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NEW RELEASE – Theological Fitness by Aimee Byrd

Posted on by Kim

Theological Fitness: Why We Need a Fighting Faith by Aimee Byrd

192 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback | SAMPLE CHAPTER

Summary: Your spiritual life should be a battle! The writer of Hebrews tells us to “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering” (10:23 ESV). What (and whom) do we need to meet this challenge? How does simply “holding fast” turn into such a workout of faith? Author and blogger Aimee Byrd invites us to join her in some “theological fitness” training as she unpacks our call to perseverance and explores the great metaphor that physical fitness lends to theology. Learn about the “fighting grace” God has given us, and discover how we are equipped to live lives of obedience even amidst the suffering and irritations of ordinary life.

About the Author:

Byrd, Aimee 2Aimee Byrd is just an ordinary mom of three who has also been a martial arts student, coffee shop owner, and Bible study teacher. Author of Housewife Theologian: How the Gospel Interrupts the Ordinary, she now blogs about theology and the Christian life and cohosts The Mortification of Spin podcast.

Aimee Byrd

What Others Say About This New Book:

“What a gem this book is—so full of encouragement and so honest and genuine. . . . Wonderfully practical and readable . . . grounded in good theology.”

—Thomas R. Schreiner, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“In this Scripture-saturated book we are rightly warned of the rigors as well as promised the rewards of holding fast to Christ when we feel the burn and want to give up.”

—Nancy Guthrie, Author, Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

“Aimee Byrd is the very best kind of theological sensei. . . . She shows how to gain and maintain theological fitness—and how to find great enjoyment in the exercise.”

—Phil Johnson, Grace to You radio program

“Aimee drives the point home vividly in her distinctive, memorable, and popular style. Challenging yet enjoyable and valuable.”

—Fred G. Zaspel, Reformed Baptist Church, Franconia, Pennsylvania

“God has promised to persevere his own, yet Christians aren’t passive in the process. In fact, living the Christian life is a real workout. It’s a process that leads to what Aimee Byrd calls “theological fitness.” With deep insight, biblical soundness, and practical illustrations, Aimee shows readers how to “hold fast . . . without wavering” (Heb. 10:23) all the way to the end.”

—Lydia Brownback, Author, Speaker, and Blogger

Other Books by This Author:

Our mis­sion is to serve Christ and his church by pro­duc­ing clear, engag­ing, fresh, and insight­ful appli­ca­tions of Reformed theology.

NEW RELEASE – Walking with Jesus through His Word by Dennis E. Johnson

Posted on by Kim

Walking with Jesus through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures by Dennis E. Johnson

320 pages | List Price: $16.99 | Paperback | SAMPLE CHAPTER

Summary: What connects the whole Bible into one purposeful story?

Dennis Johnson takes readers of the Bible on a journey of discovery through the Old and New Testaments, pointing out a network of trails in the text. These are recurring themes that link different parts of the Bible to Jesus the Christ, the fulfiller of God’s promises and redeemer of God’s people.

Dennis emphasizes how each biblical passage must be read in its close and canonical contexts, revealing the Bible’s identity as a book about a relationship—the covenant between God and his people. This helps us to see Christ and his mission as a pattern that emerges naturally throughout the tapestry of Scripture.

God embedded in Israel’s history events, individuals, institutions, and offices that foreshadowed Christ, his saving work, and his church. Those landmarks point the way to Jesus, who reveals the Father, reconciles us by his sacrifice, and rules us by his Word and Spirit.

About the Author:

Johnson_DennisDennis E. Johnson (ThM, Westminster Theological Seminary; PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California. He is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, author of Triumph of the Lamb, Him We Proclaim, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption, and Philippians in the Reformed Expository Commentary series and is contributor to numerous books and theological journals.

What Others Say About This New Book: 

“Redemptive-historical hermeneutics has been a major topic among Reformed scholars. What it means is simply that every part of the Bible teaches Christ, and that the most important thing about every passage is what it teaches us about Christ. Many pastors interpret biblical texts this way in their sermons, but they don’t always explain to the congregation what they are doing. Dennis Johnson’s Walking with Jesus through His Word explains the concept well. Johnson shows us how we can read the Bible ourselves in a Christ-centered way, and how this approach enriches our understanding of the Word of God.”

