Loving the Way Jesus Loves

by Philip Graham Ryken

Endorsements

“There are many expositions of 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter, but not many where at every point the preacher shows how God’s love in Christ Jesus is the very best exposition and truest embodiment of love. Unpacking the love chapter through this prism, Phil Ryken lends great clarity to Paul’s meditation on love and shows how such love drives us back to renewed adoration of Christ. Reflecting on how Christ, by his life and death, makes 1 Corinthians 13 leap from the page drives home the frequent lovelessness of our own lives, strips bare all notions of love that are little more than sentimental twaddle, and provides a concrete robustness to love that is part and parcel of trusting and following Christ.”

- D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“Jesus said, ‘By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ But what does it mean to love others? By looking at the love of Jesus in the light of 1 Corinthians 13, Phil Ryken gives us the Biblical answer. Loving the Way Jesus Loves is surely one of the most heart searching books I have ever read. This book is must reading for all who want to grow in Christian love.”

- Jerry Bridges, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

“As usual, Phil Ryken hides his deep scholarship behind readable prose. But the footnotes reveal that he draws on some of the most penetrating scholarly treatments of St Paul’s text. He combines all that with pastoral experience and insight. The result is a masterful, accessible exposition of this great chapter.”

- Timothy J. Keller, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City; bestselling author, The Reason for God

“Phil Ryken is not only a scholar; he is a magnificent expositor of God’s Word. We already benefit from his massive commentaries on so many books of the Bible, and now he turns his attention, both as scholar and as pastor, to the message of 1 Corinthians 13. This is a gift to the entire church.”

- R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Loving the Way Jesus Loves is not just another book on how to love. Rather, it explains how loveless sinners are transformed into loving worshippers because of the transforming power of God’s love in Jesus Christ. This is a biblical, practical, and helpful book.”

- Mark Driscoll, Founding Pastor, Mars Hill Church, Seattle; President, the Resurgence; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network

“God’s unconditional love blows up all our conditional categories. It’s untamable and promiscuous. It comes our way minus our merit. It’s vertical one-wayness, though, compels horizontal expression. Love from God inevitably shows itself in love for others. And this is what Phil Ryken demonstrates so well. Writing as a pastor-scholar, Ryken makes a passionate plea for the church to rediscover what Francis Schaeffer called ‘the final apologetic’—namely, love. It’s what matters most.”

- Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church; author, Jesus + Nothing = Everything

The Promised One

Seeing Jesus in Genesis by Nancy Guthrie

I just got this title from Westminster Bookstore and is excited about studying Genesis again. Guthrie has made Genesis easier to go through by dividing it into just ten weekly guides. In that period of time, the student can see the whole story of God’s creation and purposes for man, and as promised, seeing Jesus all the way to his coming. It is Christ-centered and gospel-centered and highly recommended.

An overview of the chapters:

Week 1: The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24); comment: this would seem a surprise!

Week 2: Creation

Week 3: The Fall

Week 4: Noah and the Flood

Week 5: The Tower of Babel

Week 6: Abrham

Week 7: Abraham and Isaac

Week 8: Jacob

Week 9: Joseph

Week 10: The Sons of Jacob

Books by DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung has been influential to my studies in theology; here is a list of his books that are helpful:

What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission (just published 2011)

Endorsements

“In what appears to be a growing tension over what the mission of the church encompasses, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a remarkably balanced book that can correct, restore, and help regardless of which way you lean or land on all things ‘missional.’ I found the chapters on social justice and our motivation in good works to be especially helpful. Whether you are actively engaging the people around you with the gospel and serving the least of these or you are hesitant of anything ‘missional,’ this book will help you rest in God’s plan to reconcile all things to himself in Christ.”

— Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Highland Village, Texas

“DeYoung and Gilbert have put us in their debt with their clear, biblical, theological, and pastoral exposition of the mission of God’s people. That mission, which they rightly understand within the story line of the whole Bible, is summarized in the Great Commission and involves gospel proclamation and disciple making. This superb book will encourage its readers ‘to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship and obey Jesus’s commands now and in eternity, to the glory of God the Father.’”

— Peter T. O’Brien, Senior Research Fellow in New Testament, Moore Theological College, Australia

“A very timely and eminently engaging book for all those who care deeply about the church’s mission in our day. Again and again, I found myself nodding in agreement as the authors made a key point from Scripture or noted the missional relevance of a given biblical passage. I highly recommend this book, not just as food for thought, but more importantly, as a call to obedient, biblically informed action.”

