Category Archives: 3 Books Every Pastor Should Read

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Scripture

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to spend time with is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions can serve you in some way.

One of “The Faithful Few” (readers of this blog) mentioned I hadn’t yet put together a “3 Books . . .” post on the doctrine of Scripture. What an oversight! Here then are my terribly-too-late recommendations on bibliology.

087552527XmThe Inspiration and Authority of the Bible by B.B. Warfield. Here the Lion of Princeton roars with unusual vigor. This volume represents the mature teaching of Old Princeton’s doctrine of Scripture—a teaching which with everyone must now reckon. Greg Beale agrees when he says, “No one who is interested in this topic should leave this book unread.” Kevin DeYoung even calls The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible “perhaps the most important influential book written on the doctrine of Scripture in the past 150 years.” A harvest of truth awaits every prayerful and careful read.

0802811477mFundamentalism and the Word of God by J.I. Packer. First written in the British controversy over “Fundamentalism” in the 1950s, Packer’s message remains relevant half a century later. Packer has little time for scholarly assessments of Scripture that place man in authority over God’s word. Typically, the Anglican theological packs his volume with punch, insight, pith, and reverent exposition. One of my mentors told me, “If you only read one book on Scripture, read this one.” Tolle lege!

9780875522647mThe Doctrine of the Word of God by John Frame. Yes, Frame’s final volume in his Theology of Lordship series weighs in at over 700 pages but don’t let that dissuade you. This book is comprehensive, winsome, and illuminating. I doubt any reader will agree with every facet of Frame’s presentation (I’ve always thought his discussion on teaching/preaching the word a bit odd), but on the essential points, Frame is spot on. Perhaps the highest praise you could give to DWG is how ordinary church members can feed on it—it is that clear. Packer calls DWG “magisterial” and “pastoral.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of New Testament Books by Michael Kruger. Every pastor needs a rich understanding of canonicity and Kruger’s work is the best recent contribution.

Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me by Kevin DeYoung. When church members ask for an accessible work on Scripture DeYoung’s work is the one I recommend most often. It has yet to disappoint.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Systematic Theology

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions can serve you in some way.

I’ve held off on this post for a long time. Mostly because offering one’s opinion on a systematic theology is like wading into the heated waters of declaring which college football team belongs in the national championship. Nevertheless, it’s feels like high time to go swimming in the systematics. If ever Ecclesiastes 12:12 is true it’s in the area designated “ST.” Each year offers important contributions to the field with individual titles trying to carve out some niche to get attention. It seems utterly impossible for ordinary pastors to keep up.

In order to save us all much time in reading, and help myself along the way for this post, I’ve limited myself to one-volume systematic theologies. So Turretin is out, à Brakel stays in the bullpin, and unhappily the venerable Dr. Hodge won’t be coming out of retirement for this one.

9781848714632mInstitutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin’s Own Essential Edition by John Calvin. The famous Battles translation of Calvin’s magnum opus comes in two volumes, but thankfully Banner of Truth’s steadfast service still lets me get Calvin onto the list. This edition represents Robert White’s translation of the 1541 edition of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. Carl Trueman says, “Calvin aficionados will know that the 1539 and 1541 editions embody key structural changes and elaboration of the somewhat brief 1536 edition and stand in significant continuity with the 1559. It is also worth knowing that the French editions were often less caustic about opponents and more explicitly precise in their polemical targets than the Latin.” A spiritual feast awaits any and all who come to Calvin’s table.

PrintReformed Dogmatics: Abridged in One Volume by Herman Bavinck. If Calvin is the king of Reformed theology, Bavinck surely is The Boss. Informed readers will know Bavinck’s magisterial Reformed Dogmatics comes in four volumes, but this abridgment is worth every penny (and kudos to John Bolt for his incredible work). Here you encounter one of the greatest intellects, scholars, and systematicians Reformed theology has ever produced. Although Bavinck—for me at least—doesn’t have the same doxological quality as Calvin, his work still has unusual power in promoting piety. So good is The Boss that even though this abridgment loses some of the original volumes’ grandeur, it still beats out just about everything else. I’ve always heard Berkhof’s famous ST is really the first English language abridgement RD. So you could go with that one here, yet The Blue Pill (as we called it in seminary) is the definition of turgid.

