January 2023
Praying with Paul by DA Carson
With a retitling and updating, Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation [previously published as the under what is now the subtitle: A Call to Spiritual Reformation] more effectively connects with contemporary readers by calling believers to reject superficiality and revolutionize their lives by embracing a God-guided approach to prayer.
“God doesn’t demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately,” says top-selling author D. A. Carson. “The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. By following Paul’s example, we can do the same.”
December 2022
Come Let Us Adore Him by David Paul Tripp
The wonder and awe of the Christmas season can easily get overshadowed by lights, tinsel, bows, and paper―not to mention last-minute trips to the mall and visits to the in-laws. In all the hustle and bustle, we often lose sight of what’s most important. This book of daily readings for the month of December by best-selling author Paul David Tripp will help you slow down, prepare your heart, and focus on what matters most: adoring our Savior, Jesus.
November 2022
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan
This is a short and honest account of how God demonstrated His exceeding great mercy to His unworthy servant, John Bunyan.
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners tells how Bunyan was converted. John Bunyan was a companion of sin and was troubled by sin. He fought temptation and sin in his own strength and lost, and in despair, he gave up hope of ever finding God’s mercy; but the Lord Jesus Christ at last delivered him from the guilt and terror that so often and so viciously troubled him.
In addition to this, a short account of Bunyan’s call to the work of the ministry is told, along with the trials and trouble he encountered – including some of the difficulties he faced while in prison.
This is all taken from his writings and is now published for the encouragement and support of others who are weak and tempted and need strength and hope and victory in Jesus.
October 2022
The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger
The Law and Gospel are two biblical categories that are often confused, even by seasoned pastors and theologians. This book will help solidify how these two relate, and the danger of confusing them.
September 2022
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by 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. With over 100,000 copies in print, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God is truly a classic that should be read by every Christian.
July/August 2022
Living in a Godly Marriage by Joel Beeke and James Labelle
The Puritans believed that godly marriages were foundational for the future life of families, churches, and nations. Therefore, they wrote prolifically on the subject of marriage, seeking to bring biblical reformation to this subject in a comprehensive way. Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other previous Reformers had begun this task, but the Puritans took it much further, writing a number of detailed treatises on how to live as godly spouses. Out of the wealth of material available to us from the seventeenth century, Joel R. Beeke and James A. La Belle have gathered together insights from the past and summarized them in a contemporary form in order to encourage modern-day couples to glorify God in marriage.
May/June 2022
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
The book was first published in 1678 and is a Christian allegory. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of in English literature. …The full title is, “The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World To That Which Is To Come, Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream by John Bunyan.” …It has been translated into over 200 languages and was written while Bunyan was in prison. …There really are many version to choose from. I would stay away from the abridged versions. …Whichever version you choose, I’m confident that you will join the generations of Christians before you who have found Bunyan’s work to be of great spiritual benefit. — Pastor Monty
April 2022
Blood Work by Anthony Carter
Evangelical Christians often sing and preach about the blessed blood of Christ and the wonderful things it accomplishes for believers. To the uninformed ear, such language can convey the idea that Jesus’ blood had semi-magical qualities. Actually, Jesus’ blood was normal human blood, but the Bible refers to it in metaphorical terms to portray the many benefits that come to Christians because of Jesus’ death. In Blood Work: How the Blood of Christ Accomplishes Our Salvation, Anthony J. Carter traces this theme through the New Testament, showing how the biblical writers used the powerful metaphor of the blood of Jesus to help Christians grasp the treasures Jesus secured for them in His death on the cross. In doing so, he provides a fresh perspective on the atonement Jesus made.
March 2022
Scandalous by D.A. Carson
How are Christians to approach the central gospel teachings concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus? The Bible firmly establishes the historicity of these events and doesn’t leave their meanings ambiguous or open to interpretation. Even so, there is an irony and surprising strangeness to the cross. Carson shows that this strange irony has deep implications for our lives as he examines the history and theology of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. Scandalous highlights important theological truths in accessible and applicable ways. Both amateur theologians and general readers will appreciate how Carson deftly preserves weighty theology while simultaneously noting the broader themes of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through exposition of five primary passages of Scripture, Carson helps us to more fully understand and appreciate the scandal of the cross.
February 2022
Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper
Barnabas Piper unpacks what faith really means. He shows how embracing doubts and questions can help us to get to know God, and encourages us to risk trusting God in our everyday lives, even when we don’t understand everything about him.
