The works of J.R.R. Tolkien have not only redefined a genre of literature but also had a far-reaching impact on culture in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Tolkien's name has joined the ranks of authors such as Shakespeare, Milton, Dostoevsky, Donne, and Dickens who make us think differently about the world. In Theology and Tolkien: Practical Theology, an international group of scholars consider what Tolkien's works (and Jackson's film interpretations) can teac...

As Jesus was celebrating His final Passover meal, He made some bold statements. First, He took the bread and said, This is my body. Then He took the cup, saying, This is my blood. Next, He commanded the disciples to eat and drink in remembrance of Him.What did Jesus mean? Do the bread and wine literally become His body and blood? What happens when Christians take the Lord’s Supper?In The Lord’s Supper: Answers to Common Questions, Dr. Keith A. Math...

More than 500 years ago, 16th-century Reformer John Calvin was born—a theologian whose teachings set the stage for reformation of the church around the world. The modern world is in continual need of his Christ-exalting doctrine and vision of the Christian life. In 20 essays by leading Reformed pastors and scholars, this primer explores Calvin's life, teaching, and legacy for a new generation. This book is a clarion call to Christians everywhere to take seriously the ongoing need of theolo...

Five hundred years ago, the Reformers were defending doctrines such as justification by faith alone, the authority of Scripture, and God's grace in salvation—some to the point of death. Many of these same essential doctrines are still being challenged today, and there has never been a more crucial time to hold fast to the enduring truth of Scripture.In Reformation Theology, Matthew Barrett has brought together a team of expert theologians and historians writing on key doct...

As Jesus was celebrating His final Passover meal, He made some bold statements. First, He took the bread and said, This is my body. Then He took the cup, saying, This is my blood. Next, He commanded the disciples to eat and drink in remembrance of Him.What did Jesus mean? Do the bread and wine literally become His body and blood? What happens when Christians take the Lord’s Supper?In The Lord’s Supper: Answers to Common Questions, Dr. Keith A. Mathison walk...

What do you believe about God, His Word, and the world He has made? Your answers will shape every aspect of who you are, what you value, and how you live your life. That’s why Ligonier Ministries conducts the State of Theology survey every two years: to discover what Americans believe in order to gain insight into the soul of the nation. In thirty-one questions, the survey probes what people in the United States think about the authority of the Bible, the identity of Jesus, the way of salv...

New York Times–bestselling author Garry Wills provides a provocative analysis of the theological and historical basis for the priesthoodIn a riveting and provocative tour de force from the author of What Jesus Meant, Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills poses the challenging question: Why did the priesthood develop in a religion that began without it and, indeed, was opposed to it? Why Priests? argues brilliantly and persuasively fo...

As the church marks the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, too few Catholics have an adequate grasp of what the council contributed to the life of the church. The problem is understandable. The Second Vatican Council produced, by far, more document pages than any other council. Consequently, any attempt to master its core teachings can be daunting. There is a danger of missing the forest for the trees. With this in mind, Keys to the Council identifi...

Compelling Accounts of Key People Who Have Formed Christian Belief through the AgesAll Christians' beliefs are shaped by those who went before them. Now these giants of Christian history are presented chronologically and in a format that helps readers get to know them. In addition to a biographical sketch, readers will discover each person's primary contributions to the Christian faith along with a brief quotation from their work. Students, history buffs, and curious readers will b...

By encouraging engagement with the modern world and a refocusing of traditional teaching, the Second Vatican Council brought new life into the practice of Catholicism. The council's impact on the Church is still playing out today, and with many current church issues finding their roots in differing interpretations of Vatican II it has never lost relevance. Vatican II: The Essential Texts brings together the key documents of the council.As the council is commemorated on its...

While the church today looks quite different than it did two thousand years ago, Christians share the same faith with the church fathers. Although separated by time and culture, we have much to learn from their lives and teaching.This book is an organized and convenient introduction to how to read the church fathers from AD 100 to 500. Michael Haykin surveys the lives and teachings of seven of the Fathers, looking at their role in such issues as baptism, martyrdom, and the relation...

The New York Times–bestselling historian's initial look at Pope Francis' potential as an agent of changePope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, offered a challenge to his church. Could he deliver change and if so what would the impact be?Garry Wills, the Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, argues provocatively that, in fact, the history of the church throughout is a history of change. In this brilliant and incisive study,...