9780310286707mSystematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem. When I was seventeen a Christian brother I greatly respected sat me down and said, “Do you want to read Grudem’s Systematic with me?” I was little more than a soccer player with tons of time on my hands, so I said, “Why not?” We each grabbed a copy and my understanding of systematics has never been the same. Although I find myself differing from Grudem as the years go by on several points I still believe this is a classic of evangelical theology. The operative words with Grudem are are clarity and humility—two things in which we can always grow. An advantage of this systematic is that it’s helpfully been distilled into a 500+ page version called Bible Doctrine, which serves as a terrifically useful discipling/training resource for those unable to work through the big one.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

9780875525778mConcise Reformed Dogmatics by J. van Genderen and W.H. Velema. If it wasn’t for the Bavinck abridgment this title would in top three. I find it tremendously undervalued. The two Dutchmen write with winsome earnestness and have even managed to use an ingenious method: some of the text is in smaller font size than the rest. Why? The regular-sized text represents information essential to the study of theology, while the smaller-sized text is for those who want to dig into more of the technical matters and debates. Some people may not prefer the formatting, but it’s more pleasing to the eye than you’d expect. CRD will satisfy students of any ability.

1596380187mSalvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology by John Frame. I could put Frame’s full-length ST in this spot, but that publication really a “Best of John Frame on Theology” type book (heavily tilted towards content from his Doctrine of God and Doctrine of the Word of God). This ST introduction is Frame at his finest—relentlessly biblically and warmly ecumenical. It also serves a layman’s intro into his well-known tri-perspectivalism. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve handed out his chapter on eschatology from Salvation Belongs to the Lord, which—I think—says something about its usefulness. This is another undervalued resource every pastor would do well to work through.

9780310330646mPilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples by Michael Horton. I wasn’t too big a fan of Horton’s The Christian Faith. I’m not on the speech-act theory train and the whole volume seemed unbalanced on many different issues. So when I heard he was publishing a second, shorter ST entitled Pilgrim Theology I figured it would be his version of what Bible Doctrine is to Grudem’s ST and thus not worth much consideration. How grateful I was to be proven wrong! Pilgrim Theology (what a great title, by the way) is more a rewrite than abridgement, and all Horton’s strengths shine through. His metaphors work, his articulation is sound, and the flow is even. If you are looking for a contemporary ST other than Grudem or Frame, this might be the one for you.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Reformation History

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might inform your book budget.

Few eras of church history are as pivotal – and interesting – as those seminal years we’ve come to call The Reformation. It was a time when bright and often bombastic personalities took the stage, forever altering the course of Christ’s church. Theological lines were drawn so deep into the spiritual sand that we are still trying to sort out all the details almost 500 years later.

One of the best ways to understand the contours of the Reformation is to read the standard biographies on men like Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, and Knox. But most of us don’t have the time or resources to work through a biographical stockpile. So, here are a few suggested books to help you better understand those turbulent, yet tremendous years.

014303538XmThe Reformation: A History by Diarmaid MacCullouch. Carl Trueman first turned me on to this excellent volume, so I will let the good doctor from Westminster try to convince you. Trueman says, “MacCulloch is one of the best Reformation historians alive and this is what I would call a brilliant, scholarly beach read—well-constructed explanatory narrative history, rooted in profound and accurate scholarship, laid out in the grand epic style. My guess is that readers wanting a good, scholarly, readable history of the Reformation—and one which will not break the bank—should buy this.”

