Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation - book cover
Churches & Church Leadership
  • Publisher : Zondervan
  • Published : 07 Feb 2023
  • Pages : 320
  • ISBN-10 : 0310128684
  • ISBN-13 : 9780310128687
  • Language : English

Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation

Timothy Keller takes readers behind the scenes to meet the people and understand the events that formed Keller's spiritual life and ministry priorities.

Millions have read books and listened to sermons by Timothy Keller. But which people and what events shaped his own thinking and spiritual growth? With unfettered access to Keller's personal notes and sermons--as well as exclusive interviews with family members and longtime friends--Collin Hansen gives you unprecedented understanding of one of the 21st century's most influential church leaders.

Spend any time around Timothy Keller and you'll learn what he's reading, what he's learning, what he's seeing. The story of Timothy Keller is the story of his spiritual and intellectual influences, from the woman who taught him how to read the Bible to the professor who taught him to preach Jesus from every text to the philosopher who taught him to see beneath society's surface.

For the first time, Hansen introduces readers to Keller's early years: the home where he learned to tell stories from the trees, the church where he learned to care for souls, and the city that lifted him to the international fame he never wanted.

You'll discover how to:

Understand the principles and practices that allowed Keller to synthesize so many different influences in a coherent ministry.Take the best of Keller's preaching and teaching to meet emerging challenges in the 21st century.Develop your own historical, theological, and cultural perspectives to shape your leadership.This is the untold story of the people, the books, the lectures, and ultimately the God who formed and shaped the life of Timothy Keller.

Editorial Reviews

'Tim Keller has been an immensely wise mentor for many of us. This book is a rich account of the sources of his spiritual formation, of the people who helped lead him to them, and of the dynamics contributing to the successes of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.' -- George Marsden, author of Jonathan Edwards: A Life

'Collin Hansen brilliantly examines the story behind one of the greatest thinkers, teachers, and writers of our time. If you've been as blessed as I have by Tim Keller's work and ministry, you must read this book.' -- John Thune, US senator from South Dakota

'As a Tim Keller admirer I was eager to read this biography, and Collin Hansen did not disappoint. In his marvelously written narrative, we learn much about the people, experiences, and struggles that have shaped Tim's amazing ministry. I can add that I found this book inspiring--but with the awareness that saying so does not do justice to the profound ways it also spoke to my soul!' -- Richard J. Mouw, president emeritus, Fuller Theological Seminary

'Here is the story of a man possessed of unusual native gifts of analysis and synthesis, of the home and family life that has shaped him, of people both long dead and contemporary whose insights he has taken hold of in the interests of communicating the gospel, and also of the twists and turns of God's providence in his life. These pages may well have been titled Becoming Tim Keller. That 'becoming' has been neither a quick nor an easy road. But Collin Hansen's account of it will be as challenging to readers as it is instructive.' -- Sinclair Ferguson, author of The Whole Christ

'Tim Keller is a spiritual father to me and to so many through his teachings. No one has shaped my view of God and Scripture more, so what a treasure to be able to read all that has shaped his! This is the story of a faithful, imperfect man and the God he so loves and has given his life to serving.' -- Jennie Allen, author of Get Out of Your Head and founder and visionary of IF:Gathering

'Collin Hansen's informative study of Tim Keller explains how this traditional Calvinist became so effective as a minister in New York City despite that city's reputation for ignoring anything traditionally Christian. Especially important have been diverse influences that included well-known authors and preachers, but also lesser-known Bible teachers and pastoral exemplars as well as fellow Presbyterians who combined cultural, biblical, and pietistic emphases with the doctrinal. Under God, this mixture has not only worked, but also sho...

Featured Video