Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts

Monday, September 7, 2015

CRIES FROM THE CROSS

In Cries from the Cross, Erwin Lutzer examines the last words of Jesus, when He hung on the cross. In looking closely at these words, we can better grasp what the cross meant to Jesus, and to us. Rediscover the heavy weight of sin, His weakness, sorrow and compassion. The cross beckons to the hearts of those in need of grace. As you journey into the heart of Jesus, your own heart will be shaped to His.
 
 
There is so much to be gained in reading this book. If you want to truly understand what the Cross means to christianity, read this book.  It is an excellent explanation of why Jesus had to die the way He did, that we may know what it means to be saved. Erwin Lutzer explains the very heart of the Christian message.


Chapter Titles:
A cry of Pardon
A cry of Assurance
A cry of Compassion
A cry of Anguish
A cry of Suffering
A cry of Victory
A cry of Submission


Product Information
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Moody Publishers - 2002
ISBN: 0802413110
ISBN-13: 9780802413116


This book can be purchased at Amazon.com Here
 

Erwin Lutzer  is senior Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago since 1980. He is an award-winning author of more than 30 books. Dr. Lutzer is a renowned theologian and is a featured radio speaker on 3 radio programs heard worldwide. Erwin and his wife  have been married nearly 45 yrs and has 3 grown children and 8 grandchildren.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent - By Erwin Lutzer

http://www.christianbook.com/
Islam is on the rise all over the West, including America. In this compelling book, bestselling author Erwin Lutzer urges Christians to see this as both an opportunity to share the gospel and a reason for concern. We have now reached a tipping point--the spread of Islam is rapidly altering the way we live. These changes are cause for alarm, for they endanger our freedoms of speech and religion.
 
At the same time, this opens an incredible door of ministry for Christians, for Muslims normally do not have access to the gospel in their own lands.  In The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent, readers will discover helpful answers to these questions and more:

•How does Islam's growing influence affect me personally?
•In what ways are our freedoms of speech and religion in danger?
•How can I extend Christ's love to Muslims around me?


This sensitive, responsible, and highly informative must-read will not only equip you to better relate to your Muslim friends, neighbors, and coworkers, but will also encourage you with the reminder that ultimately the enduring truth of the cross will prevail.

Publisher:  Harvest House Publishers
Date: 2013
ISBN-9780736951326


Erwin Lutzer  is senior Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago since 1980. He is an award-winning author of more than 30 books. His most recent releases include: Oprah, Miracles, and the New Earth, One minute after you die; and the Truth about Same-Sex marriage. Dr. Lutzer is a renowned theologian and is a featured radio speaker on 3 radio programs heard worldwide. Erwin and his wife  have been married nearly 45 yrs and has 3 grown children and 8 grandchildren.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Another Jesus Calling



Christianbooks.com
Author Warren B. Smith has written a must read book documenting his concerns about the popular Christian devotional book "Jesus Calling". The devotional book written by Sarah Young has sold millions of copies by it's publisher Thomas Nelson, yet what's been pointed out in Smith's book shows there are similar new age messages/teachings from a new age book from the 1930's called: "God Calling", which Sarah Young praised as an inspiration in her own book: Jesus Calling. Young's book: "Jesus Calling" is a collection of messages presented in the form of a daily devotional book. Smith shows the "Jesus" of Sarah Young's book is "Another Jesus" and not the Jesus of the Bible. 


Warren Smith warns most urgently about his concerns on pg. 43: "The very real danger of spiritual experences is that they can be used to introduce new truths and new revelations. This is what the New Age is founded on, and the experiential "truths" and "revelations" of the New Age have been in the process of "infecting" the church for many years now.  As these new truths and new revelations supplant God's Word, they definitely revolutionize man's thoughts of Jesus Christ---which opens the door to embracing "another Jesus."
 

 
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom
 we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit,
 which ye have not received, or another gospel, which
 ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
 (2 Corinthians 11:4)
 

The author Warren Smith shows how Young's Devotional book contradicts Scripture as he cites various quotes from the Jesus Calling book.  Smith warns about the danger of contemplative prayer which is also promoted in Sarah Young's book and the concerns of elevating spiritual experiences over the Word of God.  This is a book that gives much needed discernment about this popular christian book. Recommended reading. This book can be ordered from Lighthouse Trails.


