New children's book - The Best Ever Detectives' Guide to Church History - First Churches by Karen Kwek

The Best Ever Detectives Guide to Church History - First Churches: Christianity from the 1st to 3rd Centuries AD by Karen Kwek - In First Churches: Christianity from the 1st to 3rd Centuries AD, Agents Q & A witness an event that shook the entire world— the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! What were the first Christians like? What challenges did the apostles go through when building the first church? How did the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth? Read all about these—and more—in this book!

First Churches: Christianity from 1st to 3rd Centuries AD is the second book out of the seven books series, ‘The Best Ever Detectives’ Guide to Church History’. 

Book information:

Title: The Best Ever Detectives Guide to Church History - First Churches: Christianity from the 1st to 3rd Centuries AD
Author: Karen Kwek
Call number: 940 KWE

New children's book - The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung

The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung - Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet.

True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.

Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . .

The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.

In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.

Ages 5-8 (read to me)

Ages 8-11 (read to myself)

Book information:

Title: The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden

Author: Kevin DeYoung

Call number: 960 DEY

New children's book - God Loves You, Little One

God Loves You, Little One by Sarah Vince - Guess who loves you, little one?

Fun animals and vibrant colors help the youngest readers understand that Mom loves you, Dad loves you, Sister loves you, Grandma loves you, friends love you, many people love you, but most of all God loves you.

This touch-and-feel board book with vibrant art appeals to babies. Simple rhyming story makes them feel loved and secure.

Book information:

Title: God Loves You, Little One

Author: Sarah Vince

Call number: 920 VIN

New children's book - The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones - The Moonbeam Award Gold Medal Winner in the religion category, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David—every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their Story too.

Book information:

Title: The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones

Call number: 940 LLO

New book - A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado

A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God's Love by Max Lucado - God loves each of us. Personally. Powerfully. Passionately. And it’s a love worth giving.

But before we can pass love on, we must receive it ourselves.

Building on the principles found in 1 Corinthians 13, known as the love passage, best-selling author Max Lucado helps us dive into the depth and perfection of God’s love, exploring the ways that it can be reflected in our daily lives through patience, kindness, forgiveness, and more. For those of us feeling low on these attributes, A Love Worth Giving opens the door to the transfusion we need in order to spread a love that really is worth giving.

Book information: 

Title: A Love Worth Giving: Living in the Overflow of God's Love

Author: Max Lucado

Call number: 201 LUC

New book - This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe

This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years by Jaquelle Crowe - The teen years have been hijacked by fashion, music, movies, and games; by the pressures of school, peers, and society; and by superficial expectations set by the world. But there is something more glorious than all these influences that has the power to change the life of a teenager: the gospel. Written by a teenager for teenagers, This Changes Everything is a deeply theological yet practical and accessible book on how the gospel radically transforms every aspect of the teen years, including pursuing relationships, managing time, combating personal sin, and cultivating healthy habits. In a culture awash with low expectations for young people, this book exhorts teenagers to embrace a gospel-centered perspective on their lives and pursue wholehearted devotion to Christnow." 

Book information:
Title: This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years
Author: Jaquelle Crowe
Call number: 249.6 CRO

New book - What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung

What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung - In this timely book, award-winning author Kevin DeYoung challenges each of us — the skeptic and the seeker, the certain and the confused — to take a humble look at God's Word regarding the issue of homosexuality.

After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible's overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike, making this an indispensable resource for thinking through one of the most pressing issues of our day.

Book information:

Title: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

Author: Kevin DeYoung

Call number: 312 DEY

New book - Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free by F.F. Bruce

Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free by F.F. Bruce - Written by one of the best known and most respected biblical scholars of all time, this illustrated volume explores all of the primary themes in Paul's thought as they developed in the historical context of his life and travels. While Bruce's primary concern is to portray the life of the apostle Paul, he also examines the main themes of Paul's thought, set in their historical background and illustrated from his letters. Originally published in 1977, this new paperback edition of Paul will be used with profit by all who have an interest in the primitive church--from general readers to the most advanced biblical scholar.

