N.T. Wright’s re-telling of the Gospels as the story of a new king who has come to rule over the world; a comprehensive survey of the concept of justice across both Old and New Testaments by Dale Patrick; and a concise introduction to the wide scope of Christian apologetics by Chris Sinkinson.
How God Became King, N.T. Wright (Harper Collins)
Believing that for all our study of the Gospels, we’ve obscured or forgotten what they are actually about, Wright sets out to re-narrate the story. Wright believes the Gospels fundamentally tell the story of a new king who has come to rule over the world — and invites all of humanity to join him in the project. This has immense ramifications for how the Church lives in the world
Redeeming Judgment, Dale Patrick (Pickwick)
You may have noticed that the theological theme of judgment has fallen on hard times. The Bible speaks often of judgment, but we often don’t know what to do with these teachings. Patrick has written a comprehensive tome surveying the concept of justice across both testaments. Walter Brueggemann calls Patrick’s work a “redress that is welcome and exceedingly done.”
Christian Confidence, Chris Sinkinson (IVP)
Providing a concise introduction to the wide scope of Christian apologetics, Sinkinson (a pastor in England and professor at Moorlands College) surveys apologetic history, the current cultural milieu and how Christian witness interacts with other intellectual disciplines (archaeology, science, etc.). This volume would serve as a helpful foray into the field.
Winn Collier (www.winncollier.com) is pastor of All Souls, a Baptist congregation in Charlottesville, Va., the author of three books and a columnist.