People_of_the_Book.pdf

At Bethlehem, we are people of the book—and that Book is the Bible, the Word of God. It is the infallible, inerrant, and authoritative guide to life, truth, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). To put it simply, this Book matters! And as the manager of the Bethlehem bookstores, I appreciate books that matter. It’s my job to stock titles that point us back to the Bible and the God revealed within its pages. It’s my job to help my Bethlehem family discover good books that help us discover a great God.

In an effort to promote the reading of good books (and our church bookstores have plenty of them!), I offer these recommendations for your summer reading list.

Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem, has always been a favorite around Bethlehem. We use it for theology classes and recommend it to small group leaders and teachers. Pound for pound, it’s one of the most Bible-saturated books you’ll find. You should add it to your collection, but if you’d rather not tote its 1,300 pages to the beach this summer, that’s understandable. So the rest of this list offers slimmer suggestions that will exercise your soul if not your biceps.

What Is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert (127 pages), concentrates your heart on the good news of Jesus. The gospel is more than the message we share with non-believers, it’s the very foundation of the Christian life. This little book will strengthen your faith as it helps you define what you believe and why.

A Gospel Primer, by Milton Vincent (97 pages), is a gem. This book shows you how to embrace the gospel and preach it to yourself every day. It has been a great help to me in applying biblical truths to my own life, and the footnoted Scripture references throughout provide a motive and a means for memorizing.

Comforts From the Cross, by Elyse Fitzpatrick (146 pages), is a 31-day celebration of the gospel! This devotional is all about Jesus Christ and how the truths of his life are to gladden and enliven your soul in the midst of your busy day—bite-sized readings to comfort, encourage, and transform.

A Praying Life, by Paul Miller (279 pages), is an honest look at the oftentimes difficult issue of prayer. Prayerlessness can mark our life more than we’d care to admit, and this book faces that issue head-on with a practical down-to-earth style that’s convicting, insightful, and an encouragement to prayer.

Notes From the Tilt-a-Whirl, by N.D. Wilson (203 pages), is a creative and amusing look at the carnival ride of life. Wilson presents an unusual combination—strong theology and artistic style. I found Notes to be thoughtful, poetic, colorful, and more. It inspired me to open my eyes to the weird and wonderful work of God around me.

Normal Kingdom Business, by Andrée Seu (121 pages), is a collection short biblically rich essays. If you missed Andrée speaking at the Bethlehem Spring Conference for Women, this book is your opportunity to enjoy her wise words and vivid and engaging style this summer.

Space prevents me from adding more, and I haven’t even mentioned anything from Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Charles Spurgeon, or a single Puritan! You are cordially invited to stop into our campus bookstores to browse the shelves for these and many other God-centered resources. Please e-mail me at bookstore@desiringGod.org if you have any requests or recommendations.

May God in his mercy and grace reveal himself to you as you read!

Matt Lund
Bethlehem Bookstore Manager