We have broken this section into three subcategories. The first is full of book reviews that are either good or bad; presenting a more in-depth look at books that contain theological content. The second, called "book briefs" are brief notations on books that will be different from the description on the back of the book and give us insight on whether you would want to read that book or not. The third is simply a quick resources for certain topics. We hope these subcategories grow as do the resources to better benefit your research.
It’s good to see that Publishers Weekly understands the goals behind Doctrine. You should take their advice in their recent review of the book and consider how Doctrine "could be used in universities, churches, or seminaries for systematic teaching of this particular strain of Christianity; it makes the most plainspoken and comprehensive case for the new Reformed Protestant Christianity today."
Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. Crossway, $22.99 (464p) ISBN 978-0-4335-0625-3
From the authors of Vintage Jesus comes a tome elaborating the 13 teachings they say every Christian should believe. Driscoll, a controversial pastor for his often brash teaching, and Breshears, professor of theology at Western Seminary, combine for this book that describes the heart of Christian truth claims or doctrines. The pair attempt—and accomplish—vigorous interaction with biblical texts, systematic doctrine, culture, and flawed thinking; they directly address the reader, urging repentance and faith. Drawing on orthodox Reformed and Protestant theology, the book moves from God, stays on God, and ends with God. The book is organized around the actions of God: God is, speaks, makes, loves, judges, pursues, comes, dies, saves, sends, transforms, gives, reigns. The book could be used in universities, churches, or seminaries for systematic teaching of this particular strain of Christianity; it makes the most plainspoken and comprehensive case for the new Reformed Protestant Christianity today. (Mar. 31)
The book Pagan Christianity is a book that makes some serious charges against the offices, functions, and forms of the church. Additionally, it has become something of a manifesto for those disgruntled with the church, rebellious against spiritual authority, and intrigued by suspicious doctrine. The conclusions of the book are antithetical to nearly everything I write with Dr. Gerry Breshears in Vintage Church and are personally concerning to me as a church pastor. Because Pagan Christianity poses such a serious threat to the health and well being of the church, I felt it merited a formal critique and commissioned my research team to review the book for some pastors who had asked for it. Over time, requests for that critique have become so numerous that I have decided to post it online for free to be of service to the whole church of Jesus Christ. Lastly, this critique is intended to in no way serve as a critique of the men who wrote Pagan Christianity. By all accounts they are brothers in Christ whom I love but with whom I disagree.
If you're looking for a really tough New Year's resolution to challenge yourself, here's an idea. We've tried to find every single thing written by Charles Spurgeon and compiled this comprehensive list. For a real challenge, see if you can read everything on this list. Probably few are up to the task, but whatever progress you make, you won't regret it.
Since the release of Fight Clubs: Gospel-Centered Discipleship, the book has been viewed over 10,000 times and sold hundreds of copies. If you’ve read it, we’d love to hear from you at the new Fight Clubs Blog. What have you found helpful in your fight of faith? Where could you use some advice? Check out the blog and share some of your Fight Club stories, while reading the stories of others!
Gospel-Centered Motivations
We’ve reworked the title of Fight Clubs just for Resurgence readers in order to emphasize the gospel-centered thrust of the book. When a word like “gospel-centered” becomes ubiquitous, very often its meaning can be lost. We adopt the terminology without drilling down into its meaning. Gospel-Centered Discipleship drills down.
Chapter three focuses on various gospel motivations—religious affections, repentance and faith in Jesus, biblical warnings and promises, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Grace upon grace for our discipleship. In the words of John Owen, God gives us “a train of graces” to fight our sin. And when these grace-saturated motivations become central, obeying Jesus becomes more joyful!
We learn to fight the fight of faith, not with legalistic rules but with gracious promises. We follow Jesus, not to impress God or others, but because Jesus has impressed Him for us. We become so acquainted with the Spirit, that sin becomes less attractive. This is the way forward in discipleship; it is the way of the gospel.
Forming a Fight Club
Instead of fighting or failing alone, the gospel calls us to join one another in the fight of faith. The book provides both a theology and a strategy to fight sin as the church—Fight Clubs. Fight Clubs are small, gospel-centered, fighting communities that encourage one another to beat up the flesh and believe the promises of God.
In these communities we can help one another uncover idols and recover Jesus. Three “rules” apply: 1) Know your Sin 2) Fight your Sin 3) Trust your Savior. Chapter five unpacks the “rules” of Fight Club. Read the book; form a Fight Club; and start fighting in the strength of the gospel.