9781433669316mThe Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation by Michael Reeves. This was one of the T4G giveaways back at the 2010 conference and my first introduction into Reeves’ ministry. Pastors need to pay attention to both. The Unquenchable Flame is, hands down, the most readable and piercing introduction into the Reformation you can find. Reeves is on his game in this one, and that man’s got game. Mark Dever seems to agree in his endorsement, “With the skill of a scholar and the art of a storyteller, Michael Reeves has written what is, quite simply, the best brief introduction to the Reformation I have read.”

9781921441332mThe Essence of the Reformation by Kirsten Burkett. This one gets a spot in the top three because of Burkett’s accessibility and the inclusion of classic works from Reformation giants like Luther, Calvin, and Cranmer. DA Carson commends this one as well, ““I do not know any book that more succinctly gets across, in readable prose, what the Reformation was about. This new edition combines Birkett’s superb text with some judiciously selected primary documents. This is a book to distribute widely among lay leaders and other Christians who want to be informed of the heritage of the gospel that has come down to us.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, Vol. 3: Renaissance to Reformation by Nick Needham. Comprehensive, free from academic jargon, and thus easy to read and digest. This is a great example of why you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover.

The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World by Stephen Nichols. I find Nichols to be one of the more underrated historians working in the Reformed world today, and this one proves it. The subtitle should give you a decent hint at the fun prose awaiting interested readers.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On the Holy Spirit

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might inform your book budget.

It’s time I rounded out the Trinitarian scope of book suggestions. Having already recommended some faithful friends on the Trinity, God, and Jesus Christ, it seems quite necessary to think about valuable works on the Holy Spirit.

0830815368mThe Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson. Many people in our time refer to the Holy Spirit as the “Forgotten God”, but Ferguson isn’t so sure. He doesn’t doubt the Spirit tends to be neglected, he just thinks a rephrasing of that neglect is in order: “While his work has been recognized, the Spirit himself remains to many Christians an anonymous, faceless aspect of the divine being.” The great man from Scotland give us a portrait of the Spirit’s person and work that is, in a word, “stunning.” He tackles all the pertinent issues with the skill and pastoral wisdom that are now “Fergusonian” hallmarks. If you get only one book on the Spirit, make it this one.

1857924754mHoly Spirit: His Gifts and Power by John Owen. I often smirk when I hear people accuse Reformed theology of minimizing the Spirit. I mean, which volumes on the Spirit have been reprinted for centuries? Those written by Reformed authors. You’d be right to employ the adjective of “timeless” to Owen’s work; it’s just that good. Reading the Prince’s original treatise had been a pricy endeavor because you had to buy volume three of his collected works. But Christian Focus did everyone in 2007 a favor by publishing an unabridged, stand alone edition. John Newton called this book, “An epitome, if not the masterpiece of [Owen’s] writings.” Amen. If you want an abridged version you could always pick up the Puritan Paperback from Banner of Truth.

HSThe Doctrine of the Holy Spirit by George Smeaton. What serves as the textbook in Sinclair Ferguson’s “Doctrine of the Holy Spirit” class? Not his own book listed above, nor the work he so loves by Owen. It’s this volume from an outstanding, and forgotten, 19th century Scottish theologian. Originally published in 1899 and brought back by Banner of Truth in 1958, Smeaton’s work is a perfect textbook on the Spirit. He handles his subject under three divisions- he treats first the testimony to the Holy Spirit, as it is progressively revealed in Scripture. Secondly, he gives detailed attention to six subjects: the personality and procession of the Holy Spirit; the work of the Spirit in the anointing of Christ; the work of the Spirit in connection with revelation and inspiration; the Spirit’s regenerating work on the individual; on the Spirit of holiness; and the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Finally, there is an historical survey of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from the Apostolic age. If you’re into e-reading, you can get Smeaton’s work free on Google Books.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God by JI Packer. A brilliant study with an unforgettable controlling metaphor: the Spirit’s ministry as a “Floodlight Ministry.” Read on to find out what the metaphor is all about.

