shaping voice and what Christians can do to turn things around. This book teaches us that the key to cultural transformation is something that we might not expect: explosive, Spirit-produced joy in God and his gospel.

Bouncy title, thoughtful subtitle, tight writing, and nuanced analysis: Joy for the World lays out enjoyably what we need to understand to save freedom of religion. Greg Forster brilliantly shows that we should expect, embrace, and work to preserve a crowded and uncomfortable public square, because—if we’re scared by it—the naked public square that results will weaken Christianity and America.

—Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief, World News Group

The miracle of Christianity is that it offers a joy that goes beyond emotion and a hope that goes beyond time. In Joy for the World, Greg Forster presents a picture of this joy that inspires readers to hope and live in such a way that they transform their communities, their culture, and their world.

—Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research

This book is against sequestration—the sequestering of Christian life into ‘spiritual’ enclaves and churchly ghettos. But it also wants the church to be the church—uncompromised, vibrant, and filled with joy. Both are necessary for the Christian community to be an agent of transformation in the civilization in which God calls it to serve, witness, and bear fruit. Greg Forster argues for a renewed form of holistic obedience, and he does so not only with joy, but also hope. Recommended with enthusiasm!

—Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School

Greg Forster is a program director at the Kern Family Foundation and a senior fellow at the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. He also the editor of the group blog Hang Together and a regular contributor to the Gospel Coalition, First Thoughts, and other online resources. Forster is the author of numerous articles and six books, including The Contested Public Square: The Crisis of Christianity and Politics. His writing covers theology, economics, political philosophy, and education policy.

The Joy of Calvinism: Knowing God’s Personal, Unconditional, Irresistible, Unbreakable Love

• Author: Greg Forster
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2012
• Pages: 208

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Real Calvinism is all about joy. But too often the defenders of Calvinism explain it only in highly technical, formulaic, and negative terms. As a result, most people today don’t understand what “Calvinism” really is. They’re robbed—in whole or in part—of the everyday experience of devotional joy that a robust and well-formed Calvinistic piety always produces.

This book will show you how Calvinism can transform your everyday walk with God by unlocking the purpose of the Christian life, and how you can have the joy of God in spite of trials and suffering. It’s time we rediscovered the joy of Calvinism.

A refreshing, clearly-written, thought-provoking, truly enjoyable book that will help overcome many misconceptions and deepen people’s faith and joy in God each day.

—Wayne Grudem, research professor of theology and biblical studies, Phoenix Seminary

Calvinism gets a lot of bad press because of its joyless believers. Yet joyless Calvinism is an oxymoron. Forster has helped reframe this beautiful understanding of God in the Scriptures in a way that is attractive and compelling.

—Darrin Patrick, lead pastor, The Journey, St. Louis, Missouri

Forster pulls few punches with his critiques both for Calvinists and also their opponents—this vigor is what makes this exploration of joyous Calvinism so welcome and challenging.

—Collin Hansen, editorial director, The Gospel Coalition

Greg Forster is a program director at the Kern Family Foundation and a senior fellow at the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. He also the editor of the group blog Hang Together and a regular contributor to the Gospel Coalition, First Thoughts, and other online resources. Forster is the author of numerous articles and six books, including The Contested Public Square: The Crisis of Christianity and Politics. His writing covers theology, economics, political philosophy, and education policy.

On the Grace of God

• Author: Justin S. Holcomb
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 128

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Why is grace such a big deal? What does God tell us about it in Scripture? Can radical grace really be true? If so, what are the implications for our lives? This book will answer these questions and more as we explore the all-important theme of God’s gratuitous grace throughout the Bible. Packed with big truth, this little book on grace can be read in roughly one hour—ensuring you’ll actually read it.

God’s amazing grace in Christ is ‘the power of God unto salvation,’ not only for the world but for the church and for life-long believers. Read this book and you’ll be washed with ‘wave upon wave’ of the best news you’ll ever hear.

—Michael Horton, professor of systematic theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

What is the Bible really all about? On the Grace of God gets right to the point—grace, and more grace, for the undeserving. From cover to cover, this is the great message of the Bible, and Justin Holcomb proves it. If you are ready to believe the unbelievable, read this book. It will change you.

—Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., lead pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee

On the Grace of God is a liberating study on something we can never get enough of—the startling and magnificent grace of God. In Jesus, John tells us, we have been given ‘grace upon grace.’ This book helps pour that grace upon grace on the heart of the reader, filling it with hope and joy in believing.

—Sally Lloyd-Jones, author, The Jesus Story-Book Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Justin S. Holcomb is an Episcopal priest and teaches theology, philosophy, and Christian thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. He serves on the boards of REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) and GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments). He also serves on the council board of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and authored many books, including Knowing the Bible: Acts: A 12-Week Study.

Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life

• Author: Barry Danylak
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 256

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Though marriage is highly esteemed throughout Scripture, the Bible also affirms singleness as an important calling for some Christians. Redeeming Singleness expounds a theology of singleness that shows how the blessings of the covenant are now directly mediated to believers through Christ.

Redeeming Singleness offers an in-depth examination of the redemptive history from which biblical singleness emerges. Danylak illustrates the continuity of this affirmation of singleness by showing how the Old Testament creation mandate and the New Testament kingdom mandate must both be understood in light of God’s plan of redemption through spiritual rebirth in Christ.

As the trend toward singleness in the church increases, the need for constructive theological reflection likewise grows. Redeeming Singleness meets this need, providing encouragement to those who are single or ministering to singles and challenging believers from all walks of life to reflect more deeply on the sufficiency of Christ.

Finally! I’ve been hoping and praying for a book like Redeeming Singleness for years. With insight and clarity, Danylak has presented profound biblical and theological truth that can revolutionize the church’s understanding and affirmation of singleness. This book is a gift to God’s people, and the impact could be nothing less than incredible. Read it and rejoice!

—Steve Brown, host, Key Life Radio Program

Immensely helpful! Amidst extremes of celibacy versus marriage in Christian traditions on the one hand and today’s proliferation of sexual noncommitment on the other, Danylak gives us a thorough-going biblical theology of singleness. He unfolds themes of marriage and singleness from both Old Testament and New Testament with essential, delightful applications for all of us.

—J. Scott Horrell, professor of theological studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Barry Danylak’s book on singleness is now the most thorough and helpful book on the subject. He treats directly the main difficulty in grasping the new covenant view—the strong Old Testament emphasis on procreation and its importance for establishing and carrying forward the old-covenant people. The change in the nature of the blessing of God for the human race that comes with the new covenant is the key new perspective for understanding Christian singleness, a perspective too often missed in discussions of singleness and voluntary celibacy in the Christian life. Danylak’s careful exegesis sustains his overarching view well.

—Stephen B. Clark, author, Building Christian Communities

Barry Danylak is community pastor of single adult ministries at Centre Street Church and adjunct professor of theology at Rocky Mountain College in Calgary, Alberta. He holds graduate degrees in mathematics, Christian thought, and New Testament, and is the author of several reviews and articles. He has a passion for ministry to single adults and regularly speaks and teaches on biblical singleness.

Rescuing Ambition

• Author: Dave Harvey
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 224

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Many think of ambition as nothing more than the drive for personal honor or fame. As a result, ambition—the God-implanted drive to improve, produce, develop, and create—is neglected and well on its way to paralysis. For some, dreams are numbed. For others, there are no dreams; life just happens. And for those who are dreaming, motives are often confused. One thing is certain: ambition needs help.

Dave Harvey is calling for a rescue. He wants to snatch ambition from the heap of failed motivations and put it to work for the glory of God. To understand our ambition, we must understand that we are on a quest for glory. And where we find glory determines the success of our quest. Has your God-given ambition been starved and sedated for too long? Are you ambitious? It’s time to reach further and dream bigger for the glory of God.

In Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey distinguishes ambition for the glory of God, which is good, from ambition for the glory of self, which is bad. But godly ambition doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so Harvey helps us see how it is intertwined with humility, contentment, faith, and above all, the gospel. Dave Harvey is both an experienced pastor and a gifted writer, so you will find this book not only profitable but also hard to put down.

—Jerry Bridges, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

Thomas Watson said, ‘Selfish ambition is the mother of all schisms.’ But Dave Harvey shows us a better way in Rescuing Ambition. With wit and wisdom, Dave uncovers the truth in scripture to teach how God forms a gospel-driven ambition in us for use in his mission and for his glory. I hope every leader in the church today will read Rescuing Ambition.

—Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research

Dave Harvey thinks well, writes well, tells good stories, and cites people of substance and insight. I have long appreciated Dave’s integrity, wisdom and perspective. Were I not afraid of feeding his ambition for greatness, or my ambition to write a memorable endorsement, I would add that Rescuing Ambition is biblical, honest, witty, and sometimes amusing. I’m happy to recommend this fine book on an important and overlooked subject.

—Randy Alcorn, founder and director, Eternal Perspectives Ministries

Dave Harvey is the pastor of preaching at Four Oaks Community Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Dave has over 25 years of pastoral experience and has traveled nationally and internationally teaching Christians, equipping pastors, and training church planters. He is the executive director of Sojourn Network, founder of AmICalled.com, and serves on the board of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF).

The Romantic Rationalist: God, Life, and Imagination in the Work of C.S. Lewis

• Editors: John Piper and David Mathis
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 192

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

C.S. Lewis stands as one of the most influential Christians of the twentieth century. His commitment to the life of the mind and the life of the heart is evident in classics like the Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity—books that illustrate the unbreakable connection between rigorous thought and deep affection.

With contributions from Randy Alcorn, John Piper, Philip Ryken, Kevin Vanhoozer, David Mathis, and Douglas Wilson, this volume explores the man, his work, and his legacy—reveling in the truth at the heart of Lewis’s spiritual genius: God alone is the answer to our deepest longings and the source of our unending joy.

A book that displays the impressive breadth of Lewis’s appeal across denominational boundaries and that helpfully highlights the continuing importance of his example as a Christian who could think both rationally and imaginatively. Altogether an interesting, lively, and thought-provoking read.

—Michael Ward, senior research fellow, Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford

For many of us, the writings of C. S. Lewis have been a helpful guide to the nooks and crannies of the Christian life. As noted by a number of the authors of this extremely helpful collection of essays, the rich coloring of all of Lewis’s work has been a tonic in the gray drabness of contemporary life. Although none of the authors would endorse every element of Lewis’s thinking, each is well aware that to neglect Lewis is to miss out on one of God’s surprising gifts in the twentieth century. A great introduction to and reflection on a remarkable Christian!

—Michael A.G. Haykin, professor of church history and biblical spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Paints a well-rounded, sharply observed portrait that balances criticism with a deep love and appreciation for the works and witness of Lewis. The writers have all absorbed Lewis into their bones, and they invite us to do the same.

—Louis Markos, professor of English, Houston Baptist University

John Piper is the founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and the chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He served for 33 years as the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than 50 books, including Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, Desiring God, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, The Pleasures of God, and The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed.. Piper has also written thousands of sermons, many of which can be found in the The John Piper Sermon Archive (1980–2014).

David Mathis serves as executive editor at desiringGod.org, pastor at Cities Church, and adjunct professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Thinking. Loving. Doing.: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind, Finish the Mission: Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged, and With Calvin in the Theater of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life.

Sex and the Supremacy of Christ

• Editors: John Piper and Justin Taylor
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2005
• Pages: 288

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The Bible has a way of shocking us. If Americans could still blush, we might blush at the words, “Rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love” (Proverbs 5:18–19).

But, of course, sin always tries to trash God’s gifts. So we can’t just celebrate sex for what God made it to be; we have to fight what sin turned it into. The contributors to this unique volume encourage you to do both: celebrate and struggle. This book has something for all—men and women, married and single—from contributors like John Piper, C.J. and Carolyn Mahaney, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Carolyn McCulley, and others.

Another Christian book on sex? This is so much more. . . . We don’t need another book on sex that’s all about us. We need to have our gaze lifted. We need to consider the God who made us sexual creatures for his glory. This book will help you form a Christ-centered, Bible-shaped understanding of sex. This is something we all need.

—Joshua Harris, author, I Kissed Dating Goodbye

This is the rare book that delivers more than it promises. Pick it up to learn about the true joy of sex: you will, and you’ll also learn about the joy of God.

—Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief, World News Group

This book is a glorious start to forming a Christian mind that expresses delight in God’s gift of marital intimacy—a Christian mind that so desires to delight in that which God delights in that it revels in rejecting the cheap substitutes pawned off on this passing age as true pleasure. Instead, it only finds satisfaction in what is purest and highest and noblest and best.

