Martin's insightful booklist

This is a summary of recent books read by Martin Davie, compiling his evaluations and the commendations of others.

In this edition:

A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation by Matthew Bingham

It tackles a very important issue, namely a lack of reliable teaching about spiritual formation in many evangelical churches, and addresses it in a very helpful way. Bingham shows very clearly that the Reformed tradition provides people with all they need to know on this topic if only they know where to look. Equally useful for private study, for sermon preparation and for use in study groups.

The Nicene Creed: What You Need to Know about the Most Important Creed Ever Written by Kevin DeYoung

An excellent introduction to the history, teaching and abiding importance of the Nicene Creed. It is based on solid biblical, historical and theological scholarship, but it is written in a style that will make it accessible to ordinary Christian readers. This is a book that both theologians and ordinary Christians in the pews will read with profit.

Everything Is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes’ Surprising Path to Resilient Happiness by Bobby Jamieson

This is a superb introduction to the message of the book of Ecclesiastes that anyone thinking about preaching on, or writing about Ecclesiastes, will want to consult, that Christians in general will want to read to gain a deeper understanding of what makes for true happiness and that Christians should seriously consider sharing with their non-Christian friends as a user friendly way to open up a conversation about the Christian world-view. Highly recommended.

From Glory to Glory: An Unnatural History of Sanctification by Abraham Kuruvilla

Kuruvilla’s book is an excellent introduction to the heart of the Christian faith. Many people today, inside as well as outside the Church, simply do not understand what the Christian faith is about. Kuruvilla’s book tells them. This book will be a great resource for students beginning the study of theology at university or theological college and for ordinary lay Christians who want to understand the Christian faith more clearly.

The Intimacy Deficit: Fully Enjoying God, Yourself, Others and Creation by Ed Shaw

The Intimacy Deficit reminds us that intimacy is not exclusively, or primarily, to do with sexual activity. And it reminds us of the four key relationships we were created by God to enjoy and which we therefore need to cultivate. This is a book that is eminently readable and full of practical wisdom and would make an excellent basis for a sermon/teaching series and for home group study.

To read the full reviews click here.

__________

Martin Davie is a Latimer Trust Research Fellow. He teaches at Wycliffe Hall and is the author of various books, some of them can be found here. He writes regularly on his blog Reflections of an Anglican Theologian.

Views expressed in blogs published by the Latimer Trust are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Latimer Trust.