Baptism and Fullness by John Stott. It’s amazing how Stott can so powerfully communicate important doctrines in so few pages. This work on Spirit is as good an introduction as you can find.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Jesus Christ

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might hone your book budget.

Today I want to consider resources on Christ, the one in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge reside. If we are to rightly preach Christ we must know and experience His glory. As Owen said, “On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world.”

I pray these suggestions will help you fix your gaze on the Savior seated at the right hand of God.

9781857924749mThe Glory of Christ by John Owen. Mark Jones once wrote, “There is little doubt that John Owen stands head and shoulders above his British contemporaries. It isn’t even close. Rutherford, Sibbes, Twisse, Goodwin, and Manton, for example, are mere peons compared to the man with Spanish leather boots.” Sinclair Ferguson would agree, for he says, “To read John Owen is to enter a rare world. Whenever I return to one of his works I find myself asking ‘Why do I spend time reading lesser literature?’ . . . If we can persevere with his style (which becomes easier the longer we persevere), he will not fail to bring us to the feet of Jesus.” The Glory of Christ has to be the Mt. Everest of Christology in the Reformed tradition. It is Owen’s final work, published posthumously, and represents a lifetime on meditation on the Savior he loved most. As with any Owen work, you will need careful patience. But after making it all the way through you will, I think, find yourself opened in fresh ways to the vistas of Christ everlasting glory.

0830815376m0830815325m The Person and Work of Christ.Yes, this single recommendation contains two volumes, but let me count them as one. For while publishers are free to do it, we pastors can never separate Christ’s person and work. I’ve found these volumes to be fantastically compelling; lucid argumentation with biblical/historical/theology awareness permeating each page. While you probably will not agree with every jot and tittle, Macleod and Letham will help sharpen your thinking of who Jesus is and what He’s done.

CGThe Heart of Christ in Heaven Towards Sinners on Earth by Thomas Goodwin. The great Scottish theologian Alexander Whyte said Goodwin’s work is “always so simple, so clear, so direct, so un-technical, so personal, and so pastoral.” Many modern readers might quibble with the relative ease with which Whyte could read Goodwin. I mean, if anyone can rival John Owen for prolix discourse, it’s Goodwin. But Christological piety never met so fine an exposition as it does in this classic work on Christ’s love for sinners. We need books that not only help us apprehend something of the unsearchable riches of Christ’s glory, but also those that give us Jesus’ heart for His own. I suspect, should your read this book, Goodwin’s opening up of Christ will do something mighty in your heart.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Person and Work of Christ by B.B. Warfield. The Lion of Princeton roars in this one . . . you’ll want to listen.

Christian’s Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christology by Mark Jones. How is it that an 84-page introduction to Christology gets so high on my list? Just read it and you’ll see. Jones’ work is also an excellent discipling resource.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On the Doctrine of God

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might hone your book budget.

A consultant once asked RC Sproul, “What is the most important thing you can teach to non-Christians that they don’t know they need to know?” He answered, “That’s easy, the truth about God. They know that God is (Rom. 1), but not who God is.” The consultant then asked, “Ok, what about Christians?” Sproul said, “Well that’s easy too; they need to know who God is. I think the single most important thing we need is an awakening to the character of God.”

The Ligonier man speaks well here. At some level, every theological fallacy is rooted in a false understanding of God. Therefore, a pastor needs to regularly refuel and reteach his soul in the truths about God. One great way to do this is by reading books on the doctrine of God. Here are some mighty fine places to start.

0851512550The Doctrine of God by Herman Bavinck. Magisterial is the operative word here. Bavinck dares to ascend to heights of opening-line grandeur by starting off with the simple statement of, “Mystery is the lifeblood of dogmatics.” The old Dutchman knows the doctrine of God is foundation for all Christian theology and he proceeds to expound an incomprehensibly glorious God. This one needs to be read slowly and deeply, for you will not want to miss any part of this treasure trove of truth.

