RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

We recommend the following titles based on a few criteria: 1) God’s glory and his gospel is center; 2) we think the book will speak to your heart and mind; and 3) it addresses a topic of need that we think is important for our church. For your benefit, titles are listed in descending order from introductory to more in-depth and the publisher's descriptions have been included. If you would like further recommendations in any of the categories below or another category altogether, please email info@christchurchabq.com. 

Scroll through or click on any of the following categories:

GOSPEL  |  SPIRITUAL FORMATION  |  THEOLOGY  |  WORSHIP  

 CHURCH & LEADERSHIP  | WORK & VOCATION  |  WORLDVIEW & APOLOGETICS  

MARRIAGE & SEXUALITY  |  FAMILY  |  PARENTING

CULTURE & RENEWAL  |  EVANGELISM & MISSIONS

GOSPEL

• The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (Timothy Keller)
  Using his characteristic intellectual approach to faith issues, Keller uncovers an unexpected message in the familiar – and often misunderstood – New Testament parable of the prodigal son. Seekers and believers alike will see Christianity in a whole new way when they learn how Christ’s followers are supposed to love, so they can join him in heaven.
   
• Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love (Jerry Bridges)
  The freedom in falling short of God’s standard relies on His gift of grace. Unfortunately, too many of us forget the free offer. We spend our lives basing our relationship with God on our performance rather than on Him. We see our identity as never being worthy of His love. Isn’t it time to stop trying to measure up and begin accepting the transforming power of God’s grace? The product of more than 10 years of Bible study, Navigator author Jerry Bridges’ Transforming Grace is a fountainhead of inspiration and renewal that will show you just how inexhaustible and generous God’s grace really is.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

• Now That I'm a Christian: What It Means to Follow Jesus (Michael Patton)
  You’ve become a Christian. Now what? Michael Patton unpacks the basics of the Christian faith, helping you think carefully about God and live fully for God as you begin your new life in Christ. In ten easy-to-read chapters, this book will introduce you to the foundational teachings and life-giving practices of Christianity—from the doctrine of the Trinity to reading and understanding the Bible.

• Knowing God (J.I. Packer)
  Stemming from Packer's profound theological knowledge, Knowing God brings together two important facets of the Christian faith― knowing about God and also knowing God through the context of a close relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to transform and enrich the Christian understanding of God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know him intimately. This guide leads readers into a greater understanding of God while providing advice to gaining a closer relationship with him as a result.

• You Can Change (Tim Chester)
  Whether you’re a new believer or a seasoned Christian struggling with a besetting weakness, you can find freedom from negative behaviors and thoughts - through God’s transforming power! The author of Total Church offers a practical, interactive, and Biblical program that will help you triumph over sin - by focusing on what God has already done in you.

• The Discipline of Grace (Jerry Bridges)
  Even as Christians we can forget the Gospel of grace and quickly turn instead to our own rules and good works. This book will help you to remember the Gospel and rely on the work of Christ in your life.

• Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Tim Keller)
  Christians are taught in their churches and schools that prayer is the most powerful way to experience God. But few receive instruction or guidance in how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. In Prayer, renowned pastor Timothy Keller delves into the many facets of this everyday act. With his trademark insights and energy, Keller offers biblical guidance as well as specific prayers for certain situations, such as dealing with grief, loss, love, and forgiveness. He discusses ways to make prayers more personal and powerful, and how to establish a practice of prayer that works for each reader.

• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (John Piper)
  Satisfaction…Happiness…Joy. According to John Piper, the pursuit of pleasure in God is not only permissible, it’s essential. Desiring God is a paradigm-shattering work that dramatically alters common perspectives on relating to God.  Piper reveals that there really is no need to choose between duty and delight in the Christian life. In fact, for the follower of Jesus, delight is the duty as Christ is most magnified in His people when they are most satisfied in Him. Piper beckons us to approach God with the hedonist’s abandon. Finally, we are freed to enjoy Jesus—not only as our Lord and Savior, but also as our all-surpassing, soul-satisfying Treasure.

• Confessions (Saint Augustine)
  The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. His Confessions, written when he was in his forties, recount how, slowly and painfully, he came to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle, to become instead a staunch advocate of Christianity and one of its most influential thinkers. A remarkably honest and revealing spiritual autobiography, the Confessions also address fundamental issues of Christian doctrine, and many of the prayers and meditations it includes are still an integral part of the practice of Christianity today.

