by Timothy Keller

Any person interested in spiritual matters will benefit from reading this book. Skeptics will be forced to consider the consistency of their worldview and defenders of the faith will be motivated and encouraged by Keller’s pastoral, yet intelligent approach to these subjects.

Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, draws on more than twenty years of pastoral ministry in an environment of skepticism to present common doubts and provide succinct, biblical responses.

First, Keller dismantles the seven most common “doubts” voiced by skeptics during his ministry. Among others, he addresses topics like “How can a good God allow suffering?” and “Hasn’t science disproved Christianity?” His carefully crafted logic and pastoral approach effectively identify logical inconsistencies behind these and other popular objections to faith in God.

Second, his presentation provides a credible, intelligent foundation for believers to defend their faith as coherent and rational. Not only does he defend belief in a god, he argues well for belief in the God of the Bible. In fact, he reveals why faith in the Christian God does not require a person to jettison intellectual integrity.

Whether you are struggling to believe or feeling overwhelmed by the questions of unbelieving friends, this book (which is now available in paperback) is an excellent resource.

by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger

Many churches today have more in common with shopping malls than the communities described in the New Testament. While a number of factors contribute to the growing number of church cafés, rock-climbing walls, and bookstores, these trends reveal a philosophical and theological shift. That is, churches are concentrating less on nurturing spiritual formation and more on providing buffets of religious programming.

The strategies for church growth of the last two decades – including the seeker-sensitive, Purpose-Driven, and multi-campus models – are leaving indelible marks on modern Christendom. Despite some enormous and positive contributions by these movements, they have fueled the growing fascination with bigger, busier ministries. Yet, as Simple Church shows, cluttered ministry is exhausting and not necessarily more effective.

After studying 400 American churches, Rainer and Geiger interrupt the madness by highlighting a simple, biblical approach to local church ministry. Against the backdrop of church models that create busier Christians, this book calls “Christians to make a clear return to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus.” Their research revealed that some of the most effective churches in America offer only targeted ministry programming.

After defining a simple church as “a congregation designed around a straight-forward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth” they offer four words that help simple churches remain more effective than busy churches.

While not perfect this book offers a much-needed call for churches to stop substituting ministry pollution for the basic work of making disciples.

By Daniel L. Akin

Akin – the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary – preached five sermons in which he used stories from missionary biographies to illustrate and emphasize the biblical call to reach the world for Christ. This short book presents these sermons highlighting God’s call as seen in and through five men and women. The combination of clear biblical explanation and moving testimonies makes these messages particularly inspiring.

Together these five men and women would form a veritable missionary all-star team as each one lived and died for Christ in a land far from their birthplace. Despite relocating to wildly different parts of the world, their stories bear striking similarities. Among these parallels one emerged above the rest: they maintained an astounding ability to deny self.

Leaving family and friends and comfort at home, they denied themselves in the face of God’s call. Finding disease and poverty and persecution in a foreign land, they denied themselves in the face of God’s call. Burying spouses and children and co-labors along the way, they denied themselves in the face of God’s call. Often laboring years with little or no visible results, they denied themselves in the face of God’s call.

In a culture where we Christians struggle to deny ourselves a million frivolous distractions a day, their example is especially relevant and challenging.

Make time to download and listen to these messages or read this short book very soon. But be very careful because these messages might just change your world – or at least your worldview.

by D. A. Carson

I realize you’re busy, but make time to read this book. These 160 pages are well worth your time.

Carson writes about his dad, Tom, who was a church planter and pastor in French-speaking Canada. Ministering in a very difficult area to small numbers of people, the elder Carson’s journals reveal the heart-breaking and inspiring inward struggles of a faithful pastor who seemed to feel inferior for most of his life.

Despite our highest aspirations, our lives (and ministries) will most likely resemble Tom’s more than the men and women we know and admire. After reading, one truth rang in my heart as powerful encouragement.

Success is measured by faithfulness. Carson was an unequivocal failure if baptisms, buildings, and budgets are the standard for successful ministry. He never preached to thousands. He never wrote a book. He was never wealthy or powerful.

But Tom was faithful. Faithful to study God’s word. Faithful to pray. Faithful to walk in integrity. Faithful to model godliness for his children. Faithful to love his wife like Christ loved the church. Ultimately, Tom was faithful to God. He may have been ordinary from the world’s perspective, but he was faithful.

I am grateful to God for men like Tom who reaffirm our calling to walk faithfully not extraordinarily. For striving for the latter leads inevitably to self-promotion and despair, while striving for the former leads to humble surrender and hope.