SYSTEMATICS CRITICAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE 1

This labor of love distills Dr. Ron Rays lifetime reflections on the truth and meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gathered in one volume is an abundant harvest from the best of twentieth-century systematic theology. Beginning students will find here an informative and clear introductory text. Working pastors will receive a refresher course to steady and strengthen a ministry of integrity and joy. Preachers will benefit from the authors recommendation of the topical-biblical sermon, an approach that leads to contemporary topics for textually-based scriptural preaching, while reinvigorating topical preaching with scriptural sturdiness. With both conviction and transparency, Ray welcomes his readers into a thoughtful conversation about why and how the Christian message still matters today. In the process, we also see firsthand how and why systematic theology can still matter today for those entrusted with proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. --James F. Kay, Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary