Hidden Christmas

In this great gift book timed for the Christmas season, Keller takes readers through various Bible verses that describe the Nativity in order to explain its power, supplying ample historical context to drive home its teachings. It is easy to imagine this book as a sermon he might give to Redeemer Presbyterian Church (the church he founded in Manhattan) on a Sunday in December; this is a book for believers, and the reasoning he applies to the examined passages should be intellectually persuasive to his audience. He answers, for instance, questions about the Immaculate Conception by examining verses in which Mary and Joseph show their faith after first displaying skepticism. Keller doesn’t cheerlead, but he provides encouragement when he speaks of the sacrifices it takes to truly believe and during his arguments in favor of Biblical inerrancy, because Christmas isn’t simply one of the Christianity’s “very special” episodes, after all. In this slim volume, Keller achieves his pastoral goal of teaching Christmas’ most important message—“God alone has the life, truth and joy that we lack and cannot generate ourselves”— and in doing so, provides solace for those who seek it. (Nov.)