Review: The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

The following is a review of Timothy Keller's The Prodigal God, written as part of a lifelong-learning project for a class at Emmanuel.

     If Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry was a practical book that strengthened my ministry, The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller was a devotional/theological work that uplifted my soul. Examining the well-known parable of the prodigal son, Keller challenges the reader to examine the story anew and discover the broader implications for the Gospel. I was already somewhat familiar with Keller; as an undergrad, I gave a presentation on Keller’s “Scholarly Analytic” preaching style in my Homiletics class. When I first started at Harrison, Paul was finishing a series on Wednesday nights based on The Prodigal God; he recommended it as one of the best and most concise explanations of the Gospel available.
     Keller writes in such a way as to engage both the scholar and the common man, something I greatly appreciate about his approach. He spends significant time discussing the original context of the parable, both within the Gospel narrative and the plot of the parable itself. This extensive work demonstrates an excellent application of historical criticism to practical ministry; Keller provides a helpful model of blending the academy and the church. Furthermore, Keller examines all the characters in the parable instead of simply stopping after the younger brother returns home and hears his father proclaim, “You were lost and now are found, you were dead and now are alive again,” the point where frequently modern consideration stops. In the elder brother, Keller draws out the equally sinful concept of moralism, for the elder brother had “done everything that was asked of him,” and yet remains outside of the feast. Personally, it can be easy for me to slip into the role of the elder brother, assuming that God should give me good things because I have been obedient. Keller reminded me that Christianity is not about following a set of rules or not doing bad things; rather, the core of the Gospel is that we are called to be in a relationship with God based on love and not on what we think we can get out of the bond. We have a true elder brother, unlike the one in the parable, who sought us out when we were lost and paid the price to bring us home. Keller’s The Prodigal God should be recommended reading for every Christian seeking to learn about the truth of the Gospel.

Review: Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry by Doug Fields

The following is a review of Doug Field's Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry that I wrote as part of a lifelong learning project for a class at Emmanuel.
     I have served in youth ministry for almost four years; I was the minister at Buffalo Valley Christian Church from June 2007 to October 2010, and last October, I was hired as the Associate Minister of Youth at Harrison Christian Church. On the face of it, this book would not be for me, if it concerns only the first two years. However, my experience at Buffalo Valley was such that youth ministry was only a small part of my responsibilities; Harrison is my first true youth ministry position. When he heard about the lifelong learning options, Paul, the Senior Minister at Harrison, recommended that I read Fields’ work. He had been in youth ministry himself and had found it to be a valuable resource. On his recommendation, I picked up a copy and am glad I did.
     In Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, Doug Fields offers a wealth of practical insight into youth ministry; it truly is a guide to succeeding as you begin your ministry. Over the past couple of months, I have had to wade through difficult interactions with parents, a seeming lack of support from the elders, non-responsive teens, and a request from parents to “do more stuff”—not better programming, just more activities to keep the youth busy. Reading Fields’ book has reminded me that I am not the only one fighting these battles; in fact, these battles are fairly common at the beginning of a new youth ministry. The stories Doug and other contributors shared from their own youth ministries provided comfort, for it reminded me that I was not alone in youth ministry.
     The emphasis Doug Fields places on establishing a solid spiritual foundation was especially challenging; I was convicted to reexamine the spiritual foundation I was working from. As a result, I picked up a copy of The Bible in 90 Days, and that experience has been incredibly uplifting. Reading twelve pages a day, a pace much faster than most Bible reading programs, has helped broaden my perspective on what God is doing throughout Scripture. The larger narrative, as well as connections between events, has been easier to grasp. Fields’ call for a solid personal spiritual foundation has helped strengthen my own and, by virtue, my ministry as a whole.