Essential Truths of the Christian Faith

Rating:
Summary: An excellent discourse
Review: In this book R.C. Sproul does a masterful job of outlining and explaining over 100 essential doctrines of Christianity. The book starts with the basics and then moves into more complicated subjects. Every effort is made to explain these doctrines without requiring the reader to have a seminary education.

Each chapter averages a page and a half to two pages in length and is well supported with Scripture. This makes it a perfect daily devotional for anybody. I did this myself last year. (Warning: One of the earlier chapters references Psalm 119. If you plan on reading all the Scripture references along with the chapter be aware that this one will take awhile :))

This book is a must for anyone interested in theology.

Rating:
Summary: The Title Says It All
Review: R. C. Sproul's 'Essential Truths' is just that: essential. For anyone new to the Christian faith, or for anyone seeking answers to what Christians believe, this book will be a welcome read.

Sproul tackles all of the major tenets of Christianity from "Who is God" to "What is Heaven like?" What does baptism mean? What is sanctification? Should I obey the government?

The book contains 102 chapters, none of which runs more than three or four pages. The bite-sized chunks are perfect for personal daily reading or for group study. Each chapter also contains Scriptural references dealing with the topic covered.

'Essential Truths' will not answer all your questions, but it is a good place to start for the new Christian, the skeptic, or anyone in between. My only complaint: Sproul gives a list of books for further reading at the back of the book, but doesn't break them down by category. All in all, however, Sproul has given readers a great introduction to the basics of the Christian faith.

Rating:
Summary: The Title Says It All
Review: R. C. Sproul's 'Essential Truths' is just that: essential. For anyone new to the Christian faith, or for anyone seeking answers to what Christians believe, this book will be a welcome read.

Sproul tackles all of the major tenets of Christianity from "Who is God" to "What is Heaven like?" What does baptism mean? What is sanctification? Should I obey the government?

The book contains 102 chapters, none of which runs more than three or four pages. The bite-sized chunks are perfect for personal daily reading or for group study. Each chapter also contains Scriptural references dealing with the topic covered.

'Essential Truths' will not answer all your questions, but it is a good place to start for the new Christian, the skeptic, or anyone in between. My only complaint: Sproul gives a list of books for further reading at the back of the book, but doesn't break them down by category. All in all, however, Sproul has given readers a great introduction to the basics of the Christian faith.

Rating:
Summary: Handy, well-organized guide of Christian doctrine
Review: R.C. Sproul's ability to convey important doctrinal concepts using down-to-earth examples and sound biblical foundation makes this book a valuable reference for any Christian. It is well organized into ten major areas of Theology, and each topic is presented in a succint and practical, but yet, authoritative manner. I only missed a subject index.

Rating:
Summary: Drawing essential lines...
Review: So often it is hard to draw an appropriate line between ideas that are essential to Biblical Christianity and ideas that are secondary. For every new movement differing from tradition the question is raised- is this merely a difference of opinion between believers or do these ideas constitute a separate faith? In order to answer such questions one needs to have a firm understanding of what beliefs are central to Christianity and which are not. Furthermore, this is not a task only for academic Christians, but sense there are often many differences of belief within congregations, this is a task also for the lay believer.

Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul sets out to map the key doctrines that make Christianity what it is. The book is comprised of 102 two to three page chapters for each doctrine. These doctrines are arranged into 10 sections.

The Introduction is almost worth the cost of the book itself. Dr. Sproul highlights ten causes for the lack of spiritual maturity in our churches. He discusses causes like the confusion between child-like faith and childish faith, fear of controversies, and the replacement of devotion for study. Through this avenue Dr. Sproul sets up the need for serious theological study for every Christian, that they may become spiritually mature.

Beginning with the doctrines of Revelation, the book goes on to lay to bear The Nature and Attributes of God, The Works and Decrees of God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Human Beings and the Fall, Salvation, The Church and the Sacraments, Spirituality and Living in This Age, and End Times. In the end there is practically no theological stone left unturned.

I found at least two problems with the book. It is likely next to impossible to discuss essential doctrines of salvation without bringing up the differences between the Calvinist and Arminian perspectives. So while I think for many people it is a secondary issue (though there are folks on both sides who go too far off base), the differences should at least be brought up. Dr. Sproul does more than this; he spends numerous chapters describing and defending the Calvinist perspective while dismantling the Arminianist one. While I agree with most of his points, I think this is out of place in a book outlining the essentials of the faith.

The other problem is more specifically with Dr. Sproul's doctrine of Original Sin. "We are sinners not because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners." Dr. Sproul offers nothing to back this up, unless one reads into Psalm 51:5 this view. His weak argument and lack of Biblical evidence for the doctrine has actually caused me to question it, rather than hold it to be a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith.

Despite these select problems, overall I found the books to be enriching. Every chapter adapts doctrine to language easily understood by lay people, with occasional deeper discussions. I read this as part of a book group; which I highly recommend doing. The section and chapter divides are great for weekly reading and prompts for discussion. Additionally, at the end of each chapter are summary points and several verses related to the doctrine. There are also some illustrations, though some are more useful than others.
Overall grade: A-


Rating:
Summary: Excellent Doctrinal Summary!
Review: Sproul's summary and discussion of Basic Christian doctrine is well presented and thoroughly Biblical. He covers the essentials and challenges us to be like the Bereans in searching the Scriptures to find out if these things are true. Provides clear presentations on the Reformed faith and Calvin's (?) TULIP. I wish he had a more detailed discussion on infant baptism.

Rating:
Summary: Good Reference
Review: This book is a pretty good reference for many theological issues. Sproul handles all the topics very well, it is just hard to expound on election and free will in 2 pages.

Rating:
Summary: A "mini" systematic theology-like book
Review: This book is concise thorough and extremely educational in nature. Meant for new christians and beginners in theological study in its layout but contentwise is fit for all christians. Its a wonderful joining of historical christian understanding and scriptural references into one book. Its about 100 some doctrinal areas. Sproul puts in the back of the book resources for continued reading in theological pursuits on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Well worth the time and money!

Rating:
Summary: Read this and Improve Your Faith in Him!!!
Review: This book is one great book.
I read this after my Rev. recomended this to me.
This book is easy to be read, easy to be understand and surely improve your faith.
If you are willing to know God more, I suggest you to buy and read this book.
It has a list of recomendation to other books too.

"When God can use this book to improve my Faith, He sure is able to use this book to improve your Faithh also"

Rating:
Summary: Strengthen your foundational Christian beliefs
Review: This book was an excellent sorce of information in helping to strengthen basic foundational biblical truths that Christians need to know. So many of us go around saying that we are Christian but we don't even know why. We need to be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks us what we believe and why. This book is great at helping establish that.