Warren B. Smith has a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania; M.S.W. from Tulane University. Warren served as a social worker and directed several homeless programs in Northern California and served as a hospice social worker in New Orleans and in California. Because of his past involvement in the New Age movement, he has written extensively on the subject of spiritual deception.  He is a conference speaker in the U.S. and Canada.
 
 
 

Below is also a link to a companion booklet that covers recent problems with the Sarah Young book "Jesus Calling". This booklet from Lighthouse Trails - "Changing Jesus Calling - Damage Control for a False Christ" highlights further problematic issues with the publishing of Young's book and changes that have since occurred in it's text of the 10th Anniversary edition by the Thomas Nelson publisher while accountability issues are examined.   To order the Booklet click here: Changing Jesus Calling (This booklet outlines 5 problems with the book by Sarah Young - 'Jesus Calling'.
 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A New Earth An Old Deception

Featured heavily on Oprah and touted by critics and readers alike, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle is finding a huge following in the culture. Promoting ideas and beliefs that seem godly and good, this bestselling book is wrapping the country in a cocoon of sound spirituality. Or is it?


It may sound right---almost Christian, in fact---but something isn't quite right says Richard Abanes, the author of such books as The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code. Equipping Christians with biblical answers and viewpoints, Abanes helps believers---as well as the curious---understand that Eckhart Tolle's message is dangerous.


Easy to read, A New Earth, An Old Deception is a concise refutation of the Oprah-promoted bestseller, providing a clear biblical response to this new age message. Topics include Tolle's misuse of Scripture, false teachings on God, the Bible's teaching on evil, A New Earth's version of salvation compared to God's plan, and much more.

 
This book can be ordered from Christianbooks.com

Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: 2008
ISBN: 9781441203137
ISBN-13: 9781441203137


 

Charismatic Chaos


The charismatic movement has made an impact on the church unparalleled in history. But one legacy of the movement is confusion and mushy thinking. In Charismatic Chaos, John MacArthur calls for biblical evaluation and analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatics and non-charismatics in the light of Scripture.
 

"My principal concern," writes MacArthur, "is to call the church to a firm commitment to the purity and authority of the Scriptures, and thereby to strengthen the unity of the true church." To tough questions that seem to divide, Charismatic Chaos provides tougher answers that strive to unite. This book tackles such questions as:

Is experience a valid test of truth?
Does God still give revelation?
Prophets, fanatics, or heretics?
Does God still heal?
What should we think of the Signs and Wonders movement?
Does the Bible promise health and wealth?


This Book can be purchased at Christianbook.com

PuBlisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: 1993
ISBN: 0310575729
ISBN-13: 9780310575726




Monday, November 18, 2013

Contending for the Faith

From the cover: “Recent years have seen an explosion of independent ministries claiming apostolic and prophetic offices. These new apostles and prophets are claiming the Church must come under their authority and direction in order to fulfill her end-time purpose. New doctrines and practices are being introduced into the Body at an alarming rate.




This book examines the claims and doctrines of the new apostles and prophets in the light of Biblical revelation and offers a response for the discerning Christian. “ Recommended Reading. One of the best new books on the subject.
 
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ…These are wandering starts for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 3,4,12


This Book can be purchased Here: Amazon.com
 
Keith Gibson has served in Christian ministry for more than 27 years. He is the founding pastor of Word of Life Community Church. He also serves as the Kansas City Director for the Apologetics Resource Center. He and his wife Doreen have been married over 26 years and have five children.


Title: Wandering Stars
Publisher: Solid Ground Christian Books
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 978-159925-317-4 


 
See Other Reviews of this Book:

Gary Gilley’s Book Review

MM Outreach Book Review of Wandering Stars - Newsletter order information
http://mmoutreachinc.com/nv/nv102ad-inc.html




Sunday, November 17, 2013

Seeing A World of Difference




One or Two describes as "One-ism" and "Two-ism," the two ways of being spiritual.   One-ism believes that everything that exists is of one substance and that the goal of theology, spirituality and even sexuality is to destroy all distinctions, and bring all things together.
 
 
Two-ism believes that there is a God outside creation who made all that is not God and has structured creation for the good of humanity. Two-ism has implications in our theology, spirituality and sexuality.
 
