Outline : We are people of desire. In The Soul of Desire, psychiatrist Curt Thompson suggests that underneath all our longings is the desire to be known―and what's more, that this fundamental yearning manifests itself in our deep need to make things of beauty, revealing who we are to others. Desire and beauty go hand in hand. But both our craving to be known and our ability to create beauty …
Outline : It's no secret that we live in an increasingly isolated world. The pandemic has only exacerbated what was already a startling trend: loneliness and disconnection have been on the rise for a long time in our society. We long for a deep sense of meaning to make sense of our lives, but we don't know how to find it. Even worse, we often search for it in unhealthy ways that hinder the very…
Outline : Is the universe more than just a cosmic accident? Is there more to life than the daily grind? Is it possible you have a divine purpose? Yes, yes and yes. Everything around us is striking evidence that God exists, that he once appeared in human form, spoke to us directly and made us for a specific purpose. Wherever you are in life –whether you’re a person of faith, a skeptic or so…
Outline : Christians may well ask why we need to spend any time on the origin of the Bible: Wouldn't it be better simply to read and use it to advance the mission of the church? What difference does a background study make now, and why are we focusing on the Bible of the early churches? If, however, the Bible conveys the word of God and clarifies to us who God is, what God's will is for us, who…
Outline : The liturgies of early Christians are often obscure and variegated in the historical record. This is especially true of the eucharist, where the basic practice of communal eating is difficult to disentangle from other contemporary meals, whether Greco-Roman or Jewish practices—or the ill-defined agape meal. In Breaking Bread, Alistair C. Stewart cuts through scholarly confusion abou…
Outline : While understanding history has always been an essential task for God's people, rapid changes within the past two generations of Christianity have challenged many of our assumptions and methods for studying the past. How should thoughtful Christians—and especially historians and missiologists—make sense of global Christianity as an unfolding historical movement? The master teacher…
Outline : No one reads the Bible without some interpretive principles, or hermeneutics, in place. The question every student of Scripture needs to ask, then, is this: Are your interpretive principles and methods legitimate and ethical? In this accessible introduction to biblical hermeneutics, Nicholas G. Piotrowski presents an approach that explores three layers of context: literary, historical…
Outline : How should Christians read prophetic literature? Questions abound both in the academy and the church as to how to engage the prophets, particularly in light of the New Testament. The Gospel writers and the church fathers all read and appealed to the Old Testament, but are we as modern-day readers supposed to take the same approach? The Prophets and the Apostolic Witness is a dialogue …
Outline : Praise & Prayer. When your time is stretched and life is busy, how can you connect the Bible to your everyday life? Make reading the Bible fun with Praise and Prayer! It's packed with a year's worth of devotions, easy-to-understand explanations, engaging questions, Bible-based activities, and more! Each weekly devotion begins with a Psalm and answers questions like: - What does this…
Outline : There is no shortage of books on eschatology―the study of "the last things" and "the end-times". Many arise out of incoherent or superficial readings of the Bible that detract from the "once and for all" achievements of God through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Others fail to consider the manner in which God reveals himself through the Lord Jesus and by the power of …
Outline : Despite the profound influence of the New Testament, a variety of questions related to its background and history remain common. Contemporary readers often find the subject of the canon’s origin and formation to be complicated and confusing, while scholars continue to struggle to find agreement about basic elements of the canon’s development. In this engaging study, Benjamin P. La…
Outline : When suffering overwhelms us, it is easy to despair and even doubt God’s goodness. As the clouds of suffering roll in, we can lose sight of everything but our pain. In these moments, when the stars disappear, we must turn to Scripture to find assurance that God can and will carry us through. In this book, Mark Talbot recounts the suffering of some of the Bible’s greatest saints. T…
Outline : How do you describe God? He is our refuge, shield, hiding place, and deliverer - worthy of all praise. In the Bible, the psalmists present an amazing picture of the character of God through "You Are" statements like "You are my rock and my fortress" (Psalm 31). In this book, pastor and father William R. Osborne short devotionals around the 20 “You Are” statements, helping children…
Outline : This work stands among the most important publications in biblical studies over the past twenty-five years. Richard Bauckham, James Davila, and Alexander Panayotov’s new two-volume collection of Old Testament pseudepigrapha contains many previously unpublished and newly translated texts, complementing James Charlesworth’s Old Testament Pseudepigrapha and other earlier collections.…
Outline : Princeton theologian B. B. Warfield was the twentieth century's greatest defender of the faith, a watchman on the wall of orthodoxy. His writings have been studied with profit for well over a hundred years - a tribute to his clear, careful, cogent, gospel-centered exposition of orthodox Christianity, which he called "the redemptive religion" and which he fearlessly defended.
