Cruciform Press ($0.99):
Servanthood as Worship, Broken Vows, But God..., Contend, Innocent Blood
James White ($3.03):
John Piper ($0.99)
Jesus, the Only Way to God
Showing posts with label Cruciform Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cruciform Press. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Kindle Deals You Should Know About (22/8)
Lots of deals today!
Cruciform Press ($0.99):
James White ($3.03):
John Piper ($0.99)
Jesus, the Only Way to God
Cruciform Press ($0.99):
James White ($3.03):
John Piper ($0.99)
Jesus, the Only Way to God
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Book Review - Knowable Word (14/5)
There seems to be a deluge of books on the word of God recently, first came the "Taking God at His Word" by Kevin DeYoung. Then came "Knowable Word" by Peter Krol. Looking forward for more books in this area. I do seriously think the current generation needs to read more and more of God's Word.
Knowable Word is a great introduction for anyone to do just that. The main aim of the book is to help people read and understand the bible by themselves.
Krol first begins by telling the audience why we need to study the bible, showing us variously ways people have studied the bible and finally introduces his method, the OIA.
Krol then goes on to show each and every step, giving clear examples and explanation on the objective of each of the "steps". Although this book is meant really for relatively new christians, Krol also highlights dangers that we might bring into each study before we even begin, this dangers would be very helpful for those who have been studying the bible for quite some time.
What's great about this book is that unlike other OIA methods, this one sticks in and wants you to see and observe how the passage you're studying is related/leading to Christ.
Littered around the book is also helpful excerises that helps the read to see and apply what they learn on the spot, Krol also consistently uses the same, simple passage (Gen 1-2:3) throughout the book to let you have a feel of how everything would be like if you had used this method consistently.
Although this might not be the one and other book you'll ever need to interpret the book carefully (for example genres were not discussed in great depth), this is an excellent start for any Christian, to help them see that they can and should study the bible by themselves and for themselves.
Why not buy a copy, and try these methods out yourself and/or with a friend? I'm sure you'll be able to see that it is possible for us ordinary people to understand bible!
Rating: 4/5
If you're interested you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.
Knowable Word is a great introduction for anyone to do just that. The main aim of the book is to help people read and understand the bible by themselves.
Krol first begins by telling the audience why we need to study the bible, showing us variously ways people have studied the bible and finally introduces his method, the OIA.
- Observation
- Interpretation
- Application
Krol then goes on to show each and every step, giving clear examples and explanation on the objective of each of the "steps". Although this book is meant really for relatively new christians, Krol also highlights dangers that we might bring into each study before we even begin, this dangers would be very helpful for those who have been studying the bible for quite some time.
What's great about this book is that unlike other OIA methods, this one sticks in and wants you to see and observe how the passage you're studying is related/leading to Christ.
Littered around the book is also helpful excerises that helps the read to see and apply what they learn on the spot, Krol also consistently uses the same, simple passage (Gen 1-2:3) throughout the book to let you have a feel of how everything would be like if you had used this method consistently.
Although this might not be the one and other book you'll ever need to interpret the book carefully (for example genres were not discussed in great depth), this is an excellent start for any Christian, to help them see that they can and should study the bible by themselves and for themselves.
Why not buy a copy, and try these methods out yourself and/or with a friend? I'm sure you'll be able to see that it is possible for us ordinary people to understand bible!
Rating: 4/5
If you're interested you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Book Review - The Most Encouraging Book on Hell Ever (11/2)
I guess it’s fine to do without Hell right? No. That’s the main thesis of this book. How important is the doctrine of hell for a christian? Quite important it seems. Ramsey has great a done job defending for the biblical teaching of hell.So why can't we do away with this seemingly bad ‘PR’ topic? Lots it seems. 4 main things are lost to christians (and even to non-christians) who do not believe in the reality of hell. I will do a short summary of each of the chapters in the book.
We lose the fear of God. If hell isn't real, then God doesn't really hate sin. And if He doesn’t, then why should I be saved from sin?
We lose the holiness of God. Who have sinned truly offended? A truly infinitely holy God, take out hell and you lose this important character of God. Ramsey also helpful shows by as christians why we don’t just ‘hate the sin and love the sinner’ (you have to read the book for it!).
We lose the gospel of God. Is being a christian only about escaping hell? No! It’s much more than that. It shows how much God loved me despite of my sins and willingly sent his Son to die and resurrect for me. Take away hell, and there is no necessity of having Christ alone as our Saviour.
