Book Reviews for 5-2-18
Knowledge Of The Holy
By: A.W. Tozer
This timeless gift breathes a spirit of devotion for all Christians, from those who are newly arrived to those who are committing themselves anew to Jesus Christ.
The Knowledge of the Holy by beloved evangelical author and Christian mystic A.W. Tozer illuminates God’s attributes—from wisdom, to grace, to mercy—and in doing so, attempts to restore the majesty and wonder of God in the hearts and minds of all Christians. Informative as well as inspirational, The Knowledge of the Holy returns the towering Christian concept of God to the center of the religious mind, fostering a renewed appreciation of the magnitude of God’s glory.
A modern classic of Christian testimony and devotion, The Knowledge of the Holy shows us how we can rejuvenate our prayer life, meditate more reverently, understand God more deeply, and experience God’s presence in our daily lives.
The Holiness Of God
By R. C. Sproul
From Rudolf Otto’s mysterium tremendum to Martin Luther’s “insanity” and Jonathan Edwards’s fiery sermons, Sproul’s class
ic offers an accessible exploration of history and Scripture that will help you understand—and live with—the tension between God’s terrifying holiness and his inexplicable grace.
Sproul explains, “How we understand the person and character of God the Father affects every aspect of our lives….God is inescapable. There is no place we can hide from Him. Not only does He penetrate every aspect of our lives, but He penetrates it in his majestic holiness. Therefore we must seek to understand what the holy is. We dare not seek to avoid it. There can be no worship, no spiritual growth, no true obedience without it. It defines our goal as Christians. God has declared, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:44). To reach that goal, we must understand what holiness is.”
Allow one of the all-time classic works on God’s character to guide you more deeply into the presence of God as you respond to God’s holiness. This edition of Sproul’s work includes challenging study questions for individuals or small groups.
The Discipline Of Grace
By: Jerry Bridges
The same grace that brings us salvation also teaches us to discipline ourselves as we pursue holiness. DOES LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE FEEL LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK? Remember that your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace, nor are your best days ever so good that you are beyond the need of it. We know we need grace. Without it we’d never come to Christ in the first place, but being a Christian is more than just coming to Christ. It’s about growing and becoming more like Jesus?it’s about pursuing holiness. The pursuit of holiness is hard work, and that’s where we turn from grace to discipline?and often make a big mistake. Grace is every bit as important for growing as a Christian as it is for becoming a Christian. “The pursuit of holiness,” writes Jerry Bridges, “must be anchored in the grace of God; otherwise it is doomed to failure.” Grace is at the heart of the gospel, and without a clear understanding of the gospel and grace, we can easily slip into a performance-based lifestyle that bears little resemblance to what the gospel offers us. According to Bridges, many Christians don’t have a good grasp of what the gospel message is. In The Discipline of Grace, he offers a clear and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to the believer. Bridges discusses how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ, and how we learn to discipline ourselves in the areas of commitment, conviction, choices, watchfulness, and adversity. If you’ve ever struggled with what your role is and what role God takes in your growth as a Christian, this book will comfort and challenge you as you learn to rest in Christ while vigorously pursuing a life of holiness.