Spotlight on Martin Luther

Since today is Reformation Day, I thought I would include some links to books written by Martin Luther.  You can purchase any of these books from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

Martin Luthers 95 Theses By Martin Luther / P & R Publishing To combat abuses in the church of his day, the young German monk drafted nearly one hundred propositions for public debate. Martin Luther posted these "theses" on the church door in Wittenberg, an action that helped to give birth to the Protestant Reformation. Although most people have heard of the Ninety-Five Theses, very few have actually read these propositions. In response, Stephen Nichols has prepared this edition with an illuminating introduction, explanatory notes, and several illustrations to provide readers with access to this Christian classic.

Large Catechism of Martin Luther- The. By Augsburg Fortress By 1529, the year of publication of Luther's Large Catechism, parishioners took the Gospel for granted. Many had forgotten at what great peril the freedom of their faith had been won. In the large Catechism Luther set out to inculcate the centrality of the Gospel that was largely neglected and whose freedom was frequently abused. Whether Luther is therefore dealing with the Ten Commandments or the Lord's Supper, the dynamic of the Word of God as Gospel provides the cutting edge for what he says. To obscure the Gospel is to lose everything; to illuminate it is to gain all it promises.

Reading the Psalms with Luther By Concordia Publishing House Study Israel's prayer book through the eyes of the great Reformer. Luther introduces and classifies each psalm; then, emphasizing a Christological perspective, applies the meaning of the text to a life lived under the cross. Throughout, the English Standard Version has been coupled with classic prayers.

The Freedom of a Christian: The Luther Study Edition By Martin Luther / Augsburg Fortress Perhaps no other work so captures the revolutionary zeal and theological boldness of the great Reformer as The Freedom of a Christian. Here he defends that key doctrine of justification by faith. This special new translation (aimed at students) includes notes, an introduction, headings, a glossary, and a bibliography. 128 pages, softcover. Fortress.

The Table Talk of Martin Luther By Martin Luther / Dover Publications

Three Treatises By Martin Luther / Augsburg Fortress Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the church door at Wittenburg in 1517. In the three years that followed, Luther clarified and defended his position in numerous writings. Chief among these are the three treatises written in 1520. In these writings Luther tried to frame his ideas in terms that would be comprehensible not only to the clergy but to people from a wide range of backrounds. 316 pages, paperback, from Fortress Press.

Through the Year with Martin Luther: A Selection of Sermons Celebrating the Feasts and Seasons By Martin Luther / Hendrickson Publishers Fifty of Martin Luther's most significant sermons, selected and organized with the lay reader in mind, reflect the heart of his thoughts on the Christian faith and his ideas for its practice. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of Luther's thinking on topics that are still relevant today. An excellent addition to any church library. 504 pages, hardcover from Hendrickson.

And the Journey Begins

This week has been the beginning of my journey as a Doctor of Ministry student.  I am studying at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.  My first course has been "The Contemporary Canadian Ministry Landscape" taught by Reginald Bibby.  I have very much enjoyed the course so far.  My brain hurts, but it hurts with all the new knowledge that is being crammed in there.  That is a good thing.  It has been great getting to know my fellow students, people from different traditions and stages of their studies.  I am looking forward to continuing my studies over the next few years and how what I learn will impact my ministry.  I want to especially thank my wife Amanda for holding down the fort with the kids.  I know from experience that taking care of four kids by yourself is not easy.  But Amanda is doing a great job and I am so thankful that she is making my studies possible.

Spotlight on Mark Noll

One of the most respected Christian historians is Mark A. Noll.  Here is a selection of his books that you can purchase from Christian Book Distributors by clicking on the links below.

Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, Second Edition By Mark Noll / Baker What do the destruction of Jerusalem, the Diet of Worms, the French Revolution, and the Edinburgh Missionary Conference all have in common? According to the leading evangelical historian Mark Noll, they are among a select number of pivotal events in the two-thousand-year history of Christianity. Organized around thirteen key moments in the history of Christianity, this popular introduction to church history provides contemporary Christians with a fuller understanding of God as he has revealed his purpose through the centuries. A study section has been added that includes questions and application challenges for today's church, making the second edition of this book more useful for students of church history and church study groups.