—J. Ligon Duncan, chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

John Piper is the founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and the chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He served for 33 years as the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than 50 books, including Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, Desiring God, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, The Pleasures of God, and The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed.. Piper has also written thousands of sermons, many of which can be found in the The John Piper Sermon Archive (1980–2014).

Justin Taylor is executive vice president of book publishing and book publisher at Crossway. He has edited and contributed to several books, including A God Entranced Vision of All Things and The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, and is a blogger at Between Two Worlds, hosted by The Gospel Coalition.

What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

• Author: Kevin DeYoung
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 160

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

In this timely book, award-winning author Kevin DeYoung challenges each of us—the skeptic and the seeker, the certain and the confused—to take a humble look at God’s Word regarding the issue of homosexuality. After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible’s overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike, making this an indispensable resource for thinking through one of the most pressing issues of our day.

This book provides a short, accessible, and pastoral toolbox for all Christians to navigate the shifting cultural landscape of sexuality and find confidence and hope in how the Bible directs our steps. DeYoung offers wise and readable apologetics here, providing his readers with both motive and model for how to think and talk about homosexuality and the Christian faith in a way that honors Christ and gives hope to a watching world.

—Rosaria Butterfield, former tenured professor of English, Syracuse University

DeYoung takes on the most pressing issue of our day: whether we will be conformed to the spirit of the age or whether we will follow Christ. Against the sexual revolution and its high priests, DeYoung presents an alternative vision, the ancient wisdom of a Christian sexual ethic. This is the best book on this subject that I have read. Every Christian confronted with these issues, which means every Christian, should read this book. You will finish this book better equipped to preach the gospel, to love the lost, to welcome the wounded, and to stand up for Jesus and his Word.

—Russell Moore, president, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

What a gift this book is to the church! Kevin approaches the difficult question of sexuality with compassion and clarity, showing us what God’s Word says about it and why it is important. Well researched, accessibly written, and gospel saturated—this, in my opinion, is now the book on this subject for our generation!

—J.D. Greear, lead pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina

Kevin DeYoung is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He blogs at The Gospel Coalition and has authored or coauthored numerous well-known books such as Just Do Something, The Hole in Our Holiness, Taking God At His Word, What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?, and The Biggest Story, as well as the award-winning books Why We’re Not Emergent,, Why We Love the Church, and Crazy Busy.

The Presence of God: Its Place in the Storyline of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives

• Author: J. Ryan Lister
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 368

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

“God is with us.” Christians say this in sermons, prayers, and songs, but what does it really mean? For many Christians, the whole notion of God’s presence remains vague and hard to define. Exploring both the Old and New Testaments, Professor J. Ryan Lister seeks to recover the centrality of the presence of God in the whole storyline of Scripture, a theme that is too often neglected and therefore misunderstood. In a world that longs for—yet struggles to find—intimacy with the Almighty, this book will help readers discover the truth about God’s presence with his people and what his drawing near means for the Christian life. With a forward by Tom Schreiner, this book will be a valuable resource to bring clarity and clear guidance to devotional practice.

Ryan Lister knows more about the biblical teaching concerning God’s presence in the world than anyone else I know. And there is no theme more important to our relationship with God. Lister’s book is a great antidote to the temptation to see God only as a concept, doctrine, or formula, or to regard him only as a force in the world outside ourselves. The book shows that God is our friend and Father, and that in him we live and move and have our being.

—John M. Frame, J.D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida

We need more biblical theologies like this one! Ryan Lister has identified a central biblical theme that we easily take for granted. With the unity of Scripture to the fore, he has provided us with a diligently researched study of one of the golden threads that highlight the glories of Christ’s person and work. This is thematic biblical study at its best.

—Graeme Goldsworthy, former lecturer in Old Testament, biblical theology, and hermeneutics, Moore Theological College

Ryan Lister provides a great service to the people of God by tracing the theme of God’s presence from Genesis to Revelation, showing that it is not only central to the Christian eschatological hope, but also the gracious means by which God moves fallen sinners to that glorious beatific vision.

—Steven Cowan, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, Lincoln Memorial University

J. Ryan Lister is associate professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of The Presence of God. He and his wife, Chase Elizabeth, have three children.