—John Frame, J. D. Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Florida

“Experiencing Dennis Johnson’s instruction firsthand as a seminary student was an enormous privilege. But in this book he has poured his decades of research, teaching, and life into one volume that reignites our passion for Bible study. The Bible itself tells us how to read it. Professor Johnson not only believes this, but displays it on every page. For anyone wanting to see how the Bible fits together, this book is a treasure.”

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

“Dennis Johnson leads us by the hand along the desert road where the Ethiopian eunuch met Philip in the book of Acts, as he sought help in understanding the Bible’s message. Like Philip, Dr. Johnson focuses our gaze on the crucified, risen, and glorified Messiah, Jesus, as the central message of the Scriptures. In the process, he teaches us how to trace these biblical connections with greater skill, both for our own personal benefit and so that we can better teach others.”

—Iain Duguid, Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary

“The invitation given by Dennis Johnson to walk through the whole Bible with Jesus is challenging and exciting. Anything written by Dr. Johnson is bound to be theologically sound and intellectually stimulating. This book is more than that. It comes from the heart of a man who has walked with Jesus in his personal life as well as in his study of the Scriptures. Dennis Johnson knows Jesus and knows how to help others to know him.”

—Rosemary Jensen, Founder and President, Rafiki Foundation

Our mis­sion is to serve Christ and his church by pro­duc­ing clear, engag­ing, fresh, and insight­ful appli­ca­tions of Reformed theology.

Author Interview with Jim Schwenk

Posted on by Kim

This week’s author interview is with Jim Schwenk. He is the author of our new book, George Whitefield: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought.

Schwenk_Jim

  • Question #1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself:  where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what you do in your spare time, etc.

I am a native and life-long resident of Pennsylvania. I’ve been married to my wife, Loretta, for 27 years, and we have two adult children who are still hanging around our house! For the last year and a half, I’ve been the lead pastor of Gingrichs Mennonite Church, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, I was Professor of Church History at Evangelical Seminary, Myerstown, PA and I continue to teach there, and at several other schools, in an adjunct capacity. My family and I live in a 1760s log cabin, and raise beagles and rabbits.

 

  • Question #2 – Which writers inspire you?

I was introduced to C.S. Lewis by Ann Louise Wanner, my 11th grade honors English teacher. We were given the assignment of reading a science fiction trilogy: either one by Isaac Asimov or some guy I never heard of named Lewis! I had already borrow the Asimov books from the library. Mrs. Wanner passed my desk and said, “You don’t want to read him. You want to read Lewis.” I took her advice, and I was hooked! Eventually, through Lewis, I was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien. These two member of the Inklings have become dear friends and trusted colleagues.

 

  • Question #3 – What inspired you to write this book?

With much of my professional training coming from a Wesleyan perspective, I always heard of George Whitefield as the man who had a serious theological disagreement with John Wesley. Perhaps it was a bit of “Wesleyan rebellion” that I first started to read about Whitefield, eventually diving into his sermons, letters and journals. I soon discovered, that while I could appreciate John Wesley, I came to love George Whitefield. His passion for souls, his dynamic preaching, and his ability to work with fellow believers from many different backgrounds inspired me allow him to speak to the contemporary church and society.

 

  • Question #4 – Do you have an interesting writing quirk?

Tea. More tea. And BBC World Service on in the background. I also write a great deal on yellow legal pads first, before sitting down to enter what I’ve written into the computer.

 

  • Question #5 – What book are you reading now?

I’m reading Stephen Lawhead’s, The Skin Map. I read his Arthurian cycle some years ago, and found this particular book in a used bookstore recently. I’m hooked again! Being a big fan of the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, I’m fascinated by Lawhead’s experiment with time travel in The Skin Map. I’ve just ordered the second volume in the series . . . hoping it arrives soon!

 

  • Question #6 – Favorite sport to watch?  Why?  Favorite sport’s team

You’ve probably noticed from my previous answers that I’ve got a definite “British” slant.  While this is true, my favorite sport is still American football – probably because one of my childhood dreams was to become a kicker on a football team. Even though I’ve always lived in Pennsylvania, my favorite team is the New Orleans Saints. In fact, my wife and I love a lot about New Orleans: the food, the music, the people, and yes, the Saints!

 

  • Question #7 – The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia?  Why?

This might be the toughest question yet! But if I have to choose one, it would be The Lord of the Rings. I choose that because of Tolkien’s rare ability to create, not only new worlds in his writing, but languages, creation myths, history – and in the process, keep everything so consistent and tightly knit. Plus, my son has a Welsh Corgi named, “Tolkien.”

