Juan R. Sanchez
Theology
“As the debate continues over the nature of the church’s mission, Brian Tabb points us to Jesus’s own words. Tabb argues that, in Luke 24:44–47, Jesus provides the hermeneutical lens by which we may clearly see how he fulfills Old Testament messianic prophecies so that we may courageously proclaim the saving message of the Scriptures. This is how the risen Christ accomplishes his mission—through Spirit-empowered witnesses who spread his message to the ends of the earth. If you long to see Jesus exalted as the promised Messiah and worshiped among all peoples, read After Emmaus. It will not only encourage you to be a faithful witness, but will also lead you to greater confidence in God’s progressive, unified revelation about Jesus, the suffering and vindicated servant who is the hope of the nations.”
Christian Living
“In Beauty Is Your Destiny, Philip Ryken reminds us that beauty is found in God himself. Our glorious God created a world and a people to reflect his beauty. But the reality is that we live in a fallen world in which beauty is often redefined, distorted, and idolized. So God sent his beloved Son into the world as the incarnation of divine beauty. And he is transforming us into the image of his Son. One day, we will behold the Son and be like him—truly beautiful. Until then, we can make sense of the brokenness of our world and appreciate the Creator’s beauty as reflected in his creation. If you want to grow in your delight of the beautiful, beginning with our beautiful God, Ryken is a trusted guide.”
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“Americans have been turning to organizations, education, famous personalities, and ultimately government in an effort to address the on-going racial strife in our nation. In 2008 many hoped that the election of an African-American president would finally bridge this ongoing racial divide. Today, we are left wondering why racial tensions have not abated. John Piper argues from specific biblical texts that the only solution powerful enough to overcome racial strife and bring about racial reconciliation and harmony is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is this gospel that announces that, through his blood, Jesus has demolished the dividing wall that separates humanity along racial lines and has brought all ethnicities together as brothers and sisters into one body—the church. Yet Piper does not end there. He carefully shepherds us through the various implications of gospel thinking in relation to race and ethnicity. In this sense, the book you hold in your hands is so much more than a book about race and ethnicity. Bloodlines is a prime example of how we Christians are to do the hard work of renewing our minds by replacing old ways of thinking with gospel ways of thinking. Read this book and let it serve as a model of how to prepare your mind for action and think soberly about God, your sin, Christ, the gospel, and one another for the sake of your soul, Christ’s church, and God’s glory.”
Church Leadership & Ministry
“In a culture that values competency over character, Christians need to be reminded that the ascended Christ calls faithful men to lead his church by example. Pastors are to set an example for the flock of God among them (1 Peter 5:2–3): "in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12). Aaron Menikoff understands this call. He also understands the rigors of ministry and the temptations pastors face. So, in Character Matters, Menikoff calls church leaders to reflect upon their personal holiness—through the lens of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23)—in order that we may lead by example. Brother pastors, our people need godly examples to follow. Take up this book and begin reflecting on God's work of grace in your life, asking Him to produce God-glorifying fruit, that your people may follow in your steps.”
Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior
Theology
“In Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior, Stephen Wellum reminds us that “Christ alone” is not only the center of the five Reformation solas, but that it stands as the central doctrine of systematic theology. Without it we cannot fully understand the doctrines of the Trinity, humanity, or salvation. “Christ alone,” argues Wellum, “must connect all the doctrines of our theology because Christ alone stands as the cornerstone of all the purposes and plans of God himself.” Consequently, if we get “Christ alone” wrong, Wellum reminds us, “all other doctrines will likely suffer.” So take up this book, read it, and think on the person and work of Christ in order that you may know, worship, and proclaim the same Christ as the Reformers, who is none other than the Christ of Scripture.”
Church Leadership & Ministry
“If your heart is moved with compassion for the weak and the suffering in the world, then you will want to pick up this book. But I must warn you, it’s not the book you think you’re getting. Instead, it’s the very book you need to read. Mike McKinley and Mez McConnell argue that while it is heartless to ignore the needs of the weak and suffering, the greatest need they have is the same need we all have—to turn away from sin, embrace Christ, and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ in a healthy fellowship of believers committed to one another under the faithful leadership of caring pastors who will equip the church for ongoing ministry. Apart from that, we are merely meeting temporal needs and offering no hope for a changed life now.”
Church Leadership & Ministry
“Considerable confusion surrounds diaconal ministry. Faithful deacons, Smethurst reminds us, protect the ministry of the Word, promote the unity of the body, and provide for the tangible needs of our most vulnerable members. I plan to buy multiple copies, regularly give them out to our congregation, and use the book to equip new deacons and encourage current ones.”
Christian Living
“Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and His apostles exposed what we might call a 'false' faith. James calls it a devil's faith (James 2:19). This false faith produces a fake Christianity, and that is precisely what Jed Coppenger hopes to expose in his book Fake Christianity. From Jesus' woes in Matthew 23, Coppenger wants to help us uncover potential areas of hypocrisy, not to condemn us but to help us overcome our own 'fake' Christianity. As we work by faith, in the power of the Spirit, and with the help of the church to root out our 'fakeness,' we will provide a faithful witness to the transforming power of the gospel.”
Christian Living
“Because David Powlison understands that ‘profound good in our lives often emerges in a crucible of significant suffering,’ he is fit to lead us in a workshop on suffering and God’s grace. And that’s exactly what God’s Grace in Your Suffering is—a workshop where Powlison walks us through Scripture, the hymn ‘How Firm a Foundation,’ and our (and his) experiences, that we may see God’s goodness and seek God’s grace in and through our suffering.”
