Jared Wilson. The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017. 241 pp. $12.85.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love to read Jared Wilson. Why? Wilson writes like somebody you know. He does not just write like somebody you know, he actually writes like somebody you like. Wilson writes like a guy you would have a cup of coffee with, talk about life with, and be honest with. Wilson does not write like a hero. He admits his frailty and weakness. And in that honesty, he lets us see a genuine picture of a real guy wrestling day-to-day with the simple stuff of the faith.
In The Imperfect Disciple, Wilson helps us to look at basic discipleship from a realistic point of view. So many discipleship texts out there are handbooks or workbooks. So many texts out there tell us to apply these few principles, in this order, and we will be disciples. But so many of those books do not work for real people. Wilson tells us, “I tend to think that a lot of the ways the evangelical church teaches discipleship seem designed for people who don’t appear to really need it” (13). He goes on to say, “I want to write a discipleship book for normal people, for people like me who know that discipleship means following Jesus—and we know that following Jesus is totally worth it, because Jesus is the end-all, be-all—but we often find that following Jesus takes us to some pretty difficult places” (14). And I think he pulls it off. He actually writes a discipleship book for honest people.
The structure of the Imperfect Disciple is not that of a textbook. Rather, it is a walk through spiritual living in a sensible order. Wilson, through the chapters will call us to see the need to constantly preach the gospel to ourselves, to recognize that rules are not the answer, and to rely on the grace of Christ even as we work. The author challenges believers with a call to deep Bible study and prayer, but he calls us to these things for the joy of the glory of God and not for the purpose of checking items off of an accountability checklist. Wilson will show us the need to participate in genuine, honest, seriously not fake Christian community. He will wrap up the book with chapters pointing us to the fruit of the Spirit, the depth of God’s grace, and hope of how we will be transformed and completed in heaven.
In this book, Wilson does a great job of reminding us that our growth is not something we work on our own. He tells us that we cannot rely on self-help advice to shrug off sin and grow into Christ’s image. Wilson declares, “Do you know why there are a thousand fresh self-help books every year? It’s because they don’t work. We keep looking for the answer within us, as if we’ll find it in the same place as the problems” (28). The author warns, “When we turn the Sermon on the Mount—or any of Jesus’s teachings, really—into a handy compendium of pick-me-ups for spiritual go-getters, it proves we don’t get it. It proves we don’t get the gospel” (51). Again, Wilson says, “Self-help doesn’t help. My self is the problem” (148).
Do not, however, confuse the grace offered in this book with a lack of challenge. The chapters on prayer, Bible reading, and Christian community are full of strong calls to take the Christian life seriously. The author calls us to genuine fellowship by declaring, “To abide in Christ necessitates embracing the body of Christ as God’s plan for the Christian life. Abiding in Christ can’t be experienced as it’s designed to be experienced apart from abiding in the community called his very body. And the further good news is that embracing kingdom rhythms becomes easier and more sustainable when it is done alongside others” (128). Wilson also calls on Christians to put to death the false wish dreams of our lives so that we can experience the genuinely better rewards that the Lord has for us. Wilson reminds us of how easy it is for us to allow our own vision to make us miss God’s best, writing, “We all have a vision for how life is supposed to go, what life is supposed to be like—what we want and how we want it and the way we want to feel about it—but then actual life happens, and when our heart is tuned to only find joy in the dream we will never find joy, because we’ve placed it in a mirage” (183).
Jared Wilson summarizes his purpose behind his book by writing, “I wrote this book for all who are tired of being tired. I wrote this book for all who read the typical discipleship manuals and wonder who they could possibly be written for, the ones that make us feel overly burdened and overly tasked and, because of all that, overly shamed” (230). He wanted to write a discipleship book for normal people, and I think he pulled it off. And I would happily recommend this book to anybody who feels like the typical discipleship manuals only have pain to offer without actual hope or help. No, this book will not relieve you of the responsibility to work toward growth. But this book will challenge you to grow in the gospel and not by your own strength. This book will give you a realistic way to look at growing from day to day. And this book will offer you comfort as you realize that you are not the only one who does not find all the disciplines of the Christian life easy.
