“Welcome to our peaceful protest.” In the spring of 2020, government mandates forced churches across North America to close their doors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As societal fear and unrest increased, Christians were forced to grapple with how God wanted them to respond to these state-imposed restrictions. After all, didn’t the closure of churches pose a serious threat in a time when people needed spiritual direction more than ever? God vs. Government follows two churches’ courageous decisions to reopen despite orders to remain closed. Guided by the command in Hebrews 10:25 that churches not forsake meeting together, pastors John MacArthur and James Coates led their congregations to return to in-person meetings—and were swiftly met by unsympathetic governing authorities ready to shut them down again. The ensuing legal battles raised important questions about religious freedom, and more importantly, illuminated what it looks like to take a stand when Christ and compliance…

Preaching and Hearing God’s Word provides a biblically robust and elevated theology of preaching. The word of God is critical to the believer’s spiritual growth and the preached word is normally the most potent and powerful expression of its ministry. If the believer is to appropriate its full sanctifying potential, then effective listening is of immense importance. This requires action on the part of the hearer before, during, and after the moment of preaching. As such, Preaching and Hearing God’s Word also equips the hearer to listen well, with a view to the building up of the body of Christ.