Leitourgia

Os Guinness' spiritual classic The Call (Thomas Nelson, 2018) has been reprinted in a new edition which features expanded chapters and a personal study guide. The book answers one of the most pressing and central questions to human existence: What is my life calling? Guinness approaches the subject from a Christian perspective and asserts that God has made each individual for a specific purpose. As we seek to know God's will and call for our lives, we submit to follow him in faith and obedience. This book is 30 chapters which are designed to read as individual devotionals each day. They are short, warm, and insightful. Guinness is a master with words, clearly making his point with resounding truth. He draws on the wisdom of philosophers like Kierkegaard, Lewis, Kuyper, Luther, and Einstein and also interacts with his personal experiences and biblical accounts to craft a robust theology of calling. Guinness writes for both seekers and believers, realizing that everyone in li...

There are (perhaps unsurprisingly) very few books on the history of the Hebrew language. Angel Sanez-Badillo's A History of the Hebrew Language  was a seminal work in this area, but there remains little scholarship in Hebraic linguistics. But now, Lewis Gilnert's  The Story of Hebrew  (Princeton, 2017) fills this void and provides an accessible yet rich history of Hebrew. He probes a sweeping account of the language, from its origins in Genesis (in which he claims the first Hebrew words were spoken) to its revival in modern Israel. From Aleph to Tav Yet this book is more than a dry history of one language; rather, it examines the significance of the language to the people who spoke it. Gilnert, a respected Jewish scholar, traces its usage in Judaism and Christianity, how it served as a scholarly language in the Middle Ages, and how it was preserved carefully only to be revived by Zionists in the modern age. He explains how Hebrew was used in ancient prayer, and how i...

Formerly known as the Everyman's Bible Commentary,  Alan F. Johnson's perceptive commentary on the New Testament book of Romans has been republished as Everyday Bible Commentary: Romans  (Moody, 2018). This is a full-length commentary on Romans but is written for a popular audience. Nevertheless, Johnson provides a wealth of scholarly insights that are accessible to those without a seminary education! The mission of this commentary series suggests that Bible study should not be for the scholarly elite; if the Bible was written for the people, then all people should be able to understand it. Johnson fulfills this mission in his commentary. The book is divided by the book's major divisions, just as a normal single-volume commentary would be. Especially useful are Johnson's charts and diagrams. Romans is a notoriously complex work, and Johnson does an excellent job untangling it for laypeople. Johnson treats theological issues fairly and does not dive too far into doct...

Dr. Jerry Vines, a veteran pastor and Bible scholar, has combined his decades of insights from studying and teaching the Bible to create The Vines Expository Bible.  There are four main features in this text: Presenting the Message,  outlines from Vines' personal teaching archive that can be used in preaching. Living the Message,  short stories that can be used as sermon illustrations. Applying the Message,  suggestions to make the text come alive in one's personal life. Discerning the Meaning,  brief word studies on key terms in a passage. This is not necessarily a study Bible; it is more of a devotional Bible. To be sure, pastors and teachers will find much utility in Vines' trove of insights; however, it should not be a substitute for personal study. Vines' teaching is valuable and presented in a friendly, pastoral manner. As a Baptist preacher, Vines may not theologically align with all in the Christian tradition. This Bible also features an exten...