BEST CHRISTIAN BOOKS OF 2011 - MONERGISMBOOKS.COM

This top ten 2011 book list was emailed to me by John Hendryx of Monergismbooks.com so I thought I'd share it with you 12 readers of this blog.

By the way, I downloaded #3 Kindle edition and I can tell you that it's worth reading because we finally have another Systematic Theology of sound doctrine. I do like the book. However, I was disappointed that it wasn't so much a Systematic Theology as taught by Horton. Rather, it is a compilation of many works with which Horton is in agreement, and then regurgitated by Horton as proving his Theological opinion. Every other sentence it seems refers to another man's work. As I said though, other than that I liked it. 3 stars (teehee!) At the bottom, there is a 'back in print' by MLJ that I want, just in case anyone forgot me for Christmas, and also a new arrival at Monergismbooks that piques my interest. I have some of Sproul's commentaries on Kindle that are great. I'm in the middle of reading 1&2 Peter right now. I will let you know how it is, but so far its excellent. A must read! Without further adieu -

Monergism.com's Top Ten List:

COMING IN AT #1

 

God Is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China
Contributor(s): Yiwu, Liao (Author), Huang, Wenguang (Translator)

 

Chinese dissident author Liao Yiwu—the once lauded, later imprisoned, and now celebrated author of The Corpse Walker—profiles the extraordinary lives of dozens of Chinese Christians, providing a rare glimpse into the burgeoning underground world of belief that is taking hold within the officially atheistic state of Communist China. A luminous writer, and not a Christian himself, Yiwu offers a uniquely objective and insightful perspective on the position Christians occupy in mainland China, in a book that readers of Philip Jenkins' The Lost History of Christianity as well as Peter Hessler's Country Driving will not want to miss.

A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New G. K. Beale (Author)   "Certainly Beale has written his magnum opus, in which he deftly integrates the Scriptures via the new creation theme. The use of the Old Testament in the New Testament forms the backbone of this work so that readers grasp how the storyline of Scripture coheres. We stand in debt to the author for his detailed and profound unfolding of New Testament theology." --Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way Michael S. Horton (Author)   "Horton's Christian Faith has the great merit of never letting the reader forget that doctrine is for disciples who want to walk the way of Jesus Christ. Horton knows that the best systematic theology is a practical theology—one that helps us understand the ways of God, makes sense of life, and gives direction for God-glorifying living. He also knows that the best systematic theologies draw on biblical and historical theology. May many readers therefore take up this book, read, and walk!" --Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College and Graduate School

The Doctrine of the Word of God: A Theology of Lordship Volume 4 John M. Frame (Author)   "The fourth volume in John Frame's Theology of Lordship series, The Doctrine of the Word of God, is the best of them—and that is high praise. In a 700-page "draft" of what he hopes will be a longer and more definitive work, Frame thinks through what Scripture is, what authority means, how to understand inspiration, canon, and a host of other categories intrinsic to any responsible treatment of revelation, especially the revelation provided by Holy Scripture....More so than the other volumes in the series, this book works hard at developing its theology, the theology of the word of God, out of Scripture itself—and without descending to vicious circularity. This is an important book, and those who write on this subject in the near future without wrestling with Frame will merely testify to their own narrowness." --D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL

Union with Christ: In Scripture, History, and Theology Robert Letham "This is a stimulating work that all pastors and students should read and absorb into their preaching and teaching ministry." --Gerald Bray, Research Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, AL "Letham has established himself over the years as a first-class expositor of key themes in the Reformed faith. This outstanding book goes to the heart of the truth of salvation with deep learning, acumen, and pastoral wisdom. Highly recommended." --J. I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College

What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert (Authors) "Christ is the greatest message in the world, and delivering it is the greatest mission. But are we losing our focus? Are we being distracted, sometimes even by good things? Zealous Christians disagree sharply today over the church's proper ministry and mission. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert bring us back to first things in an age of mission creep and distraction. Offering balanced wisdom, this book will give us not only encouragement but discomfort exactly where we all need it. It's the kind of biblical sanity we need at this moment." --Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California Also available as an ebook

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller (Authors) There has never been a marriage book like THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE. Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, this book shows everyone--Christians, skeptics, singles, long-time married couples, and those about to be engaged--the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible.

Isaiah By the Day: A New Devotional Translation Alec Motyer (Author) As a man who loves the word of God, Alec Motyer presents these daily devotionals from Isaiah. For him, daily devotion is not a mere habit but a real desire to be transformed by the challenging word of Isaiah. These devotionals reassure us that the Lord can restore what sin has robbed us of. These daily devotionals are birthed from a lifetime of study on the prophecy of Isaiah. Day by day you will be provided with passages from Isaiah and an opportunity to explore the passage further. Take time to acquaint yourself with these passages from God's Word and treasure them in your heart.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything Tullian Tchividjian (Crossway)   “Tullian Tchividjian knows, by biblical study and personal experience, that the greatest dangers to the church exist inside the church not outside and the greatest of these dangers is the subtle, deceptive, and seductive self-reliance and self-sufficiency of legalism. Perhaps the greatest contribution of this book is its page after page plea to the church not to be afraid of the glorious provisions and freedoms of the grace of Jesus.” --Paul Tripp, President, Paul Tripp Ministries; author, What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage “My friend Tullian is a loser. So am I. If we’re honest, all of us fit that description, but the good news is that Christ came for people like us. We qualify! Under the rubric of ‘Jesus plus nothing equals everything,’ this accessible yet astonishingly profound book rearranges the furniture. If you’re looking for hope instead of hype, please read this book.” --Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ Russell D. Moore (Crossway)   “Russell Moore is a riveting writer, and you won’t have to read this book for long before you also find out that he knows some things that you need to know about the deceitfulness of our hearts, the trials of temptation, the schemes of the Tempter and the power and grace of the Savior. Wise beyond his years, and unashamedly supernatural and biblical in his approach, I almost hear the old Puritan Thomas Brooks speaking to me in Dr. Moore’s words (albeit in a Mississippi dialect!). In one of the great hymns of the church, ‘Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners,’ we sing ‘Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing, He, my strength, my victory wins.’ But how? That’s what Russell Moore shows us in this book. Read it. Search your heart. Pray for grace. And join the fight.” --J. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

Honorable Mentions: These Last Days: A Christian View of History Richard D. Phillips & Gabriel N. E. Fluhrer (Editors) Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes Voddie Baucham Jr. (Author)   Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith By: Douglas Groothuis   One-to-One Bible Reading: A Simple Guide for Every Christian David Helm (Author)   Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Gregg R. Allison (Author)

Back in Print!   Romans (14 Volume Set) D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Author) No New Testament epistle is more foundational to the faith than Romans, and no exposition of Paul's letter is more insightful than that of Lloyd-Jones. Drawn from his messages at Westminster Chapel from 1955 to 1968, this masterful series of sermons blends evangelical interpretation with practical applications to provide sound doctrinal teaching on this fundamental document.

New Arrival!

 

Mark (St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary)
R. C. Sproul (Author)

Mark presents the fruits of Dr. R. C. Sproul's lifetime of biblical study as expressed in his most recent calling. After a long and distinguished ministry as a teacher in various settings, Dr. Sproul accepted a call in 1997 to preach at St. Andrew's in Sanford, Florida. There, he adopted the ancient practice of preaching through books of the Bible, eventually working his way through several of them. He has now begun to adapt those sermon series in book form, and the result is the St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary series.