What a beautiful book! The striking cover and delicately decorated pages give this expository work on the Cross the appeal of a gift book, but with the depth and insight appropriate for serious Bible study. "The Heart of the Cross" is divided into three parts: "Words from the Cross" (an in-depth look at each of the final words of Christ from the cross, "The Real Last Words of Christ" (a study of the sayings of Jesus during the 40 days after his resurrection), and "The Message of the Cross" (which examines key New Testament verses regarding Christ's work on the cross). Many parts of this book have evangelistic overtones, making it a suitable book for giving to a non-Christian friend open to hearing the Gospel message.

I definitely recommend this book to Christians interested in knowing Christ and his work on the cross more intimately. This high quality book would also make a great gift.

As an undergraduate at University studying theology, I spent a term writing a thesis on the trial of Christ. I wish I had this book as reference for my research. Boice and Ryken outline several messages of salvation found in the few hours Jesus was persecuted by the authorities and the points they draw out are life changing. A well thought-out and inspired book. Even the consumate theologigian will walk away from this reading with a new insight on the importance of the events surrounding Jesus' trial.

Once again Pastor Boice manages to write and express himself in a way that the average person can understand. They way he applies the Bible to everyday real life situations is amazing.

This book is a must have in your library.

This is a relatively short study, but Dr. Boice hits the nail on the proverbial head with this book, as it relates to the whys and wherefores of Romans 12:1-2, where the Scripture teaches us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. It's a good beginning, but not a comprehensive one, and for the concept, it's an excellent start. He focuses on keeping the mind sharp and Christ-centered, always stressing that our minds should be open to the Spirit of God by way of the Word of God teaching us what our minds should hold. This is not a confrontational or controversial approach, but an intelligent overview of a much needed study in today's church. Recommended.

I am a bible teacher for a womens class at my church. This book is excellent for anyone who would like more information about the minor prophets. The book not only gives good information about these prophets, but connects their message to the new testament church as well. The book includes in each chapter applications of the Prophets message to todays society. This is an awsome book!! It will help with your studies, and assist you in making the Minor Prophets come alive.

James Montgomery Boice was ushered into glory on June 2000. But he left legacy of godliness and passion for God's word. His books are pastoral at heart, therefore his books while scholastic, are never dry or devoid of practicality.
1. His books (3 vols, Unabridged 1 volume edition is also available via Kregel Publisher) on "The Minor Prophets" are amazingly challenging and powerful. This is not simply a commentary. This book connects the message of Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi) to today's world, thus making this book highly applicable and challenging to God's people. He addresses modern danger of materialism, syncretism, self-reliance, and modern idolatry in Christian churches.
2. He properly captures the heart of the message of Minor Prophets without cluttering with technical jargons. He emphasizes how God's people can break God's heart by their sins despite God's overwheling love for them. Then he applies that truth to current Christendom at large, calling for honest self-examination and determined repentance from Christian idolatry and sins.
3. He has made the message of Minor Prophets undestandable to ALL Christians by making it simple. It is simple, because it is sermonic in nature.

Those who read the Minor Prophets in the Bible will do well with this James Montgomery's book. You will be edified and challenged and ultimately understand God's message to His people.

This is a wonderfully balanced, even-handed approach to the "worship wars" and debate over styles used in worship services. The small book is remarkably free from personal preferences and challenges the reader to examine biblical foundations in formulating opinions and thoughts concerning contemporary worship, especially as it relates to a return to God-centeredness in worship. Its direction and instruction may not be popular with those who prefer a market-driven, pole-oriented approach to what worship should look like, but its scholarship will be evident to all who read it. This is classic James Boice at his direct and insightful best.

This month (06/00) James Montgomery Boice passed into the presence of the Christ to whom he dedicated three inspirational volumes on the Psalms. He leaves behind treasures that will certainly become classics. In his erudite but easy to understand way, Boice helps us to come to grips with the rawest elements of life on earth, as well as to delight in the most ecstatic pleasure of a relationship with God. In his amplification of the psalms, the author describes and illustrates the profound applicability of faith to all of lifes experiences. Volume 3 includes the crown jewel of the Psalms; Psalm 119. It is presented as not only about the excllencies of the laws of God but about the deep satisfaction of the ways of God. As a source for personal inspiration and meditation, these volumes are without equal and this final one is perhaps the best. Without compromising the truths of the original texts, Boice displays them in contemporary language and relevant applications. We are fortunate that this final volume was completed and published.

As indicated by the title of Boice's four volumes on Romans, this is an expositional commentary. Not only does Boice give the reader a sufficient depth of understanding in the text, but especially helpful to those who are teaching through Romans are his illustrations and the organization of his material into a "preachable" style. And though the average Bible student will need other more technical commentaries to flush out his/her understanding of Romans, we find ourselves turning to Boice more and more.

If Catholics want to understand why unity is impossible, I would read this book. Protestants should read it and try to figure out how much truth should be sacrificed on the alter of unity. The most important sections was how the false claims of the papacy rose. I would suggest Calvin's Institutes as another reference. Michael Horton is also an engaging writer. Also deals with core issues such as justification and Catholic veneration of Mary.

Horton writes an excellent executive summary, if you will, of what truly continues to divide the churches of the Reformation from Rome.

Primarily as then, Rome's insistence on adding to Scripture alone as the only source of theology; of adding to grace and faith alone as the only source of salvation, continues to erect a huge, major divide between the two. As Horton correctly quotes Avery Dulles in Rome's continued holding to the anathemas of Trent as still prevailing now in Vatican II times, this is absolutely Rome's position.

My own church speaks in detail about this. See "The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in Confessional Lutheran Perspective" available at www.lcms.org/ctcr/docs/pdf/justclp.pdf, or read Robert Preus' excellent work: Justification and Rome.

The authors present a helpful picture of church unity at the end of the millenium. Far from being anti-Catholic, the authors point out differences in the core beliefs of the reformed faith and the Catholic faith. Highly recommended.