Book Review: 90 Days in John 14-17, Romans, & James by Tim Keller and Sam Allberry

There are some Christians that think that having a devotional book take the place of Bible reading and sadly some devotionals are written that way. There are not many devotionals that will encourage you to read the passages it is covering and ask questions over what you have read. That is not the case with Tim Keller and Sam Allberry's devotional, 90 Days in John 14-17, Romans & James.

This devotional gives you the passage it is covering and gets the reader to actually read text. For about two or three pages, you are engaged in a Bible study where you reflect on what is being read. At the end of each devotional, you have a whole page where you can write notes, prayers, or other thoughts in what you have read.

Keller and Allberry do a great job in leading the reader through the pages of the Bible. This book is not meant to take the place of deep Bible study, but to give everyone a taste in reading and studying the Bible on a deeper level. I like how it is formatted where you respond to the questions being asked and write down notes. I am looking forward to see more devotionals like this one.

Thanks Good Book Company for letting me review this book.

The Righteous Word

Righteous are you, O LORD,
and right are your rules.
You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live (Psalm 119:137-144)


When The Bible says that God is righteous, it means he is completely just and fair; he never exploits or abuses. God's Word perfectly reflects this same righteousness. This is hard for modern people, who live in the most authority-averse culture in world history. Much in the Word seems on the surface unfair and even exploitive to us. However, this is the testimony of millions of people-and of the Word itself: If you trust God's Word, thorough testing it in the crucible of your life over the years, you will find it not only true but also delightful. You will come to love it.

Adapted from The Songs of Jesus by Tim Keller

Around The Web-April 15, 2016

Three Temptations Leaders Must Fight Daily by Eric Geiger

The Bible Joins Fifty Shades Among Top 10 Most Challenged Books

Heath Lambert's new book A Theology of Biblical Counseling is on sale along with other books.

Dave Jenkins talks with David Mathis about his book, Habits of Grace

What Is Faith? The Answer from Hebrews 11 by Richard Phillips

Three Things Pastors Can't Do Too Much by Jared C Wilson

Phil Robertson Prays before NASCAR Event, Calls on Americans to 'Put a Jesus Man in the White House'

Tim Chester announces his new book, Why The Reformation Still Matters

Tim Keller, Michael Horton, and Alan Hirsch speak about the worst gospel misunderstandings.

Staying the Course in a Changing Culture

The Gospel Coalition:

Should The Church Be Multi-ethnic and What Does A Church Look Like?

When people think of a church, they normally think of the building. We associate the church with a location, not a people. So when you ask someone what should a church look like, most don't have a clue because of what they see in the media or experienced in attending a church service.

In the video below, we have John Piper talking with Stephen Um and Trip Lee asking the question if every church should be multi-ethnic.



Next we have (audio only) Mark Dever, Crawford Loritts, and Tim Keller discussing, what a church should look like.

Recommended Reading:

9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever

Center Church by Tim Keller

The Church: The Gospel Made Visible by Mark Dever

What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert

Our Lord Is A Shield

O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah


But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah


I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around (Psalm 3:1-6)

Lord and Savior, I am facing so many troubles , some of my own making. But I can hold my head up because I am your child and servant. So be my shield-protect me. And be my glory-give me confidence that you are with me and will bring me through this. Help me! Amen.

Tim Keller, The Songs of Jesus

Around The Web-December 4, 2015

What is Doctrine? by Scott Swain

Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent by Ryan Shelton

How to Pray the News by Joe Carter

6 Principles for Student Ministry by Jonathan Leeman

In case you have not heard, all ESV Bibles from Crossway are 50% off through the month of December

Mark Dever and Tim Keller discuss why Martyn Lloyd-Jones matters today.



Be sure to check out this post on who was Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

If you are on Christian Mingle, they will send an inspector.

Why Are The Psalms Important?

The Psalms without a doubt the most popular book of the Old Testament. The 23rd Psalm has been quoted more than any of the other 149. Our church on Wednesday night have been going through the Psalm for over a year. It has been a rich study and even a challenging as we consider the author's honestly before the Living God.

Tim Keller wrote:

All theologians and leaders of the church have believed that the psalms should be used and reused in every Christian’s daily private approach to God and in public worship. We are not simply to read psalms; we are to be immersed in them so that they profoundly shape how we relate to God. The psalms are the divinely ordained way to learn devotion to our God.