— Andreas J. Kostenberger, Professor of New Testament and Director of Ph.D. Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Christ is the greatest message in the world, and delivering it is the greatest mission. But are we losing our focus? Are we being distracted, sometimes even by good things? Zealous Christians disagree sharply today over the church’s proper ministry and mission. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert bring us back to first things in an age of mission creep and distraction. Offering balanced wisdom, this book will give us not only encouragement but discomfort exactly where we all need it. It’s the kind of biblical sanity we need at this moment.”

— Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

“Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert have written an important book on an important topic. Fair, keenly observant, startlingly honest, this book is replete with careful exegetical work. Verses are not merely cited; they are considered in context. The length of an idea is considered, all the way from its expression in the local church back to its source in Scripture. The result is a book that is nuanced and clear, useful and enjoyable to read, and that is no small gift from two young pastor-theologians who have already become reliable voices. Open this book and you’ll want to open your Bible and open your mind on everything from justice to capitalism, from mercy to love.”

— Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC; President, 9Marks

“DeYoung and Gilbert clear the fog that has settled over the nature of the church’s mission. Their tone is gracious, the style is accessible, but most importantly this book is marked by fidelity to biblical revelation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authors have succeeded in what they exhort us to do: they have kept the main thing as the main thing.”

— Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Among the many books that have recently appeared on mission, this is the best one if you are looking for sensible definitions, clear thinking, readable writing, and the ability to handle the Bible in more than proof-texting ways. I pray that God will use it to bring many to a renewed grasp of what the gospel is and how that gospel relates, on the one hand, to biblical theology and, on the other, to what we are called to do.”

— D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“DeYoung and Gilbert provide clarity to some of the most complex contemporary issues facing the church. Focusing us squarely on the redemptive nature of the gospel, they ultimately point us not only to the church’s mission, but to practical ways to understand and live it. The result is a book that will be of great help to pastors, missiologists, theologians, and practitioners.”

— M. David Sills, Faye Stone Professor of Christian Missions and Cultural Anthropology, Director of the Doctor of Missiology Program and Great Commission Ministries, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Every generation is tempted to augment or diminish, even nuance or redefine the mission of the church. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert have provided a biblical corrective and protection for our generation in What is the Mission of the Church? With a gracious and kind spirit, this book reclaims the ecclesiastical concepts of mission, purpose, social justice, and the Great Commission from those who have redefined these words with a dictionary other than Scripture. Pastors should read this book with their elders, deacons, and leadership teams to wrestle with answers to the most pressing questions about the church in our day.”

— Rick Holland, Executive Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Director, Resolved Conference

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will 

Endorsements

It is God’s will for you to read this book. Yes, I’m talking to you. What are the odds that you would “just happen” to pick up this book and flip open to this page and start reading? Obviously it’s a sign. Of all the millions of books in the world, you found this one. Wow. I have chills. Do not pass up this divinely orchestrated moment. If you miss this moment there’s a good chance you will completely miss God’s will for the rest of your life and spend your days in misery and regret.

Now that I’ve scared you, let me acknowledge that everything in the previous paragraph is total baloney. It’s bunk. Not true at all. Actually, I don’t know if it’s God’s will for you to read this book. But I do think that reading it could be a really good idea.

Sale at WTSBooks

Word, Water, and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism by J.V. Fesko

Endorsements

“On a wide-ranging canvas and with bold strokes, J. V. Fesko gives us a study of baptism which joins a treasury of theological citations with strong theological insights. After a survey of the history of the doctrine, Fesko focuses on the Reformed tradition and its important figures and confessions. He indicates the biblical dimensions of the meanings of baptism and provides a positive and constructive statement of its theological truth. This is a valuable work for its mastery of primary sources as well as its clear articulation of the covenantal dimensions which give a Reformed theology of baptism such power and purpose for Christian believers.”
- Donald McKim

“J. V. Fesko’s Word, Water, and Spirit is a major work that both models how to do theology by moving from historical theology to biblical and systematic theology and, most importantly, presents fresh insights for a Reformed understanding of baptism. Fesko’s fair-minded, page-turning history of the doctrine of baptism is itself worth the price of the book. Most enlightening, however, is his biblical-theological survey of baptism as new creation, covenant judgment, and eschatological judgment. The book’s emphasis on God’s judgment in baptism is particularly innovative and helpful. These insights pave the way for treating baptism systematically as a means of grace and as a sacrament in relation to its recipients and ecclesiology. Highly recommended for all who wish to grapple seriously with the doctrine of baptism and its implications.”
- Joel Beeke

“Wonderfully Reformed . . . John Fesko shows the fruitfulness of reflecting on baptism as a marvelously robust doctrinal statement. He is to be commended for his first rate, deep theological thought on the core sacrament of our faith.”
- William H. Willimon Presiding Bishop The United Methodist Church, Birmingham Area North Alabama Conference

A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ by Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker

