Body and Soul is a refreshing book from M. Craig Barnes, a Presbyterian pastor in Pittsburgh, PA. It is an analysis and application of the Heidelberg Catechism, which celebrates 450 years in existence this year. The author provides a background for the writing of the catechism and an explanation of its components. For those unfamiliar with the catechism, the book is a wonderful introduction to it; for those more familiar, it visits the catechism in fresh light. The author provides personal application as a pastor but the book is suitable for anyone to read. The book can be read as a devotional and Bible references are provided for the catechism for further reading and study.

This book was provided to me at no cost by Amazon Vine for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Mistakes Leaders Make is Pastor David Kraft’s follow-up book to his first work, Leaders Who Last, 2010. Pastor Kraft has over 40 years of ministry experience to draw from and is well-qualified to write on this topic. There are a plethora of leadership books available today, and this book does an exceptional job of summarizing the top issues that lead to failure in leadership and ministry. The bulk of each chapter deals with a story to put the mistake in context and then concludes with the author’s principles and practices. The book does draw from a variety of secular sources as well as the Bible and one could question, “Of what real value is the principles of Jim Collins’ Good to Great for the church ministry leader?” This aside, it is a good book, and could be a first purchase for a new ministry leader or a concise “go to guide” for the ministry leader wanting to have all the material in one easy accessible location.

This book was provided to me at no cost for the purpose of review by Amazon Vine. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Creedal Imperative is an engaging and deep book by historian and professor Carl Trueman. He deals with a specialized subject in a well-developed manner both theologically and historically, and provides a healthy application for pastors and church-goers in the 21st century.

The author makes the case for using creeds in the church today and goes to great lengths to examine their benefits, despite our cultural stance today on disregarding anything of historical significance. It is a subject perhaps not often discussed or thought of much today but it is handled here in this short volume in an enlightening manner, making it relevant to today’s scene. This is a very beneficial book in its content, writing style and presentation.

I received this book at no cost from Amazon Vine for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Gospel Deeps is a follow-up to author Jared Wilson’s previous book, Gospel Wakefulness. This book is compelling, rich, rewarding, encompassing, and full of Biblical truths. There is nothing new in this book; Wilson examines varying aspects of the gospel in a thought-provoking and reflective way. It is as if the light of the gospel shines through a prism and Wilson reveals all of the dimensions and implications. The only applications from the book are what the Gospel and all it’s fullness and depth means to believers and followers of Christ. It is refreshing to be reminded of what is of first importance.

This book was provided to me at no cost by Amazon Vine for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.

This excellent book is another installment in John Macarthur’s series focusing on Twelve Ordinary Men and Twelve Extraordinary Women. Macarthur defines a hero as one who believes upon the Lord for all things in life and then acts upon his or her faith, and then focuses on these twelve individuals and how they are heroes. He points to God as the main character in all their stories; these twelve individuals (and us all) are servants of the greatest hero. The book is well developed and engaging reading, bringing a fresh perspective to people and Bible passages many of us are already familiar with. A study guide is available as a separate purchase. This is a book recommended for all believers and followers of the Lord.

I received this book at no cost from Thomas Nelson Publishers for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Douglas Wilson’s Father Hunger is a robust and thorough exposition of what fatherhood is, the state of fatherhood in the culture today and the effects of the culture on fatherhood, how fatherhood relates to masculinity, and how this all relates to God. The title refers to the premise of the book, that there is a striking absence and need today for men to be the fathers God has called them to be. The book includes helpful study questions for further application at the end of each chapter and indexes and recommendations for further reading and study. It is a call for men to embrace their God-given role as fathers, very similar to Richard Phillips’ A Masculine Mandate, which the author quotes and recommends. Wilson’s writing is warm and engaging, the material does go deep at times and the reader may need to “take it slow” in some chapters, perhaps even look up some words in a dictionary – this is by no means a negative aspect! It is an excellent book for pastors, men’s groups, and all believers to read and discuss.

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers at no cost for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.

This book is part of a series from Kay Arthur, founder of PRECEPT Ministries and inductive Bible study methodology. The study is topical, involving six lessons covering 5-8 sections of Scripture. Kay Arthur is well-known for her method of Bible study that incorporates marking, drawing, rectangles and lines, “squiggles”, colors and highlights. These lessons are an attempt to compact what would take a week of work and preparation into a 40 minute session that does not require preparation work. Although advertised as 40 minutes, it is a lot of information to cover and an individual or group may need more of an hour to do the lesson. They also may want to take more time to discuss the questions and applications as well. One drawback may be that a person does not want to mark up his personal Bible. Despite these concerns, the lessons are well-designed for individual or small group studies. There are good leadership points and interpreting/application questions.

This book was provided to me at no cost for the purpose of review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review.

The most effective argument for Christianity is still the good lives of those who profess it. A company of pure-living and cheerful Christians in the community is a stronger proof that Christ is risen than any learned treatise could ever be. And a further advantage is that, while the average person could not be hired to read a theological work, no one can evade the practical argument presented by the presence of holy men and women. To the sons and daughters of this tense and highly mechanized age a holy life may seem unpardonably dull and altogether lacking in interest, but among all the fancy, interest-catching toys of the world a holy life stands apart as the only thing slated to endure. The stars make no noise, says the Italian proverb; yet they have outlived all man’s civilizations and in their unassuming silence have shone on through the centuries, preaching their simple doctrine of God and enduring things. Francis of Assisi composed some sublime hymns and preached some quaint sermons, but for none of these is he known and by none of these has he captured the moral imagination of mankind. The utter purity of his life it is which has won him a lasting place in the hearts of every seeker after God.

The Set of the Sail, chapter 3

Jonathan Edwards has been called “America’s most important and original philosophical theologian,” and “one of America’s greatest intellectuals.” The book Charity and Its Fruits is a collection of his 15 sermons on 1 Corinthians 13. Edwards carefully and richly develops 1 Corinthians 13 verse by verse, drawing out doctrine and application in each section. Edwards’ thinking is deep and complex and his writing can be a challenge to read and understand; it is a great benefit for the reader that Kyle Strobel has edited this work of Edwards in a new book. Strobel provides helpful background, outlining and organization of Edwards’ work, in addition to in-page summaries and explanations to help make Edwards more accessible. Strobel also provides a synthesis and application of Edwards’ sermons in his conclusion. Edwards’ work is edifying and worth the effort it takes to read for all believers and followers of Christ.

An interview with the author can be found at Justin Taylor’s blog at this site.

This book was provided to me at no cost by Amazon Vine for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.