Book information: 
Title: Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free 
Author: F.F. Bruce
Call number: 108 BRU

New book - A Hunger for God by John Piper

A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer by John Piper - Our appetites control much of what we do each day--whether it is the cravings of our stomachs, the desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything apart from God is ultimately detrimental to spiritual health and enduring joy. In this classic meditation on fasting, John Piper helps Christians apply the Bible's teaching on this long-standing spiritual discipline, highlighting the profound contentment that comes from delighting in God above all else. Piper helps readers put to death self-indulgence by directing them to the all-satisfying, sin-conquering glory of Christ. 

Book information:

Title: A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer

Author: John Piper

Call number: 245.2 PIP

New book - Desiring God by John Piper

Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper - Experience the Lifelong Pleasures of Knowing God!

Satisfaction … Happiness … Joy. According to John Piper, the pursuit of pleasure in God is not only permissible, it’s essential.

Desiring God is a paradigm-shattering work that dramatically alters common perspectives on relating to God.  Piper reveals that there really is no need to choose between duty and delight in the Christian life. In fact, for the follower of Jesus, delight is the duty as Christ is most magnified in His people when they are most satisfied in Him.

Constantly drawing on Scripture to build his case, Piper shows why pursuing maximum joy is essential to glorifying God. He discusses the implications of this for conversion, worship, love, Scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering.

Piper beckons us to approach God with the hedonist’s abandon. Finally, we are freed to enjoy Jesus—not only as our Lord and Savior, but also as our all-surpassing, soul-satisfying Treasure.

Desiring God may turn your Christian world upside down. And that will be a good thing, for the glory of God, and for your deepest joy.

Book information:

Title: Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist

Author: John Piper

Call number: 201 PIP

New book on William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton by John Piper

Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton by John Piper - In his fifth book in The Swans Are Not Silent series, John Piper explores the lives of William Tyndale, John Paton, and Adoniram Judson—a Bible translator, a missions organizer, and a front-line missionary.

In their lifelong willingness to plant seeds of faith and hope with tears of blood, they not only embraced Christ’s suffering for them but powerfully joined with Christ in his afflictions—all for the sake of the gospel. Understanding that God’s strategy for reaching unreached peoples includes the sufferings of his front line heralds, these faithful servants let nothing deter them from their mission. May their faithfulness and sacrifice intensify your passion to make Christ’s love and value known among the nations.

Book information:

Title: Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton

Author: John Piper

Call number: 267.3 PIP

New book on Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen by John Piper

Contending for Our All: Defending Truth and Treasuring Christ in the Lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen by John Piper - In his fourth book in The Swans Are Not Silent series John Piper explores the lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen--a bishop, a pastor, and the founder of a seminary.

Each of these men stood for the truth of the gospel in the face of intense opposition--all out of a deep love for Jesus and a desire for people to know him in his fullness. They took no joy in controversy for argument's sake, and they were willing to suffer for the sake of guarding the sanctity of the gospel. Threats of harm, years of exile, the death of loved ones, opposition from friends and authorities, sickness and pain--none of these setbacks could keep these three from maintaining their efforts to further the gospel or quench their zeal for Jesus himself.

In each of their lives, personal holiness was emphasized publically and privately despite suffering. They were true soldiers for the sake of the cross, and each man offers life lessons for Christians today. We pray that their perseverance, courage, and resolve will arouse such Christ-honoring passions in you.

Book information:

Title: Contending for Our All: Defending Truth and Treasuring Christ in the Lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen

Author: John Piper

Call number: 267.3 PIP

New book - A Godward Life by John Piper

A Godward Life: Seeing the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper - A Godward Life is the first of three devotional volumes by John Piper, each feature 120 vignettes that focus on the radical difference it makes when we choose to live with God at the center of all that we do. Scripture-soaked and touching on the issues which most affect our lives today, A Godward Life is a passionate, moving, and articulate call for all believers to live their lives in conscious and glad submission to the sovereignty and glory of God.

Book information:

Title: A Godward Life: Seeing the Supremacy of God in All of Life

Author: John Piper

Call number: 244 PIP

New book - The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton

The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton - 'The Everlasting Man' is one of G. K. Chesterton's most respected works, a witty, imaginative and sincere attempt to justify the life of Jesus as a pivotal moment in the history of human spirituality. Dividing the book into two parts, Chesterton looks first at early 'cave men' and the ensuing development of pagan civilization, claiming that such societies effectively separated myth and philosophy. By contrast, in the second part of the book he demonstrates that, following the Crucifixion, these tendencies were successfully combined in the Christian religion. The result is a must-read ideological defence of Christianity, a book described by C. S. Lewis as among the most influential he had ever encountered.