• You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (James K.A. Smith)
  You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. James K. A. Smith shows that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts. And while we desire to shape culture, we are not often aware of how culture shapes us. We might not realize the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. Smith helps readers recognize the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of Christian practices. This is why the church and worshiping in a local community of believers should be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. 

THEOLOGY

• The Bible Project (YouTube Channel)
  We are a non-profit creating videos that walk through the narrative of the Bible. We do this book-by-book and theme-by-theme. Download full resolution versions of all the videos for free. Also download free teaching guides. These downloads are at www.jointhebibleproject.com

• God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (Vaughan Roberts)
  Sixty-six books written by forty people over nearly 2,000 years, in two languages and several different genres. The Bible is clearly no ordinary book. How can you begin to read and understand it as a whole? In this excellent overview, Vaughan Roberts gives you the big picture--showing how the different parts of the Bible fit together under the theme of the kingdom of God. He provides both the encouragement and the tools to help you read the Bible with confidence and understanding. And he points you to the Bible's supreme subject, Jesus Christ, and the salvation God offers through him.

• God's Kingdom through God's Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology (Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum)
  In this abridgement of the groundbreaking book Kingdom through Covenant, a biblical scholar and a theologian offer readers an accessible overview of the overarching structure of the Bible. Tracing the significance of the concept of “covenant” through both the Old and New Testaments, this book charts a middle way between covenant theology and dispensationalism—exploring the covenantal framework undergirding the history of redemption.

• Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me (Kevin DeYoung)
  Can we trust the Bible completely? Is it sufficient for our complicated lives? Can we really know what it teaches? With his characteristic wit and clarity, award-winning author Kevin DeYoung has written an accessible introduction to the Bible that answers important questions raised by both Christians and non-Christians. This book will help you understand what the Bible says about itself and encourage you to read and believe what it says—confident that it truly is God's Word.

• Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith (Michael Reeves) 
  Why is God love? Because God is a Trinity. Why can we be saved? Because God is a Trinity. How are we able to live the Christian life? Through the Trinity. In this lively book, we find an introduction to Christianity and the Christian life that is from start to finish rooted in our triune God―Father, Son and Spirit. Not only do we understand the person and work of Christ through the Trinity, but also prayer, the church and every aspect of our faith. With wit and clarity, Reeves draws from church history down to the present referencing a wide range of notable teachers and preachers. Here is a rich and enjoyable portrayal of the basic beliefs of Christianity that opens up the profound and life-changing truths of our faith.

• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Wayne Grudem)
  The Christian church has a long tradition of systematic theology, that is, studying theology and doctrine organized around fairly standard categories such as the Word of God, redemption, and Jesus Christ. This introduction to systematic theology has several distinctive features: - A strong emphasis on the scriptural basis for each doctrine and teaching - Clear writing, with technical terms kept to a minimum - A contemporary approach, treating subjects of special interest to the church today - A friendly tone, appealing to the emotions and the spirit as well as the intellect - Frequent application to life - Resources for worship with each chapter - Bibliographies with each chapter that cross-reference subjects to a wide range of other systematic theologies.

WORSHIP

• Rhythms of Grace (Mike Cosper)
  Is it singing? A church service? All of life? Helping Christians think more theologically about the nature of true worship, Rhythms of Grace shows how the gospel is all about worship and worship is all about the gospel. Mike Cosper ultimately answers the question: What is worship?
   
• Worship by the Book (D.A. Carson)
  Worship is a hot topic, but the ways that Christians from different traditions view it vary greatly. What is worship? More important, what does it look like in action, both in our corporate gatherings and in our daily lives? These concerns―the blending of principle and practice―are what Worship by the Book addresses.
   
• The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (Randy Alcorn)
  Jesus told a story about a hidden treasure that, once discovered, brought life-changing joy. In The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn unearths a simple yet profound principle that will radically change your concept of stewardship. Short on guilt, Alcorn illuminates the liberating joy of giving and its impact, not only for today but for eternity as well.
   
• Religious Affections (Jonathan Edwards)
  In one of the unsurpassed religious masterpieces produced by an American writer, Jonathan Edwards distinguishes between true and false religion by defining a believer's correct affections and explaining their importance. He further identifies the distinction between genuine-seeming and legitimate affections.

CHURCH & LEADERSHIP

• What Is a Healthy Church? (Mark Dever)
  What is an ideal church, and how can you tell? How does it look different from other churches? More importantly, how does it act differently, especially in society? Many of us aren't sure how to answer those questions, even though we probably have some preconceived idea. But with this book, you don't have to wonder any more. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing church members from pastors to pew sitters, Dever challenges all believers to do their part in maintaining the local church.

• Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus (Jonathan Leeman)
  Why should you join a church? Becoming a member of a church is an important, and often neglected, part of the Christian life. Yet the trend these days is one of shunning the practice of organized religion and showing a distaste or fear of commitment, especially of institutions. Jonathan Leeman addresses these issues with a straightforward explanation of what church membership is and why it’s important. Giving the local church its proper due, Leeman has built a compelling case for committing to the local body.
   
• Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership (Bobby Jamieson)
  Does everyone who joins a local church need to be baptized? What should churches that practice believer's baptism do about those who were “baptized” as infants? This is a live question for many churches today, and it raises a host of other crucial questions: What is the meaning and function of baptism? Does baptism have any inherent relationship to the local church? How do baptism and the Lord’s Supper fit together? What exactly is “church membership”?
   
• Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons (Thabiti Anyabwile)
  Every church leader knows the qualifications for elders and deacons that are spelled out in the Bible, but actually finding other leaders who fulfill the biblical qualifications can be difficult. Thabiti Anyabwile writes from his expertise as a pastor and elder, showing how to identify and reproduce legitimate leaders and willing servants throughout the ranks of the local church. Balancing thoughtful analysis of pertinent passages with thorough application for practical use in a contemporary context, Anyabwile answers the questions, “Who should we look for to lead and serve in the church?” and “What should they do to fulfill their calling?”
   
• Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community  (Tim Chester & Steve Timmis)
  “Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter,” write pastors Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. “It’s an identity that is ours in Christ. An identity that shapes the whole of life so that life and mission become ‘total church.’” With that as their premise, they emphasize two overarching principles to govern the practice of church and mission: being Gospel-centered and being community-centered. When these principles take precedence, say the authors, the truth of the Word is upheld, the mission of the Gospel is carried out, and the priority of relationships is practiced in radical ways.

WORK & VOCATION

• The Gospel at Work: How Working for King Jesus Gives Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs (Sebastien Traeger & Greg Gilbert)
  Many Christians fall victim to one of two main problems when it comes to work: either they are idle in their work, or they have made an idol of it. Both of these mindsets are deadly misunderstandings of how God intends for us to think about our employment. In The Gospel At Work, Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert unpack the powerful ways in which the gospel can transform how we do what we do, releasing us from the cultural pressures of both an all-consuming devotion and a punch-in, punch-out mentality—in order to find the freedom of a work ethic rooted in serving Christ.
   
• Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work (Timothy Keller)
  With deep conviction and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about work today. In fact, the Christian view of work—that we work to serve others, not ourselves—can provide the foundation of a thriving professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others and even be considered acts of worship—not just of self-interest.
   
• Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business (Wayne Grudem)
  Can business activity in itself be morally good and pleasing to God? Sometimes business can seem so shady-manipulating the "bottom line," deceiving the consumer, or gaining promotions because of whom you know. But Wayne Grudem introduces a novel concept: business itself glorifies God when it is conducted in a way that imitates God's character and creation. He shows that all aspects of business, including ownership, profit, money, competition, and borrowing and lending, glorify God because they are reflective of God's nature. 

WORLDVIEW AND APOLOGETICS

• Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)
  Arguably the 20th century’s most influential Christian writer, C.S. Lewis sought to explain and defend the beliefs that nearly all Christians at all times hold in common. His simple yet deeply profound classic, originally delivered as a series of radio broadcasts, is a book to be thoroughly digested by believers and generously shared with skeptics.

• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Timothy Keller)
  Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics, and even ardent believers, have about religion. Using literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and potent reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand their ground against the backlash to religion created by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics, he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God.

• What's Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions (James N. Anderson)
  How do you view the world? It’s a big question. And how you answer is one of the most important things about you. Not sure what you’d say? Join James Anderson on an interactive journey of discovery aimed at helping you understand and evaluate the options when it comes to identifying your worldview. Cast in the mold of a classic “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, What’s Your Worldview? will guide you toward finding intellectually satisfying answers to life’s biggest questions—equipping you to think carefully about not only what you believe but why you believe it and how it impacts the rest of your life.

Marriage and sexuality

• The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (Tim and Kathy Keller)
  Using the Bible as his guide, coupled with insightful commentary from his wife of thirty-six years, Kathy, Timothy Keller shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to him and to bring us more joy in our lives. It is a glorious relationship that is also the most misunderstood and mysterious. With a clear-eyed understanding of the Bible, and meaningful instruction on how to have a successful marriage, The Meaning of Marriage is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.

