Aug 28, 2010 
“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” – Augustine
Repent today, turn back and live, why do you insist on your evil ways?
worshipping God, building up His church, reaching the world
Browsing the archives for the spiritual disciplines tag
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The Psalms Bible study is part of the Lifechange series published by Navpress. It’s stated purpose is to examine the life of prayer of the authors of the psalms, thereby deepening and enriching our own personal prayer lives. It is a large and uneasy task to fit 150 psalms into a 10 week study, but this book does a good job at surveying and overviewing all the psalms. In some cases, a psalm is merely touched on, and in other instances a psalm is looked at more in-depth. The study is organized into 10 weeks and each week’s study centers on a theme (such as intercession, restoration, forgiveness) and examines psalms that illustrate that theme. Each week’s study provides basic questions and a section of further questions and optional / additional applications. The study provides helpful context and literary notes and a bibliography of additional resources for further study. It is a brief introduction to the psalms but a helpful study book that can be used by any individual or small group or classroom setting.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A collection of authors, leaders, teachers, pastors and theologians come together in The Kingdom Life to reflect and write on current trends in the areas of discipleship and spiritual formation. These authors, including Dallas Willard and Bill Hull, worked together as part of the Theological and Cultural Thinkers (TACT) group and met over a period of several years to discuss these important issues facing the church today, and their insights are provided in this publication. The authors take ten chapters to discuss theological and process factors in spiritual formation. They are personal and heart-felt stories and analysis of the kingdom, the church, the gospel, suffering, the work of the Spirit, the place of the trinity, the work of missions, and the Bible in our spiritual formation. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a brief bibliography for further reading. Well-detailed notes and some suggestions and guidelines for practical implications are provided at the end of the book. Several chapters overlap in the areas of content and the book may feel repetitive in places, but as a whole it is a good overview of the current strengths and weaknesses of the church and Christians today in the areas of discipleship and spiritual formation, and is recommended for any pastor, leader, or Christian concerned with these issues.
This book was provided to me at no cost by Navpress for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
J. Mack Stiles, an overseas missionary who has written previous works, has produced a marvelous and challenging new book on evangelism, Marks of the Messenger. It is not a practical how-to book on evangelism, but a book on being a fully-formed disciple of Christ and evangelism and a heart for missions that flows out of that relationship with Him. His important question, “Who do you want to be?”, defines our character as Christians, and evangelism and missionary work are the result. J. Mack Stiles presents a clear and right understanding of the gospel, its effects on our lives, its workings in and through the church, and its impact on the world. He does include a practical chapter on “being bold” and concludes with a “manifesto” – a practical and simplified review of his total work. The book includes a brief section of notes for further reading and study. The author’s style is honest and flowing and rich with his personal experiences; it is a brief book that can and deserves to be read by every pastor, leader, and believer and follower of Christ. This book will empower and refresh a disciple in his or her work of being a Christian in the realm of evangelism and missions.
I received this book at no cost from IVP for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review.
The Practice of Godliness is an excellent book by Jerry Bridges. It is a re-release of his sequel to the first book, The Pursuit of Holiness. In this book he addresses areas to grow in, “to put on” the new self and grow in Christian character. Pastor Bridges establishes three core elements (fear of God, love of God, desire for God = devotion to God) and the nature and need for training, and then briefly overviews each of 12 characteristics of God and His followers. Pastor Bridges’ book is heavily rooted in the Word but in an easy and flowing writing style. It is a practical exposition, encouraging the reader to apply what is developed. The author correctly focuses on internal heart and mind change in order to impact our outward behaviors – “good fruit can only grow from good roots and proper nourishment.” It is not necessary to read these chapters in order; the reader can “skip around” if needed. It would be helpful for the reader to read and study more on the areas of immediate concern. The additional study guide is helpful for further discussion and study. This is an excellent book to read and study through and apply in the life of any believer and follower of Christ.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In our fourth session, The Challenge of Change, we learned that changing behavior and actions is second to what must occur first: a change of heart. Changing our behavior and actions are the leaves; changing the heart is the root of the issue. This changing of the heart is to change our thinking – “you are what you think.” Proverbs 27:19 tells us, “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” We must wage spiritual warfare and take every thought captive through the filter of Philippians 4:8-9. We can take control of our thinking and choose to think rightly and Biblically.
