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Book Review – What’s Best Next

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I’ve always appreciated Matt Perman.  When he worked for Desiring God, I consulted with him on an important issue we were facing in church life and found him to be full of wisdom with theological support.  I’ve also benefitted from his time at other conferences.  He’s been approachable and always, in my interactions with him, been seeking to live out what he’s now written in this book, so I would highly recommend this book.

What is this book?  It’s entitled What’s Best Next.  How The Gospel Transforms The Way You Get Things Done.  It’s a book on how the Gospel informs productivity and, admittedly, Matt believes he’s written something that is unique.  I can’t find a weakness in this book.  I’m one of those people who find themselves where the knives go in the knife drawer.  I’m an organized person and have some borderline disorder tendencies when it comes to order (just ask those close to me).  I’ve read books on productivity, getting things done and maximizing my life and time.  But, in this book, the great content of those books is fused with a life that exists for something eternal: God’s glory and the good of people.
I’ve already given away 3 copies of this book and we’re considering using it as a Sunday School text at our church.  I think many could benefit from so many specifics in this book.  It breaks into 7 parts: 1) Making God Supreme in Productivity, 2) Gospel Driven Productivity: A New Way to Look at Getting Things Done, 3) Define: Know What’s Most Important, 4) Architect: Create a Flexible Structure, 5) Reduce: Free Up Your Time for What’s Most Important, 6) Execute: Do What’s Most Important, 7) Living This Out.  Matt’s style of writing is easy to read and includes helpful summaries and blocks at the end of each chapter and for the book as a whole at the end.

There are so many great recommendations and practical outworkings in this book.  My favorite parts were the first 2 parts where a theological foundation is laid for why we should be productive and how this is about more than self-serving tendencies.  It’s about wielding all of our time and energy in a way so that God is glorified and people are served.  These are things that are worth giving your life for and are eternal.  They’re in desperate need of being Gospel-informed.  Matt gives these connections and from there presses us into application (which is another super-helpful feature of this book).  It will not be my go-to book when I’m stuck in slow progress and evaluating how to maximize my time and energies.  

I hope you’ll read and allow God to stir your heart through Matt’s service to us.  What a blessing to have this book.  Now, there’s only one question: What’s Best Next?

Review of Alec Motyer’s Preaching…

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Here’s a review of Alec Motyer’s book Preaching?: Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching:

I’m happy to give a very favorable review to Alec Motyer’s Preaching.  For one, as a pastor in a local church with responsibilities to preach each week, I find that any encouragement I can get to refine this skill is helpful.  On a deeper level, though, because of what I believe about God’s Word, preaching isn’t just a ho-hum, random activity for me.  Each week, I want to communicate the message that God has for His people.  It’s because these dual realities exist that I give a favorable review to Motyer’s work. 
This book is readable; it’s accessible.  The book doesn’t read like a heady expositional preaching textbook (which can be helpful, as well).  The content is laid out in an engaging way.  You almost anticipate what the next chapter should be and Motyer delivers the content that’s needed in light of the importance that goes with the work of preaching.
Another thing I loved was how each chapter is thoroughly Biblical.  There are numerous illustrations from the Bible itself.  It’s almost as if this book is a thrilling Biblical theology of expositional preaching at times.  As God’s Word is held out to help the reader, connections are made to the act of preaching.  It seems to me that this methodology allows the Holy Spirit to help teach us how to go about preaching through the Holy Spirit given gifts of this author.  This makes this little book of preaching of great value to the preacher as it flows out of our Bible reading.
Finally, the book ends with that grand capstone: Christ.  There’s a tension each preacher feels in wanting Christ to be seen and glorified yet realizing that each specific text might not explicitly call for a Gospel appeal.  Motyer makes some helpful inroads for helping preachers navigate this tension. 

So, for these reasons, I commend this work.  It will be helpful for pastors seeking to honor God in the preaching event.  It will assist lay leaders in understanding the importance of the preaching text.  And, for all, it will help us marvel at the grace that’s give by our great God in communicating through the medium of His Word.  