*I received a free audio copy of this work from ChristianAudio.com as part of their reviewers program. The quality of the audio book is excellent, as are all the books I have heard from this company.
*I received a free print copy of this book from Baker Books as part of a reviewer’s program in exchange for an honest review.
MacArthur – Remember and Return – A Review
John MacArthur. Remember and return: Rekindling Your Love for the Savior—A Devotional. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2016. 205 pp. $10.43.
In Revelation 2:5, the Lord Jesus calls on the Ephesian church to remember the love that they once had for him and to repent, returning to that love. Two verses later, Jesus promised those believers who would return to him as their first love a great, heavenly reward. For all who know the Savior, there is a need for us to, from time to time, refocus our hearts on the glory of the Savior whose gospel we proclaim.
In Remember and Return, John MacArthur writes to call believers to return to their love of Christ. He attempts this task by writing a month-long, daily devotional for believers to help us to remember who the Savior really is and to reignite our spiritual love of our Lord.
This little devotional book is a very accessible, very readable devotional. The daily readings are around six pages of text. Most people could easily read through those pages in just a few minutes. Yet the concepts in each little chapter are certainly deep enough to call us to do some intense thinking about Jesus.
In many ways, this little book is a Christology, a theological study of the person and work of Jesus Christ. In each chapter, Dr. MacArthur highlights a theologically significant point about Jesus and calls us to consider that point in the light of our lives. Whether these points be the incarnation of Jesus, his sinless perfection, or another aspect of the biblical revelation about Jesus, each passage points the reader to an important and solid truth.
Some believers will have a criticism of this book simply due to its theological nature. Unlike many daily devotionals, this work by MacArthur is not an emotionally driven writing. For some who are more accustomed to less intellectual and more emotional daily readings, this book may feel dry. I would argue, however, that the dryness is not something that is the fault of the author so much as it is a symptom of modern Christianity’s fascination with warm emotional texts above solid truths of the faith.
I would happily recommend Remember and Return to Christian readers at all stages of Christian growth. The doctrines in this little book are solid. Very seldom does this book wade off into any area that would be considered controversial by a biblically-minded Christian. The book is helpful. Though, as I mentioned earlier, the content is not playing on the heart strings so much as it is a mental refresher on the glories of the Savior.
I received a free copy of this book from Baker Books as part of a reviewer’s program in exchange for an honest review.
Living in the Light – A Review
John Piper. Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power. Purcellville VA: The Good Book Company, 2016. 144 pp. $11.00.
John Piper has always had a knack for helping believers to biblically view the important issues of life in the light of God’s glory. In Living in the Light, the latest of his books, Piper shines the light of the word and glory of God on the significant issues of money, sex, and power. As he unpacks these important areas in the lives of believers, he shows how each can be destructive if approached from a man-centered worldview or a great blessing when approached with the glory of Christ at the center.
This offering from Piper is wonderfully readable and mature. Unlike some of his earlier works, Piper is able to write to his audience as a retired pastor. His language is simpler than in some of his more scholarly works, but his counsel is profound, loving, and timeless. He is able to approach the topic of sexuality with an honest maturity—clear and real without ever being salacious or prudish—that is so often lacking in modern works. Piper very clearly helps his readers grasp how the gifts that God gives us can be treasures for displaying his majesty and bringing us joy or they can be destructive icebergs that can bring shipwreck to our lives. The book offers solid counsel for believers for being sure that our focus is right so that we can deeply enjoy money, sex, and influence without allowing them to do us harm.
I would happily recommend Piper’s work to any sincere believer. This book could be a great tool for a discipleship group or small group Bible study. The only caution that I would give is that leaders must recognize that, since sexuality is one of the topics, the study requires a level of maturity to be present.
I received a free audio copy of this book from ChristianAudio.com as part of their reviewers program. The recording of this work is of the highest quality, as are all of the books sold by this company.
Unparalleled – A Review
Jerad C. Wilson. Unparalleled: How Christianity’s Uniqueness Makes It Compelling. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2016. 240 pp. $14.99.
What exactly is it that makes Christianity different from every other world religion out there? Why would I think of Christianity in any category different from atheism, Islam, or some other belief system? In Unparalleled, Jared Wilson mingles thoughtful philosophy with biblical encouragement to help show his readers why Jesus really is vastly different than any religious leader and Christianity is unique among the world views.
In this work Wilson addresses a variety of things that make Christianity unparalleled. Whether it is simply the fact that God is a person, that God is triune, or that Jesus is God, the author combines a wonderfully readable tone with sharp reason and biblical thinking to show his readers the differences between the Christian faith and all other ways of thinking. Wilson helps us consider the identity of God, the brokenness of humanity, Jesus—his deity and his resurrection—and the eternal destiny of people along with many other valuable topics in his presentation. He combines solid biblical study with very relatable life stories to make this book quite useful and easily readable.
I have always loved the writings of Jared Wilson. He presents in everything he writes a sweet picture of the grace of God. He certainly never compromises in his communication about our sin and need of a savior, nor does he compromise in his call for Christians to obey the call of God. At the same time, Wilson understands that we will never obey our way into heaven and we cannot earn our way into the favor of God. Wilson writes well in a way that will both challenge and encourage believers.
I also believe that this work would be a great resource for Christians to use in ongoing discussion with friends who are not sure about the faith. The ten chapters of this book could each be used as very helpful discussion guides to show a non-believer just what Christianity is all about.
I received a copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for my writing of an honest review.
The Real Heaven – A Review
Chip Ingram and Lance Witt. The Real Heaven: What the Bible Actually Says. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2016. 192 pp. $12.99.
Heaven is a popular topic, and it has been for a while now. With books and movies depicting journeys beyond and back again as well as depictions of angels, it is no wonder that people are fascinated by the topic.
Of course, far more important is the fact that God created humans for eternity. We need to know what happens to us and our loved ones after death.
The Real Heaven is a new, accessible work that helps to put the importance of knowing about eternity in its proper place. The authors work to help answer important questions about what happens after we die, what heaven will be like, and how can we be sure we are going there.
On the positive side, this book is a helpful reminder of the fact that we exist for eternity. God has created us for far more than this earthly life. The authors also point out the significant truth that heaven is not some sort of cloudy, harp-playing existence that nobody really wants to experience. Instead, they accurately show that heaven, the final heaven, will be God with us on a recreated earth. I applaud the clarity of the authors in declaring that we only go to heaven when forgiven by God by grace through faith in Christ.
By means of a caution, the authors of this book clearly write from one point of view regarding end times events and their order. This book presents a very standard, dispensational, pre-tribulational view of how the end times will work out. For some readers who have a differing eschatological view regarding the tribulation or the millennium, the lack of any acknowledgement of an alternative view in this work could be off-putting.
My recommendation of this work is cautious. I certainly believe that this book has much to recommend it regarding our need to think eternally and to actually look forward to and long for heaven. At the same time, the lack of mention of alternative views to some frequently debated positions such as dispensationalism and predestination leave me unimpressed. Obviously, a person who holds positions in agreement with the authors will likely enjoy this work. Those who disagree with the authors will struggle.
In general, I recommend Heaven by Randy Alcorn as a more thorough look at the afterlife. However, in fairness, Alcorn’s book is twice as long as Ingram and Witt’s, and thus it may not be an apples to apples comparison.
I received a free audio copy of this book from ChristianAudio.com as part of their reviewers program. As always, the audio quality of the product is excellent.
The Heart of Revelation – A Review
J. Scott Duvall. The Heart of Revelation: Understanding the 10 Essential Themes of the Bible’s Final Book. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016. 224 pp. $12.44.
It is a joy to read a book on Revelation that is neither a commentary nor a fantastical fiction but actually a helpful and thoughtful volume. J. Scott Duvall has given us such a work in the recently released The Heart of Revelation.
Unlike many books on the Bible’s final book, The Heart of Revelation is a thematic study. The author works through ten key themes that are prominent in the book. These themes include God, worship, the people of God, the Holy Spirit, our enemies, the mission, Jesus Christ, judgment, the new creation, and perseverance.
What is lovely in this book is the author’s simple presentation of difficult topics. Duvall offers clear and sensible explanations for themes and characters that could both have been present in the first century and which could be still to come.
