Selected Reading
Friday, April 26, 2019 at 6:00AM 
I read or listened to these recently and recommend them to you.
Theology
Simply Put: Original Sin
Simply Put is a new podcast from Ligonier Ministries. Here’s how they introduce it: “Simply Put is a podcast to help you build your Christian vocabulary. Each week, Barry Cooper explains a different theological term in clear, concise language and shares stories and illustrations that apply it to your life.”
On this first episode, Barry Cooper defines the term “original sin” and explains how it became our natural state. Take a listen. Barry Cooper’s narration skills would make even the driest theological explanation interesting.
Church History
The Four-Hundred-Year Flower: Arminius, Dort, and the Battle for Grace
A short history of the Canons of Dort by Kevin DeYoung: “At its very heart, the Canons of Dort are about the nature of grace — supernatural, unilateral, sovereign, effecting, redeeming, resurrecting grace, with all of its angularity, all of its offense to human pride, and all of its comfort for the weary soul. That’s what Dort wanted to settle. That’s what they were jealous to protect. Some words are worth the most careful definitions, just as some truths are too precious not to defend.”
Scripture
When Is the First Time We See a New Testament Book Used as Scripture?
“When were Christian writings first regarded as ‘Scripture’? When was the first time we can see that happening?”
It might be earlier than you think (Michael Kruger).
Gospel
What the Gospel Is
“If your gospel proclamation does not contain at its heart the announcement of Jesus Christ crucified and raised for sinners, then it is not gospel proclamation. And if it’s not gospel proclamation, then no one will be saved. And there’s no consequence more grave than that” (Denny Burk).
Fiction
Virgil Wander
I don’t read tons of fiction, but I do like Leif Enger, who is a fellow Minnesota native. I enjoyed his latest novel a whole lot, and you might, too, especially if you like small towns and quirky characters. This is one to be read slowly and savoured.