• Sex, Dating, and Relationships: A Fresh Approach (Gerald Heistand & Jay Thomas)
  How far is too far? What does the Bible say about sexuality? How can I have a legit dating relationship?Considering the sex-crazed, hook-up based culture we live in—not to mention the ever-climbing divorce rate—it’s clear that we need a better understanding of sex, dating, and relationships. Pastors Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas give us a paradigm-shifting view of purity and relationships—a view that accounts for the biblical evidence and helps us guard against unnecessary heartache. 

• What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? (Kevin DeYoung)
  In this timely book, award-winning author Kevin DeYoung challenges each of us—the skeptic and the seeker, the certain and the confused—to take a humble look at God’s Word regarding the issue of homosexuality. After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible’s overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike, making this an indispensable resource for thinking through one of the most pressing issues of our day.

• Is God Anti-Gay? (Sam Allberry)
  It's the hot topic of the moment. Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality. And there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view. So is God homophobic? And what do we say, and how do we relate to to both Christians and non Christians who experience same-sex attraction.  In this short, simple book, Sam Allberry wants to help confused Christians understand what God has said about these questions in the scriptures, and offers a positive and liberating way forward through the debate.

FAMILY

• Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God (Marty Machowski)
  Old Story New makes it easy for parents to stay on the life-giving course of sharing the gospel story with their family. This second volume in Marty Machowski's family devotional series continues the gospel story begun in the Old Testament devotional, Long Story Short. Using the same effective ten-minute a day structure, it connects children to living gospel truth through 78 New Testament stories. Simple discussion questions (and answers) for each day's devotion help children understand and connect the story of salvation to their own lives. Old Story New, part of the Gospel Story for Kids program, is suitable for children from preschool through high school.
   
• The Big Picture Story Bible (David Helm)
  The Bible is a big book about a big God who keeps a big promise! Everyone loves a good story—especially children! But what we sometimes overlook is that the Bible is more than a collection of great stories. It is the real account of God’s love for the world. The Big Picture Story Bible presents this remarkable true story. Simple words and striking illustrations unfold the storyline of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. All ages will enjoy this exciting discovery of a God who keeps his big promise.
   
• My First Book of Questions and Answers (Carine MacKenzie)
  Children always have questions about what it means to be a Christian. Do they need a long philosophical answer? Not always and it is simple answers to deep questions that feature in this book. If you have ever wanted to know how to explain the Christian faith to young children in bite-sized chunks then the 114 profound questions and answers, backed by scripture proofs provide an invaluable tool to get you started.
   
• The New City Catechism: 52 Questions and Answers for Our Hearts and Minds (The Gospel Coalition)
  Throughout the history of the church, Christians have used catechisms—collections of questions and answers designed for memorization and recitation—to teach others the core doctrines of the faith. The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at reintroducing this ancient method of teaching to Christians today. This short book lays out 52 questions and answers related to God, human nature, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and more. Whether used devotionally, recited orally, or memorized over the course of a year, families, churches, small groups, and Christian schools will treasure this as a valuable tool for teaching the core doctrines of the Christian faith to children and adults alike.
   
• The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith (Champ Thornton)
  The Radical Book for Kids is a fun-filled explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history, and life for boys and girls age 8 and up. Along with examining some of the most exciting realities in the universe, the handbook is vibrantly illustrated and chock-full of fun facts and ideas. Deep truths are communicated to elementary and middle-school aged kids while stimulating their curiosity and sense of adventure within a gospel-centered framework.
   
• This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years (Jacquelle Crowe)
  My name is Jaquelle, and I'm a teenager. I like football movies, sushi, and dark chocolate. But the biggest, most crucial, most significant thing about me is that my life’s task is to follow Jesus. He is the One who changed my life. That’s what this book is about. It’s for teenagers eager to reject the status quo and low standards our culture sets for us. It’s for those of us who don’t want to spend the adolescent years slacking off, but rather standing out and digging deep into what Jesus says about following him. This book will help you see how the truth about God changes everything—our relationships, our time, our sin, our habits, and more—freeing us to live joyful, obedient, and Christ-exalting lives, even while we’re young.

