Last week we posted links to a number of helpful Bible reading plans. Here are a few books that can help you understand the Bible better as you read it. Each of these titles are available at the Resource Center or at Amazon:

• How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour, Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart
• For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word, Volume 1 , D. A. Carson
• For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word, Volume 2 , D. A. Carson
• According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible, Graeme Goldsworthy
• God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible, Vaughn Roberts
• The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story, D. A. Carson
• The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made, Mark Dever
• The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept, Mark Dever
• Survey of the Old Testament, Paul Benware
• Survey of the New Testament, Paul Benware

If you were at DSC on Sunday, you noticed that our Resource Center is back open, and in force. With 250 titles including 150 titles we haven’t carried before, the Resource Center has a broader selection of books from a broader range of categories.

More books around is good for our church. As Christians, we are learners, thinkers, and reflectors. God has made us that way, and this is part of what it means to know God, and it’s part of how we grow as Christians. Jesus even summarized God’s entire law with the command to ”love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Books work on the heart and the soul through our mind. Some the heavier ones (try picking up the 6 pound Large Print ESV Study Bible) even work on our strength! What is a good Christian book but the careful work of another Christian person to learn, think, reflect, and then write on a subject for the growth and maturity of God’s people?

On the week of the relaunch, here are three things to notice about the new Resource Center:

New Hours

The Resource Center is open on Sundays before and after each service, and during the week during regular office hours. Browse any time, and purchase books during those hours.

New Checkout

Out with the big kiosk and computer. In with the iPad and The Square. This should make buying books faster and easier, with cash, check, or credit card.

New Titles

More shelf space means more titles.

On the square island are seasonal books, books at a deep discount, featured books related to DSC’s preaching and teaching ministry, and books authored by guest speakers.

Along the wall you’ll find a column of Bibles along with five columns focused by subject with topical shelves. Right now we carry one title of each book, and in time we may carry two copies of some books. This approach allows us to carry a breadth of titles, so don’t feel bad about taking the “last copy.” When a book is sold on Sunday, it’s purchased for replacement on Monday.

We will highlight specific shelves and titles here on the blog in the future, but for now here’s an outline of the columns and shelves you’ll find along the wall. In addition to an entire column devoted to Bibles, we have five columns with topical shelves:

Biblical Studies

• Old Testament, New Testament
• Biblical Interpretation, Bible Studies
• Biblical Theology
• Systematic Theology
• Historical Theology
• Biography

Christian Life

• Devotionals
• Christian Life 101
• Spiritual Disciplines, Prayer
• Suffering and Loss
• Vocation, Decision Making, and Money
• Manhood and Womanhood, Sexuality

Church

• Church 101
• Corporate Worship, Church Leadership
• Various Church Topics
• Biblical Counseling 101, Conflict
• Issues in Biblical Counseling
• Perspectives on the Church

Family

• Marriage, Dating and Courtship, and Singleness
• Parenting
• Books for Children
• Books for Youth

Mission

• Global Missions, Church Planting
• Introduction to Christianity
• Evangelism 101
• Apologetics 101, Issues in Apologetics
• Worldview and Culture
• Issues in Worldview and Culture

We pray for this Resource Center to encourage, equip, and build up the church here at DSC. For recommendations of books to purchase online, many of which are not available on site, visit DSC’s Resources page.

In December, we are highlighting a number of titles at the Resource Center and offering wild and crazy discounts on a few of them.

Two books we have available tuned specifically for Christmas are from Nancy Guthrie. Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent, is a series of Christward advent reflections. And, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas, edited by Nancy Guthrie, is a compilation of twenty fine essays related to Christmas by Christian pastors and scholars, such as John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, Randy Alcorn, and Tim Keller.

Then, of course, there are a number of books that we regularly carry that would make for a great Christmas gift. Here are a few of them:

• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Wayne Grudem
• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, John Piper
• King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus, Timothy Keller
• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, Sally Lloyd-Jones
• Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God, Bruce Ware
• Disciplines of a Godly Man, Kent Hughes
• Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother, Carolyn Mahaney
• The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story, D.A. Carson
• Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know, Wayne Grudem

In addition, we’re offering 50% off a number of titles from previous guest speakers, including books from Wayne Grudem, Carl Trueman, and G.K. Beale, and a number of other books are on sale for $3.00.

Finally, you can pick up a bundle of three DSC CD’s, discounted together for $12.00, including Cause for Praise, Psalterium, Vol. 1, and The Growing Place (a children’s CD).

Stop by the Resource Center this month for resources that center our lives on the One who has life in Himself, Jesus Christ.

