Wednesday, January 02, 2008

"The Discipline of Discernment"

Tim Challies book, The Discipline of Discernment, is now available from Westminster Bookstore (or click on the advertisement to the right on this blog).

Here are the blurbs:

"Tim Challies is one of the finest young evangelical thinkers of our day. He combines keen insight with theological maturity and spiritual depth. His weblog is required reading, and The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment should help form the Christian character of a new generation of evangelicals. Indeed, we must hope so."

—R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"John Murray said, “The difference between truth and error is not a chasm but a razor’s edge.” Spurgeon said something like it too: “Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather, it is the difference between right and almost right.” Both these giants are emphasizing the vital quality (and difficulty) of discernment. Unfortunately, in our time—even among Christians—discernment is long in demand and short in supply. This is but one reason I’m so delighted to commend to you The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. Tim reminds us that the Bible constantly commands us to cultivate discernment, but he doesn’t stop there. He tells us how, biblically."

—Ligon Duncan, senior minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi

"The many fans Tim Challies has won through his highly regarded blog will discover in this book the motivation that drives his incisive analysis of cultural events and trends—a keen respect for truth and a passionate commitment to biblical discernment."

Nancy Pearcey, author, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity

“If you want to be discerning, you will buy this book. If you read it, you will be! Tim Challies has written on an important topic that is rarely addressed. This book on discernment is simple, clear, well-written, accurate and even insightful. I read it all. I liked it all. I will recommend it often. Ten short, pithy chapters—read one a day for ten days, and I you’ll find yourself more discerning—or at least wanting to be.”

Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC

"The path to most biblical graces is bordered with hazards on both sides. With the subject of this book—discernment—one can fall into the ditch of careless naiveté on the left or wander into the dark woods of a critical spirit on the right. Tim Challies carefully guides his reader between these dangers and on toward Christlike discernment. I’ve simply never read a more thorough, practical, and biblically sound treatment of this subject. Anyone wanting to study biblical discernment should not miss this book."

Don Whitney, associate professor of biblical spirituality; senior associate dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary