The Internet Monk.  That is the tag by which most people knew Michael Spencer.  Spencer authored a blog with tons of traffic and conversation.  His book, Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality, is a distillation of his thoughts about his charge of a disconnect between the modern church and what it means to follow Jesus.  This book will stand as Spencer’s call to following Jesus since he went to be with Jesus in April of 2010.

The subtitle of the book offers readers insight into the contents of the pages.  Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality.  This subtitle indicates that his target audience is the people that have wandered away from the church disillusioned by what they were experienced in the modern evangelical church.  His call is for these people not to give up on following Jesus.  Spencer argues that Jesus and the church as it often exists do not necessarily belong together.

Spencer specifically calls out the close connection of the church with conservative politics and the apple pie in the sky approach to spirituality.  Throughout the book he challenges his readers to immerse themselves into the gospel accounts of Jesus and rediscover the Jesus of the gospels.

Readers will be challenged to learn more of Jesus and to diligently heed the Lord’s calls to follow him.  He calls for opposing any attempt to distract from this type of spirituality whether it be the call of politics, step by step Christianity, moralism or anything else.  If the visible church does not mirror Jesus, then follow Jesus.

Continue Reading…

Federal Prison in Coleman, Florida

I have been selling some of my books through Amazon and my eBay store.  Today I shipped off a purchase of The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God by Dallas Willard.  What was unusual was that the order was placed by an inmate in a federal prison in Coleman, Florida.

Willard’s book is a great book that should strengthen any Christian who picks it up.  I pray that it will become part of Christ being formed anew in this prisoner’s life.

If you would like to get your own copy from Amazon, just click below.  You won’t get the low, low price which this prisoner received for our copy, but you can get a great deal.  If interested in any other books that we have for sale at typically lower than Amazon prices, visit our ebay Store.

Thomas Nelson has published several biographical works in a series called, Christian Encounters.  As a part of that series, Robert West has written the biographical account of Francis of Assissi titled, Saint Francis (Christian Encounters Series).  Reading this biography will certainly challenge Christians to consider what it means to follow Jesus.

West has a background in the theater and therefore has provided a biography that differs from those written by other historians.  This difference shows up early in the book as the early life of Francis is recounted.  Due to a lack of primary or secondary material that is specific to this period of Francis’ life, West uses an artistic license to tell a story that might have been.

Once the reader moves along in the book, it becomes more evident that West has acquainted himself with the source material about Francis’ conversion, ministry, life and death.  In short, Francis was born into a merchant’s family and lived life guided by his appetites rather than by any sense of duty or calling.

Francis’ life took a very dramatic turn after he met Christ.  He spurned his luxuries and appetites to live a life of a beggar and an preacher.  Francis gave away all that he had to the poor and lived by asking alms of those to whom he would minister.  As people began to realize that he was not a man who had lost his mind, his reputation began to spread.  Others followed him by giving away all they possessed and imitating the life of Francis.

A religious order was formed for those who chose this manner of life.  Strict rules of admission and living applied to each of these followers.  Eventually an order was established for women and another for married couples.

While most of us would bristle at or disagree about the discipline by which Francis lived, we would do well to consider Francis’ motivation for such a drastic lifestyle.  He genuinely longed to spend time with God and be like Christ.  He did not want to give any cause to accuse him of selfish gain.  Humility was a virtue which he focused his attention until the end of his life.

Francis loved The Scriptures, but his affinity for strange visions should be a cause of concern for us.  West provides us accounts of Francis being spoken to by moving lips from a statue of Jesus and several other subjective visions.  According to the author, Francis is history’s first bearer of the stigmata.  That is, many thought Francis actually bore the marks of crucifixion in and on his body.  West does provide alternative views on the stigmata.

As a result of reading this biography, today’s Christian should crave to spend time with our Lord void of any distractions.  For those who are preachers, Francis’ preaching should be a spur.  It was said of Francis,

That he preached repentance to all with simple words, but it struck his listeners like a “blazing fire” in their hearts (p. 86).

Francis, himself, explained the task of preaching,

The preacher must first draw from secret prayers what he will later pour out in holy sermons; he must first grow hot within before he speaks words that in themselves are cold (p. 137).

This type of devotion demonstrated and taught by Francis, makes this biography worthy of your consideration.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson.