What is even more helpful in this book is the author’s ability to demonstrate how the themes and promises in the book of Revelation are helpful to the present-day church. Duvall shows the church how God’s word in Revelation applied to the persecuted first century church, the church throughout history, and the present and future church. This is no study stuck in AD 70 or in a possible future; it is a study of a helpful and beautiful book of the Bible that shows us Jesus and encourages us to live for his glory regardless of the age in which we read it.
I would happily recommend this book to pastors and church members. It would work well for a thematic group Bible study or for personal encouragement. I especially would hold this book up to those who are frustrated and tired of eschatological wrangling. This book is going to be helpful as it shows us how the book of Revelation offers strength and courage to a church living in an age when Christianity’s popularity is waning.
I received a free copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review.
The Whole Christ – A Review
Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters. Wheaton: Crossway, 2016. 256 pp. $19.32.
How do we balance an understanding of the grace of God with a call to proper obedience to Christ? How do we find genuine assurance of salvation? Who has worked through these questions before and how can their experience help us today? In The Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson helps answer these questions and many more with great depth and insight.
It is good for Christians to read books on theology. It is good to read books on church history. In this case, we find both in a very readable and fascinating volume. The Marrow Controversy of the early 18th century is the background for Ferguson’s discussion of issues related to the grace of God, the law of God, legalism, and antinomianism. And, even if none of those words mean a great deal to you, any Christian will find a lot to learn in these pages.
To me, perhaps the greatest points in the book are the balance Ferguson weaves between law and grace. The author does a fine job of demonstrating to his readers how obedience earns us nothing while at the same time declaring that obedience is the heart’s response to grace. The author also shows us how a genuine assurance of salvation is based fully on the truth of the person and work of Christ and is not based on our ability to self-evaluate.
Readers who pick up this book need to be ready to dive deep into gospel, into grace, into theology of law, into issues related to assurance of salvation, and into the history of the Marrow Contraversy. However, those who are willing to work through these heavy topics will find some very encouraging and helpful truths to apply.
I received a free audio copy of this work as part of ChristianAudio’s reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. The audio version is one of the best read books I have received from ChristianAudio, a group which always puts out fine quality.
Do More Better – a Review
Tim Challies. Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity. Minneapolis, MN: Cruciform Press, 2015. 120 pp. $8.85.
Tim Challies is a well-known Christian blogger and author. His web site is a great source of information, encouragement, and resources. In his latest work, Challies has taken on the task of helping believers to address, from a godly mindset, the important issue of personal productivity.
I found this book to be solid in a variety of areas. First, Challies has presented productivity, not simply as a business strategy, but as a means of being a good and God-honoring steward of life. The author focuses his readers on the goal of being productive in order to do as much good as we can for others for the glory of God. This is a noble and biblical desire, and not one that is overlooked even though the book is highly practical.
Speaking of practicality, this book, unlike some books that simply spew forth generalities of getting organized, offers one, clear, simple system of personal productivity. Challies offers very clear steps for seeing what are our areas of responsibility, developing project and task lists, managing our schedules, collecting data, and reviewing our system. Also, Challies is not afraid to recommend to his readers specific web sites and apps to use in order to do the things he is suggesting. It is nice to have an author actually tell me that he likes Evernote or Google Calendar instead of telling me to pick from the hundreds of options out there. However, he also shares other options for those who for some reason do not want to use his suggestions.
Of course, as a book published by Cruciform Press, this work has another positive feature that we must not overlook: brevity. Cruciform Press books are all short, readable, and useful. Challies has done a great job of saying quickly and clearly what many other authors have written volumes attempting to accomplish. This work is something that a person could read in an afternoon, and yet rich enough to be very helpful if implemented.
The weakness of this book is actually a part of its strength, its brevity. Because this work is so short, simple, and practical, there is only one system that Challies presents. There are not a lot of extra chapters for nuances. Instead, readers will have to take the counsel Challies offers and adapt it to their own unique life circumstances.
I would happily recommend Do More Better to any Christian who desires to better organize his or her life. This system will be a helpful tool for pastors or others in the workplace. This book will also be useful to stay-at-home moms who want to better get a handle on all the tasks that their unique and treasured role requires. Thoughtful students would also be helped by taking advantage of this God-honoring system of productivity.
Note: I received a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for the posting of an impartial review.
