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Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions
Will there be sex in heaven?
Are miraculous gifts for today?
Does God ever change His mind? Such difficult questions often intrigue us, readily confuse us, and sometimes disturb us. Drawing on nearly 40 years of teaching and ministry experience, pastor-scholar Sam Storms answers 25 challenging questions Christians are often too afraid to ask, addressing thorny issues ranging from the eternal destiny of infants to the roles of demons and angels. The robust, thoughtful answers provided in this book offer a helpful alternative to relying on simplistic explanations, and will encourage you in the search for truth and clarity on such tough topics.
Are miraculous gifts for today?
Does God ever change His mind? Such difficult questions often intrigue us, readily confuse us, and sometimes disturb us. Drawing on nearly 40 years of teaching and ministry experience, pastor-scholar Sam Storms answers 25 challenging questions Christians are often too afraid to ask, addressing thorny issues ranging from the eternal destiny of infants to the roles of demons and angels. The robust, thoughtful answers provided in this book offer a helpful alternative to relying on simplistic explanations, and will encourage you in the search for truth and clarity on such tough topics.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
55 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Sam Storms
79 books138 followers(Some early works written as C. Samuel Storms)
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Sam has spent 39 years in ministry as a pastor, professor and author. He was visiting Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College from 2000-2004, and is currently Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City. He has authored 22 books and founded Enjoying God Ministries. He's a graduate of The University of Oklahoma (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) and The University of Texas (Ph.D.). He and his wife Ann have been married for 40 years and are the parents of two grown daughters and have four grandchildren. On a more personal level, Sam loves baseball, books, movies, and anything to do with the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 15, 2025
Decided to finish this on my lunch break. I just gave up hope that our little men's group would get back to it. (Mainly because I live in a different city now.) Good stuff in this book, only took me about 7 years to finish it.
January 25, 2014
Anyone who has been involved in the theological world for any length of time or for that matter, been daring enough to venture into the firestorm of a Facebook forum that is dedicated to a particular theological stance can attest to the reality that on any number of topics found in the Bible, there is bound to be a strongly held opinion about that issue. This includes anything from origins to eschatology and arguably everything in between. This leaves many wondering if Scripture actually contains answers or just a bunch of ideas with the reader left to draw their own personal conclusions as to what is true and what is false. The reality is we are not left up to our own speculations and Scripture provides answers to even the toughest of questions although admittedly some concepts require a bit more study than others. It is to those difficult questions of the faith that pastor and author Sam Storms saliently addresses in his book, Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions.
As the title of the book indicates, Storms has selected 25 of the more difficult and often debated theological issues one will likely find being discussed in the church today. These hot button issues form the basis for much debate and also quite a bit of consternation on the part of many as they try to wade through the various opinions, books, forums, and sermons that support one view over the other and vice versa. Subjects such as inerrancy, original sin, baptism, angels, demons, salvation, tongues, tithing, the sovereignty of God and His attributes are just a few of the many issues that are debated today. In this book, Storms takes a look at these hot button issues, providing the reader with a very biblically sound approach to not just trying to find a way to win a debate, but rather in a manner that seeks to help the reader have a holistic view to what Scripture declares on these important issues.
Storms begins his book by addressing perhaps two of the more debated topics in the church today, namely inerrancy and a concept known as open theism. As a theology major in bible college and seminary, I am keenly aware how the discipline known as theology is rather gifted at creating what can be termed as million dollar words for even the most simplest of biblical concepts. When it comes to the topic of inerrancy, the use of large words and often confusing concepts somehow finds its way into the discussion. What I truly appreciated about the approach Storms took to inerrancy for example, is the pastoral tone of his examination of the subject matter. Rather than throwing out yet another list of confusing terms, Storms takes the confusing and presents it in a way that anyone from the newest believer to the most seasoned theologian will appreciate. For example, the doctrine of inerrancy necessarily includes the affirmation of verbal, plenary inspiration. Now verbal is a word most would not stumble on; however, plenary and even inspiration are perhaps words with which many are not familiar. Rather than stating that he affirms the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture and then moving on to another aspect of that doctrine, Storms aptly takes the time to walk the reader through what those terms mean and why they are vital to the issue being discussed.
The allure of open theism has unfortunately taken hold in the minds of many believers, presenting a god who learns and grows based on the actions of humanity. This particular subject can quite often migrate into the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, in particular the discussion of free will although Storms rightly points out that while open theists are typically of the Arminian persuasion, Arminius was a strong proponent of God’s divine foreknowledge. As noted by Storms, “proponents of this doctrine insist this “open” view of God is the only way that he can engage in a both meaningful and loving interpersonal relationship with his creatures.” The response Storms provides to open theism is simply to walk the reader through Scriptures that declare God’s exhaustive and complete foreknowledge of all events, past, present, and future. Using Isaiah 41-48 as his foundation, Storms saliently notes the failure of open theism to account for the rather clear biblical statements demonstrating God’s divine foreknowledge. Storms correctly points out “God’s glory lies in his capacity to do what the idols cannot: before new things come to pass, God alone declares what they shall be and proclaims them to the people. There is no guesswork involved.” Affirming our faith and trust in a God who knows all from beginning to end is vital, and Storms does a marvelous job of showing the failure of the open theism position and how Scripture, the source of truth, reveals open theism to be nothing more than a charade that minimizes the glory of God.
Another interesting topic Storms addresses is that of God’s immutability or the question of whether God changes His mind. For theological nerds and layman alike, the question of does God change is an important one for after all, there are a few verses where it at least seems at first glance that the actions or requests of humanity swayed God or altered His plans. Storms first notes an important aspect of this discussion that must be noted, namely “This affirmation of unchangeableness, however, is not designed to deny that change and development take place in God’s relations to his creatures.” After all, when we move from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer enemies of God, but instead, we become His children. That is certainly a huge change in relationship. Building upon that foundation, Storms walks the reader through terms such as nacham (repent) which are used in the passages where it appears God changed His mind or approach based on the actions of man. Storms notes a number of important issues, such as how Scripture uses figures of speech in order to relay the actions of God in a way humanity can understand. Additionally, he rightly discusses issues of unconditional covenants and decrees and those of a conditional nature. All of these important issues ultimately result in the fact that God does not change in the way open theists surmise. Our God is dependable and whatever takes place is fully within His divine plan.
Given the fact there are 22 other interesting topics that Storms addresses in this book and the fact it would take several more pages to scratch the surface of what he talks about in regards to those issues, I will conclude this review by saying this is a truly excellent resource. It bears a degree of similarity to books such as F. F. Bruce’s Hard Sayings of the Bible or Norman Geisler’s The Big Book of Bible Difficulties; however, Storms effort is focused on addressing specific topics, while the aforementioned books address various passages of Scripture that may or may not deal with the topics focused on by Storms. Pastoral in tone, well-researched, full of recommendations for additional reading, and biblically sound in its approach, Tough Topics by Sam Storms is an important book in an age where much of biblical truth is coming under attack. This work should find its way on the shelves of layman and scholars alike.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
As the title of the book indicates, Storms has selected 25 of the more difficult and often debated theological issues one will likely find being discussed in the church today. These hot button issues form the basis for much debate and also quite a bit of consternation on the part of many as they try to wade through the various opinions, books, forums, and sermons that support one view over the other and vice versa. Subjects such as inerrancy, original sin, baptism, angels, demons, salvation, tongues, tithing, the sovereignty of God and His attributes are just a few of the many issues that are debated today. In this book, Storms takes a look at these hot button issues, providing the reader with a very biblically sound approach to not just trying to find a way to win a debate, but rather in a manner that seeks to help the reader have a holistic view to what Scripture declares on these important issues.
