Book Log: August 2009

1. Timothy Ward. Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God. A terrific treatise on the doctrine of Scripture from a Reformed and evangelical perspective. The first few chapters on God, human words, divine words, and the Word made flesh were especially helpful. Only question mark: affirms inerrancy, but downplays its significance.

2. John Piper. Finally Alive. A robust and inspiring look at the doctrine of regeneration. Penetrating exegesis, pastoral sensitivity, and good writing. One of Piper’s best.

3. Martin Downes. Risking the Truth: Handling Error in the Church. I really enjoyed this book. Lots of wisdom from some of today’s leading Reformed evangelicals.

4. Douglas Moo. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT). Ok, so I haven’t read the whole thing, but I’ve read carefully some big chunks of it. The phrase is overused, but this book really is a gift to the church. Scholarly, readable, evangelical, Reformation soteriology, Lutheran on the law. As a plus, the NICNT and NICOT have the most attractive, readable, common sense layout of any major commentary series I’ve seen.

5. Greg Bahsen, Walter Kaiser, Douglas Moo, Wayne Strickland, Willem VanGemeren. Five Views on Law and Gospel. The book is a good resource to have on the shelf, but at 414 pages it is too long, and the responses are unwieldy at times. The most cogent defenses of their respective positions are provided by Bahnsen (theonomy), Kaiser (evangelical view), and Moo (modified Lutheran).

6.Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanely, and Jason Hayes. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them. I would have liked it better as a long article, but still a useful book. Summary statements throughout the book are very helpful. Full of refreshing good sense and non-fadish advice. (FYI, I’ll do a full review on this book tomorrow.)