In 1961, Jaques Courvoisier delivered The Annie Kinkead Warfield Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary.  At the time, Courvoisier was serving as professor of Church History at the University of Geneva.  The printed version of these lectures are available to us in Zwingli, a Reformed Theologian.

Although these lectures were given almost half a century ago, much is to be gained by reading of this historical giant.  Zwingli was the early leader of The Reformation in Switzerland while serving as pastor in Zurich.  Many are more familiar with Martin Luther and John Calvin, but Zwingli played a major role in the Protestant Reformation.

Courvoisier makes the case that Zwingli grounded his theology in the Scriptures and that he placed high priority on the centrality of the gospel.  Both of these are still vitally needed in the church nearly 500 years later.  In examining Zwingli’s biblical and gospel foundations, Courvoisier laid out Zwingli’s views in five key areas.  Each area provides a chapter in the book with an additional concluding chapter.  The five areas discussed are:

1. The Word of God
2. The Christological Axis
3. The Church
4. The Sacraments
5. Church and State

If you are a student of church history (in particular, The Reformation), this is an extremely worthwhile book to read.  It is a little difficult to find.

* Currently 2 of the books are available in the P2P Bookstore at this link: Zwingli: A Reformed Theologian.

Christianaudio.com is offering a free download throughout the month of August for the audiobook, Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road by Tim Keller.  This is an excellent book by a great pastor in New York City.

To get your free download, click on the image.  As you checkout, use the code AUG2010 to make this a free purchase.  Then download it and enjoy.

If you prefer the traditional book version, click on this link Ministries of Mercy to purchase from the P2P Bookstore for as little as $3.92.

Although we had a huge number of hits for the book giveaway, only two readers did all of things required to be in the drawing.  And the winner is…Doug Hibbard.

Congratulations, Doug.

If you did not get entered or did not win, you may still purchase the book by clicking on the book picture.

Pulpit 2 Pew is giving away one copy of The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ by John MacArthur.  For my review of the book, click here.  Here are the requirements and details of the giveaway:

1.  Leave a comment in the comment section of this article that you would like to win the book.

2.  Be a current subscriber to Pulpit 2 Pew or subscribe either by RSS feed and/or email.  In your comment indicate how you subscribe to the blog.

3.  Share this giveaway either on Facebook or Twitter.

For Twitter use this message:  “Book Giveaway http://bit.ly/93IbCj via @fgantz” or click on the retweet button.

For Facebook, click on the “Share/Save” button.  Then choose the Facebook icon.  (To see the Share/Save button, you have to be on the specific page for this article.  If you are on the home page, click on the title of this article to see the button.

In your comment indicate whether you shared this on Facebook, Twitter or both.

4.  Each person that does all 3 items above will be entered into the random drawing.

5.  The drawing will occur at the end of day on Monday, July 26th.

Thanks for participating.

When you think of Jesus, do you think of a mild-mannered man who always got along?  If so, John MacArthur wants you to understand Jesus in a different way.  In The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ, MacArthur examines the three year period of time in which Jesus battles with the religious leaders of his day.

This three year period was bracketed by the two times that Jesus cleansed the temple.  In between these events, you will discover that Jesus challenged the actions, teachings and even the thoughts of these leaders.  He challenged everything that made it difficult for people to find right standing with God.

Readers will find the familiar MacArthur writing style.  The basis for all of his arguments are firmly rooted in a careful understanding of the Bible.

The purpose for this book is to provide a call to today’s Christians to follow Jesus in confronting errors of our day that threaten the gospel message.  When people distort the gospel by either adding to it or taking away from it, this is when we should challenge these views.

I highly recommend this book to all who want to grow in their understanding of who Jesus is.  What you think about Jesus will enable you to more clearly look at the religious landscape and make clear distinctions.

What you think about Jesus Christ will thoroughly color how you think about everything else.

–John MacArthur

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Christianaudio.com is offering a free download of the audiobook, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer.  This is an excellent smaller book by a great Christian writer.

To get your free download, click on the image.  As you checkout, use the code JUL2010 to make this a free purchase.  Then download it and enjoy.  This offer is available throughout July.

If you prefer the traditional book version, click on this link The Pursuit of God to purchase from Amazon.  I am confident that you will be spiritually enriched by listening to or reading this book.