Systematics

This book discusses classical contributions to two major articles of faith: the doctrine of God and the doctrine of creation. The author presents a thorough analysis, drawing from the works of prominent theologians of the period from 1577 to 1713, including Chemnitz, Selnecker, Mentzer, Gerhard, Quenstedt, and Hollaz. Because of his focus on doctrine and methodology, Preus is able to give a fair picture of classical Lutheran theology as a whole.

The first section of the book on the doctrine of God explores the knowledge of God, His existence and essence, His attributes, and the triune nature of God.

In the second section, Preus examines the doctrine of creation, discussing practical applications of the orthodox view of divine providence and the eschatological overtones.

The final section is an outline of orthodox theologians' attitudes toward emerging scientific cosmologies and describes implications of the modern scientific picture for Lutheran theology.

In a consumer-driven and technologized world, can we still experience the mystery of God? This book answers yes by exploring the rich resources of the Christian tradition of thinking and speaking about God. Focusing on God's dialectical character--divine availability ("presence") and divine excess ("absence")--and the belief that "God is love" (1 John 4:16), professor Anthony J. Godzieba tracks how God became a problem in Western culture, then responds by showing how human experience is open to divine transcendence and how that openness encounters the revelation of God as Trinity. The book's contemporary edge comes from its insistence that belief as embodied performance is the most authentic way to participate in the mystery of God's love, which is "the answer to the mystery of the world and human beings" (Walter Kasper).

For more than forty years, The Universe Next Door has set the standard for a clear, readable introduction to worldviews. Using his widely influential model of eight basic worldview questions, James Sire examines prominent worldviews that have shaped the Western world:

Intertwined with this analysis, he presents an overview of intellectual history giving insight into the current state of Western thought and culture. Critiquing each worldview within its own frame of reference and in comparison to others, Sire encourages readers to wrestle with life's biggest questions and examine the core beliefs and commitments on which they are building their lives

The sixth edition, updated by Sire's longtime editor Jim Hoover, features new explanatory sidebars, helpful charts comparing worldviews and illustrating their historical flow, and a chapter on challenges to a Christian worldview in the twenty-first century. New discussion questions will help readers reflect more deeply on the ideas in each chapter.

The Universe Next Door has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been used as a text at over one hundred colleges and universities in courses ranging from apologetics and world religions to history and English literature. In a world of ever-increasing diversity, The Universe Next Door offers a unique resource for understanding the variety of worldviews that claim the allegiance of mind and heart.

These essays define a Lutheran approach and understanding of the Gospel. The book is divided into three sections (previously published as separate volumes).

Why do we have bodies?

When it comes to thinking about our bodies, confusion reigns. In our secular age, there has been a loss of the body's goodness, purpose, and end. Many people, driven by shame and idolatry, abuse their body through self-harm or self-improvement. How can we renew our understanding and see our bodies the way God does?

In Wonderfully Made, John Kleinig forms a properly biblical theology of our bodies. Through his keen sensitivity to Scripture's witness, Kleinig explains why bodies matter. While sin has corrupted our bodies and how we think of them, God's creation is still good. Thus, our bodies are good gifts. The Son took on a body to redeem our bodies. Kleinig addresses issues like shame, chastity, desire, gender dysphoria, and more, by integrating them into the biblical vision of creation.
Readers of Wonderfully Made will not only be equipped to engage in current issues; they will gain a robust theology of the body and better appreciation of God's very good creation.