Storms begins his book by addressing perhaps two of the more debated topics in the church today, namely inerrancy and a concept known as open theism. As a theology major in bible college and seminary, I am keenly aware how the discipline known as theology is rather gifted at creating what can be termed as million dollar words for even the most simplest of biblical concepts. When it comes to the topic of inerrancy, the use of large words and often confusing concepts somehow finds its way into the discussion. What I truly appreciated about the approach Storms took to inerrancy for example, is the pastoral tone of his examination of the subject matter. Rather than throwing out yet another list of confusing terms, Storms takes the confusing and presents it in a way that anyone from the newest believer to the most seasoned theologian will appreciate. For example, the doctrine of inerrancy necessarily includes the affirmation of verbal, plenary inspiration. Now verbal is a word most would not stumble on; however, plenary and even inspiration are perhaps words with which many are not familiar. Rather than stating that he affirms the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture and then moving on to another aspect of that doctrine, Storms aptly takes the time to walk the reader through what those terms mean and why they are vital to the issue being discussed.
The allure of open theism has unfortunately taken hold in the minds of many believers, presenting a god who learns and grows based on the actions of humanity. This particular subject can quite often migrate into the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, in particular the discussion of free will although Storms rightly points out that while open theists are typically of the Arminian persuasion, Arminius was a strong proponent of God’s divine foreknowledge. As noted by Storms, “proponents of this doctrine insist this “open” view of God is the only way that he can engage in a both meaningful and loving interpersonal relationship with his creatures.” The response Storms provides to open theism is simply to walk the reader through Scriptures that declare God’s exhaustive and complete foreknowledge of all events, past, present, and future. Using Isaiah 41-48 as his foundation, Storms saliently notes the failure of open theism to account for the rather clear biblical statements demonstrating God’s divine foreknowledge. Storms correctly points out “God’s glory lies in his capacity to do what the idols cannot: before new things come to pass, God alone declares what they shall be and proclaims them to the people. There is no guesswork involved.” Affirming our faith and trust in a God who knows all from beginning to end is vital, and Storms does a marvelous job of showing the failure of the open theism position and how Scripture, the source of truth, reveals open theism to be nothing more than a charade that minimizes the glory of God.
Another interesting topic Storms addresses is that of God’s immutability or the question of whether God changes His mind. For theological nerds and layman alike, the question of does God change is an important one for after all, there are a few verses where it at least seems at first glance that the actions or requests of humanity swayed God or altered His plans. Storms first notes an important aspect of this discussion that must be noted, namely “This affirmation of unchangeableness, however, is not designed to deny that change and development take place in God’s relations to his creatures.” After all, when we move from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer enemies of God, but instead, we become His children. That is certainly a huge change in relationship. Building upon that foundation, Storms walks the reader through terms such as nacham (repent) which are used in the passages where it appears God changed His mind or approach based on the actions of man. Storms notes a number of important issues, such as how Scripture uses figures of speech in order to relay the actions of God in a way humanity can understand. Additionally, he rightly discusses issues of unconditional covenants and decrees and those of a conditional nature. All of these important issues ultimately result in the fact that God does not change in the way open theists surmise. Our God is dependable and whatever takes place is fully within His divine plan.
Given the fact there are 22 other interesting topics that Storms addresses in this book and the fact it would take several more pages to scratch the surface of what he talks about in regards to those issues, I will conclude this review by saying this is a truly excellent resource. It bears a degree of similarity to books such as F. F. Bruce’s Hard Sayings of the Bible or Norman Geisler’s The Big Book of Bible Difficulties; however, Storms effort is focused on addressing specific topics, while the aforementioned books address various passages of Scripture that may or may not deal with the topics focused on by Storms. Pastoral in tone, well-researched, full of recommendations for additional reading, and biblically sound in its approach, Tough Topics by Sam Storms is an important book in an age where much of biblical truth is coming under attack. This work should find its way on the shelves of layman and scholars alike.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 4, 2020
Though I did not agree with everything Storms wrote, I love his thorough, biblical, and logical approach to every issue. I was never left wondering how he came to each conclusion, and it sparked within me a desire to look deeper into God’s Word, which is always a beautiful thing.
June 23, 2020
Excellent reference on many topics that are too often ignored by the church for one reason or another. I may not agree with all of the answers that Sam Storms gives, he seems to do his best to answer biblically and not out of emotion or a "this is just how it is/has been" attitude.
February 12, 2019
Sam Storms takes these tough topics by storm, implementing both his incredible biblical literacy and his honest and heartfelt approach.