A History of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada By Mark Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. From the lively severities of the 17th-century Pilgrims and Puritans to the ebullience of the televanglism age, the Christian experience in North America is rich and varied. Noll covers it all in this superb narrative survey. Tracing the growth of Christian belief and institutions and their interactions with culture in the U.S. and Canada from the colonial period to the present, his approach is broad and comprehensive. Many biographical profiles add a personal dimension to the narrative. 576 pages with over 200 illustrations, softcover from Eerdmans.

Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. In The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1994) Mark Noll offered a forthrightly critical assessment of the state of evangelical thinking and scholarship. Now, nearly twenty years later, in a sequel more attuned to possibilities than to problems, Noll updates his earlier assessment and charts a positive way forward for evangelical scholarship. Noll's new work Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind shows how the orthodox Christology confessed in the ancient Christian creeds, far from hindering or discouraging serious scholarship, can supply the motives, guidance, and framework for learning. Christian faith, Noll argues, can richly enhance intellectual engagement in the various academic disciplines--and he demonstrates how by applying his insights to the fields of history (his own area of expertise), science, and biblical studies particularly. In a substantial postscript Noll candidly addresses the question How fares the "evangelical mind" today? as he highlights "hopeful signs" of intellectual life in a host of evangelical institutions, individuals, and movements.

The Rise of Evangelicalism By Mark A. Noll / IVP Academic Winner of a Christianity Today 2005 Book Award in Church History, and now available in paperback, is Mark Noll's masterpirce The Rise of Evangelicalism In this, the inaugural volume of the A History of Evangelicalism series, The Rise of Evangelicalism charts the the embryonic and ealiest stages of Evangelicalism's rise from its precursors in the Anglican Church, to the movement's explosive revivalist powerin the American Colonies under the leadership of Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, and John and Charles Wesley. Mark Noll, a renowned historian and sociologist, tells the story of Evangelicalism's beginings in England, and follows it eventual spread and remarkable expansion in the embryonic American republic. Noll considers a myriad of subjects within his striking historical narrative including theology, hymnody, gender, warfare, politics and science. Nevertheless, it is the charismatic personalities of Edwards, Whitefield, and the Wesleys, the dramatic events they participated in, and their social influence that drive Noll's narrative, and shaped the now global Christian Evangelical movement. Moreover Noll emphasizes, particularly, the mid-eighteenth century revivals in Britain and North America that proved to be foundational in the development of the movement, its ethos, beliefs and subsequent direction. In these revivals, the core commitments of evangelicals were formed that continue to this day. In this volume you will find the fascinating story of their formation, their strengths and their weaknesses, but always their dynamism.

Confessions and Cathechisms of the Reformation By Mark A. Noll / Regent College Publishing Both by his choice of confessions and by his judicious and scholarly introductions, Mark Noll has made [the major Reformation confessions and catechisms] available in a form that is sure to deepen and enlighten doctrinal discussion and confessional awareness and that will therefore contribute to solidly evangelical and hence soundly ecumenical theology. Mark Noll has ably introduced these still living confessions to a modern audience more prone to forgetfulness than any since the sixteenth century. This collection will be useful not only for classes in historical and systematic theology, but also to pastors and lay readers who wish better to understand their Protestant heritage.

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. In this treatise on the state of the intellectual status of the evangelical movement, Mark Noll reminds us that 'modern evangelicals are the spiritual descendants of leaders and movements distinguished by probing, creative, fruitful attention to the mind' and challenges us to reclaim that heritage. Noll combines passion and his own impressive scholarship, arguing that if Christians are to serve God with their minds, they must do their homework, and think intellectually.

What Happened to Christian Canada? By Mark A. Noll / Regent College Publishing On September 15, 1959, Georges Vanier, Canada's Governor-General soon-to-be, began his acceptance speech with the following invocation: "Mr. Prime Minister, my first words are a prayer. May Almighty God in his infinite wisdom and mercy bless the sacred mission which has been entrusted to me by Her Majesty the Queen and help me to fulfill it in all humility. In exchange for his strength, I offer him my weakness." Fifty-six years later, on September 27, 2005, Michaklle Jean became Canada's 27th Governor-General. In her acceptance speech, by contrast, Jean referred to how Canadian history "speaks powerfully about the freedom to invent a new world," and made no reference to the deity. What happened to the Canadian religious conscience, as illustrated by the speeches of these two luminaries, in the approximately fifty years between then and now? Why might have church and synagogue attendance fallen from 67 percent after World War II to less than 20 percent in 2000? In What Happened to Christian Canada?, renowned church historian Mark Noll investigates these and other related questions, and makes timely observations about one of the more prominent sociological shifts in modern North American history.

The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith By Mark A. Noll / IVP Academic A compelling assessment of global Christianity in light of the American experience. Surveying the changes in the worldwide body of Christ over the past century, Noll examines 19th-century evangelical identity, power, and culture; presents the U.S. view from 1900 to 2000; and reflects on the impact of American evangelicalism on the international development of Christianity. 250 pages, hardcover from InterVarsity.

God and Race in American Politics: A Short History By Mark A. Noll / Princeton University Press "This book, which originated as a set of endowed lectures at Princeton University, received the 2009 Christianity Today Award of Merit in History/Biography. Noll argues that race figured prominently in all but the third of the four main eras of U.S. history. A sobering story, brilliantly told,"---Christian Century. 209 pages, softcover. Princeton University.

The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity By Mark A. Noll / Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Providing a superb look at Christianity's growth in America, a leading church historian explores the contrasts between European religious tradition and its innovations and evolutions upon the North American continent. Painting broad outlines of major events and developments---including those of indigenously generated denominations---Noll elucidates the remarkable vitality and diversity that typifies new world Christianity. One of the foremost historians of religion here chronicles the arrival of Christianity in the New World, tracing the turning points in the development of the immigrant church that have led to today's distinctly American faith. Taking a unique approach to this fascinating subject, Noll focuses on what was new about organized Christian religion on the American continent by comparison with European Christianity. In doing so, Noll provides a broad outline of the major events in the history of the Christian churches that have filled North America with such remarkable vitality and diversity. He also highlights some of the most important interpretive issues in the transfer of the hereditary religion of Europe to America.

America's God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln By Mark A. Noll / Oxford University Press "A notable achievement in narrative history, made even more persuasive by the prodigious research that undergirds each step of the argument, as well as by the comparative judgments that situate the American experience in the larger transatlantic world. Remarkable,"---Christian Century. 622 pages, softcover. Oxford University.

Autism, There's an App For That

Television show 60 Minutes had a segment on apps for autism and how iPads are a great help.  You can watch it here.  Logan is natural with my iPad but so far has not taken to language programs.

Spotlight on John Piper

Since I am listening to the audiobook of John Piper's Think, I thought I would include links to some of John Piper's other books.  I appreciate his bridging of the scholar and the pastor.  You can purchase any of these books from Christian Book Distributors by going to any of these links.

Don't Waste Your Life By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles In this provocative work Pastor Piper challenges us to set aside the trivial pursuit of self-fulfillment so that we can develop a deeper passion for God. Piper believes that if we passionately submit the sufferings we endure, the risks we take, and the goals we set to the pursuit of God's glory, then not one moment of our lives will be wasted. Don't miss this opportunity to rekindle your passion for the cross of Christ and the glory of God.

Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist By John Piper / Multnomah Books Strengthen your relationship with God simply by enjoying him and his creation. Piper compellingly reveals why your deepest and most enduring happiness can only be found in God. Laying biblical foundations for a life of celebration, he describes how to glorify the Lord by truly desiring and enjoying him. Includes a discussion guide. 320 pages, softcover from Multnomah.

Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles In Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God John piper shows us the intricate continuity between the Christian faith and intellectual development. Focusing on the life of the mind helps us to know God better, love him more, and care for the world around us in thoughtful ways. While we must value the experiential an emotional elements of our faith, the intellectual aspects are far too often neglected and as Piper says in this book, we also need to practice careful thinking about God. Piper contends that "thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God." So how are we to maintain a healthy balance of mind and heart, thinking and feeling? Piper urges us to think for the glory of God. He demonstrates from Scripture that glorifying God with our minds and hearts is not either-or, but both-and. Thinking carefully about God fuels passion and affections for God. Likewise, Christ-exalting emotion leads to disciplined thinking.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles The most important questions anyone can ask are: Why was Jesus Christ crucified? Why did he suffer so much? What has this to do with me? Finally, who sent him to his death? The answer to the last question is that God did. Jesus was God's Son. The suffering was unsurpassed, but the whole message of the Bible leads to this answer. The central issue of Jesus' death is not the cause, but the meaning - God's meaning. That is what this book is about. John Piper has gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons. Not fifty causes, but fifty purposes - in answer to the most important question that each of us must face: What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?

When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles "It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold him." ---John Piper Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. In When the Darkness Will Not Lift, John Piper aims to give some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness. Readers will gain insight into the physical side of depression and spiritual darkness, what it means to wait on the Lord in a time of darkness, how unconfessed sin can clog our joy, and how to minister to others who are living without light. Piper uses real-life examples and sensitive narrative to show readers abundant reason to hope that God will pull them out of the pit of despair and into the light once again.

Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible? In Bloodlines: Race, Cross and the Christian John Piper shares from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South thoughtfully exposing the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope--teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God. He focuses on specific biblical passages and shows how biblical doctrine rejects racism entirely. Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of "every tongue, tribe, and nation."

Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry By John Piper / B & H Publishing Group Should a church be run like a business? Piper says no. In this provocative critique, he takes aim at the widely held managerial/therapeutic model of ministry---warning that Christlike traits such as childlikeness, tenderheartedness, and dedication to prayer clash with the secular "professionalism" we mistakenly seek to emulate. Sure to spark lively debate! 304 pages, softcover from B&H.

Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions, Third Edition By John Piper / Baker Academic Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions is a modern classic in missiology. A trusted guide for thousands of missionaries, pastors, churches leaders, and laity, it provides a biblical basis for missions, the expansion of the Gospel, and for worship. The third edition has been expanded to include new material critiquing the prosperity gospel and its presence in the church and in missions.

The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin; softcover By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles The lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin reveal the glory and grace of our perfect God in the imperfect lives of his faithful servants. While we admire these men for their greatness, the truth is that Augustine grappled with sexual passions. Martin Luther struggled to control his tongue. John Calvin fought the battle of faith with worldly weapons. Yet each man will always be remembered for the messages he declared---messages that still resound today. Piper explores each of these men's lives, integrating Augustine's delight in God with Luther's emphasis on the Word and Calvin's exposition of Scripture. Through their strengths and struggles, we can learn how to live better today. As we consider their lives, we behold the glory and majesty of God and find power to overcome our weaknesses. If you're ever complacent about sin, lose the joy of Jesus, or become dulled by the world's influence, the lives of these men can help you recapture the wonder of God. Book 1 in The Swans Are Not Silent series.

The Supremacy of God in Preaching, rev. ed. By John Piper / Baker Countless books teach the craft of preaching, but not many discuss its fundamental requirement: the piety of the preacher. In this newly revised classic, Piper focuses on Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon as prime examples, noting how their spirituality enabled them to speak the truth with joy and to appeal earnestly for a response. 120 pages, softcover from Baker.

A Hunger for God By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles Have Sunday worship services, small group meetings and a full slate of Christian activities failed to satisfy your hunger for God? If so, best-selling author and noted pastor John Piper has just the remedy: the ancient Christian practice of fasting and prayer. In this helpful guide Piper will explain the biblical foundations of fasting and provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate fasting into your life. Don't miss this opportunity to develop a deeper Hunger for God.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ By John Piper / Crossway Books & Bibles If you want to know Jesus you do not need to go to seminary or embark on a tour of the Holy Land. All you need to do is to read the gospels with an open heart. In Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ Pastor Piper will help you explore Jesus' deity, power and wisdom. Once you have "Seen" Jesus for who he is and have "Savored" his beauty, goodness and truth, you cannot help but be changed.