Book information:

Title: The Everlasting Man

Author: G.K. Chesterton

Call number: 137 CHE

New book - How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss

How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss - With so many Bible translations available today, how can you find those that will be most useful to you? What is the difference between a translation that calls itself “literal” and one that is more “meaning-based”? And what difference does it make for you as a reader of God’s Word?

How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth brings clarity and insight to the current debate over translations and translation theories. Written by two seasoned Bible translators, here is an authoritative guide through the maze of translations issues, written in language that everyday Bible readers can understand.

Learn the truth about both the word-for-word and meaning-for-meaning translations approaches. Find out what goes into the whole process of translation, and what makes a translation accurate and reliable. Discover the strengths and potential weaknesses of different contemporary English Bible versions. In the midst of the present confusion over translations, this authoritative book speaks with an objective, fair-minded, and reassuring voice to help pastors, everyday Bible readers, and students make wise, well-informed choices about which Bible translations they can depend on and which will best meet their needs.

Book information:

Title: How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth
Authors: Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss
Call number: 136 FEE

New book - How to Read the Bible as Literature

How to Read the Bible as Literature … and get more out of it by Leland Ryken - If you want to rightly understand the Bible, you must begin by recognizing what it is: a composite of literary styles. It is meant to be read, not just interpreted. The Bible’s truths are embedded like jewels in the rich strata of story and poetry, metaphor and proverb, parable and letter, satire and symbolism. Paying attention to the literary form of a passage will help you understand the meaning and truth of that passage. How to Read the Bible as Literature takes you through the various literary forms used by the biblical authors. This book will help you read the Bible with renewed appreciation and excitement and gain a more profound grasp of its truths.

Book information:

Title: How to Read the Bible as Literature … and get more out of it

Author: Leland Ryken

Call number: 136 RYK

New book - How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart - Understanding the Bible isn’t for the few, the gifted, the scholarly. The Bible is accessible. It’s meant to be read and comprehended by everyone from armchair readers to seminary students. A few essential insights into the Bible can clear up a lot of misconceptions and help you grasp the meaning of Scripture and its application to your twenty-first-century life.

More than three quarters of a million people have turned to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth to inform their reading of the Bible. This fourth edition features revisions that keep pace with current scholarship, resources, and culture. Changes include:

• Updated language for better readability
• Scripture references now appear only in brackets at the end of a sentence or paragraph, helping you read the Bible as you would read any book—without the numbers
• A new authors’ preface
• Redesigned and updated diagrams
• Updated list of recommended commentaries and resources

Covering everything from translational concerns to different genres of biblical writing, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth is used all around the world. In clear, simple language, it helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible—their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today—so you can uncover the inexhaustible worth that is in God’s Word.

Book information:

Title: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Authors: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

Call number: 136 FEE

Sermon series - featured book: The Hard Sayings of Jesus by FF Bruce

The Hard Sayings of Jesus by FF Bruce – Like his original hearers many people today find Jesus' sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand, others because the demands they make on us are only too clear. F. F. Bruce examines seventy of the hard sayings of Jesus to clear away the cultural and historical difficulties which keep us from grappling with the real challenge of Jesus' message.

Read more about the sayings of Jesus that are considered “hard” as you follow along with our Preachers through the current sermon series.

Sermon schedule for "The Hard Sayings of Jesus" sermon series at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church:

• 17 September 2017: "You fool!" Merits Hell Fire (Matthew 5:22)
• 1 October 2017: Plucking Out the Right Eye (Matthew 5:29)
• 22 October 2017: Turning the Other Cheek (Matthew 5:39)
• 29 October 2017: Hating One's Parents (Luke 14:26)
• 5 November 2017: The First will be Last (Mark 10:30 cf Matthew 19:30 & 20:16)
• 19 November 2017 (Seniors' Sunday): Many are Called, but Few are Chosen (Matthew 22:14)
• 26 November 2017 (Christ the King Sunday): You will See the Son of Man (Mark 14:61-62, Matthew 26:63-64 and Luke 22:61-70)

New book - How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart - Reading the Bible need not be a haphazard journey through strange and bewildering territory. Like an experienced tour guide, How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its key elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Written by two top evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible knowledgeably and understanding it accurately.

