"This book is brutally honest about sin and suffering and wonderfully hopeful as it points us to our true Savior."
- Timothy S. Lane, Executive Director, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation & Voting Faculty Member, Westminster Theological Seminary
Staff Review: "With Death by Love, we see the maturing of a young pastor (who stepped on a lot of toes early on) into a significant pastor/theologian able to communicate the power of the gospel in powerfully effective ways. If you've written off Mark Driscoll in the past, you owe it to him and your walk in Christ to give this stunning new book a chance." Mark Traphagen, Westminster Bookstore Staff
Publisher's Description: Real people. Real sin. Transformed lives. A compilation of heartfelt letters written from a pastor to his people that explains Jesus' work on the cross.
Death by Love is a unique book on the cross of Jesus Christ. While many books debate the finer points of the doctrine of the atonement, what is often lost are the real-life implications of Jesus' death on the cross for those who have sinned and have been sinned against. Written in the form of pastoral letters, Death by Love outlines the twelve primary effects of Jesus' death on the cross and connects each to the life of a different individual.
Driscoll, one of America's most influential pastors, and Breshears, a respected theologian, help readers understand, appreciate, and trust in Jesus' work on the cross in a way that will transform their lives. Both deeply theological and intensely practical, this book shows how everyone can find hope through the death of Jesus Christ.
View a video "trailer" for Death by Love (requires Flash) WARNING: This video contains frank discussions of human depravity in order to illustrate the power of Christ's atonement to cleanse from any sin or calamity. Viewer discretion is advised.
Author Information: Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, one of the fastest-growing churches in America. He is president of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and is the author of several books, including Vintage Jesus.
Gerry Breshears is professor of theology and chairman of the division of biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary. Dr. Breshears has taught at numerous Bible colleges and seminaries around the world and is a frequent guest on various radio and TV programs.
272 pages Published September 2008
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"Unabashedly bold and yet at times touchingly tender, Mark Driscoll's voice has the ring of a modern-day Puritan. The authors have written a book that will, like few others, encourage, comfort, instruct, challenge and perhaps even occasionally enrage the body of Christ. Death by Love has all the makings of a modern classic of applied Reformed spirituality, with a pastoral twist. It deserves to be read, weighed, and deeply considered."
- Gary Thomas , author, Sacred Marriage; The Beautiful Fight
"In an age when many Christian leaders plunder pop psychology or tear pages from the latest self-esteem bestseller to bring 'practical' help to struggling people, Death by Love demonstrates that the greatest help and the only true solutions to our corrupt natures are found at the cross of Christ. The stories portrayed in the chapters of this book are all too real, but more importantly, the pastoral responses offer riveting applications of the cross for true and lasting transformation."
- Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, Southern Seminary
"It seems that most if not everything cherished as the historic Christian faith is under attack today. Nowhere is this attack more fiercely waged than against the theology of the cross of Christ. A key reason for my confidence in this book is its brilliant presentation of the historic theology of the cross and how it defends reprehensible attacks against it."
- Gregg R. Allison, Associate Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"It has been said that the church of the next generation will be led by those who can teach doctrine winsomely. Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears demonstrate that kind of leadership, and this work is an example of their skill. It is practical and powerful. It applies the sufficiency of Jesus to the real-life challenges we face in the church each and every day. If you work with hurting people you need Death by Love."
- René Schlaepfer, Senior Pastor, Twin Lakes Church, Santa Cruz, California
"There is joy in reading a teaching pastor and a preaching teacher firmly rooted in historical doctrine. The authors connect squarely with our ever-changing culture, declaring the central doctrine of Jesus' death and why it is important. Both Mark and Gerry write with expected frankness, clarity, and depth of conviction. Thank you"
- Bill Mounce, President, BiblicalTraining.org
"Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears demonstrate with great pastoral skill how rich the gospel is for addressing the common and not so common battles of daily living. The Christian message of a man dying on a cross to rescue wayward sinners and sufferers can seem remote and irrelevant. Yet, Mark and Gerry take the many facets of this diamond we know as the grace of God revealed to us in Christ's life, death, and resurrection and show how powerfully relevant it is for us today. What is so encouraging is that their emphasis on living the Christian life is rooted solidly in the person and work of Jesus. As a pastor and counselor, I was encouraged personally as I read each story and strengthened in my confidence that the gospel is truly sufficient for all who seek rest in a weary world. This book is brutally honest about sin and suffering and wonderfully hopeful as it points us to our true Savior."
- Timothy S. Lane, Executive Director, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation; & Voting Faculty Member, Westminster Theological Seminary
"With Death by Love, we see the maturing of a young pastor (who stepped on a lot of toes early on) into a significant pastor/theologian able to communicate the power of the gospel in powerfully effective ways. If you've written off Mark Driscoll in the past, you owe it to him and your walk in Christ to give this stunning new book a chance. He presents the value of the cross of Christ clearly and definitively. Better yet, the pastoral letter in each chapter may be some of the best examples of sensitive, Bible-centered, gospel-saturated counsel in print since Thomas Brooks' and John Owens' quills were laid to rest." Mark Traphagen, Westminster Bookstore Staff
