A bunch of new books

I ordered some new books a couple of weeks ago and they arrived this morning. I did receive a couple of books for Christmas that I’ll be spending some time reading but here are some others that are added to my reading list.

A Better Way by Michael Horton

Across the spectrum there seems to be a general vagueness about the God we worship and the purpose of worship in the first place. But do we have to settle for either dull routine or perpetual innovation? In this penetrating examination of worship, Michael Horton demonstrates that there is a better way. Dig below the surface of today’s worship wars and rediscover the biblical and theological foundations for a Christian understanding of worship. Only then, Horton contends, can we place Christ back on center stage and restore our unity as the people of God in the presence of God.

God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas by Greg Pennoyer & Gregory Wolfe, editors

God with us. This is the meaning of the Incarnation. This is the meaning of Christmas.When we cut through all of the sentiment and marketing to the spiritual richness and vitality of Christmas, we not only discover who God is, but who we are as human beings.

When we become adults, and the wide-eyed wonder of childhood has passed, we need to replace what was once magical with something much more meaningful.

Now is the time to put first things first, and seek silence, if only for a few precious minutes a day. Now, ever more intently, we are to watch and listen for God.

God With Us is a companion for those who want to experience Christmas as the early Christians once did, set in the larger context of Advent and Epiphany. Through daily meditations, scripture, prayer, illuminating history and fine art, we experience what saints have glimpsed through the ages – the wonder of God made flesh.

Exploring The Worship Spectrum by Paul Engle & Paul Basden, editors

A clear, engaging description of the six most prevalent models of worship in North American churches, presented by advocates for each position. The contributors evaluate each position in order to broaden peoples understanding of diverse models and shed light on an emotive issue.

Christianity’s Dangerous Idea by Alister McGrath

The “dangerous idea” lying at the heart of Protestantism is that the interpretation of the Bible is each individual’s right and responsibility. The spread of this principle has resulted in five hundred years of remarkable innovation and adaptability, but it has also created cultural incoherence and social instability. Without any overarching authority to rein in “wayward” thought, opposing sides on controversial issues can only appeal to the Bible—yet the Bible is open to many diverse interpretations. Christianity’s Dangerous Idea is the first book that attempts to define this core element of Protestantism and the religious and cultural dynamic that this dangerous idea unleashed, culminating in the remarkable new developments of the twentieth century.

At a time when Protestants will soon cease to be the predominant faith tradition in the United States, McGrath’s landmark reassessment of the movement and its future is well-timed. Replete with helpful modern-day examples that explain the past, McGrath brings to life the Protestant movements and personalities that shaped history and the central Christian idea that continues to dramatically influence world events today.