January 2023 New Releases
New Books and Bibles
Below is a list of the new and notable resources releasing this month from Crossway. Titles include the ESV Church History Study Bible and Come, Lord Jesus by John Piper.
ESV Church History Study Bible
Edited by Stephen J. Nichols, Gerald Bray, and Keith A. Mathison, this Bible features 20,000+ study notes from historical figures including Athanasius of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon. This study Bible also includes articles by trusted scholars on major aspects of church history, a glossary of historical figures, and “This Passage in History” callouts. Created for serious readers, students, and teachers of God’s Word, the ESV Church History Study Bible highlights voices from the past offering wisdom for the present.
“Without detracting from the importance of being able to ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’ the Word of God itself, readers are invited to sit down with some of the greatest and most spiritually tuned minds of the ages and engage in Bible study together with them. They may not be ‘all the saints’ but they are certainly ones you would choose to help you in Bible study! The ESV Church History Study Bible promises to be a long-lasting gift to every Christian home and will provide a lifetime of help and encouragement.”
—Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
The Story of Abortion in America: A Street-Level History, 1652–2022
The Story of Abortion in America traces the long cultural history of this pressing issue from 1652 to today, focusing on the street-level activities of those drawn into the battles willingly or unwillingly. Authors Marvin Olasky and Leah Savas show complex lives on both sides: Some sacrificed much to help the poor and others sacrificed the helpless to empower themselves. The Story of Abortion in America argues that whatever happens legally won’t end the debate, but it will affect lives.
“What an amazing work! Olasky and Savas have made an important contribution on a topic that is both so controversial and also so essential to the understanding of what America has become and what it will be as a nation in the future. Indeed, this book is a reminder that our nation’s abortion history is linked to its destiny, especially if we seek to offer compassion, hope, and help to those at risk for abortion and their vulnerable unborn children.”
—Roland C. Warren, President and CEO, Care Net; author, Raising Sons of Promise: A Guide to Single Mothers of Boys
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ
Piper examines key biblical texts around the second coming while encouraging readers toward a Spirit-awakened affection for Jesus’s return. He also explores important questions such as, Could Jesus come at any moment, or must certain events happen first?; What does it mean to “Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour”?; and What should we be doing when he comes? With a special focus on the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and Peter, Come, Lord Jesus portrays not only the glory of the revealed Savior, but also the glorification of the resurrected saints.
“Readers should not neglect this important book on the coming of the Lord Jesus and the last times. We are stirred to love Jesus’s appearing and to live now in light of the last day, in light of the return of the King. Certainly there are disagreements about the end times, but no one will be able to dispute that Piper argues carefully and extensively from the Scriptures. I found this book to be fuel for the mind and the heart, one that is full of biblical and practical wisdom.”
—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World
Through personal stories and biblical examples, Miller teaches the why, what, and how of praying together. Readers will learn how praying with other Christians can transform their communities into beacons of hope and be given practical strategies—such as finding a prayer partner and prioritizing a structured prayer time—to implement these changes in their own church.
“Reading Paul Miller’s A Praying Church fresh filled my heart with the power of Oswald Chambers’s insight: ‘Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work.’ I was challenged and inspired to reconsider the centrality of prayer for my personal prayer life and for the corporate ministry of my church so that the Spirit of Jesus would pervade and empower all.”
—Bryan Chapell, pastor; author, Christ-Centered Preaching and Christ-Centered Worship
Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness
In Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness, Gavin Ortlund encourages readers that humility is not just an abstract virtue but a mark of gospel integrity. Ortlund examines humility both on a personal level and in the context of the church, giving examples of ways to cultivate it—including meditation on the gospel and practicing intentional gratitude. Drawing from Philippians 2 and historical texts such as C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and Jonathan Edwards’s sermon “A Christian Spirit Is a Humble Spirit,” Ortlund defines humility in light of the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ, casting a vision for a gospel-centered, humble life.
“Saint Augustine once counseled that the top three virtues of Christianity are ‘Humility, humility, and humility.’ One suspects he said this because when humility is intact, all other fruit of the Spirit fall into place. What Gavin Ortlund has given us in this wonderful book is not only a description of humility but also a pathway that makes the reader desire more of it, for the smaller we become in our own eyes, the bigger Christ becomes to us. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.”
—Scott Sauls, Senior Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee; author, Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen
God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood
Katie Faris knows well the challenges of parenting. As a mother of 5, she has experienced the trials of motherhood but also knows the comfort of our Savior, Jesus. Through 9 chapters, God Is Still Good offers a biblical context for suffering and hope, answers common questions, and addresses prevalent temptations and lies that mothers are likely to face.
“Katie Faris shows us that parenting is not a pain-free experience, nor should that be our goal; it is a deep dependency on Christ. His strength is made perfect in weakness, and he is forming us through our grief and painful parenting experiences. Be encouraged: the gospel does indeed offer hope, comfort, and purpose in our journey.”
—Julie E. Lowe, Counselor and Faculty Member, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation
True Life: Practical Wisdom from the Book of Ecclesiastes
*Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Mahaney Whitacre
In True Life: Practical Wisdom from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre lay out 14 lessons that can be learned from Ecclesiastes, helping women see what it looks like to fear God and obey him in the day-to-day. By examining the way life truly is, readers can find the wisdom to endure life’s hardships and enjoy life’s pleasures.
“This wise book helps us realistically assess our short life ‘under the sun,’ and it encourages us to fear God and to enjoy the life he has ordained for us.”
—Andy and Jenni Naselli, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary; Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and his wife
Exodus: Stories of Redemption and Relationship
“If you are looking for a daily tool to help you understand the overall story of Scripture while also challenging you to grow spiritually, then Exodus: Stories of Redemption and Relationship is exactly what you need. David Murray has eloquently crafted daily studies that are as deep as they are accessible. In fifty days of study, David walks you through one of the most well-known stories in the Bible in a fresh way that will make you grapple with your own need for God and his redeeming work.”
—Adam Griffin, Lead Pastor, Eastside Community Church, Dallas, Texas; Host, Family Discipleship Podcast; coauthor, Family Discipleship
“This wise book helps us realistically assess our short life ‘under the sun,’ and it encourages us to fear God and to enjoy the life he has ordained for us.”
—Andy and Jenni Naselli, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary; Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and his wife
The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark
In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Peter Orr offers an accessible summary of the theology of Mark, examining its relationship to both the Old and New Testaments. Each chapter focuses on a key theological theme—the identity of Christ, the announcement of the kingdom, the call to follow, and more—and explains how it is relevant for the church today.
“This is maybe the best short theology of Mark I’ve read. Unique to Orr’s book is how he places Mark in conversation with both Peter and Paul. When Mark composed his work, Peter and Paul were already preaching aspects of Mark’s Gospel. Mark more fully narrates the story of this great hero who is more than the Jewish Messiah. He is the divine Son.”
—Patrick Schreiner, Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross and The Visual Word