Christian Book Notes

Spader, Dann.  Walking as Jesus Walked – making Disciples the Way Jesus Did.  Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011.  192 pp.  $16.99.  Purchase at Amazon for less or for Kindle for only $1.99.

Introduction

Dann Spader is founder and director of Sonlife Ministries, an inter-denominational ministry dedicated to raising up leaders to be disciple makers in order to equip the next generation of leaders to do the same.  He has more than twelve years of pastoral care experience as well.  You can read more about this work at WalkingAsJesus.com.

Summary

This is not a book to read as much as it is a book to study.  To that end, it is divided into a 5-day a week, 10-week study.  Each week has a “getting started” section that introduces the primary topic for the week’s study.  Each day is introduced with a story that builds into the lesson what has already been learned and what will be discovered that day.  There are verses of Scripture to look up and questions to answer specifically about disciple making.  Each day ends with a section “for deeper reflection” which helps to further drive home the lesson.

Review

As studies go, this work is well-written.  It is driven by Scripture and not by man.  Sure there are stories and such, but, the points that are made come straight from Scripture.  There are many blank lines in the book which shows that that reader must wrestle and interact with the Scripture passages being discussed.  Each lesson takes as much time as you want to put into it.  The lessons are written with a purpose and by the end of the 10-week study, you will have learned what it means to be a disciple-maker from a biblical perspective (is there any other perspective?)

Recommendation

If you are wanting to study this subject, the Kindle edition for $1.99 is a great place to begin.  There is a movement afoot in the church to focus on disciple-making, this resource should certainly be added to the list of acceptable works to that end.

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.

Mohler, R. Albert.  Words from the Fire.  Chicago:  Moody Publishers, 2009.  201 pp.  $22.99.  Purchase at Westminster Books for $14.94.

Review

Too many Christians today feel as though they need not regard the Ten Commandments as binding.  Many believe that the Ten Commandments are useful insofar as evangelism is concerned.  After all, only those apart from Christ will be held accountable for there deeds and those are going to be judged against God’s commands, right?  Dr. Mohler argues that the Ten Commandments are just as binding on the New Testament Christian as they were the Old Testament Jew.

He writes with passion and conviction as he rightly divides the application of the Ten Commandments for the Christian today.  In looking at each Commandment individually, Dr. Mohler explains how the underlying message, the root of each commandment either teaches how we are to relate to God or how we are to relate to one another. Along the way, the reader will be challenged to discard unbiblical understandings of the application of the Ten Commandments and may very well learn just how much we have been sinning in our conversations about what God is doing in our lives, our worship to him, our use of the fifth commandment with our children, etc.

With every commandment explained and understood biblically, Dr. Mohler’s words will pierce to the heart and lead you to the cross of Christ where we can find true righteousness.  If you call on the name of Christ, you need to read this book.  It will show the magnificence of what He has done for us in dying for our sins (and oh are there many!) afresh.

You can listen to the sermon series that was the basis for this book by clicking on the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s resources web page.  (The current first sermon on this list is not part of the series by R. Albert Mohler.)