Endorsements
Jonathan has done us a huge favour in writing this book. The best endorsement I can give it is simply that as I read it, a growing sense of wanting to fight sin grew within me. I want to be a card carrying member of a 'Fight Club' so that in community we can take sin seriously, encourage one another to believe the gospel deeply and pray for each other to respond to the Holy Spirit passionately. What else can I say? This is an excellent book. Buy it. Read it. Do it.
Fight Clubs is a timely book about gospel-centered accountability and age of anonymity and shallow relationships. Dodson has done a masterful job highlighting how the Holy Spirit uses gospel truth to give us new Christ-centered affections that dispel our thirst for sin. Moreover, he helps men see how they can come alongside each other to unearth the deeper sins and heart-idols that drive our more obvious sins. For those still playing at religion through surfacey pseudo-accountability, this book is a welcome killjoy. You'll never look at accountability the same way again.
Luke Gilkerson // Internet Director for Covenant Eyes
Fight Clubs addresses the core issues of a true disciple: identity in Jesus, worship of Jesus, community for Jesus and mission with Jesus. This book will help men understand the gospel and its call for believers to fight against following rules and fleshly desires by following Jesus.
In a recent sermon Pastor Mark Driscoll called out young men for putting off manhood and extending their adolescence as “guys” rather than maturing into men. Watch this clip to see what he said:
Click through to the Resurgence if you can’t see the video.
If you care about ministering to emerging adults (18-24 year olds), or guys (16-26 year old males), then the following books should prove helpful to you in understanding their world. These books are filled with the best and newest sociological research on the topics. They are not “how to” books on ministering to young adults. Rather, they are descriptive and will give you the lay of the land.
This book is top-notch research that tells the definitive story of the religious and spiritual lives of emerging adults, ages 18 to 24, in the United States. It describes the major influences on their developing spiritual lives and reveals how the religious beliefs and practices of teenagers are strengthened, challenged, and often changed as they move into adulthood.
Many of their findings are surprising. First, parents are the single most important influence on the religious outcomes of young adults. Second, participation in evangelization, missions, and youth groups does not predict a high level of religious vitality just a few years later. Third, the common wisdom that religiosity declines sharply during the young adult years is shown to be greatly exaggerated.
What many will find particularly helpful is how Smith and Snell describe the broader cultural world of today's emerging adults, how that culture shapes their religious outlooks, and what the consequences are for religious faith and practice in America more generally.
This book is about “guys.” Guys are initiated into guyland sometime around high school and hopefully exit in their mid-20s. Kimmel paints a vivid picture of this depressing place populated by “almost-men.”
Young men are doing things very differently today than they have in the past. Guys are delaying the milestones of adulthood for a longer period of time, such as moving out of their parents’ home, getting jobs, buying homes, marrying, and having children. They are rejecting the traditional notions of mature masculinity by opting for vanity and narcissism. They follow Hugh Hefner's model of a life based on unrealistic and childish male wish fulfillment. Guyland celebrates and sustains guys’ failure to launch into the adult responsibilities of work and family.
Kimmel powerfully drives home the point that guyland defines “being a man” through consumption rather than production: video games, pornography, bars, parties, sports, the media, and other things. Guyland is filled with many of the most toxic elements of our culture: violence, hazing, drinking, drugs, pornography, emotionally detached intimacy, sexual harassment, and degradation of women.
It is clear why guyland is detrimental to both women and men. But Kimmel is hopeful. He discusses possibilities for change, addressing the importance of actively involved parents beyond their children’s high school years. He also provides stories of hope and bravery of individuals and institutions that have sought to address the problems associated with guyland.
Wuthnow offers a broad description of this demographic: “Young adults are marrying later, having fewer children and having them later, moving more often, going to college in higher numbers, living with more immigrant neighbors and therefore more ethnic and religious diversity, and living in the suburbs even more than their baby boomer parents.”
This plays out in the fact that 46 percent of those in their early forties attend church weekly while only 29 percent of people in their twenties do.
The biggest single social factor related to declining church attendance among younger adults is the postponement of marriage and children. Wuthnow explains: “Being married or unmarried has a stronger effect on church attendance than anything else. Children also make some difference. This means that the postponement of marriage and children continues to suppress church attendance at least until adults are in their early forties.”
While those in their early forties go to church more often, young adults in their twenties talk about religion with their friends more than any other demographic. Furthermore, Wuthnow reports that “core beliefs have remained remarkably pervasive and stable” over the past 30 years. This means younger adults are interested in spirituality and are sympathetic to essential Christian doctrine.