9780830816507mKnowing God by JI Packer. I continue to be amazed at the stunning success of this work. In 2006, Christianity Today voted this title one of the top 50 books that have shaped evangelicals. It has sold well north of one million copies. All that for a popular presentation of the classically Reformed understanding of God. Amazing! Read to know your God better and delight in Him supremely. If you read one book on this list, I’d make it this one.

0875522637mThe Doctrine of God by John Frame. His tri-perspectivalism may drive you crazy, but don’t let his novel method overshadow what is a fantastic accomplishment. Frame has an uncanny ability to bring clarity to the most complex issues of theology and philosophy. “I seek here above all,” he writes, “to present what Scripture says about God, applying that teaching . . . to the questions of our time.” His main contention is “God is Lord of the covenant” and all our understanding of His will and ways flow out of that center. Lucid in exposition, competent in various views, and rich in pastoral application; you’ll want this one on your shelf.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Doctrine of God by Gerald Bray. Bray’s volume is one of the better entries in IVP’s “Contours of Christian Theology” series.

The Holiness of God by RC Sproul. Our worship and gospel hangs on the holiness of God. Few have done more to emphasize this central quality than Sproul. A justifiable classic.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Biblical Theology

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might hone your book budget.

A popular renaissance in the field of biblical theology came at the turn of the century. Seminaries moved to offer PhDs in Biblical Theology and countless resources on the discipline have poured out of publishing houses. The saturation of books can make it difficult for a young pastor to know where to begin. Here are a few titles undoubtedly worth your time and money.

0851514588mBiblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos. If Gabler is the grandfather of biblical theology as a theological enterprise, Vos surely is the Father of Biblical Theology. This volume is the fountainhead for the plethora of resources we’ve seen over the last few decades. Simply put, you have to reckon with the Dutchman who taught at Princeton Seminary in it’s twilight of grandeur. Vos is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but the strain on your brain will be oh so worth it.

0830814388mNew Dictionary of Biblical Theology edited by Alexander, Rosner, Carson, and Goldsworthy. Yes, this is more an encyclopedic resource than page turner, but its insights are often stunning. As IVP says, “At the heart of this work is an A-to-Z encyclopedia of over 200 key biblical-theological themes such as atonement, creation, eschatology, Israel, Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God, redemption, suffering, wisdom and worship.” A BT benchmark that ought to be in every pastor’s study.

9781842270363mThe Goldsworthy Trilogy by Graeme Goldsworthy. Paternoster did everyone a favor by bringing three excellent Goldsworthy books – “Gospel & Kingdom,” “Gospel & Wisdom,” and “The Gospel in Revelation” – into one volume. Few people have been able to better the Australian’s brilliant summation of Scripture’s storyline as “God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule.” The “Gospel & Kingdom” work is particularly helpful.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Dominion and Dynasty: A Study in Old Testament Theology by Dempster. A magnificent evaluation of how OT passages find meaning and significance within the overall story of “dominion and dynasty.”

New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New by Beale. Rightly called a “magnum opus,” this work will do for your understanding of the NT what Dempster does for the OT.

God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible by Roberts. An admitted simplification of Goldsworthy for the average church member, but it’s an excellent distillation. And a wonderful discipling resource!

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Diaries Every Pastor Should Read

Pastors and Reading

Several years ago it was a normal practice to ask Christian friends to reflect upon what things stirred their affections for God.

It was always fun to see how, in God’s creative providence, there were several things which received almost universal mention: beholding God’s glory in creation, the power of music to move the soul, and stirring effect of spiritual conversation with godly brothers and sisters in Christ.

WHAT STIRS YOU TO HOLINESS?

One wrinkle I now add to the conversation started is this: “What things stir your soul to pursue holiness?” Having your affections stirred for God and soul stirred for holiness are not mutually exclusive realities, but they are distinct nonetheless.

You know what might just be the most common thing I’m told that stirs people to pursue holiness? Reading Christian biography and the journals of mighty saints.