Endorsements

“In this gripping, well-written book, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker mine the riches of Paul, showing us the mind, heart, and life of a genuine minister who is on fire for the glory of God, the growth of believers, the establishment of Christ’s church, and the salvation of the lost. No minister can read this book without being profoundly convicted of his shortcomings and deeply moved to aspire to more faithful ministry. No church member can read this book without acquiring a better understanding of what a minister should be and without being stirred up to pray for his pastor. Having taught in pastoral ministry for twenty-five years at a seminary level, I have never read a book that so powerfully presents a Christ-centered model for biblical ministry as A Portrait of Paul.”
- Joel R. Beeke, From the Forward

“Ventura’s and Walker’s “A Portrait of Paul Identifying a True Minister of Christ” makes an unique contribution to the literature on pastoral theology. Rather than approach their subject topically, they unfold Paul’s heart for and practice of ministry through an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5. The authors balance careful and experimental exposition with challenging application–addressing both fellow Christians and Pastors. All serious Christians, as well as pastors, will profit from this book; it is intellectually satisfying, experimentally challenging, and practically stimulating.”
- Joseph A. Pipa Jr, PhD President of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“In this dual-authored portrait of Paul as a minister of the gospel, Ventura and Walker have captured the very essence of ministry. On every page, we are forced to reflect upon the dimensions of apostolic ministry and urged to comply. Packed with exposition and application of the finest sort, these pages urge gospel-focused, Christ-centered, God-exalting, Spirit-empowered, self-denying ministry. I warmly recommend it.”
- Derek W H Thomas, John Richards Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

Listen Up!

A Practical Guide to Listening to Sermons by Christopher Ash

Endorsements

“We give Listen Up to all our new members.”

- Mark Dever, Sr. Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church

“Provides crucial theology and practical advice about listening that can make the difference between life and death in the church.”

- R Kent Hughes

“Pure gold.” Read the full review . . .

- Michael McKinley, IX Marks

“A terrific little volume – and I hope it has a wide circulation.” Read the full review…

- Iain D. Campbell, Minister in the Free Church of Scotland

‘A great resource to help grow a new generation of believers who both tremble at God’s word and are changed by it.’

- Vaughan Roberts, St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, UK

‘We just don’t have teaching and training on how to LISTEN to sermons. Christopher Ash shows what a gaping hole that omission leaves’

- Rico Tice, All Souls, Langham Place, London

“New, fresh, wise, and personally convicting. A must-read for anyone serious about growing as a Christian’

- Andrew Reid, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

More from Westminster Bookstore

48-hour SALE at 50% OFF

The Work of the Pastor by William Still

Endorsements

“The Work of the Pastor is one of my favorite books to give away, and therefore I am delighted to see it back in print. William Still pastored the same city church for more than fifty years. By his absolute faithfulness to the Word of God and dedication to intercessory prayer, he became a leader for gospel renewal in the Church of Scotland. This small classic presents Mr. Still’s best thinking and most passionate convictions about the work of ministry that he loved so well and fulfilled so completely.”

- Philip G. Ryken, Senior Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (President of Wheaton College from July 2010)

“A great little book by a remarkable missionary to whom I owe an immense personal debt. Every minister should read it once a year – at least!”

- Sinclair B. Ferguson, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina

Our Covenant With Kids: Biblical Nurture in Home and Church by Timothy Sisemore

Endorsements

“The last section— “the nurture of children in the church”—is worth the price of the book. You will find a consistent God-ward focus accented with practical, hands-on guidance.”

- Thomas R. Patete, Executive Director, Great Commission Publications

“Anyone who has a true concern for the spiritual welfare of children in this present age must read this book!”

- Mark Johnston, Grove Chapel, London

“Underscores the need not only to teach our children about God but also to develop a worldview that enables them to see the totality of their Christian faith in all things… I recommend it as an important book.”

- Charles Dunahoo, Christian Education & Publications, Presbyterian Church in America

NICOT SALE

The Book of Hosea (New International Commentary on the Old Testament [NICOT]) by J. Andrew Dearman

45% OFF until August 19th.

Endorsements

“Dearman’s commentary provides the most recent deep engagement with the ancient text of Hosea the prophet. Dialoguing with the best of scholarship, the commentary offers both detailed exegesis of the text with accompanying translation from the original Hebrew, as well as general overviews at key literary junctures to orient the reader to the progressive development of the book as a whole. Particularly helpful is Dearman’s sensitivity to the social context of ancient Israelite households. He restores the vivid metaphorical colors of the book of Hosea long faded by history. This is a welcome addition to the NICOT series.”