 
The book is based on the argumentation of the apostle Paul in Romans 1. Peter Jones analyzes the current cultural expressions of spirituality in light of these two approaches.

 
About the Author
Peter Jones holds an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a ThM from Harvard divinity School, and PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary. He taught at the Reformed Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, France for seventeen years, and was active in church planting. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, he is now Director of truthXchange (a 501 c3 organization), Adjunct Professor of New Testament and Scholar in Residence at Westminster Seminary California, where he was a professor from 1991-2003. He is the father of seven children and has numerous grandchildren.
 
This Book can be purchased at Amazon.com - See Here.

Publisher: Main Entry Editions; First edition (June 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0974689521
ISBN-13: 978-097468952

 



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Psycho Heresy - Revised & Expanded

Amazon
Almost everywhere one turns in the church one sees psychology. The psychologizing of Christianity has reached epidemic proportions. We see it everywhere in the church, from psychologized sermons to psychologized persons. However, the psychologizing of the church is neither biblically nor scientifically justifiable. Beneath all the biblical reasons why Christians should not pursue psychotherapy and its underlying psychologies is this one fact.

The use of psychotherapy and its underlying psychologies denies the sufficiency of Scripture for the issues of life normally taken to a psychotherapist. This book demonstrates the fact that psychological explanations about life and psychological solutions to life's problems are questionable at best, detrimental at worst, and spiritual counterfeits at least.


About the Author
Martin Bobgan holds four university degrees, including a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Colorado and heads PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries. Deidre Bobgan holds an M.A. degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. They have coauthored hundreds of articles and twenty books.
 
 
This book can be ordered from Amazon (See Link:
 
 
Posted by: Sherry DuBois

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Twilight's Last Gleaming


Economic chaos, immorality, cultural decay, terrorism and global upheaval have convinced many that we are living in the twilight days of America. Dr. Robert Jeffress agrees, but he is quick to add a note of hope and challenge to be salt and light as God‘s children in this world. Twilight’s Last Gleaming makes the case that although we cannot prevent America’s eventual demise, we can delay it…and make a difference for eternity at the same time.

“So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as light in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” Phil 2:15,16

 
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
ISBN: 1936034581
ISBN-13: 9781936034581

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Return to Your First Love

A Simple Christianity: Rediscover the Foundational
Principles of Our Faith
As Christians we are taught from scripture to stay in the race and stay faithful to Christ. Along the way we will fail just like some of the disciples did, but we are to repent, get up and finish the race in the pursuit of Christ. We are in a race and the road is upward. It begins on earth and ends in heaven where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:3) This book brings you back to the basics and the very foundation of the Christian faith.

This is a book about restoring a vibrant relationship with Christ. Rev. 2:5a says: “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first;” MacArthur writes that many give up in the race. This book will give you the encouragement and strength to keep standing firm on the sound teaching in the Bible and gives godly counsel and wisdom and sound biblical doctrine.

Copyright © 2009
Publisher Gospel Light
ISBN 0830747540


Reading/Review date: September 2010


Sunday, September 11, 2011

Called

 An Inspiring story of Courage and Faith
Could not put this book down till I had finished it. You’ll feel as though you are right there with Lisa Jefferson as she goes through her experience. It was an incredible story of Heroism and courage that will inspire and fortify your faith. The impact of what a few minutes can have on a life is seldom reflected on so well as how Lisa Jefferson recounts in her dramatic story from Sept 11, 2001 as she took a call from one of the passengers aboard flight 93, and tells it with such compassion and details of how this event had forever changed her life. She relies on her relationship with God to get her through the tough and unknown terrain she was plunged into.

Lisa’s recounting of her experience brings out some very foundational lessons of faith and trust in God and it’s lessons are applicable for anyone facing those difficult seasons in life. How well will we act on those crisis moments in our lives? How has God prepared us so uniquely just for a certain task to handle those unexpected crisis moments? She says that each life experience, bitter or sweet, is a part of our training and preparation for the future. God may need you to intervene in a situation that will require your specific skill or experience. There are no ordinary people. Lisa stands firm in her faith and trust God through the difficult situation and encourages her readers to do the same in their own lives.