Christian Living
“If in your struggle against sin you’ve been beaten up by the duty-bound, legalistic, moralistic methods of contemporary discipleship or enslaved by the licentious approach to holiness by proponents of cheap grace, then Gospel-Centered Discipleship is for you! Jonathan Dodson calls us to join the fight against sin, legalism, and license by believing everything the gospel says about who God is for us in Christ, and how he is conforming us to the image of his Son. Read this book. Form a ‘discipleship group.’ And begin fighting sin for the glory of God and your joy in Christ.”
Christian Living
“Because we Christians don’t think we’re allowed to have doubts, the moment they arise, we panic. In I Have My Doubts, Philip Ryken shares ten stories of biblical characters whose doubts led to flourishing faith. He pastorally reminds us that we are not alone in our doubts, that our doubts do not diminish God, and that all we need to endure is enough faith to take the very next step in following Jesus. We can both believe and find help in our unbelief!”
Christian Living
“Many contemporary realities work against our attempts to establish and cultivate deep, lasting friendships. Add to that our sinful tendencies that lead us to isolate ourselves, and it’s no wonder many of us are lonely and, dare I say, friendless. In Made for Friendship, Drew Hunter reminds us of the basic human need for true friendships. And through historical, biblical, and practical wisdom, he equips us to pursue and foster the kinds of friendships that will half our sorrows and double our joys. I, for one, am thankful for this much-needed reminder!”
Evangelism & Missions
“The greatest dangers facing the church are internal, but they’re not always obvious. In Mission Affirmed, Elliot Clark reminds us of an unnoticed, even celebrated, danger undermining our mission—the lure of selfish motivations and worldly means to accomplish the Great Commission. Instead, Clark argues, we must embrace Paul’s eschatological motivation. Paul’s longing to be approved by God on the last day fueled his missionary desire and guided his missiological methods. By recovering Paul’s motivation for missions, we, too, will long to please the God who has already accepted us in Christ by his grace, and we will eschew the praise of others. Churches, pastors, Christians, missionaries, sending agencies—we all need this vital reminder.”
Church Leadership & Ministry
“In Missions, Andy Johnson argues that the church glorifies God not only in working to gather true worshipers from all peoples, but also in using the means he has outlined in Scriptures to fulfill those ends. Because there is much debate about what missions is, how to do missions, and who is a missionary, Johnson spends a great part of the book helping us find answers that are rooted in scriptural commands, examples, and principles. If you desire to do missions in a way that only God gets the glory, you’ll want to read this book and pass it around to others who love God and love to see unbelieving people become followers of Jesus Christ.”
Christian Living
“We’re all afraid of something: sickness, death, or loss (of loved ones, a job, our rights, or our status). Additionally, as Christians, we fear persecution, oppressive government, and corrupt culture. The media, politicians, and even pastors and ministry leaders use those fears to increase clicks on their websites and social media; drive up book sales, conference attendance, and fundraising; and spur us to the polls on election day. The result is not just a divided nation, but a divided church. In Recovering Our Sanity, Michael Horton wants to put an end to this division by helping us overcome irrational (insane) fears. Instead, he argues, ‘the fear of God drives out the fear of everything else.’ So, whether you’re a church leader or a church member, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Gather a group for discussion. Give away a copy for free. It’s time to stop the insanity that divides us and embrace the sanity that comes from the fear of the Lord.”
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“Sadly, Christian conversations about race and justice in the United States have been hijacked. Some radicalize the discussion, while others politicize it. Either way, the result has been a divided church. If you are grieved by the fracture between Christians in our churches and our culture, you’ll want to read Talking about Race. Adams equips us to have the hard conversations by helping us understand the present vocabulary, allowing us to listen to the voices of diverse brothers and sisters, and pointing us back to the gospel of Christ and the Christ of the gospel—our only hope. So, my dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you. Let’s stop assuming the worst about each other, and let’s start talking.”
Christian Living
“In The Glory Now Revealed, Andy Davis seeks to unroot us from this world and cause us to long for heaven by reminding us that our eternity is not a static existence but an eternal learning of God and his mighty works throughout history in and for his people that will magnify his glory. If you want to be of any earthly good in this world, read this book. It will cause you to long for heaven and pray for the coming of God’s eternal kingdom in Christ.”
Christian Living
“In his exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, DeYoung reminds us that a glorious vision of our God moves us to pray, and he explains the words of our Lord Jesus that we may know what to pray. Without limiting us to just one form, Kevin shows us that Jesus’s model prayer provides the very foundation we need to sustain a vibrant life of communion with the living God in prayer. If you want to grow in prayer, take up and read. Then put it into practice.”
Theology
“There are few commentary series more consistently faithful and pastorally helpful than the Preaching the Word series. This volume on the Minor Prophets is no exception. Paul House and Stephen Coleman prove to be reliable and wise guides through these often-neglected books. With clarity and conviction, they demonstrate that the unified message of the Twelve is one of divine confrontation and mercy: the Lord calls his people to account for their sin, summons them to repentance, and offers hope of forgiveness and restoration to the repentant. This volume will equip pastors to preach these prophetic books with both theological depth and pastoral warmth and help them to see and savor our holy and merciful God in their private devotions.”
The Multigenerational Church Crisis
Church Leadership & Ministry
“As church leaders, we lament the present decline in church attendance, the continuing secularization of our culture, and the divisions among Christians that have emerged in response to these challenges. You don’t have to agree with every point of Chapell’s assessment and proposals to find him a helpful guide in identifying the various pressure points that have created a crisis for the evangelical church. In The Multigenerational Church Crisis, he aims to prepare the church to make a way for the gospel that transforms individuals and unites the church to gain a hearing in our day. That is our mission. And that is our only hope.”
NOTE: Only includes books currently in our catalog; not necessarily a complete list.
Theology
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