Keller gives us 6 reasons on the importance of the Psalms:

1. The Psalms Are a ‘Mini Bible’

One reason is that it is what Luther called a “mini Bible.” It gives an overview of salvation history from creation through the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, the establishment of the tabernacle and temple, the exile due to unfaithfulness, and it points us forward to the coming messianic redemption and the renewal of all things. It treats the doctrines of revelation (Psalm 19), of God (Psalm 139), and of human nature (Psalm 8) and sin (Psalm 14).

2. The Psalms Are for Every Need

The psalms are more than just an instrument for theological instruction, however. One of the ancient church fathers, Athanasius, wrote:

Whatever your particular need or trouble, from this same book [the psalms] you can select a form of words to fit it, so that you . . . learn the way to remedy your ill.

Every situation in life is represented in the book of psalms. Psalms anticipate and train you for every possible spiritual, social, and emotional condition—they show you what the dangers are, what you should keep in mind, what your attitude should be, how to talk to God about it, and how to get from God the help you need. “They put their undeviating understanding of the greatness of the Lord alongside our situations, so that we may have a due sense of the correct proportion of things.” Every feature and circumstance of life is “transmitted into the Lord’s presence, and put into the context of what is true about him.” Psalms, then, are not just a matchless primer of teaching but a medicine chest for the heart and the best possible guide for practical living.

3. The Psalms Are to Be Internalized

In calling psalms “medicine” I am trying to do justice to what makes them somewhat different from other parts of the Bible. They are written to be prayed, recited, and sung—to be done, not merely to be read. Theologian David Wenham concludes that using them repeatedly is a “performative act” that “alters one’s relationship [with God] in a way mere listening does not.” We are, in a sense, to put them inside our own prayers, or perhaps to put our prayers inside them, and approach God in that way. In doing this the psalms involve the speaker directly in new attitudes, commitments, promises, and even emotions. When, for example, we do not merely read Psalm 139:23–24—“search me . . . test me . . . see if there is any offensive way in me”—but pray it, we invite God to test our motives and we give active assent to the way of life called for by the Bible.

4. The Psalms Lead Us to God

The psalms lead us to do what the psalmists do—to commit ourselves to God through pledges and promises, to depend on God through petition and expressions of acceptance, to seek comfort in God through lament and complaint, to find mercy from God through confession and repentance, to gain new wisdom and perspective from God through meditation, remembrance, and reflection.

5. The Psalms Allow Us to See God as He Is

The psalms also help us see God—God not as we wish or hope him to be but as he actually reveals himself. The descriptions of God in the Psalter are rich beyond human invention. He is more holy, more wise, more fearsome, more tender and loving than we would ever imagine him to be. The psalms fire our imaginations into new realms yet guide them toward the God who actually exists. This brings a reality to our prayer lives that nothing else can.

Left to ourselves, we will pray to some god who speaks what we like hearing, or to the part of God we manage to understand. But what is critical is that we speak to the God who speaks to us, and to everything that he speaks to us. . . . What is essential in prayer is not that we learn to express ourselves, but that we learn to answer God.

6. The Psalms Bring Us to Jesus

Most of all the psalms, read in light of the entire Bible, bring us to Jesus. The psalms were Jesus’s songbook. The hymn Jesus sang at the Passover meal (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26) would have been the Great Hallel, Psalms 113–118. Indeed, there is every reason to assume that Jesus would have sung all the psalms, constantly, throughout his life, so that he knew them by heart. It is the book of the Bible that he quotes more than any other. But the psalms were not simply sung by Jesus; they also are about him.

The psalms are, then, indeed the songs of Jesus.


Along with his wife, Kathy, Tim Keller has written a brand new devotional dedicated to the Psalms called, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms.

Recommended Reading:

Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney

Is the Reformation Still Important Today?

The Gospel Coalition:

The Meaning of Marriage Bible Study

If there is one book I can recommend to an engage couple to read together, it would be The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller and his wife, Kathy. This book gives the readers what the Bible says about marriage which is appropriate for our day and time.

I am excited to announce that there is a Bible Study based on the Kellers' book. Here is the trailer for it:



Westminster Bookstore has a special going where you can get a Meaning of Marriage Bundle for only $50.00. In the bundle you get 2 copies of the book, 2 copies of the study guide, and a copy of the DVD. This deal is only good till October 15.