Copyright © 2006
Publisher Northfield publishing
ISBN 13: 978-1-881273-75-2

Read/Reviewed date: July 5, 2010

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Christless Christianity


The Author communicates what he believes is the problem that is diminishing Christ from His prominent place in the Church, and in the heart and minds of Christians. One concern that he writes about is ‘Moralistic Therapeutic Deism’ in it’s various forms being promoted and practiced within the Church.

 
 
Michael Horton says: “My aim is not to target any particular wing, movement, person, or group. We are all victims as well as accomplices in our captivity. In fact, my sense of urgency is motivated by my impression that ‘Christless Christianity’ is pervasive, crossing the conservative-liberal spectrum and all denominational lines.”

What really caught our attention on the reading of this book, was how it shows that humanistic thinking is really down playing what Christ did for us. It’s like Christianity is becoming a works-based approach to know God, and not that we are God’s creation, and desperately deprived and that God stepped in and rescues us at the Cross by what Jesus Christ did for us. This is the Good News that needs to be shared and proclaimed.

Some of the concerns Michael Horton raises is how the Church in America is obsessed with being successful and relevant, and is mirroring the world without holding to the scriptures instruction to be holy and set apart unto God. He writes: “The church has repackaged itself that it can satisfy the masses. The church has become similar to many secular programs and self-help groups, becoming shallow and human centered.”
 

The author covers many of the current efforts of the Church’s use of programs and methods to recapture people’s hearts for God, and shows how these attempts have done little to bring Christians back to centering their focus on Christ and his finished work of redemption. The Author also discusses current popular authors and Evangelical teachers that are using psychology and new age teachings that distort the meaning of the Christian Faith. He is descriptive and thorough in his explanations of why this raises concerns.

Michael Horton shows how these methods and programs cause the Christian to be distracted from the simplicity of Christ. Paul warned us from the Bible to be on guard against such things: 2 Cor. 11:3 “But I am afraid that , as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be lead astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

 Some notable statements Horton addresses in the book deserve thoughtful reflection by Christians: On page 19) “The bible is mined for ‘relevant’ quotes but is largely irrelevant on it’s own terms; God is used as a personal resource rather then known, worshipped, and trusted; Jesus Christ is a coach with a good game plan for our victory rather than ‘Savior’.

On page 24) The Author asks the questions; “Does Christ come merely to improve our existence…Is Christianity all about spiritual and moral makeovers or about death and resurrection?…Is the Word of God a resource for what we have already decided we want and need, or is it God’s living active criticism of our religion, morality, and pious experience? In other words, is the Bible God’s story, centering on Christ redeeming work that rewrites our stories, or is it something we use to make our stories a little more exciting and interesting?

There was a good section in the book where the author shows how some people use the bible subjectively and allegorically which leads to misunderstanding of the scriptures.

Copyright © 2008 Michael Horton
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 0801013186
ISBN-13: 9780801013188

Reading / Review Date: January 2009

 
The Author Michael Horton speaks about his book
 
 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Stand Firm and run with Perseverance


Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints  
This book gives the reader a candid look at the lives of 4 Pastors and one author in missionary outreach, as they share how in their lives and ministries they have endured trials, persevered through suffering and challenges, and how their faith enduring faith and commitment to God, Prayer, and love for God’s word --sustained them in some of the more trying and difficult times in their lives. Because each Pastor’s experience of endurance in life’s suffering and difficulties is different, it makes this book interesting reading.

Contributing Authors in this book are: John MacArthur, John Piper, Jerry Bridges, Randy Alcorn, Helen Rosereare and Justin Taylor. There are some very beautiful and poignant moments in this book that bring the real impact of suffering and it’s distress to the surface and shows how these Pastors handled these events in their lives. This book will make you grow in your faith and brings renewed strength in your resolve to serve Jesus.

Outside of the mention of a few books (some of the authors) used as references in their chapters that we would not recommend for discernment reasons, the book was written well. This book effectively does what it sets out to do and that is, to encourage the believer to Stand Firm in the midst of trials, and endure and persevere through to the end till we meet our Lord Jesus Christ.

Copyright © 2008 by Desiring God
Published by: Crossway Books
ISBN - 13:978-1-4335-0114-2

This book can be purchased from Christianbook.com 

Reading / Review Date: 2008

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Cost of Deception


This was an interesting and helpful book. As deception continues to be on the increase, Hoaxes, urban legends, and rumors continue to circulate throughout Christiandom. As Christians we are to be a people of the Truth so what is true should matter to us. When what is true doesn’t matter anymore, what many Christians fail to realize is that it hurts the whole body of Christ.


