Book Blurbs: January 2021

Mind the Gaps: Engaging the Church in Missionary Care edited by David J. Wilson (published in 2015). 191 pages. This book came to me at a time in which I have thinking a lot about a philosophy of missions support in the local church and being more intentional about how to love those missionaries you do support. I was not as convinced with their suggestions for how to identify “successful” missionaries before they are sent to the missions field; it was too much psychology for my taste. Most churches will still gain good helps from this book, as it is filled with many good ideas for making sure that your missionaries are loved and appreciated. BOOK RATING: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Enemy in the Household: Family Violence in Deuteronomy and Beyond by Caryn A. Reeder (published by Baker Academic, 2012). 216 pages. Ever wonder about those passages of Scripture that encourage the execution of family members (Deut 13:6-11; 21:18-21; 22:13-21) for covenant unfaithfulness? This book seeks to bring reason for such legislation. By surveying those Deuteronomy passages, non-biblical documents and a few select passages in the O.T., the author will help you understand the issues at hand. It is not a book for the non-academic. It is heavy and laborious at times for the average laymen, and there may be clearer treatments of this tricky subject out there, but I received this book for free; so I read it anyway. BOOK RATING: 7 out of 10 stars.

Does God Care How We Worship? by Ligon Duncan (published by P&R Publishing, 2003). 88 pages. I am still not convinced that the regulative principle is biblical, and this book is not the strongest argument for it. Mark Dever has clearer and more compelling arguments, even though I would not agree with him either. This book takes more of a philosophical defense of the regulative principle, with references and quotations to the Westminster Confession and the reformers. I suppose this book might help some who are being introduced to this philosophy of worship, but most Christians will find better resources on the topic. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.

Thinking. Loving. Doing. A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind edited by John Piper and David Mathis (published by Crossway, 2011). 165 pages. I wish I had been at the 2010 Desiring God Conference, which is what this compilation of chapters is from. Some Christians are all heart and lack the knowledge of truth; some Christians know a lot but there is a disconnect between what they know and their love for others. This book equips the Christian for knowing and doing. The highlights for me were the chapters by Francis Chan (“Think Hard, Stay Humble”) and Rick Warren (“The Battle for Your Mind”), which are thoughtful expositions from the Corinthian letters. Very practical, very insightful, very helpful. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Power of Integrity: Building a Life without Compromise by John MacArthur (published by Crossway, 1997). 190 pages. Take a journey through the lives of 2 men who exemplified integrity: Paul and Daniel. I wish MacArthur expanded his study of the life of Daniel, because it was so rich, and he rarely exposits the O.T. My only criticism? I was confused with the last few chapters of this book. They were biblical (dealing with serving one another) but I didn’t see the connection to other parts of the book. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.

Lonely People by Warren Wiersbe (published by Back to the Bible, 1983). 88 pages. One of the things I love about this book is that it is an illustration that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). The Bible has much to say about loneliness and how to overcome feelings of isolation. Wiersbe sketches the experiences of Cain, Job, Moses, Elijah, Mary and Martha, the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, and Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the solution to your loneliness. Read this book and you will see why. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

To Preach or Not to Preach: Women’s Ministry Then and Now by William Varner (published in 2018). 137 pages. Maybe this book will be too academic for some, but I think a careful and slow read will benefit all who read it. Some very controversial questions (e.g., Was Jesus a feminist? Should women preach at the church gathering? Can women be deacons?) are answered exegetically and fairly without positioning women as inferior to me. He considers every major and minor text I can think of on the issue; so, you will not be left wanting. One more strength of the book is the author’s ability to fairly represent the egalitarian position but to graciously refute their major arguments. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Integrity Crisis by Warren W. Wiersbe (published in 1988). 142 pages. Not my favorite Wiersbe book. It started off with a bang but then dragged a bit in the 2^nd half as Wiersbe dove-tailed into the importance of parachurch ministries being accountable to their supporters. I think he must have written this book after the Jim and Tammy Faye Baker scandal with PTL, because there were many indirect references to that. If you are looking for a book on integrity, I recommend some better ones than this. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.

Biblical Preaching: An Expositor’s Treasury edited by James W. Cox (published by The Westminster Press in 1983). 372 pages. If you read this book, you will not read a book about homiletics or hermeneutics. It is a book giving insights on how to preach from different sections or books from the Bible. Every now and then, certain passages are used as examples of what kinds of themes or main points should be preached. Along the way, I picked up a few ideas for preaching upcoming sections or genres, but generally speaking, I would say this book was not as helpful as I had hoped. BOOK RATING: 6 out of 10 stars.

Walking through Infertility: Biblical, Theological, and Moral Counsel for Those Who Are Struggling by Matthew Arbo (published by Crossway in 2018). 116 pages. My wife and I have not experienced infertility or significant challenges conceiving children, so I have not had the experiences that this author shares regarding the pain and struggles for couples who do. But, as a pastor, I am learning how often this experience does occur with couples in my church, and I need all the equipping I can find for shepherding couples through this. And books like this are few in number. I would classify this book as a helpful tool for those looking for comfort and relatability. It is not a book that takes you through the Scriptures on all the question that couples might ask but serves as more of a quick reference guide to the matter. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.