Author: Josh King

Readability:  1

Length: 145 pp

Author: R.C. Sproul

In my opinion this is not the best book on suffering that I have read; neither is this the most thorough book on suffering that I have read, nor is this the most moving or powerful book on suffering that I have read. Why then read Surprised by Suffering? Well it’s Sproul for one; that almost always makes a book worth reading. His fluid conversational style, superb ability to tell a story, and masterful teaching ability ensure you to profit.

The great contribution I think this book makes is its emphasis on death as suffering and then seeing all suffering in light of heaven. Also Sproul does a good job of working out suffering as a vocation.

We are followers of Christ. We follow Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. We follow Him into the Hall of Judgment. We follow Him along the Via Dolorosa. We follow Him unto death. But the gospel declares, we follow Him through the gates of Heaven. Because we suffer with Him, we shall also be raised with Him. If we are humiliated with Him we shall also be exalted with Him. It is because of Christ that our suffering is not useless. It is part of the total plan of God who has chosen to redeem the world through the pathway of suffering.

Readability:  1

Length: 172 pp

Author: Jerry Bridges

Jerry Bridges constantly tells us to “preach the gospel to ourselves every day,” in his books. Although he works this out in all of his books, this is the entire focus in The Gospel for Real Life. Jerry looks at the major facets of the cross such as propitiation, ransom, and imputation, and then shows you their significance for everyday life. We never mature beyond the gospel, but only in the gospel; Bridges will simply and powerfully remind you of this.

I once read a story about two men who happened to be kneeling side by side at the communion rail of an English church. One was a former convict who had served time and was now out of prison.  The other was the judge who had sentenced him to prison years before.

After the service the minister asked the judge, “Did you recognize the man kneeling beside you?”

“Yes I did,” replied the judge.  “That was a miracle of grace.”

“You mean that a man you sentenced to prison should be kneeling beside you?”

“No, not at all,” said the judge.  “The miracle is that I should be kneeling beside him.  You see, that man knew clearly he was a sinner in need of a Savior.  But I was brought up in a religious home, have lived a decent, moral life, and have served my community.  It is much more difficult for someone such as I to recognize his need for a Savior.  I am the miracle of grace.”

Readability:  1

Length: 121

Author: Paul Williams and Barry Cooper

This book has some good questions. But that alone isn’t a reason to buy it, it also has good answers with British wit and sarcasm to boot.

If You Could Ask God One Question deals with twelve questions skeptics often ask today and deals with them scripturally, concisely, and humorously while remaining reverent. This is a great book if you want some answers for yourself or for a friend. Its friendly sarcasm and brevity make it great to give away and have conversations over. Here are the questions dealt with.

1. If you’re really there, God, why on earth don’t you prove it?
2. Isn’t the Bible just a bunch of made up stories?
3. All good people go to heaven, right?
4. If you’re a God of love, why send anyone to Hell?
5. If Jesus really was your Son, how come He got killed?
6. If I can be forgiven everything, doesn’t that mean I can do whatever I like?
7. How can anyone be sure there’s life after death?
8. What about followers of other religions?
9. Isn’t faith just a psychological crutch?
10. Why do you allow suffering?
11. Why do you hate sex?
12. Why don’t you just do a miracle?

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Readability:  3

Length: 302

Author: Michael D. Williams

Traversing a section of the Grand Canyon is majestic enough, but to really capture its grandeur you need a bird’s eye view. I am consistently awed to dive into a book of the Bible, but it is often when I step back to see its relation to the whole that I am most stunned by glory.

Do you have problems grasping the big story of the Bible? Confused as to how God’s covenant with Noah relates to His covenant to Israel? More confused still as to how the covenants of the Old Testament relate to those of the New? Then I highly encourage Far as the Curse Is Found.

I think overall that I like Robertson’s Christ of the Covenants better, I would have to read them both again to determine that, but I know that I appreciated and enjoyed Williams greater emphasis on the redemption of the earth. Also, while Williams may be more practical, realting all of this to daily life. If you are wondering what role the earth plays in God’s eternal plan, Williams is the better book to go to. Also I think Williams did a better job clarifying the relationship of the law to the gospel, perhaps he was just more easily understood, to make a fair assessment I would need to read them both again.

On resurrection morning God was able to say again what he had exclaimed over creation so long ago: ‘It is good. It is very good.’

Existence is not the issue. Of course the gods exist. Man makes them. He can hold his idol in his hand. The issue is action, person, character. The false god of the idol maker is blind; it sees nothing. It does nothing, for it is made of wood. It can speak no word that man does not first give it. It is an impotent dead thing. Yahweh is no such manmade, lifeless god. He is not the thing made. Yahweh is the maker of all. What sets Yahweh off from the idols is the fact that he is the sovereign one, the one who comes to us, not who comes from us.

As we will see, the function of law within Scripture is the maintenance of relationship, not the creation of relationship. Legal obligation is not the precondition for life and relationship. Rather, life and relationship form the necessary environment for obligation. I tell my son that he must pick up her room and neatly put things away. I require him to do it. It is necessary for a healthy and happy relationship between us. But the ground of our relationship is not his picking up his toys and books. If it were, a visiting playmate could straighten up Saywer’s room and then earn the right to become my son. But relationship precedes obligation.