John Piper's "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals" is a seminal work addressing the role and responsibilities of pastors. Piper emphasizes the importance of pastors being serious students of the Bible, prioritizing biblical preaching and discipleship over worldly methods or gimmicks. He challenges pastors to avoid seeking relevance through entertainment or worldly trends, urging them to focus on the faithful exposition of Scripture and the nurturing of their congregations. The book serves as a call for pastors to return to the core values of biblical ministry, emphasizing faithfulness, theological depth, and a commitment to the gospel. It has significantly influenced the thinking of many pastors and theologians within the Reformed tradition.
John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" is a comprehensive and systematic exposition of Christian theology. Written as a guide for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Christian faith, it covers a wide range of topics, including the nature of God, the doctrine of salvation, the sacraments, and the organization of the church. Calvin's work is characterized by its clarity, precision, and profound theological insights. It has had a lasting impact on the development of Reformed theology and continues to be studied and appreciated by theologians and students of theology today. Its influence on the development of Protestant thought is immeasurable. The Institutes remain a cornerstone of Reformed theological tradition.
Written between 413-426 CE, 'The City of God' is a response to pagan claims that the sack of Rome by barbarians was a consequence of the abolition of pagan worship by Christian emperors. Augustine argues that Christianity saved the city from complete destruction and that Rome’s fall was due to internal moral decay. The book divides humanity into two metaphorical cities: the City of God, characterized by devotion to God, and the City of Man, characterized by self-love. It also outlines Augustine’s theological interpretation of human history, from the Creation to the Second Coming of Christ, and critiques paganism and pagan philosophy while presenting the true history of the City of God[2][5][6].