In the summer of 2018, I had to take an unexpected blogging break, but I couldn’t tell any of you all why exactly, beyond “I was working on a really big project.” Then a few weeks ago, I shared the contractually obligated contract photo: the big project was something for B&H Publishing; but at the time, I still couldn’t say what it was.
But now, I can—in part because Dave (my friend, co-host on Table of malContents, and head of B&H Marketing) spoiled it toward the end of this week’s episode (if you’re not already listening, please do check it out). Which I take to mean that I now have the thumbs up. So here it is:
This Spring, EPIC: The Story That Changed The World will be released from B&H Kids. EPIC is a brand-new graphic-novel-inspired book[1. ie, not a graphic novel; it’s probably best described as an illustrated novel] engaging older kids and preteens with the One Big Story of Scripture through its retelling of 40 biblical narratives, and life-application questions.
Here’s a quick look inside:
EPIC is a great way to engage your kids with the gospel story, and I hope you’ll check it out. My son has already started reading it (and he’s younger than the intended audience); so far, nothing but positive words from him (and he’s not just being nice because I’m his dad).
One of my favorite times of the day, after coming home and greeting my family, is seeing what mail has arrived. This is not because I love finding out how many bills are waiting for me, but because there’s often a new book waiting for me from one of the many Christian publishers out there (and occasionally from a non-Christian one). Here’s a look at several of the more noteworthy books that have arrived over the last while:
The Gospel Project Bible (B&H Publishing Group). This new study Bible “is designed to lead readers to understand basic biblical doctrines, to see how all the Scriptures point to Jesus, and to join Him in His mission of seeking and saving the lost.” One of my favorite things about it so far? The summaries of all 99 of The Gospel Project’s essential doctrines. (For more on this Bible, check out this post on the Gospel Project blog.)
Living in the Light: Money, Sex & Power by John Piper (The Good Book Company). This compact book is demonstrates how Christians can enjoy these three “dangerous opportunities” in a way that “satisfies you, serves the world and glorifies God.” I’ll almost certainly be reading this in the next few weeks.
Liberating King by Stephen Miller (Baker Books). I’m just starting to crack into this one, and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read. This book is all about the good news we all need—how the gospel overcomes our sin and how “holy living is within our grasp when we keep our eyes and our adoration on the one who was sent not only to save us but also to make us into new creations.”
Habits of Our Holiness by Philip Nation (Moody). This new book on the spiritual disciplines “connects [them] to all of life” by showing how they have their “greatest power when practiced in community and on mission.”
Pictures of a Theological Exhibition by Kevin Vanhoozer (IVP Academic). “Through essays on the church’s worship, witness and wisdom, Vanhoozer shows us how a poetic imagination can answer the questions of life’s meaning by drawing our attention to what really matters: the God of the gospel.” Having flipped through this, it’s definitely one I want to read (hopefully soon), but it’s not going to be a fast one.
Delivered from the Elements of the World by Peter Leithhart (IVP Academic). Purporting to elude conventional categories, this book on the atonement “prods our theological imaginations” by reframing Anselm’s question “Why the God Man?” instead asking, “”How can the death and resurrection of a Jewish rabbi of the first century . . . be the decisive event in the history of humanity, the hinge and crux and crossroads for everything?”
Aspire: Transformed by the Gospel by Matt Rogers (Seed Publishing Group, LLC). This is a new 15-week workbook style study intended to be used to disciple believers in a church context. Think one-on-one relationships or groups of three. The content in it looks really solid so far, balancing theological insights and practical application well.
And a bonus book (one I purchased):
The Complete Father Brown Stories by G.K. Chesterton (Penguin Classics). Chesterton’s writing brings me joy, so I’m looking forward to working my way through each story featuring this Catholic priest… who also happens to be an amateur detective.
One of my favorite times of the day, after coming home and greeting my family, is seeing what mail has arrived. This is not because I love finding out how many bills are waiting for me, but because there’s often a new book waiting for me from one of the many Christian publishers out there (and occasionally from a not-Christian one). Here’s a look at several that have arrived over the last few weeks which are pretty all over the map:
All Authority by Joey Shaw (B&H Publishing). “On the basis of his authority, [Jesus] commissioned his people to go and make disciples among every people group on earth. This is an impossible commission if it were not for the promise that he is with them forever. The doctrine of the supreme authority of Christ not only upholds the work of the church, it is the central message that the church preaches.”
Understanding the Congregation’s Authority by Jonathan Leeman (B&H Publishing). “Congregationalism has a bad rap for well-known reason… But biblical congregationalism isn’t so much about the meetings. It’s about empowering the whole church to promote and protect the gospel.”
Tell Someone by Greg Laurie (B&H Publishing). Written not to “make you feel bad or condemn you if you have not engaged others with the gospel message,” Laurie wants to offer biblical principles for evangelism that you can apply as you seek to tell someone about Jesus.
God Dreams by Will Mancini and Warren Bird (B&H Publishing). “In this groundbreaking work, based on Will Mancini’s 15 years and over 10,000 hours of church team facilitation, God Dreams reveals a simple and powerful planning method that will bring energy and focus to your church like never before.”
A Spirituality of Listening by Keith R. Anderson (IVP). “Rather than settling for a one-sided relationship with God in which we speak but never hear back, we can learn to hear God as we go through our lives. The key is paying attention to the moments that make up our days.”
A Peculiar Glory by John Piper (Crossway). The first major release from John Piper in about five years, this one promises to be an accessible but profound defense of the truthfulness of the Scriptures.
Visual Theology by Tim Challies and Josh Byers (Zondervan). This is a book I’ve been looking forward to for a long time (though not as long as Tim and Josh). I’ve flipped through it and it’s quite beautiful (look for a review in April). (Incidentally, there’s a great pre-order special going on with this book right now—head over to VisualTheology.church for details.)
From my earliest days as a Christian, bad Bible teaching frustrated me, but it was all around me. A steady diet of “how-to” sermons and “what does this mean to me” Bible studies left me feeling twitchy. I wanted to “go deeper”—even though I had no idea what that meant.
Initially, I thought it was all about technique. So I started a Bible study where we more or less just focused on the Bible. We covered the basic questions pretty well: “What does the text say,” and “what does it mean?” But what I missed pretty consistently was “How am I to live in light of this?” The people in our group wound up getting their heads filled with knowledge, but not necessarily having any sort of heart transformation come as a result.
I continued to stumble along through our Bible study, slowly figuring out that going “deep” isn’t just about good information, nor is it about good application. It’s about helping people see Jesus clearly in all of Scripture, and how we might become more like him as a result. But you know what would have helped me get there a lot faster? Gospel-Centered Teaching by Trevin Wax.
In this book, Trevin cuts to the heart of the “going deeper” dilemma by providing a succinct analysis of the problem at hand (our lack of depth and failure to see how everything centers on Jesus in the Scriptures), a powerful exposition of the gospel itself, followed by three practical chapters on what it looks like to show Christ in the Scriptures, from exposition to application to mission. Read More about Gospel-Centered Teaching by Trevin Wax
