Book Review: Preaching Christ from Proverbs
Preaching Christ from Proverbs by Jonathan Akin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Proverbs may be one of the most difficult books to connect with the others in terms of the Bible’s main story and, therefore, one of the most difficult books to preach Christ from. Akin offers some good help in this book. Jesus is the only wise and obedient son who blessed his Father, but he suffered as a foolish and disobedient son in order to bring foolish and disobedient sons to wisdom. This book will help if you’re trying to work through preaching Christ from wisdom literature.
Book Review: Jesus’ Crucifixion Beatings and the Book of Proverbs
Jesus’ Crucifixion Beatings and the Book of Proverbs by David H. Wenkel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent study. The format is academic but the prose is accessible. His argument got a little thin in a couple spots but his thesis is sound and defended. Wenkel pointed out the lack of Christ-centered preaching in Proverbs, and I think he is right that problems have arisen by the absence of canonical reading of Proverbs. He developed his argument patiently and his theological propositions are mostly reserved for the last chapter, but it is well worth the wait.
Book Review: My Man Jeeves
My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A good collection of Jeeves stories. I am not a big fan of the Reggie Pepper stories, though I suppose an historian must consider him canonical as a part of the Bertie Wooster origin story. A fun read as usual.
Book Review: The Beginning and End of Wisdom: Preaching Christ from the First and Last Chapters of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job
The Beginning And End Of Wisdom: Preaching Christ From The First And Last Chapters Of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, And Job by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Expository preaching in the wisdom books of the Old Testament is challenging. The wisdom books are often neglected, or used to offer self-help style tips. Preaching Christ from the wisdom books is rare. This book is like cold, fresh water in the desert. The book has seven chapters and two helpful appendices. The first six chapters are sermons–two each from Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. The seventh chapter breaks down those sermons and shows the how and why of the way they were put together.
The author gives us help on preaching Christ from the wisdom books in a concise and accessible way. O’Donnell gives a good, brief description of what preaching Christ means and explains the use of types in the Scripture. Every preacher needs to read and consider this book. It will help you.
Book Review: Candide
Candide by Voltaire
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I will have to check with the patent offices to be sure, but I don’t think anti-gravity boots had yet been invented when Voltaire (aka Francois something or other) made walking on air while mocking God look so easy almost anyone could do it. This profane ramble is a ham fisted satire including ill-fate and contrived providences to fill in the gaps. The story is basically the old atheistic theodicy argument dressed up in lipstick-on-a-pig fashion. But he faults at the start because walking on air turns out to be walking on nothing after all.