In an engaging, conversational style, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart take you through a given book of the Bible using their unique, progressive approach:

• Orienting Data — Concise info bytes that form a thumbnail of the book
• Overview — A brief panorama that introduces key concepts and themes and important landmarks in the book
• Specific Advice for Reading — Pointers for accurately understanding the details and message of the book in context with the circumstances surrounding its writing
• A Walk Through — The actual section-by-section tour that helps you see both the larger landscape of the book and how its various parts work together to form the whole. Here you are taken by the hand and told, “Look at this!”

How to Read the Bible Book by Book can be used as a companion to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. It also stands on its own as a reliable guide to reading and understanding the Bible for yourself.

Book information:

Title: How to Read the Bible Book by Book
Authors: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
Call number: 136 FEE

New book - The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel

The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ by Lee Strobel - Has modern scholarship debunked the traditional Christ? Has the church suppressed the truth about Jesus to advance its own agenda? What if the real Jesus is far different from the atoning Savior worshipped through the centuries? In The Case for the Real Jesus, former award-winning legal editor Lee Strobel explores such hot-button questions as: 

• Did the church suppress ancient non-biblical documents that paint a more accurate picture of Jesus than the four Gospels? 
• Did the church distort the truth about Jesus by tampering with early New Testament texts? 
• Do new insights and explanations finally disprove the resurrection? 
• Have fresh arguments disqualified Jesus from being the Messiah? 
• Did Christianity steal its core ideas from earlier mythology? 

Evaluate the arguments and evidence being advanced by prominent atheists, liberal theologians, Muslim scholars, and others. Sift through expert testimony. Then reach your own verdict in The Case for the Real Jesus.

Book information:

Title: The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ

Author: Lee Strobel

Call number: 137 STR

New book - The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity by Lee Strobel - In his #1 bestseller The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel examined the claims of Christ, reaching the hard-won verdict that Jesus is God’s unique son. In The Case for Faith, Strobel turns his skills to the most persistent emotional objections to belief—the eight “heart barriers” to faith. This Gold Medallion-winning book is for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with difficult questions standing squarely in their path. For Christians, it will deepen their convictions and give them fresh confidence in discussing Christianity with even their most skeptical friends.

Book information:
Title: The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity
Author: Lee Strobel
Call number: 137 STR

Tale of Three Trees - A musical presentation by the Cherubim Choir

New book - The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel

The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel - During his academic years, Lee Strobel became convinced that God was outmoded, a belief that colored his ensuing career as an award-winning journalist at the Chicago Tribune. Science had made the idea of a Creator irrelevant — or so Strobel thought.

But today science is pointing in a different direction. In recent years, a diverse and impressive body of research has increasingly supported the conclusion that the universe was intelligently designed. At the same time, Darwinism has faltered in the face of concrete facts and hard reason. Has science discovered God? At the very least, it’s giving faith an immense boost as new findings emerge about the incredible complexity of our universe.

Join Strobel as he reexamines the theories that once led him away from God. Through his compelling and highly readable account, you’ll encounter the mind-stretching discoveries from cosmology, cellular biology, DNA research, astronomy, physics, and human consciousness that present astonishing evidence in The Case for a Creator.

Book information:

Title: The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God
Author: Lee Strobel
Call number: 137 STR

New book - God's story, your story by Mark Matlock and Max Lucado

God's story, Your story: When His Becomes Yours (Youth Edition) by Mark Matlock and Max Lucado - Is there a story behind the daily drama of your life? Being a teenager isn’t always easy. From homework to after-school jobs to having to think about the future, life can feel chaotic. But did you know that the chaos and confusion, as well as the joys and excitements you experience, are part of God’s ordered plan? In this teen adaptation of God’s Story, Your Story, bestselling author Max Lucado explores the divine narrative in the New Testament, as well as several contemporary examples, to show how your everyday life is part of God’s bigger redemption story, and that God is there, no matter what you may face in your life. Real teen responses and real-life application questions are also included to help you further connect God’s narrative to your own. Because God’s story is your story — and he is adding to your chapter every day.