Other Marriage books to check out:

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp

Thriving Christian Church in a Hostile Culture

This past Sunday, our church went through John 15:18-16:4, which Jesus warns the disciples the world will hate you because it hated me first. In the past few years, we have seen our culture becoming more hostile towards Christianity. The question that D.A. Carson, Tim Keller, and John Piper address in this roundtable discussion is can a church thrive in a culture that is hostile towards the gospel

Book Review: Romans 8-16 For You by Tim Keller

Romans has been one of the most studied books in all the Bible. Many Pastors call Romans the most important book of the Bible because it explains the gospel. Many have come to Christ because of their personal reading of Romans. Pastors and scholars have written commentaries on Romans which include Tim Keller. While his latest book, Romans 8-16 For You may not be considered a commentary, it should be added as one of the many great books on Romans. Keller wrote, "(T)his resource is not intended to be an exhaustive, or final, word on this letter...it does not go into the depth that a commentary would, nor does it interact in detail with historical and recent scholarship. It is an expository guide, opening up the Scriptures and suggesting how they apply to us today" (pg.9).

This book is a continuation of Romans 1-7 For You which begins where Keller left off. He goes into talking about the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ as Romans 8 teaches. Keller says that in the heart of Romans 8, we have the secret of profound change.

The second half of Romans deals with controversial topics such as God's sovereignty which has been misunderstood by many Christians. Keller writes in a way that those new to the faith can understand. He goes to address using our gifts in the church, holy living, and giving glory to God in all things. There are many other topics Keller addresses in this book which are also covered in the book of Romans.

Each chapter, as with Keller's previous commentaries, are divided into two parts with questions at the end, which is great for study. Many Bible teachers will benefit from this book as those who are studying the Bible for themselves. I am grateful for Keller in writing this book as well as all of his books.

Thanks Good Book Company for letting me review this book.

Around The Web-November 7, 2014

Dave Harvey reviews Rob Bell's latest book, The Zimzum of Love

If you are or know someone who is a college student, please read this: College Students and Church Membership

What Is The Heartbeat of Reformed Theology? by Jason Helopoulos

Dave Jenkins reviews Tim Keller's new book, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

Speaking of Tim Keller's new book, it is available at Westminster Bookstore

What's Better Than Jesus Beside You by J.D. Greear

Trillia Newbell, author of United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity, and her husband, Thern, talk about living in an interracial marriage.

What Is Encouraging About Rising Leaders in the Church?

Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, and John Piper talk about what encourages them from their interactions with upcoming church leaders

Around The Web-August 29, 2014

Six Things Every Freshman Needs to Know by Sammy Rhodes

God Loves My Boring, Unimportant Neighborhood by Darren Carlson

Are You Worthy of Jesus? by John Piper

Eariler this week, David Platt was named president of the Internation Mission Board for the Southern Baptist Convention. Many, including me, are excited about this annoucement. J.D. Greear offers his take on what this signals about our future

Tim Keller on the Disappearing Umbrella Over Conservative Christians by Trevin Wax

4 Ways Pastors Lose Pulpits by Clint Archer

How Does Sin Affect Us?

“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:11-18)

Paul gives a long list of sin's effects on us. Not only do we need to accept that we are sinners, we need also to begin to grasp the problem of the reality of our sinfulness. As Paul provides layer after layer of evidence, we see in stark terms who we are, and what this means for us. There are seven affects that sin has:

1. Our legal standing. No one is legally righteous, and no one's deeds can change that. We are guilty and condemned (v 10).

2. Our minds. "There is no one who understands" (v 11). Because our core nature is corrupted by sin, we don't understand God's truth. We are "darkened in our understanding...because of the ignorance of that is in [us] due to the hardening of [our] hearts" (Ephesians 4:18). Ignorance does not cause hardness of hearts (we don't know about God, so we don't love him); instead heart-hardness cause lack of understanding. That is because our sinful self-centeredness leads us to filter out a lot of reality. It is a form of denial, we are blind to many truths and our thinking does not compute data as it should.

3. Our motives. "No one seeks God" (Romans 3:11b). None of us really want to find him; rather, we are running and hiding from him in all we do, even in our religion and morality.

4. Our wills. "All have turned away (v 12). This carries echoes of Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (KJV). There is a willfulness about our wandering. Sin can be defined as our demand for self-determination, for we choose our own paths.

5. Our tongues. "Their throats are open graves" (Romans 3:13). We are deceitful, poisonous, bitter and cursing in what we say (v 13-14). The image is that of a grave with rotting bodies in it. Sinful words are signs of decay. We use our tongues to lie to protect our own interests, and to damage the interests of others.

6. Our relationships. We are "swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark [our] ways, and the way of peace [we] do not know" (v 15-17). This is how sin affect our relationships; we are after each other's blood-sometimes literally, more often in seeking to push down those who get in our way. Why do we become angry with people? Because they have blocked us from access to an idol-they have compromised our comfort, or prevented a promotion, or made us feel out of control,or are enjoying a relationship we feel we need. When we do not live enjoying God's approval in the gospel, we do not know peace ourselves, nor can we live in peace with others.