There is a peculiar power in reading about God’s “oaks of righteousness” from centuries gone by. And the Bible actually tells us why. Philippians 3:17 says, “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Notice that Paul doesn’t merely say keep your eyes Christ or His apostles. He says, “Keep your eyes on anyone that follows the Christ-centered apostolic example.” Here then is a principle for life: wherever you see a life lived in the ­power of Christ, according to the word of Christ, for the glory of Christ, “keep your eyes on that life.”

And that’s exactly what we get to do with Christian biography and old diaries. You can check out my previous post to see my recommendations on “Biographies Every Pastor Should Read“, so let me today suggest three diaries that will encourage you unto holiness.

3 DIARIES EVERY PASTOR SHOULD READ

9780851519548The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd edited by Jonathan Edwards. In the mid-18th century David Brainerd took the gospel to various Indian tribes in New England. His self-denial, courage through suffering, and holiness of life were the stuff of legend. He eventually crossed paths with Jonathan Edwards and even died in the Edwards home of tuberculosis. After his death Edwards edited Brainerd’s diary and journal for publication, and it created a firestorm of mission activity. Brainerd’s short words inspired such missionaries as William Carey, Henry Martyn, Robert Morrison, David Livingstone, and Robert Murray M’Cheyne in the nineteenth century and Jim Elliot in the twentieth. Edwards wrote in his preface to the diary, “In twenty-nine years David Brainerd (1718-1747) made a deeper and more lasting impression on the world in which he lived than most men make in a long lifetime.”

EdwardsThe Diary of Jonathan Edwards.I will grant I am somewhat biased on this work. Few things have been as used to God to so immediately change my life as Edwards’ diary entries. No one has yet published the diary by itself, so you’ll have to either read it online or spend some precious pennies on Volume 1 of his collected works. You’ll never regret the purchase. It’s here you will discover his famous Resolutions and find your soul transfixed by his single-minded pursuit of godliness. Edwards’ diary paints a compelling picture about the role of God’s beauty and an eternal perspective in “striving for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

0851510841mMemoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne by Andrew Bonar. The circulation of this work underscores the timeless allure of M’Cheyne. First published in 1844, within twenty-five years it went through one hundred and sixteen English editions. In 1910 it was estimated that, including translations into other languages, not less than half a million copies were in circulation. M’Cheyne’s diary is not as long as the other two, but it is has an atomic force of pithy gravity. It’s here the reader is invited into the mind and “Personal Reformation” of a man so holy that people were known to weep at just the sight of his godly countenance.

Spurgeon, in a lecture to his pastoral students, said, “Read McChyene’s Memoir, read the whole of it, I cannot do you a better service than by recommending you to read it; there is no great freshness of though, there is nothing novel or striking in it, but as you read it, you must get good out of it, for you are conscious that it is the story of the life of a man who walked with God.”

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On the Lord’s Supper

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might hone your book budget.

Today I offer suggestions on books about The Lord’s Supper. One little known truth today about the Reformation is that the Supper was the most common topic of discussion. Yep, more than sola Scripture or justification by faith. Protestants and Roman Catholics alike spilled more ink over the Supper than any other aspect of Christian faith and life.

It must be a telling test, of some kind, that few notable books on the Supper have been published in recent memory. Nevertheless, here are a couple titles well worth your time.

415WJZ0RSZL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_The Lord’s Supper: Eternal Word in Broken Bread by Robert Letham. There is a lucidity in Letham’s writing that alone makes his work worthy of your attention. The volume is brief (75 pages), but it is not short on truth for feasting. Letham breaks down the topic into four parts: 1) Biblical Foundations of the Lord’s Supper, 2) The Lord’s Supper in Church History, 3) The Supper in Reformed Theology, and 4) The Lord’s Supper in Practice. The ordering seems the most natural way to go about it and the brevity ensures the work is free from undue monotony that can plague the older works. If you read only one work, start here.

