Psalms of the Faithful


Book Description

The Psalms forced Martin Luther to change how he read the Bible. In Psalms of the Faithful Brian German shows us Luther's reappraisal of the plain sense of Scripture. By following the canonical shaping of the Psalter, Luther refined his interpretive principles into a more finely grained hermeneutic. Luther inspires us to read the Psalms empathetically with ancient Israelites and early church fathers. He stirs us up to join the "faithful synagogue" in praying to and praising the Lord our God. According to many scholars, Luther established his approach to biblical exegesis on the claim that Jesus Christ is Scripture's content and speaker. While Luther used this formulation in prefaces, how did he really read the Bible? German applies pressure not only to how Luther scholars understand Luther's interpretive method, but also to how modern biblical exegetes approach their task—and even to how we read the Bible.




Being the Bad Guys


Book Description

How to live confidently for Jesus in today's world. The church used to be recognized as a force for good, but this is changing rapidly. Christians are now often seen as the bad guys, losing both respect and influence. In our post-Christian culture, how do we offer the gospel to those around us who view it as not only wrong but possibly dangerous? And how do we ensure that the secular worldview does not entice us away with its constant barrage, online and elsewhere, of messages about self-determinism? Author Stephen McAlpine offers an analysis of how our culture ended up this way and explains key points of tension between biblical Christianity and secular culture. He encourages Christians not to be ashamed of the gospel as it is more liberating, fulfilling and joyful than anything the world has to offer. He also offers strategies for coping in this world, with its opposing values, and for reaching out to others wisely with the truth.




Prayers, Verses, Devotions


Book Description

Introduction by Louis Bouyer A beautifully bound, Bible paper volume of Newman's most profound devotional writings. His meditations on the Litany of Loreto for the month of May, and on the Stations of the Cross are already recognized as classics of Catholic spirituality. And in his meditations on Christian doctrine Newman shows that the source of true piety is sound teaching. His verses on various occasions are profoundly inspiring as are the spiritual hymns and canticles which distill the wisdom of the incomparable Newman. In addition, also included are the devotions of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, translated by Newman himself and used by him as the primary source of his own spiritual life. Louis Bouyer, the greatest living Newman scholar, says of these: "Newman quite believed that in these exercises of Andrewes he had discovered that form of prayer which springs directly from the word of God and leads to a life fully lived in Christ. Not only as a priest, but later on as a cardinal of the Roman church, he would keep the Preces privatae on his kneeler for his daily preparation and thanksgiving before and after Mass and for his most personal meditations."