August 16, 2014
I'm a thinker, by nature. And as I thinker, I often find myself searching for answers to the tough questions. I want to know. And, since becoming a follower of Christ, I now no longer want to know just for knowledge sake, but because I have a deep desire to know the Biblical answers to many of my questions. Tough questions. Questions that, when I find the courage enough to pose them to friends or even to those in ministry, I sometimes receive discouraging results and no answers. Or, worst yet, I receive overused, completely senseless cliches. And I'm left wondering "Am I the only odd duck who ever wonders about these things?"
Author Sam Storms, in writing the book "Tough Topics", has shown that he is not afraid to ask the hard questions. Not only is he not afraid to ask them, he's not afraid to do the research to try to formulate theologically and Scriptural sound answers. And, what I really appreciate, is that he is also not afraid to admit when he doesn't know the clear answer, and he is not afraid to share others views on each subject.
I can usually fly through even the densest books fairly quickly---I read books like I eat chocolate. Voraciously. But this book took me by surprise, because it took me much longer to read then what I anticipated. In fact, I have recently begun to read "War and Peace" (on my bucket list) and I wonder if I'll be finished with that quicker than I completed "Tough Topics" by Storms.
This is a good thing, not a bad thing. Because he made me think for myself. He worded his arguments in such a way that I had to stop and consider the evidence myself. Sometimes I agreed. Other times I disagreed. But in both instances, his writing drive me to exactly where I needed to be--in scripture. Each and every chapter found me searching the scriptures myself--something each theological writer or Biblical preacher should desire from their writings or preaching. We should always, as listeners and readers, be provoked to return to God's word for ourselves, over and over and over again.
So if you are looking for the answers to some tough topics (Could Jesus have sinned? What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Are those who die in infancy saved? Can Christians lose their salvation? and so many more), then I suggest you sample Storms' book. But be prepared to be challenged both mentally and spiritually. Be prepared to do hard work yourself, as you read, ponder, and search out scripture for questions that are not easy to answer but that are valid and often asked by both believers and non-believers alike, even if they are never voiced outloud.
Author Sam Storms, in writing the book "Tough Topics", has shown that he is not afraid to ask the hard questions. Not only is he not afraid to ask them, he's not afraid to do the research to try to formulate theologically and Scriptural sound answers. And, what I really appreciate, is that he is also not afraid to admit when he doesn't know the clear answer, and he is not afraid to share others views on each subject.
I can usually fly through even the densest books fairly quickly---I read books like I eat chocolate. Voraciously. But this book took me by surprise, because it took me much longer to read then what I anticipated. In fact, I have recently begun to read "War and Peace" (on my bucket list) and I wonder if I'll be finished with that quicker than I completed "Tough Topics" by Storms.
This is a good thing, not a bad thing. Because he made me think for myself. He worded his arguments in such a way that I had to stop and consider the evidence myself. Sometimes I agreed. Other times I disagreed. But in both instances, his writing drive me to exactly where I needed to be--in scripture. Each and every chapter found me searching the scriptures myself--something each theological writer or Biblical preacher should desire from their writings or preaching. We should always, as listeners and readers, be provoked to return to God's word for ourselves, over and over and over again.
So if you are looking for the answers to some tough topics (Could Jesus have sinned? What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Are those who die in infancy saved? Can Christians lose their salvation? and so many more), then I suggest you sample Storms' book. But be prepared to be challenged both mentally and spiritually. Be prepared to do hard work yourself, as you read, ponder, and search out scripture for questions that are not easy to answer but that are valid and often asked by both believers and non-believers alike, even if they are never voiced outloud.
April 28, 2013
"Tough Topics" by Sam Storms is a well presented, and well researched work that is appropriate for both new Christians and seasoned Christians.
Storms tackles 25 dogmatic questions that run the gamut from "What is Blasphemy?" "Are babies who die saved?" to "Can a Christian be demonized?" "Should all Christians speak in tongues?" and "Are Christians Obligated to Tithe?"
