"This book is for those who are tired of being starring characters in their own life movie. You want to be written into God's unfolding drama. But where to start?" (14).

Michael Horton gets a seminal truth that seems to be lost on many in the American Church today: it's not all about you. So much of church growth strategies, sermon series, and the books that line shelves at the bookstore focus on man. A survey of the theological landscape would lead one to believe that God exists to serve us, instead of the true theocentric drama that Scripture declares.

Horton asks the reader to askew their fear of doctrine. "Your heart can only embrace someone you know something about. . . . our closest relationships are not with people about whom we know little. It is only as we get to know people and they prove their character, love, and care that we grow in our desire for their company. . . [T]he unexamined faith is not worth believing" (16).

Ever chapter of Core Christianity revolves around Horton's 4 D's: drama, doctrine, doxology, and discipleship. Doctrine grows out of the biblical drama, or the story of God's self revelation. The drama yields doctrine. Doctrine tells us what the drama means for us. These doctrines, rooted firmly in God's drama, fill us with doxology, or praise. Doxology yields the fruit of love and good works, or discipleship. Each chapter follows the method of following the 4 D's.

Horton takes a covenantal view of theological issues, walking the reader through topics like the Trinity, revelation, sin, the Lordship of Christ, the incarnation, and eschatological hope.

All in all, this book is a wonderful primer. It summarizes Horton's premise laid out in his massive systematic theology, The Christian Faith. I recommend this book strongly based on the explanation of the 4 D's alone! ( )