I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a few books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers by T. David Gordon. Gordon wrote this book while completing “fairly severe” treatment for stage III cancer. He thought, “Before I die, I must express my opinion on this subject.” The subject is what Gordon calls “an ordinarily impoverished pulpit.” He believes “the average Christian family in the average pew in the average church on the average Sunday” suffers from less than mediocre preaching. The book’s polemical tone will be off-putting to some, but Gordon’s arguments are unique and merit attention. As a media ecologist, Gordon believes the pulpit’s decline is linked to our society’s evolution from being a language dominated culture to an image dominated culture. Fewer and fewer pastors read carefully and write critically, and are therefore ill-equipped to adequately deal with linguistic realities of preaching. Not every reader will agree with Gordon’s prognosis of modern preaching, but his argument needs to be heard.

Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Rewrote the Hymnal by T. David Gordon. Gordon followed his book on preaching with one on worship music. The main thesis of this work is that contemporaneity has become the primary criteria for deciding what song is sung in an average worship service. I think Gordon largely succeeds in showing how contemporaneity, alongside the ubiquity of pop music, has rendered many contemporary liturgies inert and transcendent-less. This book is intentionally more descriptive than prescriptive, which is helpful as it reduces the bite of Gordon’s often polemical tone. Chapter 12 on “Strategic Issues” is worth every pastor’s consideration. Much like my final thought on Why Johnny Can’t Preach, not every reader will agree with the thesis of Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns (contemporaneity being detrimental to biblical liturgy), but the argument is sufficiently cogent to merit attention.

The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Rick Phillips. I reread this book in preparation for a monthly men’s meeting we have at our church and I was reminded afresh why TMM is my favorite book on biblical masculinity. Phillips sees Genesis 2:15 as paradigmatic for godly masculinity; “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” These two verbs (work and keep) are subsequently expounded and applied to virtually every area of a man’s life. Phillips’ past career in the military ensures the book is sufficiently strong in tone, and he successfully corrects the errors of John Eldridge’s Wild at Heart in a mere two pages. His chapters on marriage and parenting are the best, filled with lifelong wisdom.

Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler. For several years a friend has told me to read Cussler and it wasn’t until last week that I actually got around to it. Spartan Gold,  the first volume in Cussler’s “Fargot Adventure” series, is a breezy collision of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. The plot is predictable, but the pages still turn quickly. If formulaic fiction is your cup of tea, Cussler is right up your alley.

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon Robinson. This is a book eminently worthy of consideration. Preachers looking for a theological defense of expository preaching will have to turn to Peter Adam or John Stott. Yet, the lack of substantive theological meat does not mean that a feast cannot still be had. There is undoubtedly a place for extended rumination on the practice of preaching; it’s development and delivery. Robinson’s work is indeed a landmark contribution to this field. His emphasis on clarity in exposition is a timely and timeless concentration. It was the apostle himself who asked the Colossians to pray that he would make clear the mystery of the gospel, for that “is how I ought to speak” (Col. 4:4). Young preachers and old preachers alike need to be consistently confronted with the imperative of clarity in preaching, and this book will challenge and encourage unto that end.

Worship by the Book edited by DA Carson. I am not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but I glad I finally did. The book largely consists of three chapters articulating worship practices from the viewpoints of an Anglican (Mark Ashton), Baptist (Kent Hughes), and Presbyterian (Tim Keller). These chapters follow Carson’s mammoth first chapter on the construction of a theology of worship. It’s is complex and clunky – he acknowledges as much on page 26 – but careful reading will be immensely rewarded as he leaves few stones unturned in defining worship according to the good book. Being a Baptist I appreciated Hughes chapter, particularly for its simplicity and historical sensibility. I find, overwhelmingly, the most common ground with Keller’s adaptation of Calvin’s liturgy as a via media between “Contemporary Worship” and “Historic Worship.” The inclusion of numerous appendices showing various resources and liturgies each tradition employs only increases the book’s value.

