Tim Chester's Blog, page 22

Review: Vaughan Roberts on Transgender

Today sees the publication of Transgender by Vaughan Roberts. It’s a short guide that combines great pastoral sensitivity with biblical clarity. Vaughan is Rector of St. Ebbe’s Church in Oxford.

The first chapter describes the phenomenon of transgender in its many guises, inviting us to feel the pain of those involved. Many teenagers grow out of such feelings, but not all. Vaughan encourages to steer between a response of ‘Yuk’ and a response of ‘Yes’. In chapter two Vaughan sets transgender in the wider cultural context of individualism and the prioritising of authenticity. The result of these trends is that, instead of attempting to correct someone’s gender identity so it corresponds to their biological sex, the assumption is now that we should correct a person’s biological sex to correspond to their gender identity.

Vaughan then views the issues through the biblical framework of creation, fall and redemption. True freedom is found not through radical independence, but through being who we are. The result of being left to invent our identities is a deep insecurity and fluidity. But in reality our identity is given to us in creation. We are made embodied and sexual. As a result of the fall, however, we are now all disordered. Some people have disordered bodies which, in the case of gender, includes a small minority with intersex conditions. More common are disordered minds. This includes phenomena like depression and anxiety. But it can also include gender dysphoria. These are not necessarily a direct result of an individual’s own sin. But they are the result of humanity’s rebellion against sin. We are now all in some way or other broken people in a broken world. Vaughan draws on his own experience of same-sex attraction to illustrate this point. The gospel is the good news of redemption through Christ in a new creation. Before the day when our bodies will be redeemed, we are to resist desires contrary to God’s will. ‘That means that those who experience gender dysphoria should resist feelings that encourage them to see themselves as anything other than the sex of their birth.’ (61) Though this may be difficult, this will lead to a greater experience of freedom and a secure identity. Vaughan ends with a chapter entitled ‘Wisdom’ where he address a series of ‘What if …?’ scenarios including advice to parents, friends and churches.

At 64 pages this is not designed to be a definitive account of the topic. But Vaughan packs in a tremendous amount of content which is pastorally sensitive and biblically robust. It can readily be read at one sitting and so serves a great primer for Christians confused by the cultural trends or individuals struggling with gender dysphoria.

Transgender is available from thegoodbook.co.uk and thegoodbook.com.

 

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The One True Story and The One True Light commendations

Yesterday saw the publication of my new book of advent readings, The One True Story, and the US publication The One True Light. Here are some commendations …

The One True Story

Available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

This accessible devotional book helps us to experience a daily delight in discovering how our story connects with the ongoing story of Christ and all he is doing in the world. By drawing on contemporary examples from everyday life and words of worship from believers across the centuries, Tim Chester highlights passages of Scripture that challenge us with the down-to-earth implications of living lives that are centred upon Christ.

John Russell

Pastor, Cornerstone Church, Nottingham

Every year our advent candle builds expectation for Christmas, but it burns down to nothing. This wonderful book will create expectation and leave you feeling moved, joyful, thankful and awestruck. You will not be empty-handed or empty-hearted after spending a month with these devotions. Along the way, you will learn to see the riches of Christ in the Old Testament and feel a fresh impetus to see centrality of the story of Jesus in the pages of your Bible.

Adrian Reynolds

Director of Ministry, The Proclamation Trust

Have you become a Christmas cynic like me, jaded by a commercialized holiday?  Instead of saying ‘bah humbug,’ let Tim Chester take you past the trees and tinsel to the ancient biblical drama that led up to Jesus’ birth.  The One Trust Story connects the familiar Christmas story to God’s mighty works in the past, as well as to our lives in the modern world with freshness and delight.

Jeramie Rinne

Senior Pastor, Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi

Every Christmas our hearts must be re-tuned to God’s glorious purpose for sending Jesus into this world. I heartily recommend Tim Chester’s, The One True Story, to do just that. Read it and you will once again resonate with the God of the universe who loves you through Jesus.

Barbara Reaoch

Director, Children’s Division, Bible Study Fellowship

 

The One True Story made me marvel once again at God’s amazing salvation plan. I thoroughly enjoyed journeying with Tim Chester to discover how Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament, the hope of the world and the Lord of all! This is a book that will help you worship God and love Jesus more. Surely there is no better way to prepare for the wonder of Christmas than that?

Marcus Honeyset

Pastor, author and Director of Living Leadership

The One True Light

Available here from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

 

If you’re looking for a fresh, creative, insightful, and thoroughly biblical and Christ-exalting guide for Advent, look no further. Tim Chester’s book, The One True Light, applies biblical theology to the first 18 verses of John’s gospel to show us how the Incarnation affects every aspect of our lives. Brief and simple enough for children, yet deep and rich enough for mature Christians, this is a book that inspires awe, wonder, and praise for Emmanuel, God with us.

Bob Kauflin

Director of Sovereign Grace Music

Most of us struggle to keep the main thing the main thing – and at Christmas, even more so! In this advent devotional Tim strips away all the unnecessary distractions and helps us focus on Christ. Journeying daily through John 1 we catch a fresh glimpse of Jesus and are invited into a deeper relationship with him – essential if we are to recapture the true meaning of Christmas.

