Death by Love: Letters from the Cross (Re:Lit:Vintage Jesus) - Hardcover

Driscoll, Mark; Breshears, Gerry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1433501295 ISBN 13: 9781433501296

Publisher: Crossway, 2008

Synopsis

Real people. Real sin. Transformed lives. A compilation of heartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people that explains Jesus' work on the cross.

Death by Love is a unique book on the cross of Jesus Christ. While many books debate the finer points of the doctrine of the atonement, what is often lost are the real-life implications of Jesus' death on the cross for those who have sinned and have been sinned against. Written in the form of pastoral letters, Death by Love outlines the twelve primary effects of Jesus' death on the cross and connects each to the life of a different individual.

Driscoll, one of America's most influential pastors, and Breshears, a respected theologian, help readers understand, appreciate, and trust in Jesus' work on the cross in a way that will transform their lives. Both deeply theological and intensely practical, this book shows how everyone can find hope through the death of Jesus Christ.

"This book is brutally honest about sin and suffering, and wonderfully hopeful as it points us to our true Savior."

Timothy S. Lane, Executive Director, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

"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

"Practical and powerful. It applies the sufficiency of Jesus to the real-life challenges we face in the church every day. If you work with hurting people you need Death by Love."
Dan Jarrell, Teaching Pastor, ChangePoint Church, Anchorage, Alaska

"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, Associate Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"The authors connect squarely with our ever-changing culture, declaring the central doctrine of Jesus' death and why it is important."
Bill Mounce, President, BiblicalTraining.org

About this title

About the Author:

Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church, a multi-site congregation based in Seattle that spans 15 locations in five states. He is the founder of Resurgence (theResurgence.com), co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, and the author of numerous books, including Death by Love and Vintage Jesus. Pastor Mark’s sermons reach millions of listeners online, and in 2010 Preaching magazine named him one of the 25 most influential pastors of the past 25 years. Pastor Mark and his wife have five children.

Gerry Breshears (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of theology and chairman of the division of biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary. He also serves as an elder and on the preaching team at Grace Community Church in Gresham, Oregon.

Review:

"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

About this edition

• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1433501295
• ISBN 13: 9781433501296
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272