Virtually every question was addressed, some from a number of points of view, and backed by scripture. I learned a whole lot more than I thought I would. Herein lies the reason that Christians of all ages must continue to nourish their hearts and minds in their walk with Christ.
Sam Storms is a pastor of a large church in the Oklahoma City area. He bills himself as an "Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist..."
This book is not a quick read. It's based on research, and in the process, the reader will be moved to do some research of his own.
I took away several truths from this excellent resource. First, Storm's treatment of tithing brought me some new insights in that those in early Israel may have been required to tithe up to 27% of their income. I enjoyed Sam's presentation of this.
I scratched my head in a number of discussions, but found myself sharply disagreeing with but one point in the entire volume. During his discussion on whether a Christian can be demonized, I hold a firm opinion on the trichotomy of man. We are body, soul, and spirit. Dr. Storms is of an opposing position, claiming that soul and spirit are one in the same. Thus man is a dichotomous being. We'll just agree to disagree!
Other than this theological difference, I enjoyed and embraced all of Sam Storm's teaching.
When you get this book, and I certainly hope you do, be prepared to read and re-read many sentences or paragraphs to let the Truth soak in. Have your Bible at the ready, to consult scriptural passages that support the author's arguments.
This reading experience was an excellent one. I took much away from the book, and will indeed encourage others to get a copy of their own. I read this in e-book format, but plan to purchase a hard copy when it arrives on the market. Thus, I can highlight and mark up, and add my own thoughts to the margins. That is precisely how a seeker should tackle a book like "Tough Questions".
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. There are no expectations beyond that. I have no personal or professional ties to either the author or the publisher.
Storms tackles 25 dogmatic questions that run the gamut from "What is Blasphemy?" "Are babies who die saved?" to "Can a Christian be demonized?" "Should all Christians speak in tongues?" and "Are Christians Obligated to Tithe?"
Virtually every question was addressed, some from a number of points of view, and backed by scripture. I learned a whole lot more than I thought I would. Herein lies the reason that Christians of all ages must continue to nourish their hearts and minds in their walk with Christ.
Sam Storms is a pastor of a large church in the Oklahoma City area. He bills himself as an "Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist..."
This book is not a quick read. It's based on research, and in the process, the reader will be moved to do some research of his own.
I took away several truths from this excellent resource. First, Storm's treatment of tithing brought me some new insights in that those in early Israel may have been required to tithe up to 27% of their income. I enjoyed Sam's presentation of this.
I scratched my head in a number of discussions, but found myself sharply disagreeing with but one point in the entire volume. During his discussion on whether a Christian can be demonized, I hold a firm opinion on the trichotomy of man. We are body, soul, and spirit. Dr. Storms is of an opposing position, claiming that soul and spirit are one in the same. Thus man is a dichotomous being. We'll just agree to disagree!
Other than this theological difference, I enjoyed and embraced all of Sam Storm's teaching.
When you get this book, and I certainly hope you do, be prepared to read and re-read many sentences or paragraphs to let the Truth soak in. Have your Bible at the ready, to consult scriptural passages that support the author's arguments.
This reading experience was an excellent one. I took much away from the book, and will indeed encourage others to get a copy of their own. I read this in e-book format, but plan to purchase a hard copy when it arrives on the market. Thus, I can highlight and mark up, and add my own thoughts to the margins. That is precisely how a seeker should tackle a book like "Tough Questions".
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. There are no expectations beyond that. I have no personal or professional ties to either the author or the publisher.
February 23, 2015
Every christian grows up with many questions about the faith. Some of them are trivial, others are vital to the faith and needs to be answered urgently. And this book answers both such questions!
Sam Storms had written a substantial book to give answers to 25 of such questions. A word of warning to those who are looking for quick and short answers: look elsewhere! This is not a book for those looking for quick answers.
A quick look at the content page and you see many kinds of questions being answered in this book, some are quite common like “What Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?” and “Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?” some probably are novelty questions, “Can a Christian Be Demonized?”. Overall I felt that Storms had answered all the questions very well. He always reminds the readers to search God’s word to find answers. He points out the passages that are relevant to the question, goes through scripture and then answers each of them thoroughly. Even in areas where he knows there are contentions (Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?), he sets forth his views but also present alternative views fairly.
Having said that, given the size of this book, I would say this book would be a good resources for lay leaders primarily. If you’re willing to read and to work through the various bible passages before coming out with a comprehensive answer, then this is the book to go.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sam Storms had written a substantial book to give answers to 25 of such questions. A word of warning to those who are looking for quick and short answers: look elsewhere! This is not a book for those looking for quick answers.
A quick look at the content page and you see many kinds of questions being answered in this book, some are quite common like “What Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?” and “Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?” some probably are novelty questions, “Can a Christian Be Demonized?”. Overall I felt that Storms had answered all the questions very well. He always reminds the readers to search God’s word to find answers. He points out the passages that are relevant to the question, goes through scripture and then answers each of them thoroughly. Even in areas where he knows there are contentions (Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?), he sets forth his views but also present alternative views fairly.
Having said that, given the size of this book, I would say this book would be a good resources for lay leaders primarily. If you’re willing to read and to work through the various bible passages before coming out with a comprehensive answer, then this is the book to go.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
March 19, 2013
I have always enjoyed reading Sam Storms. I have read his books on the doctrine of election and also a study of Jonathan Edwards and the Signs of the Spirit.
This book contains a list of questions that are on controversial subjects to say the least. From questions about the "destination of those who haven't heard" to "does God heal today". He has included some of the most interesting questions a Christian would want to know.
Like myself, Storms considers himself a Charismatic Calvinist. That let's you know that his view on tongues is not going to be a boring read. Many times I am a little reluctant to tell someone I am Charismatic because they think of someone who does not believe in using their mind. But I believe God wants us to worship Him in "Spirit" and in "Truth". He wants us to love him with our heart and mind.
Sam Storms is in the same catagory as C.J. Mahaney and John Piper. He is a great thinker, but does not shrink away from open worship toward God.
Storms spends a good amount of time on each question. He does not gloss over any subject. He gives different views of each question then gives a logical reason for his own view.
There are some great questions here book. He would do well to write a whole book on many of them.
Tough Topics was a very satisfying read and I highly recommend it.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from Crossway and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This book contains a list of questions that are on controversial subjects to say the least. From questions about the "destination of those who haven't heard" to "does God heal today". He has included some of the most interesting questions a Christian would want to know.
Like myself, Storms considers himself a Charismatic Calvinist. That let's you know that his view on tongues is not going to be a boring read. Many times I am a little reluctant to tell someone I am Charismatic because they think of someone who does not believe in using their mind. But I believe God wants us to worship Him in "Spirit" and in "Truth". He wants us to love him with our heart and mind.
Sam Storms is in the same catagory as C.J. Mahaney and John Piper. He is a great thinker, but does not shrink away from open worship toward God.
Storms spends a good amount of time on each question. He does not gloss over any subject. He gives different views of each question then gives a logical reason for his own view.
There are some great questions here book. He would do well to write a whole book on many of them.
Tough Topics was a very satisfying read and I highly recommend it.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received this book, free of charge, from Crossway and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2013
I love the overall idea of this book and that you can have a resource that easily identifies the answers to some of the most difficult questions that Christians struggle with. The topics range from deep philosophical questions such as “Will people be condemned for not believing in Jesus though they’ve never heard His name?” to lighter topics such as “Will there be sex in heaven?” Rather than detail everything that the writer knows about a particular topic, Storms simplifies the answer and keeps the information succinct. Even though I may not agree with every answer given, I appreciate the attempt to provide an easy fact-based reference.
I can easily see how this could become a whole series of books, since this book is only able to scratch the surface of some of the most difficult questions for Christians.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I can easily see how this could become a whole series of books, since this book is only able to scratch the surface of some of the most difficult questions for Christians.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
February 23, 2014
Storms presents a very user friendly book with extremely helpful answers ti difficult question every Christian asks. Storms gives Christ honoring and grace centered amswers that leave the reader feeling encouraged, not burdened.
April 23, 2014
This is a good book that can answer some questions one might struggle with. I probably like it more than 3 stars, but it just wasn't quite a 4 star book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews