Description
JAMES JOHNSTON
R. KENT HUGHES SERIES EDITOR
The Psalms are treasured poetry that reflect the prayer and praise of ancient Israel. Every generation opens the Psalms for inspiration, comfort, hope, and encouragement.
They’re also are a rich source of truth about God, humanity, and salvation. The authors of the New Testament understood this, quoting the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book to establish key doctrines. The Psalms tell the story of God’s anointed king, his kingdom, and his people. They point forward to the Messiah—David’s Greater Son who reigns forever and ever.
In the first volume of a three-volume commentary on the Psalms, pastor James Johnston walks readers through Psalms 1 to 41, offering exegetical and pastoral insights along the way. Accessible and engaging, this resource will help anyone interested in studying, teaching, or preaching the Bible read the Psalms in a deliberately canonical and Christ-centered way.
In our age of aggressive evil and apathetic faith, the Gospel of Mark resounds with the dynamic power of the Lord Jesus Christ. In what is perhaps the most dramatic and action-packed of the Synoptic Gospels, Mark’s writing continues to inspire increased commitment in the church at large. His portrayal of Christ as the servant-savior takes on fresh relevance in these expositions by respected pastor and author R. Kent Hughes. With careful exegesis and numerous illustrations, the author draws many practical lessons for everyday living and ministry from the text. Written to help preachers and Bible teachers communicate God’s Word more effectively, this engaging commentary covers the entire book of Mark and now includes Scripture quotations drawn from the ESV Bible.
The book of Hebrews conveys a double dose of spiritual power: it not only presents the supremacy of Jesus Christ unlike any other New Testament book, but it also repeatedly demands a heart response from the reader. No one can study Hebrews and not grow spiritually as he or she comes face to face with God’s one and only Son. In this insightful commentary, readers will find a gold mine of helpful discussion related to a book of the Bible that is easily misunderstood and often overlooked. With divisions and outlines that are never forced but flow naturally from the text, this updated volume in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series will be a great resource for anyone studying or teaching the book of Hebrews.
Part of the Preaching the Word series.
Review
“Johnston is a pastor who rightly deserves the title ‘pastor-scholar,’ and his scholarly abilities and studies, as well as his pastoral sensibilities and sensitivities, are on full display in his commentary on the Psalms. As Johnston helps you exegete, illustrate, and apply the heart of the Old Testament in light of the person and work of Christ, I trust that your heart—like the men on the road to Emmaus—will burn within.”
—Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology, Queensland Theological College; author, The Beginning and End of Wisdom
“While being sensitive to the original historical context of the Psalms as the prayer and songbook of the Jews, Johnston is keenly aware that there is a Christocentric end to which the Psalms point and a Son in whom they find fulfillment. Because of this, Johnston recognizes all the Psalms are messianic, and understood in this way means the Psalms are also the Christian’s prayer, song, and life book. Reading this commentary results in thanksgiving and worship. Johnston’s excellent commentary is a great addition to the Preaching the Word series. I commend it to you as both an aid to your preaching and as a companion to your devotional reading and praying of the Psalms.”
—Gregory C. Strand, Director of Biblical Theology and Credentialing, Evangelical Free Church of America
“Psalms will be a treasured volume in this series. The original text is taken seriously and the gospel is made clear. In reading it, my own affections for Christ were delightfully energized. Johnston weds his love for God’s poetry to his heart, which is so joyfully pledged to God’s people.”
—David R. Helm, Pastor, Holy Trinity Church, Chicago; Chairman, The Charles Simeon Trust
“More excellent fodder for sermons from this first rate resource for preachers.”
—Josh Moody, Senior Pastor, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois; author, Journey to Joy: The Psalms of Ascent
About the Author
James Johnston (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor of Tulsa Bible Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma and a visiting faculty member at Jordan Evangelical Seminary. He has led workshops on expository preaching for over 15 years and is an instructor for the Charles Simeon Trust. He and his wife, Lisa, have four children.
R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and visiting professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide. He serves as the series editor for the Preaching the Word commentary series and is the author or coauthor of many books. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, and have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.
