

Life and Books and Everything
Clearly Reformed
Life and Books and Everything is a podcast hosted by Kevin DeYoung where discussions center on, well, life and books and everything. As a church pastor and theology professor, Kevin loves to talk about faith, theology, history, current events, and the occasional hot topic. We hope you will learn something, laugh a little, and get some good book recommendations along the way.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 23, 2020 • 1h 11min
The Religious Fervor of American Politics
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Collin, and Justin discuss the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her vacant seat on the Supreme Court, Classic liberalism and its critics, which books were most formative in their youth, and what career they each would have chosen if not for the ones they are in now.
This episode of Life and Books and Everything is brought to you by Crossway. The Crossway title we want to highlight in this episode is the ESV Every Day Bible: 365 Readings through the Whole Bible. This bible was designed from the ground up to be an inviting daily-reading Bible, to help readers achieve their goal of reading through the Bible in a year. Formative books in our youth:
Kevin:
Know What You Believe by Paul Little
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors by Martin Lloyd-Jones
God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams by David Wells
No Place for Truth: or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? by David Wells
Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision by David Wells
Collin:
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden
The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl Henry
Justin:

Sep 16, 2020 • 1h 8min
We Are in the Time of Judges, Not Revival
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Collin, and Justin discuss the writing process, how things have exponentially changed in the online Christian writing space, what books have most recently moved them, which pastor biographies are their favorite, and what message the church needs to hear most in 2020. And if nuanced discussions on culture, books, and theology don't quite do it for you, be sure to tune in to hear the guys give their best Chris Farley impressions.
This episode of Life and Books and Everything is brought to you by Crossway, a publisher whose goal is to publish gospel-centered, Bible-centered content that will honor our Savior and serve his Church. The Crossway title we want to highlight in this episode is Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp. For every celebrity pastor exiting the ministry in the spotlight, there are many more lesser-known pastors leaving in the shadows. Tripp draws on his decades of ministry experience to give churches twelve gospel principles necessary to combat this leadership crisis. Each of these principles, built upon characteristics such as humility, dependency, and accountability, will enable new and experienced leaders alike to focus their attention on the ultimate leadership model: the gospel.
Timestamps:
What did you do on Labor Day? | Crossway sponsorship: Lead by Paul David Tripp [0:00 - 11:48] - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/gospelbound/leaders-who-wont-flame-out/
Changes in Online Christian Writing [11:48 - 38:46]
What is the last book that moved you? [38:46 - 54:05]Collin's books:
Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp
How to Talk about Jesus (Without Being That Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World by Sam Chan
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Kevin's books:
The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race In America by Shelby Steele
Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
Justin's books:
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
The chapter on Adoption in

Sep 9, 2020 • 54min
4 Questions for Divisive Topics
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin shares four questions to ask regarding the most divisive topics in the church today: voting, police shootings, and Coronavirus.
Kevin also shares 4 book recommendations of some of the most recent and enjoyable titles he has read through.
This episode is sponsored by Crossway, a publisher whose goal is to publish gospel-centered, Bible-centered content that will honor our Savior and serve his Church. The Crossway title we want to highlight in this episode is Unfolding Grace: 40 Guided Readings through the Bible; discover the overarching storyline of God's Word as it is revealed through forty Scripture readings drawn from key points in the biblical narrative. Each passage, coupled with brief and accessible commentary, will help you follow God's grace as it unfolds from Genesis through Revelation. Unfolding Grace includes 40 illustrations by Peter Voth, excerpts discussing the flow of God’s plan of redemption, a single-column format, a smyth-sewn binding, and a Study guide.Timestamps:Introduction + 4 book recommendations [0:00 - 22:31]
Books mentioned:The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It) by Michael Strain
The Morality of Laughter by F. H. Buckley
The Myth of Disenchantment: Magic, Modernity, and the Birth of the Human Sciences by Jason A. Josephson Storm
J. Gresham Machen: A Biographical Memoir by Ned B. Stonehouse - cover done by Marina Amaral
4 questions to ask when discussing voting [22:31 - 34:52]4 questions to ask when discussing police shootings [34:52 - 42:05]
4 questions to ask when discussing the Coronavirus [42:05 - 54:25]