7. Our relationship to God. "There is no fear of God before [our] eyes" (v 18).

Tim Keller, Romans 1-7 For You

Are You Offended By The Gospel?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

(In) every age, it is possible to be "ashamed of the gospel"...instead of eager to share it. The word translated "ashamed: also means "offended." How is the gospel offensive?

1. The gospel, by telling us that our salvation is free and undeserved, is really insulting! It tells us that we are such spiritual failures that the only way to gain salvation is for it to be a complete gift. This offends moral religious people who think their decency gives them an advantage over less moral people.

2. The gospel is also really insulting by telling us that Jesus died for us. It tells us that we are so wicked that only the death of the Son of God could save us. This offends the modern cult of self-expression and the popular belief in the innate goodness of humanity.

3. The gospel, by telling us that trying to be good and spiritual isn't enough, thereby insists that no "good" person will be saved, but only those who come to God through Jesus. This offends the modern notion that any nice person anywhere can find God "in his own way." We don't like losing our autonomy.

4. The gospel tells us that our salvation was accomplished by Jesus' suffering and serving (not conquering and destroying), and that following him means to suffer and serve with him. This offends people who want salvation to be an easy life; it also offends people who want their lives to be safe and comfortable.

Tim Keller, Romans 1-7 For You

What If God Explained Why He Allows Things To Happen?

If God actually provided an explanation of all the reasons why he allows things to happen as they do, it would be too much for our finite brains. Think of little children and their relationship to their parents. Three-year-olds cannot understand most of why their parents allow and disallow what they do. But though they are aren't capable of comprehending their parents' reasons, they are capable of knowing their parents' love and therefore are capable of trusting them and living securely. That is what they really need. Now, the difference between God and human beings is infinitely greater than the difference between a thirty-year-old parent and a three-year-old child. So we should not expect to be able to grasp all God's purposes, but through the cross and gospel of Jesus Christ, we can know his love. And that is what we need most.

Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

Book Review: Judges For You by Tim Keller

Judges is probably one of the most depressing and repetitive book of the Bible. Why is it depressing? It is where the people of Israel do whatever is right in their own eyes, a nation would come to oppress them, God raises a leader to save them, Israel now fears God, that leader dies, and they do their own thing again. This process happens over and over again which is why the book is repetitive.

Many would read Judges and try to apply that to America where we are doing our thing then God will judge us and ultimately raise a leader to lead us back to God in a time of revival. Some will also have character studies on the Judges, the leader God raises to save Israel, and make that study all about the leader. Is Judges all about Israel? They do play a huge part of the book. Is Judges all about each leader and leaders today need to apply their leadership qualities?

Tim Keller's latest book, Judges For You, takes us through the book of Judges through the lens of the gospel. Keller wrote that while Judges does tell us about "heroes" that God used to rescue Israel, "There is only one hero in this book, he's divine" (pg. 10). Judges is not a book of virtue which we follow leaders with good morals, but it is about a "God of mercy and longsuffering, who continually works in and through us despite our constant resistance to his purpose."

Keller says, there are six themes or truths about God that the writer of Judges wanted us to learn:

1. God relentlessly offers his grace to people who do not deserve it, or seek it, or even appreciate it after they have been saved by it.

2. God wants lordship over every area of our lives, not just some.

3. There is a tension between grace and law, between conditionality and unconditionality.

4. There is a need for continual spiritual renewal in our lives here on earth, and a way to make that a reality.

5. We need a true Savior, to which all human saviors point, through both their flaws and strengths.

6. God is in charge, no matter what it looks like.

This entire book is a gospel-centered commentary on the book of Judges which I thought was beautifully written in the style that Keller writes. Not many times would you pick a commentary on Judges and it would be saturated in the gospel. Keller goes through the book of Judges verse by verse and wrote this commentary that is very readable. If you are wanting to do a study on Judges, make sure you get this book.

Thanks Good Book Company for letting me review this book.

3 Ways The Gospel Is True and Central For Christians

1. The gospel of Christ is the historical truth of Jesus, who lived, died, and was resurrected, paying for our sins with his life.

2. The gospel of sonship is about God's radical, transforming, adopting grace. It's about God's accepting us because he accepts Jesus and not because of anything we've done.

3. The gospel of the kingdom is about God's kingdom coming to earth through Jesus and through the church. It's about the renewal of creation, the new-making of all things, a cosmic redemption project that has been inaugurated by Jesus.

Tim Keller quoted by Daniel Montgomery & Mike Cosper in Faithmapping