Elizabeth McQuoid

Commissioning Editor and Trustee of Keswick Ministries

In this short, accessible book, Chester invites us to “join John in fixing our eyes on Jesus, the one true light”. As I read it, that’s exactly what I found myself doing. Buy it and read it. Buy another and give it as a gift. It’s an investment not an expense.

Steve Timmis

Executive Director, Acts 29

This is a book that churches should be handing out in bulk for Advent. With lucid biblical content, helpful application and superb prayers for each day, it surges with the comfort and joy of Christmas.

Michael Reeves

Director of Union and Senior Lecturer at Wales Evangelical School of Theology

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New release: The One True Story and The One True Light

Last year my book of advent readings, The One True Light, was a UK religious book best seller for a couple of weeks. Today sees the worldwide publication of a companion volume, The One True Story. Also today The One True Light is published in the United States for the first time. Here’s the blurb of each book. I’ll post some commendations tomorrow.

The One True Story

Everyone loves the Christmas story. But the story of the baby in the manger is the culmination of a thousand other stories. It is the focus of the story of the Bible and the story of human history.

This book has 24 short meditative readings working through Bible stories from Genesis to Jesus. Each day includes ideas for reflection, prayer and application, designed to excite you about the gospel message in the run-up to Christmas Day.

As you prepare for Christmas, get a fresh insight into the full script of the nativity, the story of our world, and the plotline for the rest of your life…

Available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

The One True Light

We may be familiar with the baby in the manger, but have you met the Word who was in the beginning with God? Have you met the One True Light who is full of grace and truth? Or the Cosmic Lord who won the right for people to become Children of God? They are one and the same person.

Join Tim Chester as he guides us through the opening verses of the Gospel of John, and enjoy a Christmas infused with new meaning and light.

With ideas for reflection, prayer and application, these short, meditative readings will excite you about Jesus in the busyness of the run up to Christmas Day.

From the introduction…

“The build-up to Christmas is a busy time. There are presents to buy, parties to attend, food to prepare, cards to send and relatives to visit. So it’s easy to forget about Jesus, even at Christmas—especially at Christmas. But the truth is that we’ll never enjoy Christmas properly unless we understand who it is who was born in Bethlehem that night. Indeed, we won’t enjoy life to the full until we see God in a manger.”

Available here from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.



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Commendations for Why the Reformation Still Matters from Michael Horton, Mark Noll, Sinclair Ferguson and Sean Michael Lucas

Why the Reformation Stills Matters is published tomorrow in the United States by Crossway. Here are some commendations:

“Rarely does one find such a rich combination of historical theology and passionate exegetical argument. This is a warm, pastoral, and rigorous defense of the central claims of the Reformation. It also includes a defense of this common heritage from the perspective of Anabaptist/Baptist distinctives that recognizes important differences with the magisterial Reformers. For both reasons, Why the Reformation Still Matters represents an important contribution to ongoing conversations in the global church.”

—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story

“Authors Michael Reeves and Tim Chester have made a solid contribution to the commemoration of the Reformation in their clear account of what the major Reformers, especially Martin Luther and John Calvin, taught about Jesus, God’s grace, Scripture, the sacraments, and other important subjects. With the five-hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of the Ninety-Five Theses quickly approaching, this timely book underscores the vital importance of what he and other early Protestants devoted their lives to teaching.”

—Mark A. Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame; editor, Protestantism after 500 Years

“Reeves and Chester clearly and straightforwardly explain the vital importance of the Reformation, summarize its message, and show its ongoing relevance. Why the Reformation Still Matters may be only two hundred pages long, but it vibrates with life. A brilliant achievement by two modern-day doctors of the church, and a great little book.”

—Sinclair B. Ferguson, Professor of Systematic Theology, Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, Texas

“If there are any doubts over whether the Reformation still matters or whether the church needs to be always reforming, Reeves and Chester dispel them. Winsome and wise, this book provides solid reasons to be Protestant and offers biblically and historically accurate accountings of key doctrinal formulations. As Protestant Christians around the world celebrate the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, they will find strong encouragement here. Semper Reformanda!”

—Sean Michael Lucas, Senior Minister, The First Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Associate Professor of Church History, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

Why the Reformation Still Matters can be bought from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com.

 

Jesus longs for you to be with him and see his glory. If that doesn’t change you, nothing will. #ExodusForYou

Jesus longs for you to be with him and see his glory. If that doesn’t change you, nothing will.

This quote is from my latest book, Exodus for You. Exodus for You is available here from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk as well as thegoodbook.com, thegoodbook.co.uk and thegoodbook.com.au.