087552186Xm Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper by Keith Mathison. In many ways this book is the anti-Letham. It’s long (over 350 pages), has a funky ordering, and the liberal footnoting gives it an undeniably “academic” feel. But patient reading will be rewarded. One cannot truly understand the various views of the Supper if he doesn’t understand the mediating position of Calvin, so this is a vital read. Part 3, “Theological and Practical Issues”, I think is the most helpful part of the book. Grab a copy, diligently chip away at it, and see if your view of this means of grace is not enriched.

0875526470mWhat is the Lord’s Supper? by Richard Phillips. I suggest this booklet in P&R’s “Basics of the Reformed Faith Series” because it is probably the one your church members would most likely read . Phillips lays out “the biblical institution of this sacrament, the theological issues surrounding it, and the pastoral considerations for administering and receiving it.” The argumentation is clear, attention to Scripture sound, and care to deal with common questions commendable. A useful discipling tool.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes edited by Schreiner and Crawford. Definitely the most extensive articulation of a traditionally Baptist understanding of the supper. Like all edited volumes, some chapters are better than others, but you can pick around according to personal interest and not lose out on much of the flow.

Incarnation and Sacrament: The Eucharistic Controversy Between Charles Hodge and John Williamson Nevin by Bonomo. What is this you ask? Quite possibly the most forgotten, yet significant, ecclesiastical debate of the 19th century. It’s impossible to understand the prevailing American view on the Supper today apart from this controversy. Seriously.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.

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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Spiritual Warfare

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Every so often I recommend three books for pastors on a given topic, hoping the suggestions might hone your book budget.

Two weeks ago I read Borgman and Ventura’s useful little book, Spiritual Warfare: A Balance and Biblical Perspective, and said it “isn’t profound like Powlison’s or pointed like Leahy’s, but it is a mighty fine introduction to an always pressing topic.” Much ink has spilled on this issue of spiritual warfare, but not all of it is good. The choices for studying our striving against Satan are legion and here are the first ones I’d recommend you read:

0851511961mThe Christian in Complete Armor by William Gurnall. The Puritans discussed spiritual warfare with a biblical depth uncommon to our time and Gurnall’s magnum opus is the pinnacle. I will let three spiritual giants convince you of its value: “If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour,” said John Newton. Spurgeon wrote, “Gurnall’s work is peerless and priceless; every line is full of wisdom; every sentence is suggestive. The whole book has been preached over scores of times, and is, in our judgment, the best thought-breeder in all our library.” Finally, good Bishop Ryle offered this endorsement, “You will often find in a line and a half some great truth, put so concisely, and yet so fully, that you really marvel how so much thought could be got into so few words.”

51Phi+wriaL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks. If Gurnall is to big a pill to swallow, then I’d start with Brooks. He might be the liveliest and clearest of all the Puritan authors. Precious Remedies are offered for thirty-one different devices of Satan and then Brooks concludes with “Ten Special Helps and Rule Against Satan’s Devices.” This book will not only fuel your fighting against Satan, but also inflame your heart with zeal for your Captain.

517BwdImm6L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare by David Powlison. Unfortunately this book has gone out of print, so you’ll definitely want to grab a used copy. Back in the early 90s Frank Perretti’s novels brought spiritual warfare to mainline evangelicalism and the power encounter model became king. Most popularly advocated by Neil Anderson and Timothy Warner, the power encounter model can be summarize as a person saying, “I command you demon, in the name of Christ, to depart from him/her/it/here!” There are more nuances to be shore, but not many more. Powlison ably counters this view with what can be called a “Truth Encounter”; astute biblical interpretation and pastoral sensibility in fighting spiritual darkness. If you don’t want to fork over the cash money for Power Encounters, check out Powlison’s chapter in Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views. It will give you the general contours of his teaching.

HONORABLE MENTION

Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology by Frederick Leahy. A forgotten gem that offers clarity and concision in abundance.

Check out my past suggestions in the “3 Books Every Pastor Should Read” series here.