Book Review – Gospel Deeps

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Gospel Deeps: Reveling in the Excellencies of Jesus is the latest book from Jared Wilson.  The more I’ve read of Jared through his books, blog and twitter feed, the more I’ve come to appreciate his quick wit, sense of humor, but, more than these, his deep love and appreciation for the Gospel.

Is another book on the Gospel needed?  What makes this unique?  These are, honestly, some of the questions a sensible evangelical reader might ask when a title like this comes across the radar, so as this book came out, I asked those questions, but dug in, knowing what I know about Jared and his heart.  Right out of the gate, Jared had me hooked.  I grew up in an environment quite similar to what he described in the introduction, where a Gospel invitation was given at the end of a service and it was for unbelievers.  If not too many unbelievers were “coming forward” then the pastor would ask questions about assurance asking if we know that we know that we’re believers (whatever knowing that I know means).  And it wasn’t that some of these things (Gospel invitation, pressing assurance) were wrong it’s just that, like Jared says, “We had it shallow. I didn’t understand that the Gospel was for all of life” (p.18).  What drives the rest of this book, then are these Gospel Deeps, the depths of understanding that God has put in the Bible about the Gospel to help all people admire and extol Jesus for who He is and what He’s done.  It is in this sense, the book delivers.

Chapter 1 really orients us to book itself, showing us the depths of the Gospel rooted in the deep love of God Himself.  Chapter 2 unpacks 1 Peter 2:9 and shows us how the depths of the Gospel are oriented individually, corporately, and theologically.  Chapter 3 points us to God Himself, revealed as Trinity, in its Gospel brightness, all of which leads to much practical living.  Chapter 4 shows the depths of the Gospel in establishing joy in us.  Chapter 5 expands the joy of Jesus going to cross by centering in how penal substitution is central to the Gospel, especially highlighted in John’s Gospel.  Chapter 6 builds on the suffering of Jesus by taking us to God’s purpose in suffering, connecting it to the Gospel and giving us much practical living in light of this truth.  Chapter 7 shows how glorious God’s attributes shine in the Gospel.  Chapter 8 shows what Christ accomplished for us to adopt us into God’s family.  Chapter 9 takes us from the here and now to the future cosmic redemption anticipated through the Gospel.  And, chapter 10 take us deep into Christ himself from Hebrews 1.  The brief conclusion dealt with the critique that we are to move on from the Gospel into maturity and showed how foundations don’t move.  So, there were many rich Gospel depths explored which help the reader to praise God for the Gospel and more actively live in light of it.

My feeling, then, is that Jared delivered to us a very needed book to connect the rich depths of Gospel truth to our everyday living.  I think if you’ll read this, you’ll be affected in the same way.

S’More books I’ve read…

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Last weekend, I highlighted 3 books I had finished and over the weekend I finished up a few more:

40 Questions About the End Times by Eckhard Schnabel
Schnabel is a first class scholar and the 40 Questions series are a very accessible set of books.  What I appreciated about this overview of many of the questions we have about the end times was how thoroughly Biblical he was.  Part of the struggle in end times is deciphering what’s literal and what’s figurative in the apocalyptic genre (Revelation isn’t the same genre as say one of Paul’s letters).  Schnabel helps navigate the waters with a thorough Biblical case.  One other practical things that makes this appealing is in helping one see how different interpreters have erred and seeking to avoid that.  Really helpful piece.

Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy by Timothy Paul Jones
I am working through this book right now and have found it very helpful in again, thinking about the 10,000 foot level of eschatology.  One thing I love so far is how centered on Jesus the book is.  One frustration I have about end times fanaticism is that the interpretations can leave Christ on the curb and other things are sensationalized and showcased.  Jones helps the reader see how different schools of thought are making much of Christ and what this means for the average person out there.  This book also helps by bringing end times things throughout the history of the church, and, in this, helps all readers.

Loving the Church . . . Blessing the Nations: Pursuing the Role of Local Churches in Global Mission by George Miley
Last month I attended a conference at a missions agency to help local church missions committees think about their role in relation to both the church and the call to reach the nations.  At that conference, one resource that popped up in a few quotes was this one.  I gave this a quick read and found many things helpful.  This book helps highlight a methodology for church planting.  But, in a deeper way, shows a love for the local church and the strength she can wield in planting churches internationally.  The church can be about God’s work and I was encouraged in this regard by this book.

Hope you’re enjoying your summer reading.

Some Reading…

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Finished up a few books recently, so here’s some little blurbs about each of them:

God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology by Jim Hamilton
I took my time and plodded through this a few pages at a time each evening for a few months.  I love God’s glory.  I believe it defines what we’re to ultimately be living for.  So, I really resonated with Hamilton and his thorough approach to uncover this theme throughout the Bible.  He even had a chapter that answered some objections of people who don’t see things the way he does.  And, the book ended with a section I loved with what this means to life and ministry.  I would highly recommend this volume to anyone who would like to take the time to see what God is up to in the Bible.

Create: Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Stuff by Stephen Altrogge
This was a very easy read, but a helpful, how do I put it?, kick in the pants to get about living a creative life.  Many excuse their apparent lack of creativity saying, “Well, I’m just not gifted.” And, Stephen takes time to show how not only you are creative, since you are created in the image of a Creative God, but also how this imprint on your creative design is meant to be acted upon.  He gets at motives, excuses we make and how we can take small steps to improve in our creativity.  I was very helped by this short read and benefitted accordingly.

Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Doug Wilson
Another helpful book by Wilson on manhood.  I had the privilege of hearing Wilson speak on this subject at the Desiring God Conference for Pastors earlier this year.  The big call in this book is for men to take responsibility.  This is the definition of masculinity he gets at in this book: “The joyful accepting of responsibility.”  There are numerous ways Wilson applies this and gets at both the need and application of these kind of men for the good of society and the church.  Again, a helpful read to encourage men to men.

So, these are a few.  Take your time this summer to read through a book and find your soul nourished and your life pointing to God Himself.

Book Review – Gospel Wakefulness

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I’ve had a huge appreciation for author Jared Wilson ever since his book Your Jesus Is Too Safe: Outgrowing a Drive-Thru, Feel-Good Savior came out a few years ago. This, coupled with the tweets and blogposts that drip Gospel gold, meant that when I received his latest book, Gospel Wakefulness I knew I would be in a for a huge treat.

In recent days, certain places in evangelicalism have seen a growth in all things Gospel-centered.  Conferences that attract large numbers of pastors center on the basic message of the Gospel.  And, while many understand (rightly) that the Gospel is for those who don’t have a relationship with God, the Gospel is so much more.  The Gospel is the message the church most desperately needs.  In many ways, Gospel Wakefulness tells Wilson’s story: how he went from serving in Bible belt churches to being captured by this central message of Christianity.  The result has been a profound effect in both his life and ministry.

As Wilson weaves this book together under the heading of Gospel Wakefulness, he helps you and I realize that OUR greatest need is the Gospel.  He opens the book defining what he means by Gospel Wakefulness, then unpacks how this relates to themes like humility, brokenness, worship, spirituality, sanctification and even depression.  He applies it both individually and corporately.  This truth is meant both for today and for our future.

Time and again in reading this book my heart was crying out, “Yes!”  In many ways, Gospel Wakefulness is my story and yours.  I heartily commend this.  I wish I could get this in the hands of every person I know.  What makes this book pack the wallop that it does is not Wilson’s words, make no mistake about it.  It’s that his words point to the truth of first importance: the Gospel itself.  Read and see if Gospel Wakefulness doesn’t come alive in your life as well.

You Need Community…Really…You Do…

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I was privileged to get a copy of Brad House’s book Community, the latest in the RE:LIT series.  House serves as a pastor at Mars Hill Church, Seattle, where he oversees community groups for the multi-site church.  For me, a good book is built on the basics of God’s Word and filled with practicality, or what the foundational truth from God’s Word should look like fleshed out.

The tension in a book on a particular facet of ministry is that while a broad cross section of evangelicalism may agree that something is important and even rooted in God’s Word, we may disagree on its practice.  I thought House did a great job of helping us see that what Mars Hill Church has chosen to do, how it has come out of Biblical conviction, but isn’t meant to be replicated by every church.  We are responsible, however, to flesh out community in our midst and this is the real strength of the book.

In Part 1, the foundation (or as he calls them, Building Blocks For Life) is unpacked.  This lays some biblical footings for how the book will flesh itself out in the later chapters.  Why do we need community?  How did God create us for this and other truths.

Part 2, health plan, helps to lead us in a positive direction by helping us see the different facts of community that need to be considered.  How should groups function, how often should they meet, where should they meet, what should they do?  Are you getting a feel for the practical side yet?

Part 3, treatment, gives us ways to effect change in our groups.  In other words, I’m given practical tools in this section to go about changing things from the way we’ve always done them.  This includes not only changing the past, but equipping leaders for the future.

Positives in this book include getting a great feel for what the Bible says about community, how those are fleshed out in a local church taking those commands seriously, humility in communicating what has been pursued, stories of how pursuing this has helped, as well as what I’ve already mentioned: practical things.

Negatives for me were that it is a longer read.  At times I felt the book drag.  This might have been my fatigue or the time of life when I’m reading this (3 kids under 5), but as I pressed through, it proved to be time well spent.

House has definitely thought deeply about this issue.  And if community is something you would like help in applying or tweaking in your particular ministry, then this book would be a book worthy of your time and investment.

What’s Been Read or Being Read…

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated my reading list, so I thought it was a good time to do so:

I continue to use Carson’s For the Love of God, Vol 2, Water of the Word, and the ESV Study Bible during devotions. I’m also enjoying Nancy Guthrie’s Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, which is a series of collected writings from old and modern authors on Advent. I just picked up Bryan Chapell’s Christ Centered Worship, and try to get a chapter of it read during devotions as well.

I’ve been working through Chris Wright’s Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament, which has really helped open my eyes to some OT expectations and realities about Jesus coming.

I finished A Praying Life and was really helped by it. The Heart of Anger really helped me recognize some sinful tendencies on my part as a parent. Feelings and Faith helped me not to fear affections so much. Gospel Powered Parenting was a nice read, but didn’t say too many things you can’t read elsewhere. The End of the Law was cumbersome (it was Biblical theology) but helpful in establishing some good foundation in interacting with Moses. Mohler’s latest, Words From The Fire, has nearly compelled me to do a series on the 10 Commandments in 2010.

As for what’s on the docket:
Finally got Our Boys in today. Will be an enjoyable read.

Just got in CrossTalk (WTS was selling it for $5 last week), subtitled Where Life and Scripture Meet by Mike Emlet. Published by the publishing arm of CCEF, I think it will be a helpful book in practical theology.

Also got in two books after listening to Dever’s latest interview with Iain Murray: A Bio of John Murray and collection of bios on Scottish believers.

I’m still working through the Mission of God and hope to read through the Pilgrim’s Progress again.

Good news, though. Winter is coming! More time to be inside reading :).

Read Death by Love!

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I really enjoyed Mark Driscoll’s latest book Death by Love. In this book, Driscoll writes a series of letters to encourage people in his church who are facing various questions about whether or not the Gospel can give them hope. In the midst of these letters, what emerges is a love and passion for the Gospel — specifically Jesus’ work on the cross and how that can enable someone to face life head on and have hope in the midst of what would otherwise be hopeless scenarios. I was drawn into each chapter and there, like a jewel shining on the floor of the ocean, were great Gospel truths to dive deep into. I would encourage you to read these, for it will help you make Gospel connections to life.