Posts in Recommendations
A Book About A Book Of The Bible
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We've asked everyone who accepted our challenge to read 12 books in 12 months to submit one sentence from every book they read. As John Piper says, “Books don’t change people, paragraphs do — sometimes sentences.”

This month's category was "A book about a book of the bible." Lisa sent in her report on A Sweet and Bitter Providence (The Book of Ruth) by John Piper. Here are her sentences...

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven.

Life is a winding & troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph & Job and Easter & Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble & cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and the glory of Jesus Christ. 

Proud people don't feel amazed at being treated well.

They don't feel deep gratefulness. But humble people do. In fact, they are made even more humble by being treated graciously. They are so amazed that grace came to them in their unworthiness that they feel even more lowly. But they receive the gift. Joy increases, not self-importance. Grace is not intended to replace lowliness with pride. It's intended to replace sorrow with joy.

May Reading Challenge

A book with the word "gospel" in the title.

Join us as we read 12 books in 12 months.  This month we are reading a book with the word "gospel" in the title. Here are a few recommendations:

The Gospel For Real Life by Jerry Bridges

Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson

The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ by Ray Ortlund Jr.

The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent (structured like a devotional)

Young (and old) readers might enjoy What Is The Gospel? by Greg Gilbert

Two Book Recommendations From Sunday

Pastor Eric recommended two books during his sermon last Sunday.

The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

“Too often, we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated. We are simply disobedient. It might be good if we stop using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather, we should use the terms obedience and disobedience. When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may in fact be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey."

 

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Timothy Keller

“Most people spend their entire lives trying to make their heart’s fondest dreams come true. Isn’t that what life is all about, “the pursuit of happiness”? We search endlessly for ways to acquire the things we desire, and we are willing to sacrifice much to achieve them. We never imagine that getting our heart’s deepest desires might be the worst thing that can ever happen to us.”

Learning From A Book About Theology

We've asked everyone who accepted our challenge to read 12 books in 12 months to submit one sentence from every book they read. As John Piper says,

“Books don’t change people, paragraphs do — sometimes sentences.”

This month two women read The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. Here are their sentences...

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." (Samantha)

"Let faith support us where reason fails, and we shall think because we believe, not in order that we may believe." (Sue)

April Theology On Tap - Does Prayer Do Anything?
Who knows where this is in Orange? First correct response wins a free book!

Who knows where this is in Orange? First correct response wins a free book!

What difference does prayer make?

This month at Theology on Tap the men are debating how does prayer works. If God is sovereign, does it matter whether or not we pray?

Although the group is currently waiting-list only, you can still follow along on Facebook and do the homework. Here's a sample of the kinds of things they are reading:

The Open Theism argument

The Process Theology argument

The Obligatory John Piper article

Should we pray for the lost?

The Regulative Principle of Prayer

April Reading Challenge

A book about a book of the Bible.

Join us as we read 12 books in 12 months.  This month we are reading a book about a book of the bible. Here are a few recommendations:

A Sweet and Bitter Providence (Ruth) by John Piper [Free ebook]

Man Overboard!: The Story of Jonah by Sinclair B. Ferguson

Triumph of The Lamb (Revelation) by Dennis E. Johnson

Galatians For You by Timothy Keller

The Gospel According To John by D.A. Carson (most challenging recommendation)

Young readers might enjoy Philippians: A 12-Week Study by Ryan Kelly