Review: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent book. I don’t know why I haven’t read it before now. This book has been around quite a while and I have heard good things about it from many people. I wondered how these truths would be handled together as I started reading. One type of error downplays the sovereignty of God and leads to a man-centered, pragmatic approach to evangelism. The other type of error overplays the sovereignty of God and renders evangelism meaningless. Packer points out these errors and held both in a biblical balance.
The last chapter also does much to help us see how understanding God’s sovereignty motivates evangelism and helps keep us from the errors of pragmatism. The book is very readable and not long. Aside from some of the references to the Book of Common Prayer and such, I recommend it as a worthwhile read.
Review: Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary
Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary by J.D. Greear
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Given the book’s premise, I was eager to read it and wanted to really like it. Mostly I did with only a couple of complaints. First, this book is very practical and that is both good and bad. The point was to be practical and that was good, but at times the reader would have been better served by going a little deeper into the text of Scripture and providing solid foundation for the practical application. Second, some of the jokes and cultural references felt a little forced and distracting. This is mostly a stylistic issue that just didn’t work well for me. The aim of the book would have been better served without them.
So much for the grumpy Trueman-esque critique, let’s get to what was good about Greear’s book. The assertion that the Gospel is lost to many today is insightful. My experience concurs with the missionary observation that we are not dealing with Gospel hardness but rather Gospel ignorance today. That almost seems impossible. To talk about the Gospel and use terms such as Gospel-centered is trendy right now. Just look at the Christian books being published and major conferences being held where Gospel is almost always in the title. It seems we are saturated with the Gospel. Talking about the Gospel and knowing, understanding, and preaching the Gospel are not the same things. Greear acknowledges and deals with this well.
This book is not just a word to broader Christendom though. Greear has much to say to the individual Christian and our ongoing need for the Gospel. Greear’s Gospel prayer at first seemed formulaic and potentially kitschy, but as he goes through the phrases and explains them in terms of the Gospel, it is quite helpful. Whether you actually use it as a prayer or not, it will help you think about the Gospel practically.
Review: Final Word
Final Word by O. Palmer Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent book. Robertson traces the foundation and development of prophecy from the Old Testament Scriptures, demonstrating the prophecy of the New Testament to be the same gift. He focuses on the purpose of the revelatory gifts, shows that purpose fulfilled, and thus demonstrates those gifts are no longer operative nor needed. Robertson also gives a careful response to specific objections and arguments from a continuist perspective. Well worth the read to sort this knotty subject.
Review: The Flinch
The Flinch by Julien Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Not great. Not terrible. The overall message of this book is a pretty good one and somewhat helpful. It just felt like that the book could have been condensed to a blog post or article of a thousand words or less and would been more powerful. Smith has one main thing to say and the rest was cheerleading with random crudity to make the point louder.
It just didn’t work for me. You will be better served by reading “Linchpin” by Seth Godin and “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. I don’t recommend “The Flinch.”
Review: To Be Continued: Are the Miraculous Gifts For Today?
To Be Continued: Are the Miraculous Gifts For Today? by Samuel E. Waldron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good book. Waldron’s reasoning and argument are tight and compelling. He does not write in an over-your-head style. He doesn’t waste a lot of words, but gets right to the point. Consequently, this is a brief book but covers a lot of material. He deals graciously with what can certainly be a contentious subject. He deals seriously with objections and arguments the opposing viewpoint raises.
While all those are commendable qualities, I don’t think they are the main reason you should read this book. You should read this book because it deals with biblical truth in an area of much confusion, ignorance, and misunderstanding. Waldron goes back to foundational principles and considers the reason or purpose for the revelatory and confirming sign gifts. This aspect is seldom discussed when considering the continuance of miraculous gifts. Many start with asking what are the spiritual gifts, or how are they used? It’s better to start with why are the spiritual gifts? What is the scriptural purpose? Has that purpose been fulfilled? If so, would the miraculous gifts be necessary any longer?
Read it carefully and look to the Word of God.