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Join us at Gospel Yorkshire on 5 October 2016

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John Owen on the self-evidencing efficacy of the Bible

Following on from my review of A Peculiar Glory by John Piper, here are some quotes from John Owen ‘the self-evidencing efficacy’ of the Bible

John Owen, The Divine Origins of the Scriptures (1659)

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do abundantly and uncontrollably manifest themselves to be the word of the living God, so that, merely on the account of their own proposal of themselves unto us in the name and majesty of God, as such – without the contribution of help or assistance from tradition, church, or any thing else – we are obliged, upon the penalty of eternal damnation, (as are all to whom by any means they come, or are brought,) to receive them, with that subjection of soul which is due to the word of God. The authority of God shining in them, they afford unto us all the divine evidence of themselves which God is willing to grant unto us.

The Scripture hath all its authority from its Author … We do so receive, embrace, believe, and submit unto it, because of the authority of God who speaks it, or gave it forth as his mind and will, evidencing itself by the Spirit in and with that Word, unto our minds and consciences: or, because that the Scriptures, being brought unto us by the good providence of God, in ways of his appointment and preservation, it doth evidence itself infallibly unto our consciences to be the word of the living God.

Light manifest light … Let the least child bring a candle into a room that before was dark, and it would be madness to go about to prove by substantial witnesses – men of gravity and authority – that light is brought in … Now, the Scripture, the Word of God, is light … It is a light so shining with the majesty of its Author, as that it manifests itself to be his, ‘a light shining in a dark place.’ (2 Pet. 1.19) … Light, I confess, of itself, will not remove the defect of the visive faculty. It is not given for that end. Light is not eyes. It suffices that there is nothing wanting on its own part for its discover and revelation … I do not assert from hence, that wherever the Scripture is brought … all that read it, or to whom it is read, must instantly of necessity assent unto its divine original. Many men who are not stark blind may have yet so abused their eyes, that when light is brought into a dark place they may not be able to discern it.

Now, this light in the Scripture, for which we contend, is nothing but the beaming of the majesty, truth, holiness, and authority of God, given unto it and left upon it by its authority, the Holy Ghost – an impress it hath of God’s excellency upon it, distinguishing it by infallible signs from the product of any creature. By this it dives into the consciences of men, into all the secret recesses of their hearts; guides, teaches, directs, determines, and judges in them, upon them, in the name, majesty, and authority of God. If men who are blinded by the god of this world, will yet deny this light because they perceive it not, it shall not prejudice them who do. By this self-evidencing light, I say, doth the Scripture make such a proposition of itself as the word of God, that whoever rejects it, doth it at the peril of his eternal ruin; and thereby a bottom or foundation is tendered for that faith which it requireth to repose itself upon.

How know we that the Scripture is the word of God; how may others comes to be assured thereof? The Scripture, say we, bears testimony to itself that it is the word of God; that testimony is the witness of God himself, which whoso doth not accept and believe, he doth what in him lies to make God a liar. To give us an infallible assurance that, in receiving this testimony, we are not imposed upon by cunning devised fables, the Scriptures have that glory of light and power accompanying them, as wholly distinguisheth them by infallible sign and evidences from all words and writing not divine; conveying their truth and power into the souls and consciences of men with an infallible certainty.

From John Owen, The Divine Origin of the Scriptures, in Works, ed. William Goold, Vol. 16, T&T Clarke, 1862, 307, 309, 318-319, 319-321, 322, 324-325. Available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

A Peculiar Glory is available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.

John Piper’s Collected Works

In a recent review of John Piper’s A Peculiar Glory I rather foolishly said ‘I believe this may be the first book by John Piper not to have originated from sermons’. I thought I had remembered Piper himself saying something along these lines in an interview. But perhaps he added the words ‘recent’ and ‘major’ to the word ‘first’. Plus I’ve reached the age where I no longer back my memory in these kind of disputes – it’s proved unreliable too often.

Anyway, Justin Taylor has emailed me to say he estimates only about half Piper’s books originated as sermons. And he should know for it turns out he’s recently completed the task of edited Piper’s  Collected Works which are due out on 31 March 2017. They are already available for pre-order from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk – all 8464 pages in 13 volumes. Justin cites Love Your Enemies, The Justification of God, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, God’s Passion for His Glory, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, Counted Righteous in Christ, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, When I Don’t Desire God, God Is the Gospel, What Jesus Demands from the World, The Future of Justification, Think, A Godward Life, Taste and See … Well you get the idea!

But how can you have a collected works when John Piper is still alive and well and planning to write more books? Good question. The answer is that at some point Crossway will produce a future set of volumes. Justin writes:

Our basic criterion for selection has been to include everything that John Piper has written for publication in printed books, magazines, and journals. The result is 45 books, 60 articles and reviews, 23 forewords, and 42 chapters—totaling around 3 million words (all of this is in addition to his sermon manuscripts and online articles already available, free of charge, at desiringGod.org).

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God lights up our lives so that we might light up the world. #ExodusForYou

God lights up our lives so that we might light up the world.

This quote is from my latest book, Exodus for You. Exodus for You is available here from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk as well as thegoodbook.com, thegoodbook.co.uk and thegoodbook.com.au.

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Support this site by using these links:

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ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible special offer

UK readers may be interested in a one-off promotion from 10OfThose on leather and trutone editions of the ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible. They normally sell for £50 and £60, but 10OfThose are offering them for £16 and £20 respectively – or half that if you buy multiple copies. Click for details.