Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What To Do About It by Julia Duin (published by Baker, 2008). 186 pages. This book should re-subtitled “Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and We Don’t Know What to Do About it.” Like many of these books that lament people leaving the organized church, this book doesn’t offer any real solutions to what we can do to convince people to return or never leave the church. In my experience, the biggest reason people stay in a church is the experience of community, and that was not expressed strongly enough in this book. If you need a book about raw data for why and who is leaving the church, this book might helpful you. but beyond that, you will be wanting. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.
Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call for Expository Preaching by Steve J. Lawson (published by Moody, 2003). 134 pages. People are hungry for the Word, and they don’t know it. This is the author’s thesis, and I believe he is right. The problem is, as the author suggests, we go looking to feed our spiritual hunger on trinkets or stories or jokes and not from God’s living and active Word. The answer, the author claims, is expository preaching. If you read this book, you will be encouraged to intake a certain kind of preaching – expository – and you will be motivated to study the Word verse-by-verse. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.
Letters to the Church by Francis Chan (published by David Cook, 2018). 219 pages. I read this book to better understand the trajectory of the author. As a fellow-alum, I have been concerned about his evolving view of the church. What I found in this book wasn’t disturbing doctrinally but frustrating pragmatically. Chan seems to identity what is wrong with the modern church rightly but doesn’t offer solutions or ever seem to celebrate what is going right with the church. He seems disillusioned and not content with where God puts people and how He is building His church. Sometimes I wish he would just take a deep breath, be still, and thank the Lord instead of criticizing the church. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.
The Preacher’s Catechism by Lewis Allen (published by Crossway, 2018). 216 pages. For me, this book might be worth reading once a year. All I knew about this book previously to reading it was that it appeared quite often on people’s “favorite books of 2018” lists. And the book did not disappoint. What you will enjoy about this book are the short chapters that are jam-packed with pastoral wisdom and inspiration. Each chapter begins with a catechism styled question about pastoral ministry and answer to that question along with a key verse. The question and answers are going to find their way onto my wall somewhere in my church office, as they are worth reviewing. This book will feed pastors. If you are a pastor, buy it and read it. If you are not a pastor, but it for your pastor to show your care for their soul. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.
Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life by Robert D. Smith, Jr. (published by B&H Academic, 2008). 207 pages. I got to this book because Warren Wiersbe recommended it. The supposed profundity that Wiersbe and others claim was lost on me due to the frequent use of the metaphor of music (especially jazz). I am sure I missed out on a plethora of helpful lessons simply because I don’t understand chords and musical genre. I don’t recall disagreeing with the author’s conclusions about the need for doctrinal preaching, but his arguments were somewhat repetitive and laborious at times. The book is targeted towards an audience of preachers who need encouragement or reminders about the importance of keeping theology in your sermons, but I should add that if you are a preacher who doesn’t have a clue about musical theory (like me), you might find another book more helpful. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.
Portraits of a Radical Disciple: Recollections of John Stott’s Life and Ministry edited by Christopher J.H. Wright (published by IVP Books, 2011). 241 pages. This book is not a biography but a collection of tributes to John Stott. In a reading challenge I am participating in this year, I classified this book as a book about friendship, because of the warm and affectionate words that the 36 contributors had to share about their friend John. If you read this book, you will be educated about this man, but encouraged with his humility, sense of humor, clarity for teaching Scripture and hospitality. I miss John Stott, even though I never met him. His writings are profound and insightful, and this book will give you a “behind the scenes” look abut a dedicated friend of the Lord. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.
George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father by Thomas S. Kidd (published by Yale University Press, 2014). 325 pages. This is a very well written introduction to the life of one of American’s most significant figures. I say “introduction” because the classic work is a 2-volume masterpiece written by a different author. However, if you want something that is mostly accessible, this is your biography. I thoroughly enjoyed the details surrounding the tension between the Wesley’s and Whitefield, as it related to Calvinism and Arminianism and the grace that Whitefield showed to John Wesley, especially, when John wasn’t as kind to George as George was to him. You will be regularly surprised (in a good way) about what you learn about Whitefield. I came away with a similar sentiment to the author: Whitefield was a founding father of this country! BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.
The Colson Way: Loving Your Neighbor and Living with Faith in a Hostile World by Owen Strachan (published by Nelson Books, 2015). 205 pages. Chuck Colson is probably a familiar story of redemption. This once “hatchet man” for President Nixon came to know Jesus Christ before he was sent to prison for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. God led him to begin Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree, BreakPoint, and the Centurions program. Colson was committed to helping Christians understand their culture from a Christian worldview and to be salt and light. This is not the most exhaustive biography you will read about Colson, but this author’s thoughtful reflections on a faithful life of service to one’s country is worth the price you will back for the book. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.
Right Thinking in a Church Gone Astray edited by Nathan Busenitz (published by Harvest House, 2017). 249 pages. Having a Christian worldview is as important as it has ever been. This book is rigidly biblical in how it addresses church growth, Islam, homosexuality, the church’s leadership, truth, heresy, miraculous gifts, church history, missions, social justice, and holiness. The reader will be stimulated, encouraged, and provoked to think further on each issue. I commend this book for the purpose of further giving the reader hope that the Word of God is enough for all we need for life and godliness as we live in a society that works against God. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.
Worldly Saints 