Outline : How literally are we meant to take the creation week of Genesis 1? In this polarizing debate, contemporary interprets invoke great theologians from history to support their own side, whether that be a young earth, theistic evolution, or any other view. The problem lies in trying to force ancient authors into contemporary boxes, as Andrew H. Brown shows in this thought-provoking volume…
Outline : When we study the New Testament, we can't help feeling the vast distance between us and the biblical writers. We live in worlds separated by two thousand years, thousands of miles, and huge cultural differences - one of which is the ancient byt common use of inscriptions. Although inscriptions are mentioned in each of the Gospels, the books of Acts, Revelation, and more, the biblical …
Outline: How the Pauline corpus ultimately came together remains a complicated and enriching area of study. In this valuable resource, Laird helps readers wade through scores of testimony from ancient writers, biblical manuscripts, early canonical lists, and the work of modern scholars, offering a fresh perspective on the process that led to the formation of the Pauline letter corpus. Those eng…
Outline : A wide-ranging study of the interpretation of Paul's Letter to the Romans throughout history, from Origen to Karl Barth. Modern commentaries on Paul's Letter to the Romans are latecomers to conversations that have been ongoing for centuries. This introduction to Romans focuses on reception history with attention to the state of the text and its interpretation. Stephen Westerholm illum…
Outline : The manuscripts that form the Greek New Testament are scattered throughout the world and are usually only accessible to scholars and professionals. These were the manuscripts read by the earliest Christians, which comprised their "New Testament." In his volumes, Philip Wesley Comfort bridges the gap between these extant copies and today's critical text by providing accurate transcript…
Outline : Robert Gundry is a beloved guide to the New Testament. His well-known textbook, A Survey of the New Testament, has been used by generations of students. In this two-volume commentary, Gundry focuses on what is most useful for preaching, teaching, and individual study in each book of the New Testament. He provides a fresh, literal translation of the entire New Testament and a pastorall…
Outline : The manuscripts that form the Greek New Testament are scattered throughout the world and are usually only accessible to scholars and professionals. These were the manuscripts read by the earliest Christians, which comprised their "New Testament." In his volumes, Philip Wesley Comfort bridges the gap between these extant copies and today's critical text by providing accurate transcript…
Outline : A groundbreaking book on the true nature of faith deconstruction. A movement called ‘deconstruction’ is sweeping through our churches and it is affecting our loved ones. It has disrupted, dismantled, and destroying the faith many. This book can help you not only understand what’s happening but also stand your ground and respond with clarity and confidence.
Outline : Discover anew God's story - and your place in it - told in this chronological edition of the world's #1-selling Life Application Study Bible. A chronological reading of Scripture allows you to follow the sweep of biblical history. Being able to understand the truth and texture of that sacred journey makes you reading even better. This beautiful edition of the NLT Chronological Life Ap…
Outline : Outline : Petrus van Mastricht's Theoretical-Practical Theology presents one of the most comprehensive methods of treating Christian doctrine. In it, Mastricht treats every theological topic according to a four-part approach: exegetical, dogmatic, elenctic, and practical. As a body of divinity, it combines a rigorous, scholastic treatment of doctrine with the pastoral aim of preparing…
Outline: What does the atonement mean for our daily lives? The cross is the climax of the biblical story and the center of Christian theology. In this volume, Jeremy Treat presents the atoning work of Christ as a multidimensional accomplishment within the story of the kingdom. The death of Jesus not only reconciles sinners to God but also to one another, calling God's people into a life of taki…
Outline : What comes to mind when you think of the word church? In this volume, Gregg R. Allison helps define the church and its mission by presenting an overview of the specific doctrines and practices of different churches and denominations. He lays a basic foundation for better understanding the common practices among local church communities (“mere ecclesiology”) and the ways that they…
Outline : What does Scripture reveal about the work and power of the Holy Spirit? Though the Holy Spirit is right at the heart of Christian theology and faith, encountering him requires a special kind of knowledge. This addition to the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series teachers readers how to hold a proper biblical understanding of both the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Explain…
Outline : How can sinners stand before a holy God? Thankfully, the gospel gives hope for salvation through an essential doctrine - justification through Jesus Christ. In this addition to the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series, Thomas R. Schreiner examines both the Old and New Testament teachings and the historical background of the doctrine of justification. By considering the relation…
Outline : Whether you are preparing for marriage, are newly married, or have been married for years, you are likely aware that your sinful nature affects all aspects of your marriage. But how often do you think about your status as a saint, equipped God's power to create a healthy, loving marriage? In Gospel-Shaped Marriage, Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn reinforce how Christ calls and enables yo…
Outline : Christians are invited to rejoice in God's grace and mercy but should also, as the apostle Paul stresses, walk in obedience. So what does it look like to live in a manner that's "worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27)? Theologian Sinclair Ferguson explains the importance of pursuing a life worthy of the gospel, why the principle is often forgotten, and how it's cultivated.…