Book information:

Title: God's story, Your story: When His Becomes Yours (Youth Edition)
Authors: Mark Matlock and Max Lucado
Call number: 249.6 MAT

New book - Wesley on the Christian Life by Fred Sanders

Wesley on the Christian Life: the heart renewed in Love by Fred Sanders - John Wesley was one of the most important figures behind the founding of modern evangelicalism. From his crucial role in the Great Awakening to his inspiring a renewal movement within the Church of England, Wesley's historical significance is undeniable and his legacy still challenges us today, regardless of our denominational affiliation or theological perspective. Offering an approachable introduction to Wesley's life and writings, Fred Sanders invites us to learn from Wesley's reliance on the Spirit, passion for holiness, and zeal for the gospel in this winsome portrait of an extraordinary Christian leader.

Book information:

Title: Wesley on the Christian Life: the heart renewed in Love
Author: Fred Sanders 
Call number: 267.3 SAN

New book - Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado - 

Common people ...

Story after story marked by scandal, stumble, and intrigue. Who are these people? They're the people of the Bible.

And they're us. We find our stories in theirs. We find our hope where they found theirs. In the hands of an uncommon God.

In the midst of them all ... hovering over them all ... is the hero of it all: God. Maker. Shaper. Rescuer of sinking hearts. God. Passing out high callings, second chances, and moral compasses to all comers and takers.

In this gathering of inspiring stories from his numbers best-selling books, master storyteller Max Lucado revisits some of his favorite biblical characters -- all of whom were very human and imperfect, just like us.

If God can find a place for them ... He might just have a place for us too.

Book information:
Title: Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God
Author: Max Lucado
Call number: 201 LUC

New book - Every Season Prayers by Scotty Smith

Every Season Prayers: Gospel-Centered Prayers for the Whole of Life by Scotty Smith - Topically Arranged Prayers for Individual, Family, and Church. God calls us to pray, and we want to talk to our heavenly Father. But so often we don't know what to say, or we feel like our words are getting no higher than the ceiling above us. Prayer should draw us closer to God, but guilt over past prayerlessness or confusion over what to pray can have the opposite result. 

In the pages of "Every Season Prayers," pastor Scotty Smith offers readers a treasure trove of prayers that will lead them into a more intimate relationship with God. Topically arranged so readers can easily find the sentiments that match their needs, issues, and moods, this delightful book includes prayers for: 

• everyday concerns, from health and relationship issues to expressing gratitude
• voicing our feelings, stories, and struggles to God
• listening to the heart of God
• congregational confession and worship
• Advent, Lent, and Passion Week
• and more 

No matter what their season of life or their daily reality, readers will find a prayer that they can lift up to God.

Book information:

Title: Every Season Prayers: Gospel-Centered Prayers for the Whole of Life
Author: Scotty Smith
Call number: 245 SMI

New book - I Am a Church Member by Thom S. Rainer

I am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference by Thom S. Rainer - Best-selling author and ministry leader Thom S. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500-word declaration about church membership to his daily blog. "I Am a Church Member" started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members -- rather than the functional and theological issues -- that previous new member primers all but ignored.

Thoughtfully expanded to book form, I Am a Church Member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers. When a person's attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally.

Book information:

Title: I am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference

Author: Thom S. Rainer

Call number: 261 RAI

New book - Living in the Light by John Piper

Living in the Light: Money, Sex & Power by John Piper - Whether we’re rich or poor, married or single, in a position of great influence or not — all of us face temptation in the areas of money, sex and power. They are the dangerous opportunities of our time—opportunities to destroy our own souls, or to experience the true joy of using them for God’s glory. John Piper shows us that when we have the blazing glory of Christ at the center of our spiritual solar system, the planets of money, sex and power find their true and beautiful orbits. 

This book is for every Christian and will help you to wake up to the all-satisfying glory of God, and discover what you were made for. 

Book information:

Title: Living in the Light: Money, Sex & Power

Author: John Piper

Call number: 201 PIP

New book - Shaken by Tim Tebow

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow - First, he was a beloved college football champion, Heisman trophy winner, media sensation, and best-selling author drafted in the first round of the 2010 Draft. Then he had a miracle playoff run with the Denver Broncos before being traded to the New York Jets. After one season he was cut by New York. Next he was signed by the New England Patriots then let go after training camp—a scenario that repeated itself the following summer with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tim Tebow has achieved big victories and plunged the depths of failure, all while never letting go of his faith, even in the face of doubt and disappointment. In Shaken he explains why neither the highs nor the lows of his life can define him—and he reveals how you, too, can find confidence in your identity and know who you are. In revealing passages, Tebow pulls back the curtain on his life, sharing the vulnerable moments of his career that have shaken him to his core—while also teaching the biblical principles that will enable you to keep the faith, no matter what comes your way.