This book takes a walk through some of the more common hoaxes and urban legends of the past that still continue to deceive and dupe Christians today. The author gives instruction on how to discern and avoid these falsified tales, legends, and old rumors and stories. Williams advises that by checking out the source, it can do much to dispel modern myths and the truthfulness of much of what is being circulated in the Christian community. He informs the reader that when Christians think that God only deals with them on an emotional level it causes a Christian to resist wise counsel and will leave that person open to deception.


Copyright © 2001 by John A. Williams
Publisher: Broadman & Holman
ISBN - 080542381-8

Reading / Review Date: October 2008

The book can be purchased at Amazon.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

All of Grace

It is All of Grace


Christianbook.com
 All of Grace was a book rich with doctrinal truths that believers at any stage of their growth in Christ will appreciate.

Spurgeon always humbly directs the focus on God and His word and brings the reader greater understanding into the riches of God’s grace and the meaning of our Salvation in Christ.


Spurgeon makes it very clear that God’s mercy and grace is not earned, but given freely - Eph 2:8,9 The chapters dealing with Salvation and Faith are extremely helpful. The book is written in a devotional format, so it is suitable for bible studies, or for your personal devotional time with the Lord. This book is a classic and a must read.


Copyright © 2007
Publisher : Destiny Image 
ISBN: 0768425522
ISBN-13: 9780768425529

The book can be purchased at  Christianbook.com

Reading / Review Date: June 27, 2008

Monday, June 20, 2011

Decision Making God's Way

Decisions - More than a Feeling


Gary Meadors explains that knowing God’s Will is not “finding it”, but “doing” what God’s word tells us to do. God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to help us know His will and know how to please Him. The author brings home the point that some people try to know God’s will from their own expectations and assumptions. Leadings and promptings can sometimes have misleading results.

Good decisions come from employing godly virtues, planning and having our minds transformed by the Word of God such as what Romans 12 describes. Godly discernment is needed for good decision making. This book will help you to evaluate your values from a biblical perspective. Very helpful.


Copyright © 2003
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN - 13: 9780801064296

Can be purchased at Christianbook.com

Reading / Review Date:  March 2008

Monday, June 13, 2011

When the Enemy Strikes

When the Enemy Strikes - Winning your Spiritual Battles

For the Christian it is imperative to recognize the assaults of the enemy. Negative circumstances and troubles are not always from within--there is a spiritual warfare going on for the Christian. Ephesians 6:10-17. In this book by Charles Stanley you will be reminded of God’s provision for spiritual victory over oppression and how to stand firm against Satan’s attacks. Dr. Stanley teaches that you must meditate upon biblical principles and arm yourself with the sword of the spirit - one of the pieces of Armor which is spoken of from Ephesians 6.

Satan can disrupt the work for the Lord, and disturb your peace in Christ. But God has not left us defenseless. Trust God, Meditate on God’s word and his biblical principles, Pray, Stand Firm in the Faith, and fight the good fight of Faith. The battle is unavoidable. Discernment is essential.

Dr. Charles Stanley is founder and president of In Touch Ministries whose radio and television ministry is broadcasted around the world. He is also the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA for more then 30yrs. Twice elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Stanley received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond, his bachelor of divinity degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and his master’s and doctor’s degree from Luther Rice Seminary. Charles Stanley is the author of many books.

Copyright © 2004 by Charles F. Stanley
Publisher - Thomas Nelson -
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/
ISBN - 0-7852-6610-0

Reading / Review Date: July 14, 2007

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Is that YOU LORD?  Hearing The Voice of the LORD


There is a popular teaching these days that instructs people to seek within to hear the ‘voice of God’, they listen to their feelings promptings, and hunches to guide them in making life’s decisions, and listen to an ‘inaudible’, ‘inner voice‘, they say to know the ‘will of God’ for their lives.

This book will challenge the Christian reader’s said professed confidence in the word of God because once someone has omitted Scripture as the final authority, the person has no way left for truly testing or knowing if something is of God or not. This can become a serious situation for a Christian that very often makes them vulnerable to false teachings, confusion, and heartache.

When Jesus was tempted by the devil in Matt 4:4, He said; “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. In the 4th chapter, 3 times Jesus says “It is written”. Scripture is the final authority.