- Mark J. Boda, McMaster Divinity College, McMaster University

“Hosea’s complexities begin with translation and extend to its rich use of imagery. Andrew Dearman brings his considerable skills as a Hebraist and historian as well as his expert literary and theological sensitivities to bear on the interpretation of this important book. Serious engagement with the book of Hosea now starts with Dearman’s commentary.”

- Tremper Longman III, Westmont College

“This is a welcome addition to the NICOT series on one of the most important prophets of ancient Israel. The introduction is especially helpful on Hosea’s use of metaphors and similes, and readers will not be disappointed by Dearman’s thorough and penetrating exegesis.”

- Bill T. Arnold, Asbury Theological Seminary

“The book of Hosea is pound for pound as difficult a prophetic book as one can find in the Bible so we appreciate the work of J. Andrew Dearman in this commentary. Dearman gives today’s reader an extraordinary guide to that difficult and confusing book. He provides a clear introduction to the book that helps the reader construct the historical context of the book and a portrait of the prophetic figure of Hosea. He captures well the metaphorical theology of Hosea. His thoughtful reflection on the text attends to the various issues of every passage in the book. He guides the reader through ten topics that dominate Hosea scholarship through appendices. The reader will consistently appreciate Dearman’s clear and succinct writing style. Reading this commentary will be a treat.”

- Stephen Reid, Baylor University

More Deals

Get an extra 10% off of EVERY NICOT volume when you purchase 2 or More.

Sale on the whole set.

The Book of Hosea (New International Commentary on the Old Testament [NICOT])The Book of Hosea (New International Commentary on the Old Testament [NICOT])

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

You will agree that this title sounds like a terrific novel. But be not deceived, it is an exposition of one of the greatest story of redemption in the Bible: the book of Ruth. This book, authored by a good friend, Robinson Chu, will help you to see God’s redemptive plan as he unfolds it in the lives of ordinary people.

A superb book like this can be owned for only Php200. That alone is more than your money’s worth.

The author divides the book in the following chapters:

1. God’s Sovereign Providence

2. God’s Gracious Providence

3. The Immanent Character of the Providence of God

4. The Loving Kindness of the Providence of God

5. God Provides Hope and Rest

6. The Kinsman Redeemer

7. God’s Provision and Human Responsibility

8. God Provides Freedom

9. God Provides a Redeemer

10. The Story of Redemption

Joy, Joy

Just on time for our ecclesiology and eschatology class–the books I ordered just arrived. And I am raring to read this (massive) volume on biblical eschatology:

From Age to Age: The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology by Keith A. Mathison. According toDerek Thomas, this book is “a tour de force unlike any otheron this hugely significant topic.”

Added to that is the well-endorsed book by Kevin DeYoung andTed Kluck, Why We Love the Church.

Christ-Centered Worship

Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice by Bryan Chapell

Endorsements

“Christ-Centered Worship calls people to go beyond ‘contemporary worship’ without being polemical in spirit. It takes historic worship traditions very seriously but uses the gospel itself as the way to critique and design orders of worship. It is full, balanced, and extremely practical. This will now be the first book I give people–or turn to myself–on the practice of understanding, planning, and leading in corporate worship.”

- Tim Keller, senior pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church; author of The Reason for God

“However tempted I am to indulge in a few critical reflections, in this case it is far more important that I tell you that this is an astonishingly helpful and useful book. It is theologically rich, especially when it comes to showing, in detail, how the nature of the gospel ought to shape our public services. Yet this is far more than an essay arguing for a theological corrective. It includes many historical summaries, many lists in the needed categories (call to worship examples, responsive or antiphonal calls, musical examples, and so forth). Toward the end Chapell includes examples of entire corporate worship services. No one will agree with everything he has written here, but only the most ignorant could not profit enormously from this thoughtful and stimulating book.”

- D. A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“So many books about worship unfortunately assume that the structure or pattern of worship is not important, failing to realize that some pattern is inevitable and that no pattern is neutral. This book is a wonderful exception. It radiates with gratitude for the gospel of Jesus. It promotes both confessional orthodoxy and vital piety. But it also probes how well-grounded patterns and structures can become wellsprings for faithful, sustainable, and vibrant worship renewal.”

- John D. Witvliet, director, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary

“Christ-Centered Worship is a biblically informed, historically rooted, practical guide to the public worship of God. Bryan Chapell first builds an architecture for worship that is structured by the story of the gospel. He then provides a treasury of resources that can refresh the worship of any congregation and encourage greater unity across the evangelical church. The result is a book that seems destined to become one of the best resources available for improving the practice of Christian worship.”

- Philip Ryken, senior minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia

“Here we have a solid, comprehensive, well-focused resource for the doxological and devotional shaping of Reformed church worship in today’s North America. Thank you, Dr. Chapell.”

- James I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College