Christian Book Notes

DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009. 128 pp. $10.99. Purchase the book at Westminster for $7.69.

Audiobook

Narrated by Adam Verner. Escondido: christianaudio Hovel. 3 hours. Download–$9.98, CD–$15.98.

Introduction

A search on Amazon for books on God’s Will returns over 231,000 results.  Everyone wants to know what God’s will is for their life.  Not everyone wants to actually do God’s will for their lives.  Kevin DeYoung challenges many preconceived notions in his book Just Do Something.

Summary

In an extremely short book, Kevin DeYoung begins by smashing what many use as a crutch–trying to discern the will of God.  He states at the end of chapter one that our seeking the will of God has enabled us to postpone growing up.  He likens our seeking the will of God as asking the great Magic 8-Ball whether or not we should eat at McDonald’s or Arby’s.

There is a better way.  DeYoung explains what that is and what it looks like in the Christian’s life.  Basically, the title of the books says it all…Just do something!  Though some might think that just doing something is aimless, we are presented with the tools (think prayer and Scripture reading) to discern God’s will in your life.  It is at this point that you are able to know that you are walking in the will of God.

Audio/Content Review

Adam Verner does not read this book in a dry, formal manner.  He reads more as though he is your pastor and you are discussing the matter of seeking God’s will for your life at your local coffee shop.  I appreciated his voice inflection as well as his tempo in reading.

The content of the book was dead on.  Kevin DeYoung nails it as far as the paralysis of analysis that grips many young Christians today.  We have made an idol out of seeking God’s will and Kevin attempts to rectify this in 128 short pages.  His use of Scripture helps to elucidate his solution to the problem which in the end is a biblical solution.

Recommendation

Just Do Something is a book that needs to be read by every Christian, young and old.  The book can be read in one sitting if you have the time (say 2 1/2 hours).  It makes for an excellent study for youth groups and adult bible study groups.  Kevin DeYoung offers many morsels to chew on when it comes to discerning God’s will for one’s life.  Having the book to read is great–you will mark it up with your fountain pen.  Having the book to listen to was even more of a bonus–I felt as though I was in the middle of a conversation.  Adam Verner really makes listening to the book an enjoyable experience.

Vollmer, Philip. John Calvin-Man of the Millennium: A Family Read-Aloud Biography. San Antonio: The Vision Forum, Inc., 2008. 389 pp. $20.00. Purchase at Amazon for $15.60.

Introduction

John Calvin needs no introduction to anyone. You either love him and his doctrines or you hate him and his doctrines. Even non-Christians know who John Calvin is and everyone ties one word to him–predestination. With 2009 having been the 500th anniversary of his birth, there were a plethora of books published in celebration. I reviewed two of those: John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor and Christian Biographies for Young Readers: John Calvin. Therefore, I am assuming a book on John Calvin needs no real introduction.

Summary

The book is similar to any John Calvin biography in that it traces how God worked in Calvin’s life through his early years up to the Reformation. We read of his becoming a fugitive because of his faith, his ministry in Geneva and Strasburg as well as the controversy with Servetus (for which he still pays dearly for today!). The biographical information concludes with his pastoral work, the founding of the Genevan University and his death.

What separates this biography from others is 1) this is designed to be read aloud with your family, and 2) the author takes special care to explain the many different aspects Calvin. These include John Calvin as theologian, preacher and pastor, educator, statemen, and a promoter of church union (an interesting chapter given he was a leader of the Reformation that led to the different Protestant denominations). There is a special chapter dealing with the doctrines of Calvinism–from a true historical perspective. The book concludes with Calvin’s influence on the world with separate chapters dedicated to Switzerland and Germany, Holland, England, Scotland, and America.

Review
I love that this book is formatted as a family read-aloud. Most of the chapters are less than 10 pages long allowing a chapter to be read easily in one sitting as a family. However, once you leave the actual biography and move into what is more of a commentary (chapters 17-30), it gets a bit difficult to read aloud. The biography, chapters 1-16, comprise 106 pages of the 308 pages of text. While the “second half” is very educational (and needs to be read), it is not as conducive to reading aloud as the first half.

With that said, reading aloud to your younger children the biographical information will cultivate an interest in the history of the church. As they grow older, they will want to know “the rest of the story” that is found in the final 2/3 of the book. I greatly enjoyed the insight provided in the “Influence” chapters (26-30). It was pretty amazing to see just how much John Calvin has influenced the world.

Recommendation

I am stoked that Vision Forum has published these read-aloud biographies. There is a movement within many churches and home school groups where families reading aloud is becoming more and more common. John Calvin-Man of the Millennium is an excellent addition to the library for both adults and children. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading it a few more times with my children.

Watson, Thomas. All Things for Good. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1986. 127 pp. $8.00. Purchase at Westminster for $4.80. Was titled A Divine Cordial when originally published in 1663.

Introduction

Thomas Watson (c.1620-1686) was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1646 he was commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen’s Walbrook. In 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love’s plot to recall Charles II. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated vicar of St. Stephen’s Walbrook. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license for the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston in Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.

You can read more about Thomas Watson here.

Summary

All Things for Good is Thomas Watson’s treatise on Romans 8:28,

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Chapter one details how the best things work for the good of the godly. Watson looks at the attributes, promises, and mercies of God. He also discusses the intercession of Christ (a doctrine I fear is not discussed often enough today) and the prayers of the saints.

The second chapter next looks at how the worst things work for the good of the godly. Here, Watson shows how the evils of affliction, desertion, sin, and temptation actually work for the benefit of the saint. Again, something that is not thought much of today.

In what could be described as the second part of the book, we read of God’s love. Chapter four looks at the nature, ground, properties, and degrees of God’s love while the fifth chapter looks at the tests of God’s love. Chapter six concludes with the author’s exhortation to love God more than anything.

The final section, again my description, is a discussion on God’s effectual calling. In chapter seven Watson lays before the reader the sinner’s condition before being called and the means by which God calls the sinner unto repentance. The eight chapter consists of more exhortations to the saint who has been called by God while chapter nine is a short, three-page treatise on the meaning of God’s purpose–our assurance of salvation.

Review/Recommendation

To read a 127 page book on one verse in the Bible is like taking honey as medicine and its having the desired healing effects on the body. The book is a bit dated as evidenced by the talk of using leeches to suck out “the bad blood” in the body, but the eternal truths are still the same. Truth be told, every Christian would do well to read this book. I read this book at a time in my life when I really needed these truths expounded to my heart and soul.

Yes, he talks of the doctrines of Grace. Yes, that will make some upset. No, he is not argumentative. What Watson does do is point the reader to the Bible as our basis of understanding what is going on in our lives. The wonderful truth that all things work for the good of those who are called and love God is, in the words of Thomas Watson, “A sovereign elixir of unspeakable comfort.” I would highly recommend you purchase this book for yourself. Since it is only $4.80 at Westminster, purchase some for giveaway. You certainly know someone who could use this book.

Guthrie, Nancy.  Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow.  Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2009.  166 pp.  $14.99.  Purchase at Westminster for $9.89.

Introduction

For readers here at Christian Book Notes, Nancy Guthrie needs no introduction.  She has edited two excellent, seasonal devotionals:  Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross and Come, Thou Long Expect Jesus.  You can read both of my reviews here.

This particular book was sent to me I believe back in June of 2009.  I had plans to read it in July, but God had other plans.  That month was when my daughter was born with all of her difficulties.  You can read quick posts about this time here, here, and here.  My daughter is doing well though we still have a long road ahead of us (she was recently diagnosed with Stickler’s Disease-a genetic disorder), and we are expecting baby number 5 on her first birthday!

As I was saying, I had every intention of reading this book until my wife picked it up and read it while Sarah was in the NIC-U.  This book was a gift from God at a time in our lives when we did not know what was going to happen next (do we ever know?).  Therefore, the review that follows is not like a normal review.  Rather, it is my wife explaining how this book ministered to her during this time.  The review is being posted at this time because, quite honestly, the book ended up in a nightstand drawer and I forgot all about it!

Review

Hi, I’m Krista. I don’t write books reviews. As a matter of fact, I usually only write in perfect manuscript penmanship little words for my son to copy so please bear with me.

In her book, Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, Nancy Guthrie says at one point after losing one of her children to a deadly metabolic disorder that her pastor challenged her by saying, “It’s at times like these when you have to really ask yourself, ‘Is the gospel really true? Do I really believe what I say I believe? Do I really trust God?’” I remember during my pregnancy with our daughter having a conversation with a friend about the birth of our third son. He was born amid some rather frightening complications that nearly cost us both our lives. We were later told that another 24 hours in the womb and he would have been stillborn.

As I shared this with my friend, I said, “God is so good.” She agreed but then said something she had been struggling to get her mind around was whether or not  God would have still been good even if our son had died. At the time, my response was an almost immediate, “Absolutely.”

While reading this book, staring at my daughter and all the other babies in the NICU, I was really challenged with this. It caused me to do some soul-searching to determine if I really believed the gospel to be true. Did I really believe God was good even in the midst of difficult circumstances? If my daughter didn’t survive would God still be good?

Nancy Guthrie’s book challenged me with scripture showing how Christ suffered, how He understands our pain and our sorrow and how ultimately He loves us enough to be far more concerned with our souls than with the circumstances of this fleeting life. Taking the scripture presented in this book and then turning to the Bible itself gave me comfort and calm but ultimately re-affirmed to me that even when times are difficult and we are hurting and suffering God is good and the gospel is absolutely true. Christ is sufficient no matter the circumstances and we can find rest and comfort in that.

Recommendation

Obviously, this book is highly recommended.  My wife continues to draw from Nancy’s ministry and writings.  We have offered this book to people who are suffering through tragedies and tough times in general.  Every person that we know who has read this book has said it was “just what they needed.”

Perspectives on Family Ministry: Three Views. Ed. by Timothy Paul Jones. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Academic, October 2009. 213 pp.  $19.99.  Purchase at Amazon.

Introduction

Dr. Timothy Paul Jones, the editor of this book, served for fourteen years in vocational ministry. He is now an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Church Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His passion is to see the church come alongside families and teach them how to fulfill the commandment given in Deut. 6:7, “You shall teach them (God’s words) diligently to your children.”

He recognizes that there is a movement within evangelical churches to better minister to families. He has aided our understanding of this movement through the contributions of three pastors serving “in the trenches.” The format of the book was argument for, two responses against, and a final response in favor for each of the three models.

Paul Renfro, pastor of discipleship at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, writes concerning the Family-Integrated Model. Brandon Shields, minister to high school students at Highview Baptist Church in Kentucky and Indiana writes of their use of the Family-Based Model. Finally, Jay Strother, minister to emerging generations at Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, writes in favor of Family Equipping Ministry.

Family-Integrated Church, Paul Renfro

The family-integrated model jettisons all age-graded ministries. Those who adhere to this model view each family unit (single or married, with or without children) as one “block” that comprises the local church. That is, they view the church as a family of families. They view the church’s purpose as equipping the parents, primarily the fathers, to evangelize and disciple their children.

Some difficulties to this model include that a “family of families” cannot define the church which is defined as the “body of Christ” in Ephesians 4. There seems to be an inability to reach public school families as well as the non-traditional families that are prevalent today. Finally, there is still the challenge of equipping the children to engage the culture with their faith.

Family-Based, Brandon Shields

The are two values that are foundational to this philosophy, Brandon is careful to use this term over and above “model,” are flexibility and balance. Flexibility is essential because every church is different and therefore every church must adapt to their culture. Balance is also necessary because not every family in the local church is a “traditional” family. There are many challenges with blended families, single families, and other situations that must be handled with care when discipling the family. They do not see a need to radically reorganize and restructure the present ministry model. The key concept is the philosophical shift wherein the activities and programs are used to draw the families closer together.

Some problems with this particular model include the appearance that there is a greater concern for being culturally relevant rather than biblical. Some believe this model does not go far enough in addressing the disconnect between the church and the home. It is still too programmatic and does not really offer clear training to the parents to disciple their children.

Family-Equipping, Jay Strother

Pastor Jay explains in a diagram that the family-equipping model of ministry has a three-pronged approach. First, there are the catalysts. These are the parents who are primarily responsible to disciple their children and then the small group leaders in the church who lead Bible studies that reinforce the spiritual truths taught at home. Second, the content of what is being taught is intentional so that as the child grows, he meets certain “milestones” in his spiritual training at the church. Finally, the context of the model is found in worshipping Christ through small-group discipleship and serving in the church and community for the sake of the gospel.

Objections to the model include the parents simply do not have the time to disciple their children which then begs the question of how to confront parents who are not discipling their children. Also, the reasons offered for leaving other models were simply not convincing enough and therefore does not warrant a wholesale change of mindset. Finally, the question of strategy is too limited in scope and need not be the cause for the adoption of this ministry model.

Conclusion

This volume offers much to think about in the way of how the church should minister to the family. All three models are rooted in Scripture and all three models are driven by a love for the church and the family. Each pastor is passionate about seeing our world impacted by the church with more efficiency and more zeal. More importantly, each pastor writes and ministers with an urgency to change the landscape of the home through their respective views of family ministry.

The formatting of this book—with the point, counterpoint, and response method—offers the reader a balanced perspective. This book will be a great tool for church leaders who want to better address the family unit in their ministry. I highly recommend this book. Many Evangelical churches are shifting paradigms; this book will help you make sense of these new approaches.

The Reason for this Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by Founders Press.  I will be attending the Founders’ Ministries–Midwest Conference on February 23-24, 2010, in St. Peters, MO. I am excited about this year’s theme, Pastoral Ministry: Shepherding God’s Flock. The conference topic was conceived from a blog post in which Dr. Van Neste interviewed Dr. Thornbury.  You can read that interview here.

Speakers include

• Rev. Joseph Braden, pastor, First Baptist Church, St. Peters
• Dr. John Thornbury, author and pastor (retired) of Winfield Baptist Church, Union County, PA.
• Dr. Tom Ascol, author, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL, and Director of Founders’ Ministries
• Dr. Ray Van Neste, Director of the R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies and Instructor of Christian Studies at Union University, and serves as an elder at Cornerstone Community Church in Jackson, TN.

How to Enter

This is a slightly longer contest–I am moving this weekend and need some extra time. Therefore, this contest will run through Monday, February 8, 2010.

There are a couple of ways to enter:

• Twitter (once per day, per person): RT: @ChristBookNotes Enter for a chance to win one of two autographed books from @FoundersMin http://wp.me/pviKd-SF
• Blog (once per person–5 entries): Blog about the giveaway and the conference. Link back to this post.
• Attend the conference (10 entries): If you attend the conference, please write ChristianBookNotes to the right of the word “student” on the registration form. Please email me at tdelaney017[@]yahoo[dot]com and let me know you registered.  This will be on the honor system because the drawing will be held before the conference; however, I will be able to check the registered names for the conference and will call people out if I have to!  You can download the registration form here.
• Facebook: Become a fan of Founders’ Ministries Midwest
• Comment below (one entry): Leave a comment below about how the Founders’ Ministries has impacted your walk with Christ or what you have heard about the Founders’ Ministries. If you have never heard of Founders’ Ministries, check it out today.
  

  What is up for grabs

• ADDED 1Feb, a copy of Dear Timothy (not autographed)
• Both books are autographed. There may be more books added throughout the week.

Macaulay, Susan Schaeffer. For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2009. 166 pp. $14.99. Purchase at Amazon.

Introduction

Susan is the daughter of Francis and Edith Schaeffer. She grew up in Switzerland at L’Abri Fellowship. She and her husband, Ranald, established an England branch of L’Abri.

Review

Relying heavily on Charlotte Mason, you can read about that method here, Susan offers keen insight into how to best educate children. She espouses what I would call a holistic approach to teaching. She begins by stating that the impetus must be on the parents to lead their children to learn. With that said, the parent must never take for granted their Christian worldview. They must seek to lay the foundation for a Christian worldview at every opportunity.

She offers advice on discipline and how we should treat the little person (child) thus establishing the God-ordained roles of parents and children. All of this leads to the “holistic” approach I mentioned above. Learning is a way of life. Everything presents an opportunity to learn. It is the parent or teacher’s job to take advantage of what we call teachable moments. All of the education offered a child ought to bring them closer to knowing God through His creation and scriptures.

Recommendation

If you are a parent or a teacher of any kind, you would glean much from reading For the Children’s Sake. This will be a book I recommend to other parents when seeking an educational philosophy as the God-centered approach espoused by Susan (through Charlotte Mason) is much needed today.

This week’s winner was Dwayne Ewers of Louisville, Ky. He has served as a pastor in rural Kentucky and is currently employed by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Congratulations, Dwayne.

We are mulling over the idea of reading Pilgrim’s Progress as a group and having some discussions on the Christian Book Notes Facebook fan page. If anyone is interested in participating, please become a fan and let us know. We are looking for at least 10 people to commit to reading Pilgrim’s Progress together beginning sometime in February.

Dever, Mark, J. Ligon Duncan III, R. Albert Mohler Jr., C.J. Mahaney. Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2009. 192 pp. $21.99. Purchase from Westminster for $14.51.

Introduction

Do these men need any introduction to the evangelical community? The men who comprise the Together for the Gospel “movement” are Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Al Mohler, and C.J. Mahaney. Contributors include Thabiti M. Anyabwile, John MacArthur, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul. Every two years, since 2006, these men have gathered in Louisville, Ky to exhort and challenge pastors and Christians to stand together for the gospel. In other words, be the unity that is called for in Scripture despite denominational “walls.”

Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology was the theme for 2008. This book is an adaptation of the messages presented at that three day conference. The audio can be downloaded and listened to here for free.

Summary

Beginning with the necessity of sound doctrine, Ligon Duncan offers an apologetic for the need of biblical doctrine to be taught on a regular basis. In what I thought was the best message of the conference, Thabiti discusses what it means to bear the image of God and how we, as Christians, need to be more explicit in doing. John MacArthur discusses the inability of the sinner to repent apart from the grace of God.

Mark Dever looks at five common mistakes from the pulpit by pastors trying to “improve” the gospel. R.C. Sproul looks at a controversial subject; i.e., the curse motif of the atonement–I thought the second best message of the conference. Al Mohler takes an academic look at the rejection of substitutionary atonement in recent years. Piper looks to the book of Hebrews to discuss how Christ will create in us a radical sacrifice. C.J. Mahaney concludes with the sustaining of the pastor’s soul–yet another quality message.

Review/Recommendation

Obviously, the charge can be brought against these men that they are all Calvinists. While that may be true, that does not mean that they are arguing against non-calvinists. Rather, they are showing how these doctrines give them an urgency to sharing the gospel in thought, word, and deed. I liked C.J. Mahaney’s comment at the conference when asked about the heresy of hyper-calvinism. His response was something along the lines of I thought hyper calvinism was just someone who got really excited about the gospel!

For those who disagree with these doctrines, then MacArthur’s chapter will not be for you. However, these messages will encourage your soul and exhort you to diligent study of the Scriptures.

I would recommend this book to anyone in pastoral ministry. As I stated earlier, you can download the messages for free and listen to them. Having attended the conference (and taking notes), I have found that reading the book is better for me as it allows me to interact a bit more with my thoughts and the thoughts of the speaker.

Finally, a reading (or listening) of Mahaney’s chapter on sustaining the pastor’s soul is a must for all in the ministry as well as those who attend church on a regular basis. Pastoral care is often not mentioned and taken for granted by many. Mahaney helps to change that.

Pennington, Jonathan T. Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009. 400 pp. $42.99. Purchase at Amazon for $32.67.

Introduction

Dr. Pennington is assistant professor of New Testament interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has numerous resources available that are an excellent aid for the student learning both biblical Greek and/or Hebrew.  His audio cd’s greatly enhanced my ability to memorize my vocab words.

Summary

Dr. Pennington begins this book challenging the premise that the phrase “kingdom of heaven” found in the gospel of Matthew is a mere circumlocution used by Matthew to avoid using the name “God” (or YHWH from the OT).  He shows when and how this thinking came to be the accepted understanding of the use of this phrase.  He next convincingly argues that this is a relatively new understanding and does not have enough support to be the explanation.

After challenging this assumption, Pennington looks to the use of “kingdom of heaven” in the Old Testament as well as Second Temple Literature.  He next turns to the use of the word “heaven” in the gospel of Matthew summing up the first half with a look to the importance of the terms “heaven” and “earth” in Matthean studies throughout the age of the church.

The second part digs deeper into the Matthew’s four uses of heaven:

• singular and plural uses in the Greek
• the word pair heaven and earth and what it has meant from the OT on through to the NT
• references to the Father in heaven and heavenly Father
• “kingdom of heaven”

Ultimately, what Pennington discovers is that reading these four uses of heaven is more than an attempt at avoiding the name of God.  Rather, Matthew is painstakingly showing the real tension that currently exists between the two kingdoms–heaven and earth.  We see the universality of God’s supremacy.  Christ becomes more exalted in the gospel of Matthew and helps us to better understand the radical nature of Christ’s ethics as found in Matthew (especially in the Sermon on the Mount).

Review

This book will not be for every Christian reading this review.  This book represents Pennington’s research for his PhD (St. Andrews, Scotland, 2005).  While its depth and breadth is certainly to be commended, his ability to write such deep theology and language interactions at a level that just about anyone can understand is even more commendable.  I recommend this book to any serious student of the Scriptures.  Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew will change the way you understand and read the gospel of Matthew.  Be careful, though, since reading this book will cause you to want to get rid of any commentaries you may own on Matthew!

I have talked with the author and have learned that he is working on a new commentary on Matthew for the Pillar New Testament Commentary Series.  Though it is not due out for some time, it is certainly a commentary that will challenge much of the current scholarship on Matthew as Heaven and Earth has done already.