What We Believe – A Review
R. C. Sproul. What We Believe: Understanding and Confessing the Apostles’ Creed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2015. 224 pp. $13.00.
R. C. Sproul is a household name among reformed evangelicals, and perhaps simply among evangelicals. For years, his books have encouraged, challenged, and at times provoked reformed and non-reformed believers alike. Whether readers are of Sproul’s theological persuasion or not, his works are valuable, rational, and clear.
In this 4th edition of What We Believe, Sproul rereleases one of his foundational books on the basics of Christian doctrine. Formerly released as Renewing Your Mind, this work is a systematic and sequential walk through the Apostles’ Creed.
As I read this book, I found myself encouraged by Sproul’s simple and clear handling of theological concepts such as faith, trinity, Christology, and the church. Since we were in the Christmas season as I read this, I particularly found Sproul’s treatment of the importance of the virgin birth of Christ and the proper view of Mary to be solid reminders of valuable truths.
I also found this writing to be one of Sproul’s most gentle. He certainly does not compromise on any theological truth in the work. Yet, he is not riding any personal, theological hobby horses. For example, though Sproul’s eschatological views are strong enough for him to have written an entire book, he did not use this work to insert any of his nuances into the affirmation that Christ will return.
What We Believe would make a fine book for use in Bible study, either home-based or Sunday School. It is simple, but the truths in this book are foundational. It is Sproul, so the occasional Latin phrase will work its way into the text, but the concepts are still quite readable and understandable for people who come to the book from a variety of backgrounds.
Note: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher.
More than Conquerors – A Review
William Hendriksen. More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (75th Anniversary Commemorative Edition). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015. 240 pp. $17.00.
William Hendriksen (1900-1982) was a scholar, pastor, professor, and author whose works still hold a valuable place in the lives of ministers everywhere. His series of new testament commentaries are a valuable part of a minister’s commentary library. Hendriksen’s writing is known for its clear presentation and skill in the biblical languages handled simply.
In More Than Conquerors, Hendriksen offers an interpretation of the book of Revelation. This work is not a scholarly commentary. Rather, it is an easier-to-grasp treatment of one of the New Testament’s most difficult works. In this work, Hendriksen constantly sounds the theme of Christ’s victory and the hope of believers who are living in a persecuting world. And, in this work, the author avoids diving deep into controversies regarding eschatology.
Readers of this work will find a well-written, God-honoring, Scripture-treasuring, hope-filled look at Revelation. The analysis of the book is full of important historical detail as well as biblical exegesis. The work also contains a wealth of personal and hopeful application. I found all of these particularly helpful as I read.
Another aspect of the book that I found helpful was its lack of futuristic focus. Many books on Revelation are over-occupied with developing potential future timelines and spelling out expectations of how the end times might wrap up in our modern world. Hendriksen avoids this common tactic, and instead writes to encourage the church of any generation.
What I just said I applaud in this book is also something that others will find to be a weakness. For those who are looking for a book to settle a millennial eschatological position, this will not be the work. Hendriksen writes from an amillennial view, believing that the thousand year reign of Christ in Revelation 20 is figurative of the progress of the church during the present church age. He views the different visions of the book of Revelation as different facets or presentations of the story of the church age rather than a progressive picture of intensifying judgments. And while these are very important interpretive decisions that Hendriksen makes, he makes them quickly and without a great deal of treating with other views.
Regardless of one’s particular and personal eschatological position, this work is still a very helpful look at Revelation. Readers may or may not be convinced of Hendriksen’s interpretation of the four horsemen, of the trumpet and bowl judgments, or of the woman called Babylon. However, it is valuable for us to give thoughtful consideration to his views, as Hendriksen is no theological and historical lightweight. I am personally not convinced of all of his interpretations, but I am greatly encouraged by his overall handling of the book and his presentation of the hope that the church can cling to while living in a hostile world.
This book would be an excellent addition to any pastor’s library. It is also the kind of book that any thoughtful lay person can read through and benefit from. For those who agree with Hendriksen’s eschatological view, this book will offer a well presented and helpful picture of that view. For those who disagree with Hendriksen, this book will offer a valuable look at a thoughtful presentation of an alternative view which cannot be simply shrugged away.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
Pastor Travis Peterson 