Book information:

Title: Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms'

Author: Tim Tebow

Call number: 267.1 TEB

New book - After College by Erica Young Reitz

After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships and Faith by Erica Young Reitz -

"The first year out was one of the hardest years of my life." - Curt 

The years after college can be some of the most uncertain, unstable times of life. Recent graduates grieve the loss of community, question their place in the world and struggle to find meaningful work. It can be shocking to discover that college did not fully prepare you for the challenges you now face. 

"It's much rougher than I thought. I thought things would just play out, and they didn't. I don't have friends, I don't have a job and I hang out with my parents every night." - Kate. 

But you are not alone. For more than a decade, Erica Young Reitz has specialized in helping college seniors and recent graduates navigate the transition to post-college life. Drawing on best practices and research on senior preparedness, she offers practical tools for a life of faithfulness and flourishing during a critical, transitional time. This practical guide addresses the top issues graduates face: making decisions, finding friends, managing money, discerning your calling and much more. Discover how you can thrive beyond your undergraduate years. If you feel lost in transition, here are resources to help you flourish as a Christ-follower in a complex world.

Book information:

Title: After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships and Faith

Author: Erica Young Reitz

Call number: 249.6 REI

New book - Jesus Among Secular Gods by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale

Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale - Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale defend the absolute claims of Christ against modern belief in the "secular gods" of atheism, scientism, relativism, and more.

The rise of these secular gods presents the most serious challenge to the absolute claims of Christ since the founding of Christianity itself. The Christian worldview has not only been devalued and dismissed by modern culture, but its believers are openly ridiculed as irrelevant. In JESUS AMONG SECULAR GODS, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale challenge the popular "isms" of the day, skillfully pointing out the fallacies in their claims and presenting compelling evidence for revealed absolute truth as found in Jesus. This book is fresh, insightful, and important, and faces head on today's most urgent challenges to Christian faith. It will help seekers to explore the claims of Christ and will provide Christians with the knowledge to articulate why they believe that Jesus stands tall above all other gods.

Book information:

Title: Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ

Authors: Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale

Call number: 138 ZAC

New book - Your Powerful Prayers by Susie Larson

Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith by Susie Larson - The all-powerful God of the universe loves you and wants to talk with you! Drawing from thirty years of journaling, trusted author and radio host Susie Larson shares the secrets to effective prayer. She will help you put into action the powerful combination of a humble reverence before God and a tenacious hold on the promises he gives his beloved children, drawing you closer to God and changing how you see yourself and your circumstances.

Sharing personal stories and biblical insights, Susie shows how to:

- Pray specifically and persistently for God's promises

- Overcome common hindrances to effective prayer

- Move from begging and pleading to praying and believing

Discover your unique identity in Christ and confidently embrace his personal provision, power, and love.

Book information:

Title: Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith

Author: Susie Larson

Call number: 245 LAR

New book - Surprise the World by Michael Frost

Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People by Michael Frost - Christianity is a surprising religion. It has changed the world in remarkable ways throughout history simply through Christians living out their faith. More recently, we've become afraid of a habituated Christianity, thinking that routines will rob our faith of its vitality. The net effect is that we've replaced the habits that surprise the world with habits that mimic the world - and both we and the world suffer for it.

Integrating the five habits in the BELLS model--Bless others, Eat together, Listen to the Spirit, Learn Christ, and understand yourself as Sent by God into others' lives--will help you spread the gospel organically, graciously, and surprisingly.

Michael Frost, a world-renowned expert on evangelism and discipleship, makes evangelism a lifestyle that is fulfilling, exciting, effective, and easy to live out! 

Book information:
Title: Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People
Author: Michael Frost
Call number: 264 FRO

New book - The Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels

The Volunteer Revolution: Unleashing the Power of Everybody by Bill Hybels - Pastor Bill Hybels believes that there is a new reality in America. The church has entered an era of growth and unprecedented spiritual opportunity to share the Gospel, yet at the same time we face a shrinking economy and a world in crisis. This poses a great resource challenge for the church. In order to reach out to people who are spiritually hungry, the church needs more people to be equipped to serve others. Hybels passionately believes the key to the future of the church is the equation "X (paid staff) + Y (volunteers) = Z (bearing much fruit for God’s glory)." Churches cannot afford to continue hiring more and more staff with limited budgets. The key to resourcing the church is what Hybels calls "the Y factor." The Y factor is the pool of volunteers in every church. The great need of the church is to grow the church’s volunteer base through the equipping ministry of church staffs. As churches recover the message of Ephesians 4:11-12 to "equip God’s people for works of service" they will launch a Volunteer Revolution. People are just waiting to discover the gifts and passions that God has given them to serve others and then be invited to use those gifts and passions through the local church in order to advance the kingdom of God on Earth.

