Is Christianity relevant to our contemporary lives? Why should someone even consider its claims? And if considering its claims, what of the many objections to Christianity? Is it true? In this pair of books, Making Sense of God and Reason for God, the late pastor Timothy Keller seeks to show how Christianity both answers our deeper longings and holds up to the deepest of scrutiny.
Book Reviews
Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster (Book Recommendation)
Have you ever read a portion of the Old Testament and wondered to yourself, “What does any of this have to do with the larger story of the Bible?” In this book, Stephen Dempster helps us grasp the grand story of the Hebrew Bible by examining the twin themes of genealogy and geography (seed and land). Dempster takes us on a journey through the Old Testament, showing us how it’s not just a random collection of stories but a carefully woven narrative that brings coherence to the Bible’s overall message.
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper (Book Recommendation)
The American Dream beckons us to waste our lives on trivial diversions like “success,” pleasure, and comfort. In contrast, in his book Don’t Waste Your Life, pastor John Piper directs us to scripture’s call to live lives that matter for eternity. Piper directs us to live with a single, unifying, all-embracing, all-transforming passion for God’s glory–which also will mean our highest joy.
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller (Book Recommendation)
Our culture elevates self-esteem and self-worth. But this results in anxiety and insecurity as it leaves us needing constant validation. Instead, Tim Keller points us to 1 Corinthians 4 to propose that true peace is actually found by shifting the focus away from ourselves, freeing us from the tyranny of self-concern. By understanding and embracing the gospel message, we are released from obsessing over our own successes, failures, and what others, or even what we ourselves, think of us.
The Cross of Christ by John Stott (Book Recommendation)
The meaning of the cross speaks to our deepest human need and its purpose unveils the heart of what we as Christians cling to. In his classic work, The Cross of Christ, the late John Stott unpacks what the cross achieved, how it meets contemporary cultural assumptions and questions, and its practical significance for Christian living.
Kirk E. Miller 