Here were the books I reviewed in the month of June.
All in Art
Book Review: China's Reforming Churches (editor Bruce Baugus)
CRC is a refined and helpful volume that is best suited for the classroom, pastors and interested laymen. Those seeking a specialized look at the church of China and the past, present and future roles of the Presbyterian church should look no further than China’s Reforming Churches.
Book Review: Perspectives on Your Child's Education (editor Timothy Paul Jones)
But each of these Godly men demonstrated that a Godly and Biblical worldview could be accomplished through these administrations. Perspectives is a valuable volume that brings to light the need for Christian education and challenging ideas for the future education of the church.
Book Review: The NIV Teen Study Bible
As I disagree with each of these perspectives, I would not consider placing the TSB before my children just for the practical application to teenage life.
A People’s History contains important and challenging insights alongside thoughtful, probing application for the church’s future making this volume, and series, a must read.
Book Review: Grassroots Asian Theology by Simon Chan
Chan provides challenging insights for Catholics and Reformed Protestants alike. Grassroots is valuable reading for those seeking to understand or minister to the church in Asia. Laymen, pastors and students alike will find the discussion on “how theology ought to be done” (8) refreshing and challenging.
Book Review: Titus For You by Tim Chester
Working through Titus, a so-called “pastoral epistle”, Chester provides insights to “a life that touches people in small but decisive ways” (9).
May's Book Reviews
So around here I do a lot of book reviews. Ask my wife and she'll tell you all the gory details. I'm working
Elders is an outstanding book for Baptist pastors and laymen seeking to understand the issues involved in this polity discussion. For those preparing for, going through or recovering from a transition to elder polity this book could be balm for congregational wounds.
Book Review: Death Before the Fall by Ronald Osborn
As an entryway for new thinking on the Scriptures, many will find the book thought provoking and insightful. Osborn does faithfully show that certain theories of evolution need not be discarded while taking the Bible at its word (chapter 1). However Death Before the Fall does not deal sufficiently with the Bible to demonstrate to literalists that these theories need to be taken seriously.
Book Review: The Cross & Gendercide by Elizabeth Gerhardt
I couldn’t help but weep internally at the devastation that sin has produced. It put me in a sour mode for days. We in the cultured west have hidden
he New Testament and Ethics is a valuable and brief resource. It seems best suited for classroom teaching and education. However the purposeful brevity minimizes the consultation value for extensive study in any particular New Testament book.
Though Creeds and Councils is unable to cover all the creeds, catechisms and councils of church history, its attempt is valiant and marginally successful. In relatively few pages, Holcomb is able to cover all of the important ecumenical councils (chapters 1-7), the great Reformed creeds (chapters 9-11) and even a recap of recent modern activity (chapters 12-13). The glaring absence however is the Lutheran tradition.
The name John Broadus may not ring bells to Baptist anymore. But at one time the name John Broadus could not be separated from the entity that is now the Southern Baptist Convention. Thus John A. Broadus: A Living Legacy (hence referred to as A Living Legacy) was compiled to restore the memory of this one-of-a-kind pastor, preacher, professor, and seminary president. Edited by David Dockery and Roger Duke, the book presents the life and history of John Broadus and his monumental efforts in educating Baptists, especially Southern Baptists, throughout his life.