We lose the love of God.This part deals with the more modern ideas of why christians have to reject hell (e.g. Rob Bell’s book on hell). What they argue for is that the God who sends people to hell isn't convincing enough, they need a God of love, that will convince them. What they have forgotten is how thoroughly sinful we really are. If God had waited for us to response then save us, He is really that loving. But if God choses to saves us from sure destruction and while we will never turn to Him, that’s a truly loving God.
Lastly, an appendix to deal with annihilationism. Which is a short, good defence on why as Christians we should not believe in it. And a note to Pastors on how to preach hell to your congregation.
What I found was good about this book was how the argument clearly showed the foolishness and danger in believing that Christians can actually remove hell and still have the essentials of the Gospel intact. Ramsey shows that is impossible. It was akin to how Machen showed that Liberalism was not even remotely close to Christianity, and what they doctrines really meant.
One criticism about of the book was how Ramsey started the first one of two chapters rather causally, too causal I would suppose. I remember thinking that I would have changed some of them in a manner that would have brought out the seriousness of why Christian must believe in the doctrine of hell. Thankfully, that was the only time I had that thought, the rest of the book was great to read, engaging and maintain a seriousness to it’s tone without sound like a boring lecture.
This is a great book for all christians to read, I doubt many would have thought about how important hell is to the christian faith. After reading this, I doubt you would ever think in that same way ever.
Rating: 4.75/5
If you're interested you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Book Review - The Two Fears: Tremble Before God Alone (30/1)
Everyone fears, the question is who or what do we fear? Jesus puts it as explicitly as he can when he says ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matthew 10:28) And this is what The Two Fears seeks to do.
First, it explains what fear is, ‘To fear something is to give credence to its power over you’. Which is i think a better explanation of fear as compared to how Christian normally explains that fear of God is not like your fear of spider. This definition works well in both kind of fears.
After defining it, it then moves to explain why we must fear God. Mainly explaining about the characteristics of God, most importantly, His Otherness (set apart-ness), i.e. His Holiness. After explain who God is, Poblete then explains what God does (or will do), namely judge all sinners.
Which then moves to the next motivation of our fear as Christians, we fear God not because of punishment, but because we are saved by the Son, we fear out of a grateful heart, this is what Poblete calls Holy Fear. Which he then moves on to explain what benefits we as Christians can have as we cultivate such holy fear.
Next, he explains the unholy fear, which is directly opposite of holy fear. The consequences of unholy fear are then examined. Personally I thought that this chapter was the most well written since it really can show the heart of a person who shows unholy fear in his life.
Two more examples of unholy fear is then expounded, first the fear of man, and then the fear of situation. The fear of situation and the following chapter after that was also well written and shows close connection between the unholy fear, and the God whom we should have holy fear for. Poblete correctly points out that both christians and non-christians will face situations that may have cause for fear, the only difference is that as christians our focus is not on the situation, our focus is on the God who brings us in, and through the situation, all the way.
The last chapter is a heralding call to the church, to fear God together as a congregation.
This is a good book with points adeptly explained and well illustrated, very good for those who need an introduction to this topic and even for those who already have some knowledge about the topic. This is not a dry-as-bone book, but enriching and practical.
Ratings: 3.75/5
If you're interested you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.
First, it explains what fear is, ‘To fear something is to give credence to its power over you’. Which is i think a better explanation of fear as compared to how Christian normally explains that fear of God is not like your fear of spider. This definition works well in both kind of fears.
After defining it, it then moves to explain why we must fear God. Mainly explaining about the characteristics of God, most importantly, His Otherness (set apart-ness), i.e. His Holiness. After explain who God is, Poblete then explains what God does (or will do), namely judge all sinners.
Which then moves to the next motivation of our fear as Christians, we fear God not because of punishment, but because we are saved by the Son, we fear out of a grateful heart, this is what Poblete calls Holy Fear. Which he then moves on to explain what benefits we as Christians can have as we cultivate such holy fear.
Next, he explains the unholy fear, which is directly opposite of holy fear. The consequences of unholy fear are then examined. Personally I thought that this chapter was the most well written since it really can show the heart of a person who shows unholy fear in his life.
Two more examples of unholy fear is then expounded, first the fear of man, and then the fear of situation. The fear of situation and the following chapter after that was also well written and shows close connection between the unholy fear, and the God whom we should have holy fear for. Poblete correctly points out that both christians and non-christians will face situations that may have cause for fear, the only difference is that as christians our focus is not on the situation, our focus is on the God who brings us in, and through the situation, all the way.
The last chapter is a heralding call to the church, to fear God together as a congregation.
This is a good book with points adeptly explained and well illustrated, very good for those who need an introduction to this topic and even for those who already have some knowledge about the topic. This is not a dry-as-bone book, but enriching and practical.
Ratings: 3.75/5
If you're interested you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.
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