Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings

Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings. By James R. Payton Jr. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2010. 272 pp. Paper, $23.00. The Reformation is clearly a key movement in Church History. Yet, it is often one of the most misunderstood movements as well. This book goes a long way toward helping correct some of […]

Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe

Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe. By Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010. 464 pp. Cloth, $22.99. The positives of Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, are that it is conservative, it is written in a way that is accessible to the layperson, there is an extensive scripture index in the back along with […]

Transforming Conversion: Rethinking the Language and Contours of Christian Initiation

Transforming Conversion: Rethinking the Language and Contours of Christian Initiation. By Gordon T. Smith. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010. 208 pp. Paper, $22.00. As in most evangelical books on salvation or conversion today, the author argues that salvation does not occur at a point in time (cf. pp. 146, 203). He calls the idea that […]

Acts. Reformed Expository Commentary

Acts. Reformed Expository Commentary. By Derek W.H. Thomas. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2011. 784pp. Cloth, $39.99. This commentary is a practical exposition of Acts and does not seek to be an exegetical commentary. According to the Series Introduction, this commentary sets out to accomplish several goals: 1) To be a “faithful, inspiring, and useful” commentary […]

Philippians. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

Philippians. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. By Gordon D. Fee. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1999. 204 pp. Paper, $17.00. This commentary, though written for a popular audience, and though lacking extensive mention of the Greek, reveals great depth of insight by Fee. One senses that he is merely sharing a small fraction about […]

The Popular Dictionary of Bible Prophecy: More Than 350 Terms and Concepts Defined

The Popular Dictionary of Bible Prophecy: More Than 350 Terms and Concepts Defined. By Ron Rhodes. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2010. 340 pp. Paper, $14.99. During a seminary class on eschatology I once heard a graduating student exclaim in frustration, “I just don’t know what I believe!” Ron Rhodes has sought to solve such […]

Crave: Wanting So Much More of God

Crave: Wanting So Much More of God. By Chris Tomlinson. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2010. 218 pp. Paper, $13.99. In many ways, Crave is rather refreshing. It is written with a combination of compassionate exhortation and honest internal dialogue. In it, Tomlinson recounts several awkward experiences that he has floundered through seeking to live […]

A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been. By Michael L. Brown. Concord, NC: EqualTime Books, 2011. 691 pp. Cloth, $27.99. After speaking at a church recently I received a glowing recommendation of this book. Thus I was anxious to read it, especially since homosexuality is such a major […]