Anniversary Service

First Baptist Church Meaford will be having their anniversary service this Sunday, Oct. 23 at 11 am.  Woodford Baptist Church will be joining us for this service (there will be no Woodford service this Sunday).  Our special guest speaker will be Rev. Paul Hansen, our former (and longest serving) pastor.  Come and join us!  There will be pizza and refreshments after the service.  

The Book Depository

Do you like to buy books?  I have recently become an affiliate with the Book Depository.  One of the great things about this online bookseller is that it offers free shipping in most countries.  It is worth checking out.  If you would like to support some of the apologetic work I do, feel free to click here and search for whatever interests you.  Thanks for your consideration.

What I'm Thankful For

Being the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I thought I would share some of the things I am thankful for.  I am thankful for my family, both the family I grew up in and my family that I have now.  I am thankful for Amanda, who is a fantastic wife and mother.  I am thankful for all our kids, Logan, Abby, Justus, Emma and Faith.  I am thankful for my two great churches, Woodford and First Baptist Church Meaford, who support our family in so many ways.  I am thankful for being a Canadian and all the freedom we enjoy here.  I am thankful for the health I enjoy and all of the physical blessings.  I am most of all thankful for God, for adopting me into his family, forgiving my sins and offering eternal life through Christ.  I am truly a blessed man and for that I am thankful!

A Different Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend is a time to spend with family.  However, Thanksgiving is going to look a little different for us this year.  I will be taking Emma and Faith away with me, while Logan and Justus will be staying with Amanda.  The reason for this is that I will be speaking a Thanksgiving family retreat at Camp Iawah.  I will be speaking on the topic of "Becoming a Confident Christian," looking at our confidence in the existence of God and who Jesus is.  This will be the first time I have gone away like this with the girls.  It should be a fun time and I am looking forward to some daddy-daughter time.  Please pray that we have a safe trip (it is about a six hour drive), that God would use my words and that we would have some great family time, even if our family is split in half for a few days.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist

I have started reading a great book that I would like to recommend.  It is I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norm Geisler and Frank Turek.  As a former atheist, I wish I had this book as I was moving from skepticism to faith.  The authors treat the topics comprehensively and respectfully.  You can pick up the book from Christian Book Distributors from the links below.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist By Norman L. Geisler / Crossway Books & Bibles Norman Geisler and Frank Turek show, first of all, that truth is absolute, exclusive, and knowable. From there, they proceed to demonstrate that the cardinal Christian doctrines are true beyond reasonable doubt, all convincing for you as a Christians to believe, but requiring a leap of negative "faith" if an atheist is to disbelieve them.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist - eBook By Norman L. Geisler & Frank Turek / Crossway Books Norman Geisler and Frank Turek show, first of all, that truth is absolute, exclusive, and knowable. From there, they proceed to demonstrate that the cardinal Christian doctrines are true beyond reasonable doubt, all convincing for you as a Christians to believe, but requiring a leap of negative "faith" if an atheist is to disbelieve them.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist - Audiobook on CD By Norman Geisler / eChristian Inc. All worldviews,including atheism, require faith. But some belief systems are more reasonable than others! Geisler and Turek make the case that Christianity requires the least faith of all because so much evidence points toward the existence of God and the reliability of Scripture. An engaging, easy-to-follow defense for Christians and skeptics. Unabridged. Read by Kate Reading.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist - Audiobook on MP3-CD By Norman Geisler / eChristian Inc. Faith is a necessary element of all worldviews, and, as atheism is definitely a worldview, it necessarily requires faith to be an atheist. Oddly enough, the atheist belief system requires more assent to seemingly unbelievable tenets than Christianity does. Arguing that Christianity contains the least amount of essential but incredible features, Geisler shows interested readers how few things Christians actually need to take 'on faith' compared to other religions and beliefs. Geisler writes with clarity, wit and wisdom to bridge the imaginary hurdle of the impossibility of Christian belief. Unabridged. 15 Hours. 2 MP3-CDs. Read by Kate Reading.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist - Unabridged Audiobook [Download] By Norman Geisler & Frank Turek / christianaudio.com