Henry Carter Hull

In Reading for Preaching Cornelius Plantinga makes a striking claim: preachers who read widely will most likely become better preachers. Plantinga- himself a master preacher- shows how a wide reading program can benefit preachers. First, he says, good reading generates delight, and the preacher who enters the world of delight goes with God. Good reading can also help tune the preacher's ear for language- his or her primary tool. General reading can...

What is the gospel? Bryan Chapell explains that the gospel is the message that God sent a savior to rescue broken people, restore creation's glory, and rule over all with compassion and justice. This new booklet from the Gospel Coalition examines the gospel's proclamation that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides for those who believe all that God requires and leads to eternal life. But this ancient, unfolding story of salvation is...

"May we never forget that without fighting there can be no holiness while we live, and no crown of glory when we die!" -- J. C. Ryle "True Christianity is a fight," wrote J. C. Ryle in 1877. He argued that from the day of their conversion until the day they die, Christians are called to be soldiers for Christ in a war for their holiness. This inspiring call to action written more than 100 years ago continues to be a source of great encouragement and...

The church is experiencing a leadership crisis. What can we do to prevent pastors from leaving the ministry? For every celebrity pastor exiting the ministry in the spotlight, there are many more lesser-known pastors leaving in the shadows. Pastor and best-selling author Paul David Tripp argues that lurking behind every pastoral failure is the lack of a strong leadership community. Tripp draws on his decades of ministry experience to give churches...

Some lessons can't be learned in a classroom. A seminary education is immensely valuable, offering theological preparation, spiritual formation, and wise mentoring. But many new pastors are discouraged when the realities of their first call don't line up with what they came to expect from assigned readings and classroom discussions. Bridging the gap between seminary training and real life in a local church, fifteen veteran pastors and ministry leaders...

"Leeman's work was influential in our church's decision to move from multiservice to a single service." -- Ryan Kelly, Pastor of Preaching, Desert Springs Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico Maybe you have been there: you're running late to church, and you know it will be hard to find an empty seat. This is an all-too-frequent experience in a growing church. For churches experiencing this dilemma, a common solution is to add another service or location....

"Could reading theology turn you toward God in astonished worship? Could it enliven your reading of Scripture? Could it move you toward your true self in Christ? Could it turn you toward your neighbors in self-giving love? Could it unmask your prejudices? Could it dethrone your idols? Should we hope for anything less?" In this illuminating introduction, Kent Eilers invites Christians of all backgrounds into the practice of reading theology. With a...

"Crucial themes and issues explored by a premier missiologist Johan Herman Bavinck (1895-1964) was a prominent twentieth-century Dutch Calvinist missiologist who wrestled with the tension between religious absolutism and relativism, as many Christians do in today's pluralistic context. The J. H. Bavinck Reader gathers together a choice selection of Bavinck's significant writings that are essential for understanding his theology of missions, his approach...

Christians often struggle to know where to start when it comes to telling others about God, Jesus, sin, and salvation. In this short book, J. Mack Stiles challenges us to view evangelism as something we do together instead of something we do alone, helping churches cultivate a culture of evangelism that goes beyond simply creating new programs or adopting the latest method. The seventh volume in the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series, this book...

"Promiseland is Willow Creek's highly successful children's ministry. Using examples from Promiseland and churches of all sizes around the country, this book provides step by step guidance and creative application exercises to help churches develop a thriving children's ministry -- one that strives to be the best hour of every kid's week. Included are Scripture-based principles and practical resources for church staff members and volunteers who agree...