Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s classic Mere Christianity, the renowned Christian author presents a bold new vision of faith in modern times. In 1952, C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity turned the tide of public debate surrounding the validity of Christian faith. In a series of essays, Lewis made compelling arguments for the existence of God and the divinity of Jesus, answering popular criticisms of the era. Now author Michael Phillips takes up the mantle, going beyond “mere” Christianity to present intellectually rigorous faith as an essential component of contemporary life. Once an avowed atheist, Lewis found spiritual inspiration in the spiritual writings of George MacDonald. As the leading authority on MacDonald’s work, Michael Phillips draws from the same wellspring of wisdom to provide an equally stimulating examination of Christian theology.

The noted Christian author shares an enlightening exploration of the Gospels, the call to obedience, and what it means to live your faith every day. Jesus often introduces the subject of obedience with the tiny but significant word “if”. He recognizes that there are always two paths—obedience and disobedience. He commands obedience. But many will not obey. In The Commands of Jesus, Michael Phillips illuminates the true meaning and vital importance of heeding God’s word. He identifies 120 commands of Jesus found in the Gospels and discusses how we can incorporate each one into our daily lives.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals a God whose creative power and loving care embrace all that exists, from earth and sky and sea to every creeping, crawling, swimming, and flying creature. Yet the significance of the Bible’s extensive teaching about the natural world is easily overlooked by Christians accustomed to focusing only on what the Bible says about God’s interaction with human beings. In Creation Care, part of the Biblical Theology for Life series, father and son team Douglas and Jonathan Moo invite readers to open their Bibles afresh to explore the place of the natural world within God’s purposes and to celebrate God’s love as displayed in creation and new creation. Following the contours of the biblical storyline, they uncover answers to questions such as: What is the purpose of the non-human creation? Can a world with things like predators, parasites, and natural disasters still be the ‘good’ world described in Genesis 1? What difference does the narrative of the ‘Fall’ make for humankind’s responsibility to rule over other creatures? Does Israel’s experience on the land have anything to teach Christians about their relationship with the earth? What difference does Jesus make for our understanding of the natural world? How does our call to care for creation fit within the hope for a new heaven and a new earth? What is unique about Christian creation care compared with other approaches to ‘environmental’ issues? How does creation care fit within the charge to proclaim the gospel and care for the poor? In addition to providing a comprehensive biblical theology of creation care, they probe behind the headlines and politicized rhetoric about an ‘environmental crisis’ and climate change to provide a careful and judicious analysis of the most up-to-date scientific data about the state of our world. They conclude by setting forth a bold framework and practical suggestions for an effective and faithful Christian response to the scriptural teaching about the created world. But rather than merely offering a response to environmental concerns, Creation Care invites readers into a joyful vision of the world as God’s creation in which they can rediscover who they truly are as creatures called to love and serve the Creator and to delight in all he has made.

“Michael Phillips has done the impossible—written a thriller on hell:” The final book in the spiritual fantasy trilogy, following Heaven and Beyond (C. Baxter Kruger, author of The Shack Revisited). A prominent atheist dies unexpectedly and goes to hell. Or so it appears, but nothing is what it seems in this engrossing allegorical novel about the afterlife. In the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Michael Phillips has produced a riveting tale of eternity. Hell and Beyond is a lively and fascinating trip through the afterlife—one that will inspire you to rediscover the significance of your life here and now. “Phillips has offered a breathtaking and important addition to the world of traditional theological allegory, joining Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and C.S. Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress . . . It is beautiful beyond describing and stunning in its impact.” —William Paul Young, author of The Shack, from the foreword

All three novels in the devotional author’s Christian fantasy saga inspired by the works of George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis. The Garden at the Edge of Beyond When a middle-aged man embarks on an enlightening and dreamlike theological journey, he awakens to a new reality—with a profound new outlook on life. Heaven and Beyond When a tragedy ends a man’s mortal life, his journey through eternity begins. Traveling across the realms of heaven and earth, his notions of each are turned upside down. Hell and Beyond A prominent atheist dies unexpectedly and goes to hell. Or so it appears . . . but nothing is what it seems in this engrossing allegorical novel about the afterlife.

This concise yet thorough analysis of core Christian principles cuts through doctrinal debates to illuminate the essentials of faith. Much of Christendom functions on the basis of formulas, catechisms, recipes of spirituality, and widely varying lists of what is considered “acceptable doctrine.” This brief discussion simplifies the vast scope of Christian truth by identifying eight essential “principles” that can be embraced and practiced by all Christians and churches across the spectrum of belief. Devotional author Michael Phillips uses these universal truths as a springboard for investigating the fundamentals of the Christian faith for both beginner and theologian, simple yet life-changing and profound. He also includes a parallel exploration of several common pitfalls that have infiltrated the church through history as counterfeit indicators of spirituality.

Winner of the Christianity Today Book of the Year Award (1995) “The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind.” So begins this award-winning intellectual history and critique of the evangelical movement by one of evangelicalism’s most respected historians. Unsparing in his indictment, Mark Noll asks why the largest single group of religious Americans—who enjoy increasing wealth, status, and political influence—have contributed so little to rigorous intellectual scholarship. While nourishing believers in the simple truths of the gospel, why have so many evangelicals failed to sustain a serious intellectual life and abandoned the universities, the arts, and other realms of “high” culture? Over twenty-five years since its original publication, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind has turned out to be prescient and perennially relevant. In a new preface, Noll lays out his ongoing personal frustrations with this situation, and in a new afterword he assesses the state of the scandal—showing how white evangelicals’ embrace of Trumpism, their deepening distrust of science, and their frequent forays into conspiratorial thinking have coexisted with surprisingly robust scholarship from many with strong evangelical connections.

The leading MacDonald scholar settles the longstanding debate about the author’s views on hell with an in-depth analysis of his thought on the afterlife. Throughout his extensive and influential writings on Christian theology, George MacDonald only hints at his perspectives on hell, atonement, and everlasting punishment. Nowhere does he clearly state a doctrinal position on the subject. As a result, a controversy has raged for more than a century about whether or not MacDonald was a universalist. Now MacDonald scholar and biographer Michael Phillips tackles the “great hell debate” head on in this authoritative book. With numerous quotes from MacDonald’s writings and his extensive knowledge of MacDonald’s work, Phillips blows the lid off the debate by illuminating the full scope of MacDonald’s afterlife vision. One of the most significant studies of MacDonald’s theological perspectives ever written, this is a must-read for all serious students of George MacDonald.

The kind of love modeled by Jesus Christ had nothing to do with unconditional acceptance or manners. Learn to love others with a bold love.