Top Ten Books of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Steve Weaver

The end of the year provides the opportunity to look back at the year which has now passed us by. One of my favorite times of reflection is to think back over the books which I’ve read and try to select a top 10 list of favorite books. It’s not too hard, the good ones always rise to the top without too much effort on my part. My list this year includes eight published in 2011 and two which were published in the latter months of 2010 but which I read in 2011. The books are not listed in order of importance, but rather alphabetically.

Published in 2011:

Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine (Zondervan) by Gregg Allison. This book is a comprehensive (784 pages) survey of the development of Christian doctrine throughout the history of the church. It thus serves as a must have resource for church historians, theologians, and those who enjoy such subjects. I’m privileged that Dr. Allison will be serving on my dissertation committee.

John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock (Banner of Truth) by Iain Murray. Reading and listening to John MacArthur for the past 17 years has shaped my understanding of the gospel and the role of the preacher. This biography, by one of my favorite biographers Iain Murray, was released to coincide with the culmination of MacArthur’s preaching through the entire New Testament at Grace Community Church over 40+ years. If you’re unfamiliar with the life and ministry of John MacArthur, this book will serve as a great introduction for you.

The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes (B&H Academic) edited by Thomas R. Schreiner and Matthew R. Crawford. In my opinion, there are two few books on baptism and the Lord’s supper. This book fills a significant lacuna in Baptist life. A variety of gifted scholars contribute chapters on their respective areas of expertise in history, theology, and Scripture.

Ministry By His Grace and For His Glory: Essays in Honor of Thomas J. Nettles (Founders Press) edited by Nathan Finn and Tom Ascol. This book was edited by friends for our mutual friend and mentor, Tom Nettles. Dr. Nettles is my doctoral supervisor, so I was especially happy to see this book released. More than a mere memorial to Dr. Nettles, this volume contains substantive chapters on areas of church history, theology, and pastoral ministry that have been important in Dr. Nettles’ life and ministry.

Pujols: More Than the Game (Thomas Nelson) by Tim Ellsworth and Scott Lamb. I have been very proud of my friends Tim Ellsworth and Scott Lamb for the success of their book on Albert Pujols. This book is a great read, combining great baseball stories within the framework of the life of a devoted follower of Christ who just happens to be the greatest baseball player of our times.

Reckless Abandon: A modern-day Gospel pioneer’s exploits among the most difficult to reach peoples (Ambassador International) by David Sitton. I spent a week teaching at the missionary training center established by David Sitton the first week of December. I read this book on my flight home. I’ve given away multiple copies as well as shared my copy with others. No one has been able to put it down. Exciting, suspenseful, joyous stories of the conquest of the gospel among the unreached peoples of Papau, New Guinea.

Rediscovering the Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church (Crossway) by Michael A. G. Haykin. Although Dr. Haykin is known for his works on 17th and 18th century Baptists and Evangelicals, his official area of expertise is the early church. Drawing on his vast knowledge of the church fathers, Haykin has provided in this work an introduction to the fathers which shows their importance for Christians living in the 21st century.

Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ (Crossway) by Russell D. Moore. Dr. Moore is an amazing wordsmith both in the pulpit and on the printed page. In Tempted and Tried, Moore uses his considerable skill to deliver a devastatingly convicting punch to any and all excuses for sin in your life. This is a must read for every Christian since every Christian is engaged in spiritual warfare whether they realize it or not. This book will help you not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

Read in 2011, but published in late 2010:

Decision Points (Crown) by George W. Bush. I really enjoyed reading this first-hand account of the Bush presidency. You can hear Bush’s voice as you read this seemingly authentic account of his life. Even if you disagree with his decisions as president, I think this book humanizes Bush by showing how he went about making those decisions.

God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology (Crossway) by James R. Hamilton. I love everything Dr. Hamilton writes. This biblical theology provides a helpful lens for reading and understanding how the Bible fits together. Hamilton argues that the center of biblical theology is “God’s glory in salvation through judgment.” Though it might be an awkward book title, it is a helpful perspective on a theme which Hamilton fleshes out throughout the entire canon of Scripture.

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New Book on Perspectives on our Struggle with Sin

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Steve Weaver
Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin

My friend Terry Wilder has recently edited a volume offering differing perspectives on understanding the struggle with sin described in Romans 7. I received a complimentary copy and it looks very helpful. Three authors offer their perspective on interpreting Romans 7 in individual chapters. The other two contributors respond to the other chapters. This creates a book that is more dialogue than diatribe and which stimulates the mind while stirring the soul.

The publisher’s website provides an overview of the contents of the book. If you’d like to order a copy of the book, it is available in print and for Kindle here.

Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin presents in point-counterpoint form three differing views of a Christian’s relationship with the law, flesh, and spirit as illustrated through Paul’s often-debated words in Romans 7.

Stephen Chester (North Park Theological Seminary) writes “The Retrospective View of Romans 7: Paul’s Past in Present Perspective,” suggesting the apostle’s description of his struggle speaks more to his pre-Christian self.

Grant Osborne (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) offers “The Flesh Without the Spirit: Romans 7 and Christian Experience,” perceiving Romans 7 as an accurate representation of what believers go through even after their conversion.

Mark Seifrid (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), in “The Voice of the Law, the Cry of Lament, and the Shout of Thanksgiving,” asserts that Paul is not speaking of his past or his present Christian experience in Romans 7, but more fundamentally and simply about “the human being confronted with the Law.”

