Our guest—pastor, professor, lecturer, and author Nick Needham—continues his highly collectible series, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power. In volume 5—The Enlightenment and Awakening—Needham explores the many significant 18th-century developments in Church history, including the growing American church. Understanding how Christians responded to the quickly shifting events in the world around them will help pastors and laypersons alike put the 1700s into proper perspective.    Christian Focus Publications graciously provided three copies of Dr. Needham's latest volume for a giveaway. The winners were Kaspars O. from Louisville, KY, Paul R. from McKinney, TX, and Mark A. from Grand Rapids, MI.

The Shadow of Christ in the Book of Lamentations How many sermons have you heard from the Old Testament book of Lamentations? Clearly, it’s not a “fan favorite,” but—as author and professor C.J. Williams explains—the prophet Jeremiah’s poetic laments offer us practical insights into grieving with faith, finding hope in suffering, and experiencing grace in life’s trials. As his title suggests, Dr. Williams makes a compelling case for reading Lamentations in the light of Christ’s suffering and the healing it brings.  Thanks to Crown and Covenant's generosity, we were able to select three winners for a giveaway of Dr. Williams' book. Congratulations to Vincent R. from Newtown Square, PA, Doug B. from Medford, OR, and Ben M. from Anaheim Hills, CA.

Many define “worship” as the music Christians employ in Sunday services. Others hold to a certain “style” of worship. What kind of worship does God demand? In his new book, Trembling Joy: A Biblical Defense of Traditional Worship, Pastor Ryan Speck defines terms and points his readers to what Scripture has to say about how Christians corporately approach the throne of God. Our guest discusses the balance of music, the preached Word, the sacraments, and more—even suggesting an order of elements that follows what the Lord expects from our worship. The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals provided three copies of Trembling Joy for a giveaway. The winners were Brian Z. from Manhattan, KS, Charlotte N. from Santa Clara, CA, and Joe K. from Williams, AZ. 

How do you envision a triune God carrying out the divine missions? Do you picture the Son and Spirit departing the throne room—lunchboxes in hand—only to return to Heaven in the evening and report to the Father? If so, how might we understand our communion with God or the presence of Jesus in the heart of a believer? To approach this level of contemplation, Jonathan and James welcome Dr. Adonis Vidu. The author and associate professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Seminary builds on the content of his recent book on inseparable operations to help readers comprehend the divine missions as the presence of God united with a created being, which provides a foretaste of the banquet that is one day to come.  Wipf and Stock Publishers generously provided two copies of The Divine Missions: An Introduction for a giveaway. Congratulations to Skyler M. from Vancouver, WA and James R. from Winona Lake, IN.

“I’m a Christian, but I don’t need a church. Nature is where I find God.” Whatever the stated reasoning, those who avoid church attendance and membership often do so without understanding why believers need the Church and the Church needs them.   Guest Terry Johnson has written many books and has served in church ministry for over 40 years. In his latest work, Johnson uses key New Testament passages to explain why local church attendance is essential in the life of every believer and how that mutual accountability cannot be replaced by parachurch activity or informal spirituality.     Christian Focus Publications provided three copies of Who Needs the Church: Why We Need the Church (and Why the Church Needs Us) for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners: Tony T. from Alderson, WV, Skyler M. from Vancouver, WA, and Kandice T. from Enterprise, AL.

Theology for Ministry Since assuming his first pastorate in 1971, Sinclair Ferguson’s life and Bible teaching have left an indelible mark on the lives and ministries of his parishioners, students, colleagues, and friends. Our guest today edited and contributed to a Festschrift published in Ferguson’s honor—Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice. Like Ferguson, Chad VanDixhoorn is a pastor, professor, and author. Along with an impressive list of co-contributors, VanDixhoorn outlines a rich scriptural framework for ministry grounded in key Christian doctrines and the application of the benefits and blessings that come to us through the Spirit in our union with Christ. Thanks to P&R Publishing, we were able to offer three copies of Theology for Ministry for a giveaway. The winners were David R. from Williamsburg, VA, Cullen B. from Marietta, GA, and Brandt K. from Trevose, PA.

Growing in Grace   As both of our hosts are respected authors and enjoy discussing a great book, it would only follow that sometimes the interviewers would become interviewees. Such is the case today as James Dolezal grills (even fillets!) Jonathan Master, concerning his book Growing in Grace: Becoming More Like Jesus.   It’s an accessible work that deals with the scriptural command for Christians to work diligently at growing in the grace and personal knowledge of the Lord. That includes walking worthy of our calling and enjoying the blessings of our salvation through the gathering together with others in the Church. Dr. Master explains how we’re called to die to sin and be enslaved to righteousness and discusses the roles humility and suffering play in the growth of every believer.   Banner of Truth graciously provided three copies of Jonathan's book for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners: Marianne M. from Sterling Heights, MI, Dwayne S. from Cedarburg, WI, and Joe K. from Williams, AZ. 

Face to Face with God We celebrate Christ’s work as our high priest and mediator.  Is Jesus active in those roles today? And how is Jesus “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek?” Guest Desmond Alexander provides satisfying answers to these questions and others through the course of today’s conversation and with his new book, Face to Face with God: A Biblical Theology of Christ as Priest and Mediator. Courtesy of IVP Academic, we have a few copies of Desmond’s book to give away. To get in the running, sign up here.

Zwingli: God’s Armed Prophet In his time, Huldrych Zwingli was a deeply polarizing figure. Though clearly a leader of the Swiss Reformation, contemporaries Martin Luther and John Calvin denied Zwingli's influence,  due in large part to his position on the Lord's Supper. Unlike his more famous critics, Zwingli would die on a battlefield in Zurich engaged in an armed defense of the Reformation in his homeland. Today’s guest Bruce Gordon is the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School and the author of many books on the Reformation. Dr. Gordon joins Jonathan and James to provide a fresh biography of the warrior prophet and a deeper appreciation of Zwingli's contribution to Reformation thought. Thanks to Yale Books, we were able to offer a copy of Gordon's book Zwingli: God's Armed Prophet. The winner was Kurt V. from Yuba City, CA.

The Fall of Satan and the Demons Today’s discussion began years ago when our hosts collaborated to create a college course on angels and demons. Today, Jonathan and James reconvene in our digital classroom and focus their discussion more specifically on the fall of the demons and their ringleader Satan. You’ll learn about the origins and specific sins of that rebellion, and how their fate differs from man’s corporate fall from grace. It’s a conversation rich with biblical truth about this unseen realm. Courtesy of Banner of Truth books, we have a few copies of Satan Cast Out by Frederick Leahy to give away. Here’s where you register.