1. Severe Compassion: The Gospel According to Nahum by Gregory D. Cook
256 pages | $14.99 | Paperback | Gospel According to the Old Testament series | SAMPLE CHAPTER
SUMMARY
With dramatic, vivid detail, the poetic masterpiece of Nahum shows that God refuses to abandon his rebellious people when they stray into destructive paths—instead responding to spiritual adultery with love and power. The application to our own lives may hit close to home, but there is also abundant gospel hope: Jesus’ severe compassion leads him to relentlessly pursue his people for their salvation.
As he explores the prophet’s message, Gregory Cook aids our understanding of Nahum with historical background on its cultural references, literary allusions, and poetic devices, making this book a useful resource for pastors and Bible study leaders as well as laypeople.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Greg . . . has done the hard work of digging into the Hebrew text; he has gleaned insights from scholars and learned about the world and time in which Nahum wrote; he has sat with and listened carefully and humbly to the text; he has seen and appreciated how it speaks about and points to Jesus.”
—Elizabeth Groves, Lecturer in Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gregory D. Cook (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) has been the pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA) in West Virginia and the youth and college pastor at Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Delaware.
2. Unshakable: Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture by K. Scott Oliphint & Rod Mays
160 pages | $12.99 | Paperback
SUMMARY
How do we love those who are suffering or speak to the overwhelmed? Do we show tenderness and compassion to others? We have a hope to hold on to and to hold out to others—how do we explain it?
In today’s society, truth claims are suspect, and many stand on the shaky ground of relativistic postmodernism. Yet Christians cling to a lasting treasure that cannot fade or disappoint. Rod Mays and K. Scott Oliphint delve into John Newton’s great hymn “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”—and into the gospel truth of Scripture behind it—in search of timeless, biblical answers to questions and issues that daily press us in our Christian walk: What should guide us? What do we need in life? How do we engage with others, or even with technology? What does faith in Christ look like as we struggle with sin? Includes discussion questions. Previously published by Crossway as Things That Cannot Be Shaken.
ENDORSEMENT
“Full of things that we today need urgently to take to heart.”
—J. I. Packer
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
K. Scott Oliphint is professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the author of The Battle Belongs to the Lord and Reasons for Faith, among other works.
Rod Mays is executive pastor at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville and serves as an adjunct professor of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. He was previously the national coordinator of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF).
3. Song of Songs by Iain M. Duguid
216 pages | $22.99 | Hardcover | Reformed Expository Commentary series
SUMMARY
Although the presence of the Song of Songs in the Bible may sometimes puzzle us, its place in Scripture means that it is God-breathed and useful to instruct all Christians—no matter their relationship status or time of life.
Pastor-scholar Iain Duguid steers a middle way between allegorical and literal approaches to the Song of Songs, showing that this book’s celebration of the love between a man and woman can not only shape our thinking about human relationships but also give us profound insight into the love that Christ has for his bride, the church.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Here Iain Duguid is the expositor, the biblical theologian, the pastor, the counselor, and—quite often!—the surgeon. This exposition is vintage Duguid—sneakingly convicting and awash in grace. He lures me to oversimplify: if someone asks me how best to prepare for marriage, I will be tempted to say, ‘Study the Song of Songs and read Duguid’s commentary.’ ”
—Dale Ralph Davis, Minister in Residence, The First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina
“Perhaps we’ve been as insecure about tackling the allegorical and literal interpretations in this song as we may be in our own relationships. Not anymore! This commentary will prove that of all the songs written to explore the age-old questions of love, the Song of Songs is the one that we cannot and do not want to get out of our heads.”
—Aimee Byrd, Author, Housewife Theologian and Theological Fitness
“So is the Song of Songs really about sex or Jesus? Iain Duguid steers a wise and pastoral path between those simplistic choices. He demonstrates how this poetic book on the excellencies of human love is not merely a practical marriage guide nor an allegorical representation of the coming Christ. Rather, this book . . . provides divinely inspired insights into the blessings and weaknesses of human love in order to point us toward the goodness and necessity of the grace of God, whose love is perfected in Christ alone.”
—Bryan Chapell, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Peoria, Illinois
“Duguid’s Song of Songs is not your typical commentary. Though based on solid scholarship, it is completely pastoral in tone, easy to read, and rich with insights. Dr. Duguid’s pastoral experience anticipates the modern reader’s experiences and concerns. . . . Song of Songs teaches us to appreciate the beauty of married sexual love, while at the very same time enriching our understanding of God’s love for us.”
—Winston T. Smith, Faculty and Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, Glenside, Pennsylvania
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Iain M. Duguid (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He has written numerous works of biblical exposition, including Esther & Ruth in the Reformed Expository Commentary series, Ezekiel in the NIV Application Commentary series, and Numbers in the Preaching the Word series.
4. Political Science by Cale Horne
48 pages | $4.99 | Booklet
SUMMARY
Many Christians think of politics in terms of daily headlines, newsfeeds, sound bites, and talking heads—or as an ideological battleground cluttered with winners and losers. Much, much more is going on. The academic field of political science is an empirically based, theoretically driven social science that addresses human endeavors of a political nature. Political scientists create hypotheses and test them using data and carefully selected research methods, and understanding their findings in light of God’s common grace will change the way we work in government, journalism, the military, and other fields. Cale Horne overviews the discipline; presents a Christian framework for approaching political science; and illustrates the potential for faithful learning in and through the study of politics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cale Horne (MA, University of South Carolina; PhD, University of Georgia) is associate professor of political studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where he has taught since 2011.
5. Chemistry by Daniel R. Zuidema
56 pages | $4.99 | Booklet
SUMMARY
God has given human beings many different gifts and talents. What if your talents and interests lie in the field of chemistry? As a Christian, you may feel that studies in chemistry are valid only if you are planning to use them as part of an overtly Christian career. But this view leaves a lot out of the picture.
Our creator God speaks in the language of chemistry. Recognizing this, Christian chemists bring a powerful, necessary worldview to this discipline. Step by step, Daniel Zuidema guides you in cementing this worldview as the foundation for excellent, God-glorifying work in a fascinating field of science. Engage with chemistry in a way that helps others, serves the church, and shows profound appreciation for God’s created order.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel R. Zuidema (PhD, Wake Forest University) is professor of chemistry and chair of the chemistry department at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where he has taught since 2005.
6. Music by Timothy H. Steele
40 pages | $4.99 | Booklet
SUMMARY
Many Christian musicians enter college without a clear understanding of the discipline of music or how it might deepen their love for God and their commitment to Christian service. In this invitation to the subject, the themes order, meaning, and function provide a biblical framework for thinking about the central questions of the discipline, pointing to ways in which Christians may faithfully and responsibly enter into its practices. For students considering a major in music or just looking for ways to increase their engagement with the discipline, this booklet not only provides a Christian perspective but promotes reflection on the call to serve as musical agents of renewal in God’s world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Timothy H. Steele (MM, Temple University; PhD, University of Chicago) is associate professor of music and chair of the music department at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has taught since 2007.
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