Hybels believes that every church staff should be helping people discover their spiritual gifts, passions and place of service in order to meet the growing needs in our churches and world. Hybels makes a clarion call to move beyond volunteer retention to volunteer acquisition. By attracting, connecting, training, and sustaining volunteers, churches will mobilize people into places of service that will bring new meaning to their lives and understand why God put them on planet Earth. Hybels also outlines how we can build lifelong volunteers in the church through community, celebration, and commendation.

Book information:
Title: The Volunteer Revolution: Unleashing the Power of Everybody
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Simplify by Bill Hybels

Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul by Bill Hybels - Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Overscheduled. Sound familiar? Today's velocity of life can consume and control us ... until our breakneck pace begins to feel normal and expected. That's where the danger lies: When we spend our lives doing things that keep us busy but don't really matter, we sacrifice the things that do.

What if your life could be different? What if you could be certain you were living the life God called you to live--and building a legacy for those you love? If you crave a simpler life anchored by the priorities that matter most, roll up your sleeves: Simplified living requires more than just cleaning out your closets or reorganizing your desk drawer. It requires uncluttering your soul. By eradicating the stuff that leaves your spirit drained, you can stop doing what doesn't matter--and start doing what does.

In Simplify, bestselling author Bill Hybels identifies the core issues that lure us into frenetic living--and offers searingly practical steps for sweeping the clutter from our souls. 

Book information:
Title: Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Descending Into Greatness by Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins

Descending Into Greatness by Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins - In a society where "upward mobility" is the highest goal, Bill Hybels asks a tough question: Do Christians place God's desires first-or their own? In Descending into Greatness, Hybels and writer Rob Wilkins take the example of Christ's downward journey as it was meant to be; the radical and essential answer for every Christian. In fourteen powerful chapters, the authors explore such topics as How Jesus managed power. The intentional decisions necessary to move down. The uplifting nature of true humility. Abundant life through dying to self. The ambush of joy. Moving down is never an easy matter that can be reduced to a formula. It involves a life committed to discipleship. Descending into Greatness introduces you to the touching stories of modern men and women committed to advancing the kingdom of God: from the pro football player, to the medical missionary, to a businessman wrestling with the priorities in the world of finance. Descending into Greatness asks tough questions and gives hopeful answers. Now, this powerful, urgent message also includes a discussion guide so that you can follow through, too. "Like Christ, we must descend-into self-abandonment, unconditional giving, sacrifice, and death to self. And, like Christ, we will then ascend-into fulfillment, blessing, joy, and purpose."

Book information:
Title: Descending Into Greatness
Authors: Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Who You Are When No One's Looking by Bill Hybels

Who You Are When No One's Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise by Bill Hybels - "When I listen to the evening news or read the morning paper these days my reaction is always the same: what's wrong in our world will not be set right until people who love God and who refuse to cave to these overwhelming challenges put the things they believe into action, things like courage and discipline and love." Bill Hybels.

Who You Are When No One's Looking has pointed the way to godly character for more than twenty years. Now Bill Hybels's essential book is completely revised and updated, featuring a new introduction, a new concluding chapter ("World-Change: When Character Counts Most") and a discussion guide for groups. Read this book to discover who God is calling you to be in the world around you.

Book information:
Title: Who You Are When No One's Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New children's book - Big Truths for Little Kids

Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt -

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Deuteronomy 6:6-7a

Your children are a blessing from God. A gift that brings an abundance of joy and the privilege of teaching them God's ways. When they're young their potential to learn is amazing. And because actions and beliefs go hand in hand, the lessons they learn from you now will shape their lives forever.

This wonderful book, with its easy-to-use story format, can help you teach the basic truths of the Christian faith to your children. They'll learn right along with Caleb and Cassie that God's ways are the best—and that even as kids, they can live for His glory every day.

Book information:
Title: Big Truths for Little Kids
Authors: Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt
Call number: 940 HUN

New children's book - The Beginner's Bible for Toddlers

The Beginner's Bible for Toddlers by Kelly Pulley - The Beginner's Bible is the perfect starting point for toddlers to learn about God s word. With simple text, bright art, and a padded cover, this cute board book edition presents ten Bible stories in bite-sized chunks that kids can understand. Help toddlers discover The Beginner's Bible just like millions of children before! Fun for kids and useful for parents and educators.

Book information:
Title: The Beginner's Bible for Toddlers
Author: Kelly Pulley
Call number: 920 PUL

New children's book - The Beginner's Bible

The Beginner's Bible by Kelly Pulley - First created to tell favourite Bible stories in language children could easily understand, The Beginner's Bible has become a treasured bestseller playing a pivotal role in the spiritual development of a generation of children, with over five million sold worldwide. With vibrant art and easy to read text, more than 90 favourite Bible stories come to life, making this a perfect starting point for children.

Book information:
Title: The Beginner's Bible
Author: Kelly Pulley
Call number: 920 PUL

New book - Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision by Paul Wesley Chilcote

Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision: An Introduction to the Faith of John and Charles Wesley by Paul Wesley Chilcote - Scholar and teacher Paul Wesley Chilcote provides a full and clear introduction to the dynamic faith of John and Charles Wesley. The vital theology of John is skillfully gleaned from his voluminous writings. The corresponding faith of Charles is culled from his enduring hymns. For students and general readers this book illuminates the vital balance the Wesleys found in Christian teaching that overcomes the often mutually exclusive options presented in other theological traditions. Chilcote shows that such a synthetic faith is not boring or irrelevant but transforming and life-giving, bringing together faith and works, Word and Spirit, the personal and the social, the head and the heart, mission and service. 

Book information:

Title: Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision: An Introduction to the Faith of John and Charles Wesley

Author: Paul Wesley Chilcote

Call number: 130 CHI

New book - Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller

Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical by Timothy Keller - We live in an age of skepticism. Our society places such faith in empirical reason, historical progress, and heartfelt emotion that it’s easy to wonder: Why should anyone believe in Christianity? What role can faith and religion play in our modern lives?

In this thoughtful and inspiring new book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller invites skeptics to consider that Christianity is more relevant now than ever. As human beings, we cannot live without meaning, satisfaction, freedom, identity, justice, and hope. Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives.

Book information:
Title: Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical
Author: Timothy Keller
Call number: 137 KEL

New book: Surprised by Joy: C.S Lewis's Autobiography by C.S. Lewis

Surprised by Joy: C.S. Lewis's Autobiography - An Accidental Journey from Atheism to Christianity by C.S. Lewis - C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—takes readers on a spiritual journey through his early life and eventual embrace of the Christian faith. Lewis begins with his childhood in Belfast, surveys his boarding school years and his youthful atheism in England, reflects on his experience in World War I, and ends at Oxford, where he became “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” As he recounts his lifelong search for joy, Lewis demonstrates its role in guiding him to find God.

Book information:
Title: Surprised by Joy: C.S. Lewis's Autobiography - An Accidental Journey from Atheism to Christianity
Author: C.S. Lewis
Call number: 267.1 LEW

New book - A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature by Ernest Lucas

Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature by Ernest C. Lucas - Israel's poets and sages left a scriptural legacy that has powerfully shaped the worship, thoughts and actions of the people of God. In the highs and lows and crossroads of life, we instinctively turn to their poetry, proverbs and discourses for the language we do not possess and the wisdom we desperately seek. Yet there is more to this literature than meets the eye - or fills the momentary need. A study of the Bible's wisdom and poetry will dramatically enhance its power and effectiveness. From the depths of lament to the heights of praise, from the eroticism of the Song of Songs to the hard realism of Ecclesiastes, and from the aphorisms of Proverbs to the discourses of Job, this guide introduces readers to the ancient background, the literary artistry, and the varied and timeless messages of the Psalms and Wisdom literature. Ernest C. Lucas gives us an informed, illuminating and interactive introduction to this portion of Scripture. Sparkling with interest and geared to the needs of students, this is an excellent textbook introduction to the Psalms and Wisdom literature.

Book information:
Title: Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Psalms & Wisdom Literature
Author: Ernest C. Lucas
Call number: 107 LUC