Archive for February, 2016


Feb 23

Go to Clarus. Get Five Free Books.

2016 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 16

Each year at Clarus we are joined by a number of excellent Christian book publishers in our conference bookstore. Several of these publishers gift our attendees with free resources. Follow the links to read more about this year’s giveaway books and register here for the conference if you haven’t already.

From B&H Publishing: Ministry in the New Marriage Culture, by Jeff Iorg

Same-sex marriage is here. So what do pastors and church leaders do now?Churches are now faced with ministry dilemmas unknown to any previous generation. Hoping the problem goes away isn’t a reasonable strategy. Christians must answer difficult questions about ministering both to couples in same-sex marriages and all the people impacted by those unions. Jeff Iorg, a seminary president and experienced pastor, has assembled some of the leading voices on a range of topics from children’s ministry to preaching to legal issues in the new marriage culture. Readers will be equipped, perhaps for the first time, with practical answers to some of these complex questions. — From the Description

From Crossway Books: The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived, an E-Book by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Justin Taylor

You may be wondering what can be done to make Christ’s last week come alive in ways it hasn’t before. It would help to understand the historical background and cultural script a little better, but you don’t want a big book. It would help, too, if your authors were trustworthy, knowledgeable evangelical scholars who could write clearly for laypeople. Look no further—this is the book for you! — Craig L. Blomberg

From The Good Book Company: Is God anti-gay? And Other Questions About Homosexuality, the Bible and Same-Sex Attraction, by Sam Allberry

The gospel is good news, for homosexuals too. The gospel doesn’t define us by our temptations but by the righteousness of Christ. This book sets forth the biblical case. The author captures perfectly the gospel’s call to repentance and offer of mercy. Read this book and consider how God is calling you to love, in word and in deed, all of those around you. — Russell Moore

From Kress Biblical Resources: Upsetting the World: Following Paul’s Example of Frontline Evangelism, by John Crotts

The apostle Paul’s message, methodology, and ministry strategy are the keys to fruitful evangelism and healthy church life. This fresh, insightful analysis of Paul’s ministry in Greece is a superb study, showing why Paul was such a great leader, an effective church planter, a persuasive preacher, an outstanding pastor, and a remarkable pioneer missionary. No matter what ministry God has called you to, you will find this book a wonderful help and encouragement. — John MacArthur

From Moody Publishers: Disappearing Church: From Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience, by Mark Sayers

Few authors can weave together history, theology, sociology, missiology, and cultural observation in a manner that not only makes sense but is compelling and accessible. But Mark Sayers can. Drawing on an incredible breadth of sources he creates a tapestry narrative of how the church got to where it is today from where it all began in the book of Acts. He shows that the battles the church is fighting today against cultural lies are not new battles, but rather current ones against old heresies wearing new faces. He uses scholarship as a foundation, but writes with a light touch and a rare gift for description. Writing for “normal” readers – non academics and non theologians – while describing complex ideas is difficult, but Sayers does it remarkably. — Barnabas Piper

In addition, Crossway Books is giving away 10 copies of the newly released, ESV Men’s Devotional Bible. 

Feb 22

Meet Clarus ’16 Speakers and Thought Leaders

2016 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 16

This year’s Clarus speakers are what we might call thought leaders. They are doing the hard work of leading institutions and ideas that are sharing the way evangelicals are working through important issues in culture. In the next week we’ll post a list of the books that publishers are gifting to attendees (once again, four solid titles) and next week we’ll post a list of the many organizations and publishers that will be with us in our Books and Resources Room.

Today, we want to introduce you to our speakers if you haven’t taken a good look at them. One purpose of Clarus is to introduce you to the kinds of leaders and preachers that you’ll want to keep track of and learn from in year’s to come. Sometimes you already know them, as in the case of Alistair Begg or Paul Tripp. Sometimes you don’t, but you’ll be glad when you do, as in the case of our speakers most years and this year.

So, here are the men we’ve asked to come and address this year’s theme, Pilgrims in a Strange Land. Click through to some of their writings for a sense of what they’ll bring to our conference this year.

Owen Strachan

Owen Strachan (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) serves as Associate Professor of Christian Theology and the Director for Theological and Cultural Engagement at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as President of The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW), an organization whose purpose is “to set forth the teachings of the Bible about the complementary differences between men and women, created equally in the image of God, because these teachings are essential for obedience to Scripture and for the health of the family and the church.”

A well-established writer, Owen is author of several books, including: The Colson Way: Loving Your Neighbor and Living with Faith in a Hostile World, The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision, and Risky Gospel: Abandon Fear and Build Something Awesome. In addition, Strachan has authored popular articles for The Atlantic, First Things, The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, The Gospel Coalition, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, 9Marks, and at his blog, Thoughtlife, hosted by Patheos. He can be found on Twitter at @ostrachan.

Justin Taylor

Justin Taylor (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Executive Vice President of Book Publishing and Book Publisher at Crossway. Crossway’s aim is “to help people understand the massive implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word, for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God.” Prior to this role, Justin served as Director of Theological Research and Education at Desiring God. He has been an elder at New Covenant Bible Church in St. Charles, IL, since 2010.

Justin is the co-author of The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived, and has contributed to several volumes which he also edited, including: For the Fame of God’s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, and A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards. Justin writes regularly at his blog, Between Two Worlds, hosted by The Gospel Coalition. He can be found on Twitter at @between2worlds.

Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker (M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the Director of Policy Studies for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), an entity of The Southern Baptist Convention whose purpose is to “engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ and speak to issues in the public square for the protection of religious liberty and human flourishing.” In his role, he researches and writes about human dignity, family stability, religious liberty, public theology, and the moral principles that support civil society. He also examines how ethics inform public policy decisions and investigates the role that religion plays in American political culture. Andrew is currently a Ph.D. student in Ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Andrew is author of the recent book, Marriage Is: How Marriage Transforms Society and Cultivates Human Flourishing, and a contributor for Sexual Brokenness and the Hope of the Gospel. He is managing editor of Canon & Culture and his writing and commentary has appeared in National Review, The Daily Caller, First Things, The Gospel Coalition, TIME, Public Discourse, The Federalist, and The Weekly Standard. He also serves as the Associate Director of the ERLC’s Research Institute. Prior to working for the ERLC, Andrew served as a policy analyst with The Heritage Foundation’s DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society. He was featured by the New York Times as one of America’s “undaunted” young leaders in defense of marriage. His writings can be found at AndrewTWalker.com. He can be found on Twitter at @andrewtwalk.

If you haven’t already, click here to register.

Feb 17

Clarus ’16 Talk Titles Announced

2016 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Clarus 16

Clarus ’16 is just around the corner. From Mach 4–6 we’ll be joined by three men who will address our conference theme, Pilgrims in a Strange Land. Click here to read about our speakers, and here to resigner as there is still room available.

We’ve been working with the speakers over the last few months top give shape to the conference. Today we are pleased to share the titles for the eight sessions that will make of the conference. Here they are!

Friday Night, March 4

  • Session 1: Owen Strachan, “Image: How Theocentrism Shapes our Public Lives”
  • Session 2: Andrew Walker, “Conscience and Religious Liberty: Why the Freedom to Believe is the Freedom to Flourish”

Saturday Morning, March 5

  • Session 3: Justin Taylor, “Abortion: Being Agents of Light in a Darkened World”
  • Session 4: Owen Strachan, “Gender: Manhood and Womanhood in Christ as Our True Identity”

Saturday Afternoon, March 5

  • Session 5: Andrew Walker, “Marriage: Creation, Vocation, and the Glory of God”
  • Session 6: Justin Taylor, “Race: Being Agents of Peace in a Perplexing Word”
  • Session 7: Panel Discussion with Owen Strachan, Justin Taylor, and Andrew Walker

Sunday Morning, March 6

  • Session 8: Corporate Worship with Justin Taylor, “The Great Adoption to Come: The Public Unveiling of Our Identity in Christ” — Romans 8:18–25

For specific session times, see the Conference Schedule.

If you haven’t watched it yet, here’s the invitation video for Clarus ’16: