Book Blurbs: October 2023

The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (published by The Banner of Truth Trust, 2010). 224 pages. A book about the freedom from the slavery of sin and not Christian liberties. This book came to me at a providential time when I was preaching through Romans 6-7 and explaining to my congregation what it means to be set free from the law of sin and death. It explains our orientation to sin as new creations. It helps us understand what it means to live with sin warring on our heart and soul. If you aren’t a fan of Purtian-styled writing, you probably won’t appreciate the nuggets of truth in this book but if you like being challenged with some old English and good theology, read this book. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine Through the Eyes of the Puritans by Mark Jones (published by Moody Publishers, 2022). 204 pages. My new favorite book in hamartiology (the doctrine of sin). Weaved throughout this systematic look at sin are thoughts from a variety of Puritans. It’s a book showing “the sinfulness of sin” but also a book showing the promised victory we can have over sin. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Rescue Plan: Charting a Course to Restore Prisoners of Pornography by Deepal Reju and Jonathan D. Holmes (published by P&R Publishing, 2021). 241 pages. Most books I read on pornography talk about why it is wrong and then give some generic applications (e.g., flee it or don’t gratify the flesh), but this book gets very specific about strategies against this sexual sin. This book and Heath Lambert’s book (Finally Free) are the two resources I will primarily recommend for those battling lust and other forms of sinful sexual desire. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Are You Living the Good Life? Randy Alcorn (published by Tyndale House Publishers, 2019). 84 pages. Alcorn has written other books about money or financial stewardship. This short booklet may be covered in other books, but I didn’t check. More of a devotional, this book is a series of chapters (2-3 pages in length) that are applications of single verses throughout the Bible about money and what should make Christians truly happy. If you have other books on this subject by Alcorn that are lengthier in nature, I don’t see a need for you to buy and read this book. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Sinfulness of Sin by Ralph Venning (published by The Banner of Truth Trust, 2021). 333 pages. This is not a complex book about sin, but it is dense. If you haven’t read Puritan-style writing, this may not be the book to “cut your teeth with,” but if you are willing to read through it slowly, the riches to uncover in this book on hamartiology is worth it. I cannot think of a topic related to sin that Venning leaves out. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Preaching and Hearing God’s Word by James Coates (published by G3 Press, 2022). 94 pages. If you haven’t read Ken Ramey’s Expository Listening, read that book first. And then, this one by Coates, will be a good “sequel.” Coates’ book helps us understand the relationship between preacher and listener. Both are important for the Spirit’s sanctifying work of ministering His Word to us. This short book is filled with brief exhortations to be a better preacher and a better listener and how to do that. BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

Musing on God’s Music: Forming Hearts of Praise with the Psalms by Scott Aniol (published by G3 Press, 2023). 228 pages. I bought this book to better understand some recent controversial tweets the author made about worship that I didn’t quite understand. However, this book is more about how to approach the psalms interpretively and culturally. It was quite helpful. The author makes a strong case for the thematic sorting of chapters into 5 books. He also contends that the reason Psalm-singing has declined in the modern era is because of a lack of understanding how the Psalter is structured. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

What Does the Bible Teach About Transgenderism? by Owen Strachan and Gavin Peacock (published by Christian Focus, 2020). 163 pages. A helpful read on a divisive issue. The church is still catching up on equipping its people to handle speaking to this truth in love. Filled with examples of practical suggestions for conversations with those seeking to change their gender, you can feel confident that you will be well-equipped for handling these fragile dialogues.  BOOK RATING: 10 out of 10 stars.

All Things for Good by Thomas Watson (published by Banner of Truth Trust, 1986). 127 pages. This is a lengthy exposition of Romans 8:28, as you might guess from the book title. Some chapters may seem not as clearly connected to Romans 8:28 as other chapters, but as I have said before, this is s a good Puritan to “cut your teeth with” if you are looking to read some Puritans for the first time. BOOK RATING: 8 out of 10 stars.

Mindscape: What to Think About Instead of Worrying by Timothy Z. Witmer (published by New Growth Press, 2014). 180 pages. Philippians 4:7-8 is one of the most important “fighter verses” to give to those struggling with anxiety and worry, and this book unpacks those 2 verses. Each chapter takes another adjective in those verses (e.g., “whatever is true,” “whatever is pure,” etc.) and explains in detail how to think those ways. And each chapter ends with some discussion questions, which makes it a helpful resource for counseling or small groups. BOOK RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Pursuing Peace: A Christian Guide to Handling Our Conflicts by Robert D. Jones (published by Crossway, 2012). 208 pages. There is a much better book on being a peacemaker – Ken Sande’s book The Peacemaker. This book is lacking. It is hard to understand at times and doesn’t give the practical suggestions for resolving conflict that Sande’s book does. I would recommend buying Sande over Jones. BOOK RATING: 7 out of 10 stars.