Outline : The Trinity is one of the most essential doctrines of the Christian faith. The eternal God existing as three distinct persons―Father, Son, and Spirit―can be difficult to comprehend. While Christians often struggle to find the right words to describe this union, the Bible gives clarity concerning the triune God’s being and activity in nature (creation), grace (redemption), and g…
Outline : The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls altered our understanding of the development of the biblical text, the history and literature of Second Temple Judaism, and the thought of the early Christian community. Questions continue to surround the relationship between the caves in which the scrolls were found and the nearby settlement at Khirbet Qumran. In Scribes and Scrolls at Qumran, Si…
Outline : In Proclaiming the Parables, noted preacher and scholar Thomas G. Long moves away from past treatment of the parables primarily as literary devices and moves toward an emphasis on their theological impact as pointers to the kingdom of God. While the parables are indeed significant poetic literary creations that have enchanted readers over the centuries, their main power, he claims, li…
Outline: Recent ferment in Luther studies has led to new appreciation of his thought and his significance in the emergence and shaping of the modern world. This exciting volume brings there perspectives on the Reformer into a systematic framework. Here new understandings of Luther's popular image, his effect on the Peasants' War, his contribution to language and letters, his chief theological i…
Outline : Contending for the Truth. There has been renewed interest in the five points of Calvinism among many Christians today. But these doctrines are not a product of the twenty-first century. So, where did they come from, and why are they so important? Dr. W. Robert Godfrey takes us back to 1618-19, when the Canons of Dort laid out these five points in response to a mounting theological ass…
Outline : Many people today don't understand who Christ is and what He has done for us. It is our job to make those glorious truths known. High King of Heaven is a detailed examination of the most important topic imaginable: Christology. Written by respected theologians, scholars, historians, and pastors, these essays explore the various facets of Christ's identity and encourage pastors and stu…
Outline : Driven by the desire to be successful, pastors are tempted to judge their ministries by the worldly standards of power, prestige, privilege, and prosperity. In contrast, J. Stephen Yuille reorients our understanding of pastoral ministry by presenting a standard of excellence measured by faithfulness, humility, and submission to God - even when the results look unsuccessful in the eyes…
Outline: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." (Ephesians 6: 10). Life can often feel like a daily cycle of struggle. Once you're convinced everything is under control, life forces you down - sometimes with trials which seem too difficult or painful to endure. How do you stay afloat during hardships - both big and small? Does your faith make a difference in those mo…
Outline : Robert Gundry is a beloved guide to the New Testament. His well-known textbook, A Survey of the New Testament, has been used by generations of students. In this two-volume commentary, Gundry focuses on what is most useful for preaching, teaching, and individual study in each book of the New Testament. He provides a fresh, literal translation of the entire New Testament and a pastorall…
Outline : We're facing an information overload. With the quick tap of a finger we can access an endless stream of addictive information—sports scores, breaking news, political opinions, streaming TV, the latest Instagram posts, and much more. Accessing information has never been easier—but acquiring wisdom is increasingly difficult. In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy …
Outline : Ethics as Worship examines the foundations and application of Christian ethics, offering an ethical system that emphasizes the worship of God as motivation, method, and goal of the ethical endeavor.
Outline : No one could have imagined that the frail, enslaved, seven-year-old girl who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1761 would become the first published African American, achieving fame for her poetry in both America and England. After arriving, Phillis quickly learned to read the Bible and other classic literature, publishing her first poem in 1767 when she was thirteen and a book of …
Outline : The name St. Patrick is associated with Ireland legend and a modern holiday. But what was this man's life really like, and why is he worth remembering? In this beautifully illustrated book, Simonetta Carr tells the adventurous story of how the wealthy young Patrick was kidnapped from Britain, taken as a slave to the pagan island of Ireland, and found a way to escape. Yet more importan…
Outline : B. B. Warfield lived at a time when many people--even those who considered themselves Christians--were questioning the authority of God's Word. For centuries most people in Europe and North America had taken for granted that the Bible was the word of God, but in Warfield's lifetime they were wondering whether it could still be trusted. Warfield was confident that the Bible could be tr…
Outline : Charles Spurgeon is considered one of the greatest preachers in the history of Christianity. In this book, Simonetta Carr informs us how young Charles learned to look to Christ alone for salvation, and how he never tired of point others to his savior. See how God used this young country boy to preach to thousands, provide training for pastors, start orphanages, and stand against those…
Outline : Geologist Carol Hill examines how numerous apparent conflicts between Scripture and science can be resolved by understanding the ancient worldview of the scriptural authors and how it differs from our modern, scientific worldview. This framework opens the door to clearing up longstanding questions, such as: Are the days of creation actual 24-hour days? Where was the Garden of Eden l…
Outline : He is risen presents the wonder of Easter in a beautiful and moving way. Through stunning rock art, captivating text, and Scripture, the magnificent story of God's greatest gift to his children comes to life kike never before.