Does God Desire All to Be Saved? by John Piper. This is definitely more a booklet than a book, as it comes in at 66 pages. Piper doesn’t pave any new ground in the discussion on how a Reformed view of God’s election of people unto salvation is compatible with His desire that all men come to repentance. Instead, Piper puts his usual – and helpful – flair on the discussion. The crux of his argument is found in the following paragraph,

The difference between the Reformed and the Arminians lies not in whether there are two wills in God, but in what they say this higher commitment is. What does God will more than saving all? The answer the Arminians give is that human self-determination and the possible resulting love relationship with God are more valu- able than saving all people by sovereign, efficacious grace. The answer the Reformed give is that the greater value is the manifestation of the full range of God’s glory in wrath and mercy (Rom. 9:22–23) and the humbling of man so that he enjoys giving all credit to God for his salvation (1 Cor. 1:29).

Piper’s little work would be a useful resource for pastors discipling church members through this timeless discussion. Download a free PDF here.

The English Girl by Daniel Silva. This is the latest volume in Silva’s series on Gabriel Allon, the art-restorer and master Israeli spy. I appreciate Silva for being able to write an intriguing storyline void of the salacious content that often dominates the genre.  The English Girl‘s narrative wanders at times and felt predictable (it may just be that I’ve read too many of these books to be surprised anymore), but I still enjoyed this modern update of classic Cold War espionage.

I love to read. By God’s grace I am a pretty fast reader; I usually read a couple books each week. I find it helpful to summarize my thoughts on each book and I offer those thoughts in hopes that you will be encouraged to either read or pass over the given title.

Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung. DeYoung’s latest book is a exactly what the subtitle claims to be. After identifying three dangers of busyness, DeYoung proceeds to offers seven diagnoses to consider along with “one thing you must do.” I’ve seen a couple prominent reviews express various concerns with the book, but I believe DeYoung succeeds in what he sets out to do: call people to examine their state of busyness in light of Scripture. His diagnoses are wise and he correctly reminds us that “the reason we are busy is because we are supposed to be busy” (101). I do wish the final chapter on “The One Thing You Must Do” had more emphasis on public communion with Christ – he emphasizes private communion through the Word and prayer – but regular communion with Christ indeed is the one thing we must do. If one wants more practical suggestions on fighting foolish busyness, see David Murray’s “Addendum to Crazy Busy.”

The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton. First published in 1645, this book addresses the timeless issue of a Christian’s freedom as it relates to Jesus’ declaration, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). In typical Puritan fashion, Bolton pulls from this verse one overarching doctrine: “That there is a true and real freedom which Christ has purchased, and into which He has brought all those who are true believers “(19). The rest of the work is occupied with answering six questions related to the law and freedom. Bolton reveals himself to be a master of precision and distinction in regards to the thorny issues of law and gospel. He correctly understands how the Christian can be simultaneously free from and bound to the law; freed from it as a covenant, but not as a rule. Chapter 5 on “Performance of Duty” and its articulation of the “nine differences between legal obedience and evangelical obedience” is solid gold.

Preaching with Bold Assurance by Hershael York and Bart Decker. This book feels more focused on communication than preaching, which makes sense seeing that Decker developed the “Bold Assurance” brand as a corporate communication program. “The Decker Grid” (always coupled in the book with an obligatory trademark) has practical wisdom, but isn’t clearly tethered to Scripture. If one goes into this book thinking about it as being more of a guide to broader communication principeles, there is profit to be had. The final four chapters on delivery will challenge any man who stands in a pulpit to think hard about his effectiveness in communicating the Word.

North and South by John Jakes. This is the first volume in Jakes’ historical fiction trilogy on the Civil War. The value of good historical fiction is that it gives the reader a sense of life in the respective period. North and South traces the story of two families – one based in Pennsylvania and the other in South Carolina – from 1842-1861. Jakes’ ably employs a colorful cast of characters to capture the various nuanced worldviews that would lead to secession. One thing I enjoy about historical fiction is watching the author position his characters to be in the heart of key events, and Jakes manages to get characters to The Mexican-American War, Harper’s Ferry, and Fort Sumter. A fun page turner.