It is war we are waging! Be in control of your thinking! Exercise the power you have to turn off wrong thinking and turn on right thinking. Genesis 1:28 tells us to “subdue all the earth”, which includes our minds and thoughts.
It is hard discipline to train ourselves to think rightly. We are to put on right thinking, of God, His Son, His Spirit, the cross – every moment. Let us grow and press on to maturity, let us choose life over death.
I was so blessed to attend the discipleship / counseling conference in Pittsburgh at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary this weekend. Their Biblical Counseling Institute hosted the speakers, the director Dr. George Scipione and pastor Dr. Richard Gantz gave the addresses.
The first session, Personal Transformational Discipleship, was given by Dr. Ganz. He focused on Romans 12:1-2
- the mercy of God
- presenting ourselves
- a living sacrifice
- a logical and reasonable response
- we are not to conform to the world
- we renew our minds in order to prove the will of God
He emphasized the self control we have been given by the Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7) over our minds, and to develop positive and right Biblical thinking. We are to exercise power in killing the old man through right thinking.
He also developed the relationship between counseling, discipleship, and sanctification, all to the worship of God.
It was a great lead-off session and good to be reminded of these truths.
Living the Resurrection is a reflective book by Eugene Peterson. Pastor Peterson provides fresh application of the Easter story to our every day lives as he encourages us to “live the resurrection” through rest, meals, and community. He incorporates elements of the spiritual disciplines and the ordinances of baptism and communion with the resurrection accounts found in the gospels and brings these accounts to bear on our everyday moments. His stated purpose and thesis of his book is “to recover our spiritual formation through the lens of the resurrection” and then to point out today’s cultural influences that get in the way of us seeing the resurrection clearly. Finally, Pastor Peterson encourages his reader to cultivate a practice of resurrection in our everyday lives. He develops each of the three areas fully and forces the reader towards introspection and application and a deeper walk with the Lord. This book is appropriate for all believers who know and follow the risen Savior. It is appropriate Easter reading and reading throughout the entire year.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Christlike, by Bill Hull, is a book that deserves to be well marked up and have a place on every Christian’s book shelf. The purpose of the author is ”to so change your mind that after reading this book, it won’t be able to return to its original shape. My goal is to revolutionize the course of your life and change your mind about what it means to be a Christian”, and Pastor Hull achieves this goal powerfully and personally. Tackling the hard issue of “why do people who claim to be Christian not act like it”, Hull addresses issues of transformation and being formed in Christ from the inside-out and outside-in. He weaves personal struggles and situations seemlessly with practical steps for individuals and churches to take. The most impacting observation Hull makes is also the simplest: “There is no other path to Christian spirutal transformation than through meaningful interaction with the Word of God.” In fact, all of the author’s insights into being a disciple and spritual transformation are based in simplicity and uncomplicated obedience. Finally, our transformation and obedience are not only for our benefit but are meant to influence others and the world – by you being different, you will make a difference. Bill Hull’s newest book is an excellent addition to any believer’s library.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I used to think the book of Job is in the Bible because it presents a rare and extreme case of human suffering. “Look at this worst case scenario. If you can see the truth here, then surely in your comparatively small problems . . . .”
Now I think the book of Job is in the Bible because the story is so common. Many are thinking, “What on earth has happened to me? I can’t see what I’ve done that explains this devastation. Where is God in this?”
Enter Job’s three friends. They were cautious at first. But with their tidy notions threatened by his untidy realities, the moralism started pouring out of them: “Come on, Job, get real with us. You must have some dirty secret that explains all this. Admit it, and this misery will start going away.” Their finger-pointing oversimplifications intensified Job’s sufferings, and this too is a common experience.
I don’t think the book of Job is about suffering as a theoretical problem — why do the righteous suffer? I think it’s about suffering as a practical problem — when (not if) the righteous suffer, what does God expect of them? And what he expects is trust. When the righteous cannot connect the realities of their experience with the truths of God, then God is calling them to trust him that there is more to it than they can see. As with Job, there is a battle being fought in the heavenlies.
Trust in God, not explanations from God, is the pathway through suffering.
This is a post from Pastor Ray Ortlund at www.thegospelcoalition.org, February 22, 2010
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