Chad Owen Brand (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) writes a conclusion on the theological and pastoral implications of Romans 7.

Acclaim for Perspectives on Our Struggle with Sin:

“One difficult and disputed text, three fine scholars, and three views of the passage. How is one to read Romans 7? This book takes you through all the options and rationale with detail, charity, and clarity. This is how to have a discussion over a disputed text. Read and learn about Romans 7. Decide who is right and why. And, above all, learn about how to discuss a difficult text.”

Darrell L. Bock
Research professor of New Testament Studies
Dallas Theological Seminary

“The meaning of Romans 7 continues to bedevil and puzzle readers. This volume does not simply rehearse arguments and positions from the past. The authors approach the text from fresh and illuminating perspectives, and hence this work represents a significant contribution to scholarship.”

Thomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison professor of New Testament Interpretation
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Christians have long debated how Paul’s moving depiction of a struggle with sin in “Romans 7 should influence our theology and practice of the Christian life. Now, in one book, Christians are given a wonderful opportunity to engage the different views, see how they differ, and come to their own conclusions. Chester, Osborne, and Seifrid clearly and capably defend their positions; and they do so with enough of a difference in method that the reader is given a good sense of the scope of the issues and their significance.”

Douglas J. Moo
Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies
Wheaton College

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Why the Genealogy of Jesus Matters

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Steve Weaver

If I were to take a survey of everyone reading this post asking “What is your favorite text of Scripture?” no one would probably say, “Matthew 1:1-17.” Instead we are more likely to ask, “Why would Matthew begin his account of the life of Christ with a boring genealogy?” I want to suggest, however, that this text is one of the most important passages in the Bible! Matthew 1:1-17 is one of the most important passages in the Bible because it is the thread that binds together the Old and New Testaments. In fact, this text is essential to properly understand the meaning of the Old Testament. One commentator called this text “a compressed retelling of the Old Testament story” (John Nolland, The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the Greek Text, 34).

Matthew carefully links the second part of the Bible with the first by citing at 61 direct quotes (Mark has 31, Luke 26, and John 16) and many other allusions from the Old Testament. Matthew uses the phrase, “to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet” ten times in his book. The gospel writer clearly identifies Jesus as the promised and long awaited Messiah. The evidence presented is overwhelming. Jesus is clearly presented as the fulfillment of all that the prophets of old were longing for.

The book of Matthew opens with the genealogy of the King. These opening verses are very important because Jewish people, who made up Matthew’s audience, were very interested in a person’s genealogy. The New Testament rests upon the accuracy of this genealogy because it establishes the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is of the line of Abraham and of the line of David. Both are very important. The line of Abraham places Him in the nation, and the line of David puts Him on the throne — He is in that royal line. The genealogies were very important to the nation Israel, and through them it could be established whether a person had a legitimate claim to a particular line. For example, when Israel returned from the captivity, we find in the Book of Ezra, “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood” (Ezra 2:62). It was possible in Ezra’s day to check the register of the tribe of Levi and remove those who made a false claim. Every king has to have a royal lineage because his ancestry is the most important thing about him. Kings have to be in the regal line in order to qualify to be on the throne. Matthew begins with a family tree that traces the right of Jesus to reign.

The first sentence of the Gospel of Matthew introduces not only this genealogy, but the entire gospel (indeed, the entire New Testament). This sentence answers the question of: What is this book about? Answer: Jesus. And: Who is this Jesus? This sentence tells you almost everything you need to know about the identity of Jesus. The genealogy that follows is given by Matthew to prove the validity of what Matthew claims in this first sentence.

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New sermon series on the Gospel of Matthew

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Steve Weaver

Yesterday morning at Farmdale Baptist Church I began a new sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew with a sermon titled “The Genealogy of the King” from Matthew 1:1-17. If you want to keep up with this series, you can subscribe to the podcast here.

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“Read the Bible for Life” in 2012

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Steve Weaver

I’m excited to announce an initiative to encourage daily Bible reading in the upcoming year for the members of Farmdale Baptist Church. I’ve attached two versions of the same reading plan which follows a chronological order (here and here). In other words, this plan will lead us to read through the Bible in the order of the events (not necessarily in the order of the books of the Bible). This will give a new perspective on how the Bible fits together and will help us better read the Bible in its historical context.

It is hoped that by everyone in the church following the same Bible reading plan that this will promote discussion among church members about the readings. This will also enable us all to encourage and challenge one another in our daily Bible reading. Reading the Bible regularly is essential to our growth as Christians. As we read the Bible prayerfully as a church family in 2012, the goal is that we will grow in Christlikeness.

You can download and print off the attached Bible Reading plans to insert in your Bible as a reminder of your daily Bible reading commitment. You can also follow this plan online at this website where you can click on each day’s reading and read online. There also iPhone and iPad apps available (search “Read the Bible for Life” on your device). Of course, we will also have print copies of the plan at church for you to pick up and use.

To ensure that this Bible reading plan is emphasized throughout the entire year, I will normally be teaching on Sunday and Wednesday nights from texts read during the respective weeks. I will also be willing to answer any questions about the weekly Bible readings. We will print each week’s readings in our bulletin and I will often chose our Sunday morning Call to Worship reading from one of the texts of the week. Hopefully all of these measures will not only demonstrate my commitment to this project, but also serve as an encouragement to stay on task throughout a long year where we will all be tempted to slack off from time to time.

I’m excited to begin this adventure with you. Please commit together with me to “Read the Bible for Life” in 2012.

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