Also, if you’re looking for a book to buy for a friend or family member but don’t find a good match at the Resource Center, you can always browse our Resource Page for a thorough list of recommendations organized by topic.

When we hear the word, “reverberation,” we usually think of sound. But while a reverberation is a sound on its own, it is also the effect of a sound. It’s the presence of a sound once that sound is gone, but in the form of echos. There are more technical ways of putting it, I’m sure, but that’s the gist. The church, we could say, is a kind of architecture designed and build by the Word of God for the reverberation of God’s Word in the world. We are a reverberation of the very voice of God.

Earlier this year, Jonathan Leeman published a helpful book, titled, Reverberation: How God’s Word Brings Light, Freedom, and Action to His People. This book explores the nature and function of God’s Word in and through God’s people in every aspect of our life and mission together.

This past week, Fred Zaspel published a review of Leeman’s book. Here are a few paragraphs from his review to whet your appetite this helpful word about God’s Word:

Leeman, editorial director for 9Marks ministries, begins with a discussion of the power of God’s Word. This is nothing new, of course. But his presentation is unusually compelling. Indeed, one of the leading values of this book is that it not only informs the reader in regard to this so very important article of our faith; it also leaves the reader utterly persuaded of it and moved by it. Reading as he unpacks this wonderful theme of the transforming effectiveness of Scripture you sense your own perspective being sharpened, your appreciation of God’s Word deepened, and your eagerness to see it put to further use increased many times over. Certainly every believer has experienced the soul- and life-transforming power of God’s Word, and as Leeman articulates this theme for us we find him articulating our own experience with God—which is, of course, what makes this to us such a joyful theme.

Leeman wins his case in this first section so well that you will find yourself eager to see how this theme affects church and Christian worship, which is what the subject he takes up in the rest of the book. First, of course, is the matter of preaching. Here Leeman describes preaching in terms of the “exposing” of God’s written Word, apart from which preaching has no value whatever. Then he explains—again, so compellingly—how God’s Word then “reverberates” in our singing, praying, disciple-making, and evangelism.

What distinguishes Christianity, at bottom, is the message. We Christians have the audacity to claim that God has spoken, and that the message we proclaim is from him. We are a “people of the book,” and we believe with all our hearts that this message is the means through which God works mightily to claim and transform those who are his. What Leeman provides for us is both a very clear and persuasive exposition of this truth and a discerning application of it to church life. After reading this you will want more than ever to see your church become increasingly Word/gospel-centered—in its preaching, its singing, its praying, its ordinances, and in every other aspect of its life.

Reverberation is available at the Resource Center for a suggested donation of a measly $3.00. Get one to read, and several to give away.

As part of our month long emphasis on Great Commission resources at the Resource Center, we’re featuring a helpful film on DVD by N.D. Wilson, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl, based on a book by the same title.

Here’s the description:

A visual, poetic exploration of the narrative nature of the world and the personality of the Poet behind it all. When Nate Wilson looks at the world around him, he asks “What is this place? Why is this place? Who approved it? Am I supposed to take it seriously?” What could such an outlandish, fantastical world say about its Creator? In these sparkling chapters, Wilson gives an aesthetic examination of the ways in which humanity has tried to make sense of this overwhelming carnival ride of a world. He takes a whimsical, thought-provoking look at everything from the “magic” of quantum physics, to nature’s absurdities, to the problem of evil, evolution and hell. These frequently humorous, and uniquely beautiful portraits express reality unknown to many Christians-the reality of God’s story unfolding around and among us. As the author says, “Welcome to His poem. His play. His novel. His comedy. Let the pages flick your thumbs.”

This video trailer and the following endorsements will more than adequately relate why we included this DVD in our lineup this month. Be sure to read the last endorsement, which is from our very own Greg Schneeberger.

[RSS and email readers, click here to view this video]

Endorsements:

“Combining stunning visuals with an entertaining and engaging text, Wilson yanks you out of the numbing sameness of your frenetic pursuit of what quickly passes and leads you to care about and inquire into things that are transcendent. Don’t watch it once. Watch it over and over again. It’s just that powerful and and important.”
—Paul David Tripp, Professor and Executive Director of Pastoral Life and Care, Redeemer Seminary; President, Paul Tripp Ministries

“My friend Nate reminds me of C.S. Lewis and Jerry Seinfeld at the same time. Like Lewis, he has a white knuckle grip on philosophical themes and inquiries while at the same time using them in service to the gospel in a way that resonates with the real questions and concerns of our time. He’s also Seinfeldian in the sense that he has a remarkable knack to see usually ignored details. He has a keen eye for seeing God’s handiwork and finding gospel truth that many would overlook as every day, mundane things. Combine all this with a good sense of humor, remarkable creativity, humble confidence, and savvy vision and you have a trustworthy and fun guide showing you around. Highly recommended!”
—Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale

“Every time Nate Wilson opens his mouth my mind is bent a little bit, and this film is no exception. Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl throws out all assumptions and takes me on an adventure which ends with a bigger awe for God, a more mysterious world, and a thankfulness to be part of God’s big story.”
—Mike Anderson, The Resurgence, Mars Hill Church, Seattle

“Rembrandt and Van Til have a baby. ‘Notes’ is truly a small slice of heavenly art; a picture of what is and where it is going. As a doctoral student in philosophy, a minister, and resident of the whirling ball I can honestly say that this book captures something of the unity and diversity of God’s glory that many others do not. . . .Unlike other commentators (and no offense) I take Nate at his word that there is intention in every page. The work is like a tapestry, not a scratch and sniff. One must dig, wait, watch the thread, hold on, and not let seeming confusion confirm suspicions of incongruity. . . .The book is a mirror to redemptive history: many stories, one great purpose and goal and God. I enjoy Don Miller, but this is no wannabe. Nate brings a fresh brush stroke, a wisely used artists’ pallet to the exposition of the beauty of a universe where God is utterly huge…and you…dear reader, are not. Read this book for a feast of the fantastic.”
- Gregory C. Schneeberger, Minister to youth and families, Desert Springs Church, Albuquerque, NM

This month we’re featuring a number of books on the what and how of the Great Commission. What exactly has Jesus called us to? How are we to go about this in the context of our times and our personal lives?

With those questions in mind, Randy Newman has written a helpful book, Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others who Know You Well.

The people who know us well are also the people we care about the most. However, as it is often the case, the same dynamics that make us close are the same dynamics that can make sharing the gospel complicated. And sometimes we’re tempted just to shelve it. Maybe we’ve burned that bridge through insensitivity, or maybe the relationship is so complicated by history that talking about spiritual matters is overwhelming.

Whatever our situation, we all have people who know us well with whom we should be sharing the gospel. Randy’s book serves the church well to encourage and help us in being faithful, for their joy, ours, and God’s in the preaching of the gospel.

The book is available at the Resource Center during the month of September. Pick up a copy.

Here’s an interview with Ryan conducted by Dane Ortlund about the book:

[RSS and email readers, click here to view this video]

Also, around the time of the its release, Justin Taylor linked to excerpts from the book and other resources by Randy.

This Sunday begins Missions Emphasis Week at DSC. Sunday will see highlights of our various missions initiatives in the service and at kiosks in the foyer. At our Lord’s Supper on August 31, we will hear an extended interview with our resident church planter, Carlos Griego. All of this is to better unify us around our vision for the fulfillment of Christ’s words when he commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

This weekend will also mark the start of the Resource Center’s September feature: Great Commission Resources. We’ve selected a number of resources across a spectrum of important literature and hope that these resources will serve you in the fulfillment of our truly great commission.

Resources to Share

• Christianity Explained, Michael Bennet
• Fear Not!: Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective, Ligon Duncan
• Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, John Piper
• King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus, Tim Keller
• Notes From the Tilt a Whirl DVD, N.D. Wilson
• The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story, D.A. Carson
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Tim Keller
• Vintage Jesus: Timely Answers to Timely Questions, Mark Driscoll

Resources for Planting

• Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission, Darrin Patrick
• Planting Missional Churches, Ed Stetzer

Resources for Praying

• Window On The World, Daphne Spraggett

Resources that Equip

• Bringing the Gospel Home, Randy Newman
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
• Every Thought Captive: A Study Manual for the Defense of Christian Truth, Richard Pratt
• Learning Evangelism from Jesus, Jerram Barrs
• Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel, Mack Stiles
• The Heart of Evangelism, Jerram Barrs
• Reasons of the Heart: Recovering Christian Persuasion, William Edgar
• The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, Mark Dever
• The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out, Mark Driscoll

We also have a number of Crossway ESV Bibles available for purchase.
You’ll notice that the accent this month is on the sharing the gospel side of the Great Commission. Of course, the great commission, which is to “make disciples,” includes “teaching them to obey” all that Jesus commanded. Throughout the year, we carry a number of titles for the process of discipling new believers.

Also, note that while most of these books will be available this coming Sunday, all of these books will be available throughout the month of September.

Recommendations from Previous Resource Highlights: Parenting, Biblical Manhood