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen. I try to reread this book once every year because it’s just that good. Every Christian needs continual encouragement in the fight against sin and Mortification has some mighty fine fuel for the fight. Owen is a surgeon of the soul par excellence, for he cuts and heals in all the right places. The book reveals Puritan pithiness at its best; for example, “Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, to the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world,” and, “Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? You must always be at it while you live; do not take a day off from this work; always be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. This book is short, just over 100 pages, but packs a punch typical of Piper. He defines preaching as “expository exultation” and then unfolds that theme in two parts: 1) Why God Should Be Supreme in Preaching, and 2) How to Make God Supreme in Preaching: Guidance from the Ministry of Jonathan Edwards. Although originally published in 1990, the book remains a clarion call to contemporary preachers to pursue “gravity and gladness” in preaching. One of the few books on preaching that, I think, will survive in print for decades.

A Display of God’s Glory by Mark Dever. The finest primer on congregationalist polity that I’ve read. While some readers might want more detailed explanation on various congregational convictions, the book’s aim to provide the “basics of church structure” and it succeeds. A strength of the book is the emphasis Dever places on church unity as a primary aim and fruit of biblical governance. He has a masterful discussion on what issues merit congregational involvement and which issues congregations should joyfully defer to installed leadership. This is an excellent training resource for elder-led congregational churches.

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly. For better or worse (probably the latter), the majority of my fiction reading squarely falls into the “mystery/suspense/detective/lawyer” genre, a genre Michael Connelly dominates. The Fifth Witness is the most recent volume in his Mickey Haller series and Stephen King calls it, “One of the most bone-crunching courtroom dramas you’ll ever read.” I love Connelly because he steers clear of the gratuitous content permeating so many bestsellers today; mystery alone drives the story and captures the readers interest. Anyone familiar with Connelly knows he is a master of surprise endings and The Fifth Witness won’t disappoint in this area.

The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Tom Schreiner. Schreiner is one of my favorite living biblical scholars. My appreciation is not rooted in the fact that I almost always agree with his conclusions (his understanding of the millenium withstanding), but in the fact that his scholarship is marked by such devotional warmth. He argues, along the lines of Graeme Goldsworthy, for the kingdom of God being “a central theme of the entire Bible” (xiii). There is pronounced emphasis on God’s lordship in the work and I deeply appreciated his focus on how human beings, created in the image of God, are supposed to relate to their Lord and King with praise, obedience, and fear. His handling of the Old Testament narrative is stimulating. Those familiar with his New Testament Theology and Pauline Theology won’t find much new in this book’s correlative sections, but that need not be seen as a weakness. The summary conclusions and interludes woven throughout the book make it all the more useful as a discipleship and teaching resource.

Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy that is Our Strength by Bryan Chapell. Chapell’s aim is to help his readers delight in grace and employ “it to avoid the dangers of both legalism and licentiousness” (13). The work is something of a precursor (by about ten years) to the sanctification debates that peaked in “gospel-centered” circles a few years ago. While Chapell largely succeeds in his attempt to navigate between sanctification’s Scylla and Charybdis, “Holiness by Grace” is largely occupied with steering Christians away from the danger of legalism. I found the book to be longer than necessary, weighing in at 243 pages. One might say the length is due to the careful navigation required to get through the dangerous waters of law and licence, but I think it’s actually caused by undue repetition and over illustration. His chapters “Constrained by the Law of Freedom” and “What’s Discipline Got to Do with It?” are useful contributions to the contemporary conversation. Additionally, his discussion on the changing and unchanging dynamics between God and His children (196) is most helpful.