Parenting 

• Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family (Paul Tripp)
  What is your calling as a parent? In the midst of folding laundry, coordinating carpool schedules, and breaking up fights, many parents get lost. Feeling pressure to do everything “right” and raise up “good” children, it’s easy to lose sight of our ultimate purpose as parents in the quest for practical tips and guaranteed formulas. In this life-giving book, Paul Tripp offers parents much more than a to-do list. Instead, he presents us with a big-picture view of God’s plan for us as parents. Outlining fourteen foundational principles centered on the gospel, he shows that we need more than the latest parenting strategy or list of techniques. Rather, we need the rescuing grace of God—grace that has the power to shape how we view everything we do as parents. Freed from the burden of trying to manufacture life-change in our children’s hearts, we can embrace a grand perspective of parenting overflowing with vision, purpose, and joy. 

• Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp)
  Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives fresh biblical approaches to child rearing.

• Don't Make Me Count to Three (Ginger Hubbard)
  Do you find yourself threatening, repeating your instructions, or raising your voice in an attempt to get your children to obey? Are you discouraged because it seems you just can t reach the heart of your child? Through personal experience and the practical application of Scripture, Ginger Hubbard encourages and equips moms to reach past the outward behavior of their children and dive deeply into the issues of the heart. Ginger s candid approach will help moms move beyond the frustrations of not knowing how to handle issues of disobedience and into a confident, well-balanced approach to raising their children.
   
• Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens (Paul Tripp)
  Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues that affect parents and their teenage children during the often-chaotic adolescent years. With wit, wisdom, humility, and compassion, he shows parents how to seize the countless opportunities to deepen communication and learn and grow with their teens.

CULTURE & RENEWAL

• Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling (Andy Crouch)
  Andy Crouch challenges Christians to step back from harsh critiques and condemnations of popular culture and instead calls them to lead in becoming culture makers. Often known for hasty attempts in “taking back” popular culture, Christians have too often formed an insufficient view of our culture at large. In turn, Crouch unpacks the complex inner workings of culture and gives believers tools for cultivating and creating culture by helping them to make sense of the world around us. With keen insight and the use of Biblical exposition, Crouch demonstrates that creating culture is central to the Scriptural narrative, as well as to the ministry of Jesus and the call of the church. 
   
• When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself (Brian Fikkert & Steve Corbett)
  Often times when we believe we are doing good, we are in fact doing harm. When this happens we may all stand back and shout “I was only trying to help!” but the damage is done, and often cannot be reversed. Such is the case with many of the ways local congregations have contributed through their various projects such as short-term missions. This book discusses ways in which Christians can help those in poverty without harming those who are already suffering, and how to keep themselves from getting hurt. In a world of increasing violence and hunger this book is quite timely and will help churches be more effective in both helping the poor and spreading the Gospel.
   
• Church in Hard Places: How the Local Church Brings Life to the Poor and Needy (Mez McConnell & Mike McKinley
  In recent years, Christians have shown an increased commitment to helping the poor. But this renewed interest in poverty alleviation is doomed to fail if it is not rooted in the local church—God’s established means of drawing downtrodden people into a transformative relationship with himself. Emphasizing the priority of the gospel, Mez McConnell and Mike McKinley, both pastors with fruitful ministries among the poor, offer biblical guidelines and practical strategies for planting, revitalizing, and growing faithful churches in hard places—in our own communities and around the world.

Evangelism and Missions

• Let the Nations Be Glad (John Piper)
  Worship is the ultimate goal of the church and that proper worship fuels missionary outreach. John Piper offers a biblical defense of God's supremacy in all things, providing readers with a sound theological foundation for missions. He examines whether Jesus is the only way to salvation and issues a passionate plea for God-centeredness in the missionary enterprise, seeking to define the scope of the task and the means for reaching "all nations."

• The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (Mark Dever)
  Evangelism is not only misunderstood, it is often unpracticed. Many Christians want to share the gospel with others, but because those Christians don't grasp the fundamentals of witnessing, they feel intimidated and incapable of sharing the truth of the gospel. Yet those believers fail to recognize that God has already established who and how we are to evangelize. In The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, Dr. Mark Dever seeks to answer the four basic questions about evangelism that many Christians ask: Who should we evangelize? How should we evangelize? What is evangelism? Why should we evangelize?
   
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (J.I. Packer)
  If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all? J. I. Packer shows in this new edition to the popular IVP Classics how both of these attitudes are false. In a careful review of the biblical evidence, he shows how a right understanding of God's sovereignty is not so much a barrier to evangelism as an incentive and powerful support for it.
   
• What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission (Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert)
  Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions? Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.