Sep 2, 2020 • 1h 5min
Discerning My Vocation, with Dr. Julius Kim
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin DeYoung, Collin Hansen, and Justin Taylor are joined by Dr. Julius Kim—President of The Gospel Coalition—to discuss each other’s seminary experiences, issues in evangelicalism, how to discern one’s vocational calling, how to be a better preacher, and, last but not least, which books have been most influential in the life and ministry of Dr. Kim.
This episode of Life and Books and Everything is brought to you by Crossway, a publisher whose goal is to publish gospel-centered, Bible-centered content that will honor our Savior and serve his Church. The Crossway title we want to highlight in this episode is, Weep With Me: How Lament Opens a Door for Racial Reconciliation by Mark Vroegop, with contributions by Thabiti Anyabwile, Trillia Newbell, Jarvis Williams, John Onwuchekwa, Collin Hansen, Mika Edmondson, and more. In an effort to bridge the canyon of misunderstanding, insensitivity, and hurt, Mark Vroegop writes about the practice of lament. Vroegop invites readers to mourn with him over the brokenness that has caused division and to use lament to begin the journey toward a diverse and united church. Pick up your copy of Weep With Me by Mark Vroegop today.Timestamps:
Weep With Me: How Lament Opens a Door for Racial Reconciliation by Mark Vroegop [0:00 - 1:43]
Where we went to seminary and the different branches in evangelicalism [1:43 - 27:58]
Wrestling with my vocational calling [27:58 - 39:38]
How to become a better preacher [39:38 - 52:10]
What books most influenced Julius Kim over the years and what he is reading now [52:10 - 58:07]
Julius Kim’s prior wedding band career [58:07 - 1:06:38]Books and authors that have influenced Julius Kim:
Knowing God by J. I. PackerHow Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis ShaefferInstitutes of the Christian Religion by John CalvinInstitutes of Elenctic Theology (3 Volume Set) by Francis TurretinThe Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller by John C. MillerInfluenced by Ed Clowney, Henri Nouwen, and Eugene Peterson.Books that Julius Kim is reading right now:
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Aug 26, 2020 • 1h 10min
Tears Do Not Equal Repentance
In this episode of Life and Books and Everything, Kevin, Collin, and Justin discuss the recent scandal involving Jerry Falwell Jr. and the difference between a therapeutic confession and one that admits guilt and sin, what habits of rest and recreation they practice, what their favorite biblical commentaries are, and lastly, they discuss Samuel James's article, "Which Enemy? Which Doorstep?" This episode of Life and Books and Everything is brought to you by Crossway. A specific book from Crossway we would like to highlight for our listeners is Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin. In this book, Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin help families develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship through a guided framework focusing on moments of discipleship in 3 key areas: time, moments, and milestones. Each section provides parents with Scriptures to consider, questions to answer, structures to implement, and ideas to try out.Timestamps:Book giveaway winner announcement! [0:00 - 3:10]
The Jerry Falwell Jr. Scandal [3:10 - 15:55]
Habits of rest, recreation, and sabbath [15:55 - 36:50]
Favorite Commentaries [36:50 - 59:48]
Multi-Directional Leadership [59:48 - 1:10:08] Book recommendations Collin's favorite commentaries + other resources mentioned:
New Testament Commentary Survey by D. A. Carson
The Letter to the Romans (New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)) by Douglas Moo
ESV Study Bible by Crossway
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by D. A. Carson and G. K. Beale
Blind Spots: Becoming a Courageous, Compassionate, and Commissioned Church by Collin HansenKevin's favorite commentaries:
Introducing the Old Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message by Tremper Longman
The Gospel according to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC)) by D. A. Carson
The Pillar New Testament Commentary (14 Volumes) from

Aug 19, 2020 • 1h 12min
Whom Am I Risking For?
Season 2 of Life and Books and Everything is here! Kevin DeYoung, Justin Taylor, and Collin Hansen sit down together to discuss their summer reading lists, how to balance the need for safety and the need to trust God's sovereignty in the pandemic, Grace Community Church and their choice to gather indoors for services in California, and should the Big 10 have canceled?This episode is brought to you by Crossway. As Kevin says on this episode, "There are lots of Christian publishers, but with Crossway, you know that you have men and women working there who care very much about the content about the truth of God's word, not just selling books—every book publisher has to sell some books but—more importantly, they want to edify and build up the church."
In particular, we want to highlight the book by Dane Ortlund, 'Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.' Some say that, "this book is like J. I. Packer's Knowing God," others say, "this is the best book I've read in a decade." There is lots of high praise for Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund, so please check it out.
Timestamps:
Introduction + Book Giveaway Announcement with Crossway [0:00 - 4:50]
Summer Reading [4:50 - 29:47]
Collin's summer reading: The Future of Christian Marriage by Mark Regnerus
Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide by Tony Horwitz
The Minutemen and Their World by Robert A. Gross
Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paull David Tripp
Justin's summer reading:
Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz
Redeeming the Great Emancipator by Allen C. Guelzo
Reconstruction: A Very Short Introduction by Allen C. Guelzo Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horwitz
The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy by Seth Mnookin
Kevin's summer reading:
Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney

Aug 10, 2020 • 34min
In Memory of J. I. Packer
Originally released on July 17th, 2020, in this special episode of 'Life and Books and Everything,' Kevin DeYoung, Collin Hansen, and Justin Taylor remember their friend J. I. Packer as they share about his influence broadly and personally.

Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 12min
Tearing Down Statues, Kneeling During the National Anthem, the Imago Dei, Favorite Writers
Originally released on June 16th, 2020, Kevin DeYoung, Collin Hansen, and Justin Taylor discuss the tearing down of statues, kneeling during the National Anthem, what it means that we're made in the image of God, their favorite writers, and how to avoid bad writing.

Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 14min
Disagreements About Systematic Racism, How to Approach History, and Recommended Books on Slavery
Originally released on June 10th, 2020, Kevin DeYoung, Collin Hansen, and Justin Taylor discuss the morality of laughter, the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, their disagreements about systematic racism, how to approach history, and their recommended books on slavery.

Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 6min
Five Books to Take On a Desert Island, Why The News Makes You Dumb, and Why Politics is the True National Pastime
Originally released on June 23rd, 2020, Kevin DeYoung, Collin Hansen, and Justin Taylor discuss the five books they would take on a desert island, why the news makes you dumb, and why politics is the true national pastime.


