In the Writing Pipeline

I try to keep promotion of my writing and speaking exploits to a minimum around here, so I hope you’ll excuse this rare post hyping some new projects.

First, my latest book, The Pastor’s Justification, released last week from Crossway. This work was a labor of love in ministering to myself and all the fellows in the pastoral fraternity, applying the gospel of Christ’s finished work to the heart of the minister and the ongoing work of church ministry. It is probably my most personal book in that it includes a fair amount of personal examples of my own failings and trustings. The first part of the book is an exultational exposition of Peter’s admonition to church elders in 1 Peter 5:1-11, and the second part is an application of the five solas of the Reformation to the work of pastoral ministry. Lots of books for ministers focus on leadership skills and ministry “tool kits,” and there’s plenty of practical stuff in this book too, but my aim was to supply a helpful entry in the burgeoning area of gospel-centered resources aimed at the pastor’s heart. You can read what some others are saying about the book here.

Secondly, I was privileged to once again assist Pastor Matt Chandler with his follow-up to The Explicit Gospel. Coming at the end of the summer from David C Cook is Matt’s new work, To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain. Based roughly on a previous short-length Bible study resource on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, this is a fresh exploration of that powerful and personal epistle through the incomparably powerful and gospel-rich perspective we’ve come to expect from Matt’s teaching. It was a great blessing to help shape Matt’s distinctive voice for the printed page, and while we Reformed folk aren’t too prone to throw around words like this, I have to say his teaching on the radical Christ-drunkenness of Philippians strikes me as nothing short of anointed. I’m sure you’ll want to pre-order this gem.

Third, I am so stoked to share that my first novel will be coming out this fall from David C Cook. Some folks know my efforts at breaking into the publishing field began with fiction writing. I wrote 2.5 novels before we began planting a church and my writing focus transitioned to sermons and thus non-fiction publishing work. But my first love was storytelling, and I am so happy that the very first book I wrote, that very first novel that came so close to publication fifteen years ago, is finally seeing the light of day. Otherworld will be released in Cook’s new Digital First campaign, available on every major e-book platform — Kindle, Nook, you name it — as well as print-on-demand. (If it sells a decent amount of copies, it could then be released as a trade paperback available in brick and mortar stores.) This novel is a supernatural thriller taking place in and around my hometown of Houston, Texas, and is sort of an Exorcist meets The X-Files meets The Master. I hope Otherworld scares and blesses you silly.

Lastly, you are probably aware of this already, but be on the lookout for the upcoming ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible from Crossway. I was honored to write the study notes for the books of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. All of us involved trust this will be a very helpful resource for Christ’s church in seeing the glory of Christ in every text of Scripture. Here is an introductory video sharing more about this work:

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible from Crossway on Vimeo.