Wisdom is the dominant theme of James' letter-and it is difficult to imagine a greater or more important theme for readers today who live in a world that seems almost totally devoid of wisdom. Throughout the history of our country, Christians have enjoyed a majority status and the deference that goes with it, but that circumstance has changed dramatically in recent years. Being a Christian has shifted from being an asset to being a liability (socially speaking), with many associating our faith with bigotry, hypocrisy, and a judgmental spirit-and the situation doesn't seem likely to change in...

The topic of church discipline has had an odd history in Christian circles. At one time, it was considered an "identifying mark of the church," but in modern times it has fallen into disrepute and suffers general negligence. In this book Tommy South seeks to reverse that trend by offering a biblical and theological exposition of the practice of early Christian discipline and showing how it can (and ought to) be utilized by churches today. South's earlier work on this topic ("That We May Share His Holiness: A Fresh Approach to Church Discipline" Bible Guides, 1997]) was the only book at the...