The Pastor as Scholar & The Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry by John Piper & D.A. Carson. This “book” consists, primarily, in two addresses given by the authors at a 2010 event under the same title. The book’s strength lies in a unified call for deep and clear thinking about God, but not letting such thinking be divorced from personal faithfulness or congregational edification. Carson’s discussion on reading habits is useful for any pastor or scholar. He writes, “If you can develop the habit of reading different things at different speeds, you might be wise to read some books slowly, evaluatively, and often; to read some books briskly, once but comprehensively; to skim other books to see what they are saying; to dip into still other books to see if they add anything to a discussion or merely say the same old things with a minor twist here and there” (97). Overall, this work on loving God with all your mind is worth rumination.

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey into the Christ Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. Butterfield’s story of conversion is fascinating and fascinatingly written (no surprise here, see the subtitle). I came to the book expecting an engaging narrative of one surprising conversion, but what I didn’t expect were pots of gold along the way. Take these two quotes: “Sin, when unrestrained, infantilizes a person” (108) and “There is no greater enemy to life-breathing faith than insisting on cultural sameness” (115). Throughout the book I was continually struck by God’s powerful use of ordinary pastors to bring “unlikely” converts to faith. This is a book from which anyone can profit.

Housewife Theologian: How the Gospel Interrupts the Ordinary by Aimee Byrd. I read this book in order to see if I wanted to buy a couple copies for the IDC Bookshelf at our church. Byrd’s phrase of “Housewife Theologian” is an excellent designation and, I trust, a biblical one. On the whole, Byrd’s book would be useful for any woman to read although I think it would be strengthened by a more discernible flow of argument. The journaling questions at the end of each chapter make this book a great resource for discussion and discipleship. Click here to listen to an excellent Christ the Center interview on this book.

Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God by Bob Kauflin. Every Thursday I meet with a couple guys from IDC who lead us in song each week. It is our normal practice to review the upcoming service and discuss a book related to worship/music. We just wrapped up Kauflin’s book and the work is engaging and wide-ranging. He leaves precious few stones unturned in his aim to help worship leaders “think carefully about what we do and why we do it” (19). A valuable, and dare I say necessary, read for every pastor and worship leader.

The Pastor’s Justification: Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry by Jared Wilson. I hadn’t planned on reading this book until I saw Joe Thorn call it “an instant classic.” Although it didn’t join my personal list of classics, it is nevertheless a quick and encouraging read. Wilson is a gifted writer who understands the need for pastors to continually feed from the never ending well of Christ’s grace. I found his chapters on “The Holy Pastor” and “The Watchful Pastor” to be particularly encouraging.

Indwelling Sin by John Owen. Owen’s Mortification of Sin and On Temptation are among the most influential books I’ve ever read. So it’s a bit of a mystery to me why it took me so long to read the other member of his “sanctification trilogy.” More complex and difficult (i.e., quintessentially Owen)  than Mortification and Temptation, Indwelling Sin works out the doctrine that “there is an exceeding efficacy and power in the remainder of indwelling sin in believers, whit a constant inclination and working toward evil.” Owen exhaustively covers the dominion, power, opposition, and deceit of the sin that still resides in the Christian’s heart. I found myself frightened anew by the power of sin, but comforted even more so by the Spirit’s power to overcome the enemy within.

The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash. This book was given away at T4G in 2010 and somehow got lost in my library. I recently discovered it, and how thankful I am! Ash writes, “This little book is written for ordinary ministers who preach regularly to ordinary people in ordinary places, who may dream of being world-renowned but are going to be spared that fate” (12). The book’s treasures are too many to count and surely will encouraged any pastor discouraged in the power of expository preaching. Chapter three, “Preaching that Mends a Broken World,” is worth the price of the book.

Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan’s Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws’ Bloody Reign by Stephan Talty. This title proves my wife’s assertion that my appetite for history can be ridiculous. Captain Morgan is much more than a brand of famous rumbulllion, he is one of the most notorious pirates to every wreak havoc in the Caribbean. With captivating prose Talty recounts Morgan’s stunning ascension to power and equally stunning fall from it. The fascinating details of Caribbean piracy in the mid-17th century are set against the backdrop of the Spanish Empire’s inevitable fall. Talty puts some historical meat on the Hollywood’s Pirates of the Caribbean, and the meat is quite tasty.