Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit:Vintage Jesus)
"Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears demonstrate with great pastoral skill how rich the gospel is for addressing the common and not so common battles of daily living. The Christian message of a man dying on a cross to rescue wayward sinners and sufferers can seem remote and irrelevant. Yet, Mark and Gerry take the many facets of this diamond we know as the grace of God revealed to us in Christ's life, death, and resurrection and show how powerfully relevant it is for us today. What is so encouraging is that their emphasis on living the Christian life is rooted solidly in the person and work of Jesus. As a pastor and counselor, I was encouraged personally as I read each story and strengthened in my confidence that the gospel is truly sufficient for all who seek rest in a weary world. This book is brutally honest about sin and suffering and wonderfully hopeful as they point us to our true Savior."—Timothy S. Lane,Executive Director, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation"Unabashedly bold and yet at times touchingly tender, Mark Driscoll's voice has the ring of a modern-day Puritan. The authors have written a book that will, like few others, encourage, comfort, instruct, challenge and perhaps even occasionally enrage the body of Christ. Death by Love has all the makings of a modern classic of applied Reformed spirituality, with a pastoral twist. It deserves to be read, weighed, and deeply considered."—Gary Thomas,Author,Sacred Marriage;The Beautiful Fight"In an age when many Christian leaders plunder pop psychology or tear pages from the latest self-esteem bestseller to bring 'practical' help to struggling people, Death by Love demonstrates that the greatest help and the only true solutions to our corrupt natures are found at the cross of Christ. The stories portrayed in the chapters of this book are all too real, but more importantly, the pastoral responses offer riveting applications of the cross for true and lasting transformation."—Bruce A. Ware,Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary"It seems that most if not everything cherished as the historic Christian faith is under attack today. Nowhere is this attack more fiercely waged than against the theology of the cross of Christ. A key reason for my confidence in this book is its brilliant presentation of the historic theology of the cross and how it defends reprehensible attacks against it."—Gregg R. Allison,Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary"It has been said that the church of the next generation will be led by those who can teach doctrine winsomely. Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears demonstrate that kind of leadership, and this work is an example of their skill. It is practical and powerful. It applies the sufficiency of Jesus to the real-life challenges we face in the church each and every day. If you work with hurting people you need Death by Love."—Dan Jarrell,Teaching Pastor, ChangePoint Church, Anchorage, Alaska"I can't remember the last time a book about theology made me this emotional. I got angry and uplifted and stunned and encouraged in almost every chapter! This is an inspiring book from an ingenious idea. Since Christian theology was formed in real-life letters written to real people in the New Testament, why not teach theology through letters to real people in the twenty-first century? Mark Driscoll is an outspoken, in-your-face pastor. Gerry Breshears is a soft-spoken, precise theologian. Death by Love, written by both, reads like an epistle from the apostles Paul and Peter-precision-tooled and passionate and completely impossible to put down. This may be the first time you ever found theology both outrageous and logical, challenging and comforting, but never boring."—Rene Schlaepfer,Senior Pastor, Twin Lakes Church, Santa Cruz, California"There is joy in reading a teaching pastor and a preaching teacher firmly rooted in historical doctrine. The authors connect squarely with our ever-changing culture, declaring the central doctrine of Jesus' death and why it is important. Both Mark and Gerry write with expected frankness, clarity, and depth of conviction. Thank you."—William D. Mounce, President, BiblicalTraining.org"For anyone who thinks that theology is dry, boring, and disconnected to real life, read this book. Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears not only demonstrate the relevance of theology to life but convincingly show how it has the most compelling and satisfying answers to life's tough issues."—Clinton E. Arnold,Professor and Chairman, Department of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University"Another incredible book by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears! At times this book will be painful for you to read, but it won't leave you where it finds you. It will leave you more in love with the God who died for you. It will leave you more resolved to devote your one and only life to his cause. I highly recommend this book, for students, professors, Christ followers, or those seeking the truth about Jesus. It will challenge the way you think and change the way you live."—John Bishop,Senior Pastor, Living Hope Church, Vancouver Washington; Founder, only god network