Help My Unbelief will encourage Christians seeking to ask questions in a godly way and will give them confidence to trust God, even when some questions remain. (Includes biographical stories about Afshin Ziafat, C.S. Lewis and John Piper).
January 2022
Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton
What does it mean to be “saved by grace”? This book reminds readers of the Reformation’s radical view of God and his saving grace, the liberating yet humbling truth that we contribute nothing to our salvation. It lays out the scriptural basis for this doctrine and its implications for a vibrant evangelical faith.
This is a book that greatly influenced Celeste and I, over 20 years ago as we were first wrestling with the doctrines of grace and re-thinking and re-learning all those things we thought we already knew. I pray that it will be a beneficial book to you as well. — Pastor Monty
November/December 2021
Holiness by J.C. Ryle
This classic, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, book is considered the best book on Christian living ever written. J. C. Ryle (1816 – 1900) wrote for the needs of his time, but his words are just as applicable today.
In his firm but gentle way he addresses topics that really matter—sin, sanctification, holiness, growth, and assurance. He teaches, exhorts, illustrates, and warns.
Even if you don’t agree with everything he says, you will be challenged to think and to search the scriptures for yourself.
May we heed the Lord’s command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”(1 Peter 1:16)
“A Christian classic that everyone ought to read…. Worth the effort.” — Pastor Monty
October 2021
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
Central to God’s character is the quality of holiness. Yet, even so, most people are hard-pressed to define what God’s holiness precisely is. Many preachers today avoid the topic altogether because people today don’t quite know what to do with words like “awe” or “fear.” R. C. Sproul, in this classic work, puts the holiness of God in its proper and central place in the Christian life. He paints an awe-inspiring vision of God that encourages Christian to become holy just as God is holy. Once you encounter the holiness of God, your life will never be the same.
“Many consider this to be Sproul’s best work.” — Pastor Monty
September 2021
Brave by Faith by Alistair Begg
Learn from the book of Daniel how to live confidently for Christ today.
What does it look like to live with joy in a society that does not like what Christians believe, say or do? It’s tempting to grow angry, keep our heads down, retreat or just give up altogether.
But this isn’t the first time that God’s people have had to learn how to live in a pagan world that opposes God’s rule. In this realistic yet positive book, renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg, in his book Brave by Faith: God-sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World, examines the first seven chapters of Daniel to show us how to live bravely, confidently and obediently in an increasingly secular society.
Readers will see that God is powerful and God is sovereign, and even in the face of circumstances that appear to be prevailing against his people, we may trust him entirely.
We can be as brave as Daniel if we have faith in Daniel’s God!
“The message of Daniel is incredibly relevant for us in our generation. Not because it maps out a strategy for how to deal with our new lack of status … or because Daniel was a great man and we need to follow his example. The reason is that it will help us to believe in Daniel’s God.” — Alistair Begg, author.
August 2021
Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham Jr.
The Ground Is Moving.
The death of George Floyd at the hands of police in the summer of 2020 shocked the nation. As riots rocked American cities, Christians affirmed from the pulpit and in social media that “black lives matter” and that racial justice “is a gospel issue.”
But what if there is more to the social justice movement than those Christians understand? Even worse: What if they’ve been duped into preaching ideas that actually oppose the Kingdom of God?
In this powerful book — Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe — Voddie Baucham, a preacher, professor, and cultural apologist, explains the sinister worldview behind the social justice movement and Critical Race Theory — revealing how it already has infiltrated some seminaries, leading to internal denominational conflict, canceled careers, and lost livelihoods. Like a fault line, it threatens American culture in general — and the evangelical church in particular.
Whether you’re a layperson who has woken up in a strange new world and wonders how to engage sensitively and effectively in the conversation on race or a pastor who is grappling with a polarized congregation, this book offers the clarity and understanding to either hold your ground or reclaim it.
There has been, quite a bit of controversy surrounding Voddie Baucham’s new book. After researching these charges, I believe them to be unfounded. Here is a video of an interview with Voddie responding to these charges, if you are interested. — Pastor Monty
July 2021
Dark Clouds Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting God’s goodness.
Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God — but it is a neglected dimension of the Christian life for many Christians today. We need to recover the practice of honest spiritual struggle that gives us permission to vocalize our pain and wrestle with our sorrow. Lament avoids trite answers and quick solutions, progressively moving us toward deeper worship and trust.
Exploring how the Bible — through the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations—gives voice to our pain, this book (Dark Clouds Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament) invites us to grieve, struggle, and tap into the rich reservoir of grace and mercy God offers in the darkest moments of our lives.
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(more coming soon)
Scandia Bible Church 