Book Review: Biblical Preaching

I just finished reading “Biblical Preaching” by Haddon Robinson.  I really, really liked this book because it helped me evaluate something that I do alot of – Preach. I like his emphasis on letting the text dictate the message and simply working to be “a voice for the text.” 

I also appreciated his explanation of how to go about understanding God’s message and giving that in a message.  He also does not stop with just instruction on sermon preparation but also with sermon delivery.  I hope you will get a copy and let this book help you in your preaching.

Book Review: The Art of Personal Evangelism

 The Art of Personal Evangelism by Will McRaney, Jr. is a really good book on evangelism.  He gives great insight into God’s involvement, our involvement, the essentials of the gospel, how to communicate the gospel to those inside and outside your context, coversation tips, and how to remove barriers in evangelism.  I highly recommend this book.  I think it is a very balanced work on evangelism.  It has a good Biblical basis as well presents many practical ideas.

Book Reviews

 

I am doing some further education, which has required me to do quite a bit of reading, so I wanted to write some short reviews about some of the books.  Although, I do not endorse everything written in the books, there is much that we can learn from them.

The Unexpected Journey by Thom S. Rainer is a very inspiring book that looks into the salvation experiences of thirteen different people from very diverse backgrounds, such as Atheism, New Age Movment, Black Muslims, Satanism, Mormanism, Wiccan Paganism, Hinduism.  At the end of the book, Thom gives some lessons that we can learn from the stories of these people who journeyed from other gods to faith in Jesus Christ.

Concentric Circles of Concern by W. Oscar Thompson is a practical book that equips Christians to share their faith through the relationships they have with various circles of people.  I really liked how Mr. Thompson gives practical steps to identifying and reaching the unsaved we have contact with on a regular basis.

Family to Family by Dr. Jerry Pipes and Victor Lee is a book the helps families know the practical steps of working together to fulfill God’s purposes for the family and pass them on to the next generation and to others around them.  You will really enjoy the inspiration and ideas given in the book for focusing your family on God’s plan.

Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay challenges and equips every Christian with the motivation and tools necessary to effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people from all backgrounds and belief systems.  The five questions that William gives in the books to help you start spiritual conversations have proven to be very effective in my personal life and for others in the churches here. 

Radically Unchurched by Alvin Reid a book that gives us a very thorough profile of the radically unchurched and a workable plan to reach them.  I really liked Alvin’s desire to reach the unreached without compromising Biblical truth.

 

Cross Cultural Servanthood by Duane Elmer is a book that gives perspectives, delineates processes, and extends challenges to the servant of God who attempts to reach across cultural lines with the gospel and the Word of God.  I really wish that I would have read this book a long time ago before trying to cross cultural lines.  It has revived my desire to listen to and serve those in other cultures.

 

Book Review: It’s Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men

I started a short book of 117 pages a long time ago and just finished it today at lunch.  It is a book that I got at a Businessmen Committed to World Evangelism luncheon several years ago, written by S. Truett Cathy called “It is Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men”.

Though a short book, it is brimming over with heart-stirring stories and powerful quotes.  Let me give you just a few quotes:

• Every child I know who overcame long odds and grew into a responsible adult can point to an adult who stepped into his or her life as a friend, a mentor, and a guide.
• [Children] don’t need an adult – especially a parent- to be another buddy.  They need someone they can look up to with respect.
• One of the best ways to teach children respect for authority is to model our own adherence to the chain of command.
• How do you know when a child needs encouragement? If he or she is breathing.
• There’s no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.
• Giving is a muscle.  To be strong, you have to exercie it and grow as a person. – Charlie Jones
• You can’t really enjoy anything without sharing it. – Charlie Jones
• Don’t waste time looking for a better job.  Do a better job and you’ll have a better job. – Charlie Jones

Book Review: Let Me Die In Ireland

I just finished reading a book called “Let Me Die In Ireland: The True Story of Patrick” by David Bercot. 

David does a good job of trying to give a realistic account of Patrick’s life based upon the limited amount of information available.  According to Bercot, “our only genuine sources of historical information about Patrick are the two brief writings he has left us: his Testimony and his letter of excommunication to the British king, Coroticus.”

The book is written in narrative format based that makes it enjoyable and easy to read.  The book is a good insight into what Patrick’s life was like, how God used Him, and what one man wholly surrendered to Christ and His Word can be used of God to accomplish.

From this book I came away with the understanding that Patrick (often called “St Patrick”):

• Was a born again Christian who believed in salvation by grace through faith.
• Believed in baptism by immersion after salvation.
• Believed in the authority, inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture.
• Believed in the necessity to submit ourselves complete to the Word and will of God.
• Believed in the power of prayer. 
• Believed in carrying the gospel to the lost regardless of persecution and danger.

Book Review: Hope for the Separated

 

I just finished reading “Hope for the Separated: Wounded Marriages Can Be Healed” by Gary Chapman.  In the book, Gary deals with:

• Taking constructive actions while separated in regards to your own personal life, your relationship with God, and your relationship with your mate.
• Loving one another while separated through kindness, patience, and all the other attributes of charity listed in 1 Corinthians 13.
• Handling loneliness, bitterness, reconciliation, and even divorce, if it comes to that.

I liked the book for several reasons:

1. It dealt with real-life problems.  Often, we paint idealistic pictures of marriage that often are very far removed from where the average marriage is.  I think that Gary gives alot of help to any couple who want to improve their marriage whether they are separated or not.
2. It gave very practical advice.  Gary takes the teachings of the Bible on love and explains how that love could look in a marriage.
3. It offers hope.  When there are marital problems, it might be possible for a couple to lose hope and resign themselves to divorce, because divorce is so common and seen as just a part of our society.  This book encourages hope, gives reasons to be hopeful, and practical ideas for how to put your marriage back together with God’s help.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book.  With only eleven chapters and 119 pages, it is a short book.   It will be a blessing to anyone who is contemplating marriage, wants to improve their marriages, or desires to heal a wounded marriage.