The author has written an excellent book in a Q & A format that deals with the vital matter of hearing God’s voice, godly decision making, callings, and what God’s Will is for the Christian, and gives us a sound biblical way of obeying God’s Will and practicing biblical guidance in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Scriptures are sufficient - and are a sure foundation. 



Copyright © 2007 
Publisher: Evangelical Press - www.evangelicalpress.org
ISBN - 13 978 0 85234 625 5

Reading / Review Date:  July 17, 2007

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Fool's Gold ? : Discerning Truth in an Age of Error

 Discerning Truth in an Age of Error - Test all Things
Grace to You  
 
In an age of open-mindedness, many believers accept too much, using little discernment resulting in confusion. False teaching and trends need to be evaluated for their soundness. 1 Thess 5:21, 1 John 4:1.

This book is a collection of essays from various authors that encourage the reader to have a miner’s discrimination and fortitude applied to discerning truth from error. Returning to the authority of Scripture is stressed, which is much needed today. Sound biblical teaching is in short supply and this book was a refreshing find.

Detecting a spiritual counterfeit requires discipline. Titus 1:9 says; “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

Each chapter of this book addresses a different subject on trends and false teaching. Part Two titled: Practicing discernment in your local bookstore was one of the most helpful sections of the book. An evaluation of four popular best-selling books are biblically discerned by the writers with Scripture. The concluding chapter gives practical and biblical instruction on applying discernment by the sufficiency of Scripture. God’s Word is an anchor in our faith, and it provides instruction on how to evaluate and test - every spiritual message we receive and discern between trends, traditions and truth. This book will equip you with a solid foundation for which to exercise the practice of biblical discernment.

Some of the authors who contributed individual chapters in this book are: Nathan Busenitz, Phil Johnson, Daniel Gillespie, Rick Holland, Carey Hardy, Kurt Gebhards, Dan Dumas.

John MacArthur is pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and president of The Master’s College and Seminary. He is the author and editor of many books. John MacArthur can be heard on “Grace to You” radio program which broadcasts daily across the country on nearly 300 stations.

Grace to you website-  www.gty.org

Copyright © 2005 by the Shepherd’s Fellowship
Published by Crossway Books - www.crossway.com
ISBN- 1-58134-726-X
Can be ordered from Grace to You  resource page

Reading / Review Date: February 2007

 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Revolution

Christianbooks.com:

Revolution - George Barna

George Barna is not fuzzy about what he defines in the book ‘Revolution’. But after reading it, the question still stands--is this a biblically sound direction that believers should embrace? Although the author George Barna gives some essentials, it is still describing a redefined Christianity.

In summary, from the back cover, the book claims to examine the state of the church today and to document how and why a new brand of devout revolutionaries are abandoning and leaving the local church while attempting to become the Church that Christ commissioned.

But, you don’t fine statistical examples in the book about the many Christian believers who were asked to leave their church if they didn’t adhere to the ‘seeker-sensitive’ programs and changes taking place, or how may born again committed Christians were ostracized for verbalizing biblical and theological concerns with the model of church their churches were emulating due to the popularity of the Purpose-driven books and church growth programs. These changes coming into Churches continued to mutate into what is being called the Emergent Church movement.

At the end of the book, the author lists ‘Recommended resources for ‘Revolutionaries’ and the list reveals---Emergent Church leaders and Authors such as Brian McLaren and L.Sweet, and websites favorable to the Emergent Movement.

The purpose-driven movement and now the Emerging Movement have brought BIG changes into the majority of America’s Churches that not every Christian agrees with. Trying to discuss these concerns with a Pastor brought serious consequences for us and  some Christians mark them as troublemakers, and some were labeled as disrupting the unity of the body and they are forced to leave.


It seems to group all these committed Christians into a ‘Revolution’ with the same motives as those written about in his book, isn’t realistic or entirely right. A careful theological approach is needed in reading this book; it is too easy to get swept-up in the hype and emotional appeal of the message in the book, without carefully examining it to Scripture.

George Barna is well-known for being a Pollster and researcher in the evangelical church. He is founder and directing leader of the Barna Group. George Barna has written over 35 books.

Copyright © 2005  -  George Barna
Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
ISBN 13-978-1-4143-0758-9