Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel

A Topic-by-Topic Look at Tim Keller's Best Teaching on Christian Living

Pastor and author Timothy Keller (1950–2023) built a lasting legacy in Christian ministry, planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church and cofounding the Gospel Coalition. With sharp biblical insight that has shaped countless church leaders, along with counsel on the Christian life that has stirred and strengthened audiences worldwide, Keller’s teaching promises to influence generations to come.

Synthesizing Keller’s work topic by topic, each chapter of this book highlights a key aspect of the Christian life—covering his views on prayer, suffering, friendship, vocation, intimacy with God, and more. Written by pastor Matt Smethurst, Tim Keller on the Christian Life draws from Keller’s nearly 50 years of sermons, conference messages, and books to share practical theological insight that will galvanize leaders and laypeople alike.

• A Look Back at Tim Keller’s Prolific Ministry: Draws from four decades of sermons and 30-plus books, as well as dozens of conference messages and published interviews
• Explores Key Theological Topics: Features Keller’s insightful instruction on idolatry, grace, justice, prayer, suffering, and more
• Accessible: Channels Keller’s clear, compelling communication style
• Great Gift and Study Resource: Valuable for Christian leaders who hope to learn from Keller’s methods, as well as laypeople who want biblical help for everyday life

232 pages

“Matt Smethurst has researched an impressive amount of content for this book: sermons, books, papers, courses, articles, and unpublished conversations. He found resources even I wasn’t familiar with, and he has produced a work of scholarship that will long stand as the most thorough examination of the biblical themes that animated all of Tim’s ministry.”
Kathy Keller

“Few pastors have demonstrated a multilayered, multifaceted understanding of how the gospel of Jesus Christ transforms everything like Tim Keller did. Matt Smethurst has done a wonderful job organizing Tim’s teaching on the gospel in everyday life—in a way that is engaging, practical, and heart and life changing. May this gospel continue to transform us and everything our lives touch. Read and reread this book!”
Paul David Tripp, author, Everyday Gospel

“The way the ministry of Tim Keller and Redeemer Church penetrated the secularized culture of Manhattan drew the attention of a surprised media. Remarkably, this was based not on an ever-changing pragmatism (‘whatever works’) but on an intelligent, clearly articulated, and winsomely expounded Christ-centered biblical theology. Tim Keller on the Christian Life explores the manifold ways this theology shaped Tim’s understanding of how the gospel restores and transforms. Those who heard Tim will be understandably eager to read these pages, and all readers will find a stimulating exploration of the impact of gospel grace. Congratulations and thanks are due to Matt Smethurst for this groundbreaking study.”
Sinclair B. Ferguson, Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; author, The Whole Christ

“What a blessing to read a book by a friend, about a friend’s wisdom on the Christian life. I got to watch Tim Keller practice what he proclaimed, especially while battling terminal cancer. No matter your familiarity with Tim’s body of work, Matt Smethurst’s distillation will prove an aid and blessing. He puts his finger on themes and emphases that will enrich your engagement with our brother’s enduring ministry. Matt has told me what a spiritually rewarding exercise it was to write this book. You will find it spiritually rewarding to read.”
Ligon Duncan, Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary; cohost, The Everyday Pastor podcast

“Tim Keller had a knack for presenting Christ and what it means to follow him in ways that I, as someone who had spent my whole life absorbing Christian teaching, had never heard before. It often stopped me in my tracks. It challenged my deeply ingrained understandings and interpretations. But most importantly, it enabled me to see the beauty, necessity, and sufficiency of Christ in ways that moved and changed me. This book enables those familiar with Keller’s teaching to be reminded of its core truths—and those who know little of it to get to its essence in summary fashion.”
Nancy Guthrie, author; Bible teacher

“There will never be another Tim Keller—a man uniquely raised up by God to teach a generation of believers to treasure the gospel and to teach a generation of skeptics to consider the gospel. Matt Smethurst takes us into the genius of Tim’s ministry, drawing from its breadth to synthesize and distill the key insights for how Jesus Christ changes us from the inside out. This is a deeply edifying read.”
Dane Ortlund, Senior Pastor, Naperville Presbyterian Church, Naperville, Illinois; author, Gentle and Lowly