 

  • Question #8 – What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

While Whitefield would definitely be near the top of my list, as would C.S. Lewis, top place would have to go to J.R.R. Tolkien. I’d love to discuss his love for mythology, his Christian faith, his commitment to family – the very things that are important to me.

 

BOOK HIGHLIGHT – The Prayer of Jehoshaphat by Stanley D. Gale

Posted on by Kim

The Prayer of Jehoshaphat: Seeing Beyond Life’s Storms by Stanley D. Gale

144 pages | Direct Price: $12.99 $10.00 | Paperback | Published: 2007

Summary: The Prayer of Jehoshaphat develops King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20 to give us focus, stability, strength, courage and direction in times of great distress. In the overwhelming circumstances that enter our lives, Stanley D. Gale directs us to take hold of the hand of our God who leads us from the point of crisis to gather up his blessings for us deposited by the storm.

Each chapter can serve as a workstation where we bring others or linger ourselves with God, wrestling with the perspective brought to bear on our need, as we follow the movement from bleakness to blessing.

About the Author:

Stanley D. Gale serves as senior minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He has authored a number of works on spiritual warfare, including Warfare Witness: Contending with Spiritual Opposition in Everyday Evangelism.

Other Books by the Author:

What Is Spiritual Warfare?

48 pages | Direct Price: $4.99 $4.00 | Booklet | Series: Basics of the Faith

Why Do We Pray?

32 pages | Direct Price: $4.99 $4.00 | Booklet | Series: Basics of the Faith

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Our mis­sion is to serve Christ and his church by pro­duc­ing clear, engag­ing, fresh, and insight­ful appli­ca­tions of Reformed theology.

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Excerpt from Dan Doriani’s Book – The New Man

Posted on by Kim

The following is an excerpt from chapter 8 of Dan Doriani‘s book, The New Man: Becoming a Man After God’s Heart.

|8|
A Man as Leader

Martin Luther once said, “Young fellows are tempted by girls, men who are thirty years old are tempted by gold, when they are forty years old they are tempted by honor and glory.”1 Luther understood that for many men, leadership is a temptation before it is a calling. Many of us associate leadership with higher pay, more respect, and a nicer office at work. Even in the church, we can link leadership with honor rather than character. Once, at a conference in a small town, I asked my host, obviously a respected leader, what made people respect a man in his town. He replied, “A man knows he’s got it made when he has a good truck, a cabin on the river, and the office of elder in the church. . . . Of course, if he can kill a deer with a bow at fifty paces, that helps too.” Valued skills, possessions, and positions are the currency that buys us social respect. But Luther knew, as we do, that Jesus defines leadership differently:

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt. 20:25–28)

Jesus demonstrated that true leaders serve—and suffer. Like Jesus, leaders will be blamed for things they did not do wrong. King David suffered attacks simply because someone wanted to “thrust him down from his high position” (Ps. 62:3–4 esv). Leaders suffer pointless envy and irrational hate. Jesus said, “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25 esv).

On the other hand, leaders are praised for work they did not perform. Their people favor them, serve them, and show frightening levels of devotion; consider the men who risked their lives to get David a drink of water from his favorite well (2 Sam. 23:14–17)!

Still, leadership is hard. The work never ends. Leaders constantly plan and prepare. They field endless requests for assis- tance or endorsement. Whenever they propose a new initiative, those who favor the status quo line up to oppose them. Yet they are responsible to forge consensus, to make the right course of action seem obvious, and that can take a long time.

Even in the business world, leadership ought to be—perhaps it must be—hard work and service first, long before it ever leads to glory. Before he became famous, Sam Walton used to dress in blue jeans and a flannel shirt and walk, incognito, into his Wal-Mart stores to buy shampoo and toothpaste to evaluate the service. Walton understood that to lead you have to serve, and to serve you have to forego glory.

Beside its interest in servant leadership, the Bible stresses character-based leadership. The key text for that is 1 Timothy 3, Paul’s description of a church elder. Of course, leadership in business and society is much broader than authority in the church. Nonetheless, Paul’s principles apply to every kind of leadership.

1. Martin Luther, “Table Talk,” in Luther’s Works, trans. Theodore Tappert (St. Louis: Concordia, 1967), 158.

Excerpt taken from pages 167-168 of The New Man: Becoming a Man After God’s Heart by Dan Doriani, copy­right 2015, P&R Pub­lish­ing, Phillips­burg, NJ.