New books in the SMACC Library

Some new titles in our SMACC Library to be aware of:

Dug Down Deep, Joshua Harris - Is theology irrelevant? Does doctrine just divide? Josh Harris in this memoir cum basic systematic theology explains how he discovered differently in a winsome and conversational way.

Reading the Bible with Heart & Mind, Tremper Longman - Wanting to learn to read your Bible better but wondering how? Here's a book that explains the how and why, without neglecting the devotional aspects that should come whenever we drink of God's Word.

Experiencing the Spirit, Graham Beynon - An immensely readable primer on the Holy Spirit. If you're feeling a bit confused by all the things you've heard on the role of the 3rd person of the Trinity, here is a book for you.

From the Resurrection to his Return, D.A Carson - Don Carson expounds on 2 Timothy 3 to help us see how we should live in light of Jesus 2nd coming.

Listen Up!, Christopher Ash - This unique booklet addresses the question of how we should listen to sermons. Christopher Ash lists the ingredients of healthy listening, and shows how we can be encouraging and growing listeners of the Word.

Some books, new and old, that you might be interested from the cathedral bookshop:

Bringing the Gospel Home, Randy Newman - Randy Newman recognizes it can be more difficult and frustrating to witness to a family member than to nearly anyone else. In Bringing the Gospel Home, he delivers practical and holistic strategies to help ordinary Christians engage family members, and others, on topics of faith.

Cross Examined, Mark Meynell - A brilliant book explaining the significance of the cross, using a wealth of illustrations and anecdotes to help us understand afresh the centre of the Christian faith.

God is Enough, Ray Galea - is God enough? With honesty and humility, Ray Galea reflects on ten psalms that have helped him put God back in the centre of his life.

Maybe not prosperity gospel, but...

...Does your average church-going, Bible-believing, middle-class, suburbia-bred Christian really believe God wants to give them a million dollars for being good?

In my opinion, no. For the most part we see the crazies on late night “christian” TV stations teaching prosperity theology and are quick to write them off as borderline entertaining, but inherently wrong...

BUT...there is a much more subtle danger.

Read on to find out more...

DUMC Press Statement on JAIS trespass

For context, see The Malaysian Insider report

John Stott (1921-2011)

John Stott possibly had more impact than anyone else (except perhaps for Billy Graham) in the 20th century on the Christian world. He was known for his formidable intellect - having gained first class honours at Cambridge University, and for his faithful and crystal, clear expositions. These were especially seen in his New Testament commentaries in The Bible Speaks Today series, which had a huge influence globally. As his biographer, Timothy Dudley-Smith, put it: 'All over the world, as preachers and pastors prepare sermons, they turn to their book shelves and ask, “I wonder what John Stott has to say about this passage.”’

He was a visionary. He was the architect of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974, which was a significant document for evangelicals worldwide. He also recognised the importance of a theologically robust and evangelical education for the Majority World, and founded an initiative, now known as Langham Partnership International, to provide scholarships for the best and brightest Christians to further their studies. Furthermore, he was a shining example in encouraging Christians to engage with society in a biblically faithful way, seen for instance, in his founding of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC). He was passionate about global mission - "We must be global Christians with a global mission, because our God is a global God", he once wrote.

Among his most influential books include The Cross of Christ, which is probably the best book of its kind of the 20th century. He considered The Incomparable Christ his favourite book, which is in keeping with a man who clearly loved the Lord Jesus. Of course, who could forget Basic Christianity, which was a life-changer for so many in its clear and warm-hearted exposition of the basics of the Christian faith.

Finally, what comes across again and again was that he was a man marked by deep humility. He lived in humble surroundings all his life, and was often embarrassed by what he perceived as unwarranted attention and praise. He wasn't just a preacher, but a pastor - often making time just to chat with you and pray with you. This was a man whose public and private life was one and the same.

We praise God for the life of John Stott, and rejoice that he is safely at home with the Lord.

Brian K

Selected writings:
Basic Christianity (1958)
What Christ thinks of the Church: An Exposition of Revelation 2-3 (1958)
Christ the Controversialist (1970)
Understanding the Bible (1972)
Your Mind Matters (1972)
Baptism and Fullness (1975)
The Message of Ephesians (1979)
I Believe in Preaching (1982)
Issues Facing Christians Today (1st edition 1984, now in its 4th edition 2006)
The Cross of Christ (1986)
The Contemporary Christian (1992)
The Incomparable Christ (2001)
The Living Church (2007)
The Radical Disciple (2010)

Obituaries and Tributes
John Stott Memorial
Tribute from All Souls, his home church
A tribute from Dr. David Wells, distinguished senior professor at Gordon-Conwell Seminary
John Stott: An Appreciation
Tributes from Biblemesh
A tribute from John Piper

Christianity Today Obituary
BBC Obituary
NY Times piece
Obituary in the Independent
Obituary in the Telegraph
A Youtube tribute

Biographies of John Stott:
2 volumes - The Making of a leader and A Global Ministry by Timothy Dudley-Smith (available in the SMACC Library)
Inside Story by Roger Steer

First Things First

What we should do with our money

Give to relieve the suffering of others, especially of fellow Christians (1 Cor 16:1–4). This “collection” was a special offering in addition to regular giving.

Give to support the work of the gospel (1 Cor 16:5–11).

To unpack these statements more, and to find further resources, go here

Longing for the return of the king

We may laugh at Harold Camping, but do we long for the return of the King?