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.
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
08 December 2011
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.
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.
10 September 2010
Review: Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told by Bradley R.E. Wright
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the Early Reviewer program on Librarything.com. The review copy was given to me for free, with the only stipulation being that I read the book and post a review online.
Statistics are frequently bandied about in conversation as though they represent some type of unassailable truth. "Statistics show Christianity is a dying religion." "This might be the last Christian generation, because teenagers are leaving the church at alarming rates." "Just look at the number of stories in the news and you'll see that Christians are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites." Bradley R.E. Wright, in his work Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told, takes a hard look at many of the popular conceptions about Christianity and holds them under the light of statistics collected over the past several decades. He concludes that many of the statistics used to paint a negative picture of Christianity are ultimately unsupported by more in-depth research. A sociology professor at the University of Connecticut, Wright offers a comprehensive analysis of Christianity today that dispels many myths about the church today, i.e. the divorce rate among Christians is lower than the society at large, in spite of popular misconception. While Wright's writing style can be somewhat stiff at times, Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told is a thought-provoking read worth the effort for anyone involved in the current and future state of the church.
Statistics are frequently bandied about in conversation as though they represent some type of unassailable truth. "Statistics show Christianity is a dying religion." "This might be the last Christian generation, because teenagers are leaving the church at alarming rates." "Just look at the number of stories in the news and you'll see that Christians are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites." Bradley R.E. Wright, in his work Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told, takes a hard look at many of the popular conceptions about Christianity and holds them under the light of statistics collected over the past several decades. He concludes that many of the statistics used to paint a negative picture of Christianity are ultimately unsupported by more in-depth research. A sociology professor at the University of Connecticut, Wright offers a comprehensive analysis of Christianity today that dispels many myths about the church today, i.e. the divorce rate among Christians is lower than the society at large, in spite of popular misconception. While Wright's writing style can be somewhat stiff at times, Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told is a thought-provoking read worth the effort for anyone involved in the current and future state of the church.
17 July 2010
Review: Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson
This past spring, Haylie and I had the opportunity to lead a small group Bible study entitled Chase the Goose, based on Mark Batterson's book Wild Goose Chase. In preparation for the study, I had started reading the book; as much of my reading often does, the book sat unfinished on my shelf for many months. When I decided to start this blog, it seemed like a great opportunity to finish several of these books, including Wild Goose Chase.
Batterson provides a stirring call to chase the Wild Goose, the name Celtic Christians used for the Holy Spirit. Often, our pursuit is hindered by the burden of responsibility or the weight of guilt, misled by false assumptions or shaken by fears. Sometimes we get lulled into a routine that leaves no space for God, and sometimes we are haunted by past failures or the potential to fail. Batterson challenges readers to break out of these cages that keep us from pursuing God and reclaim the adventure God has called us toward in our Christian life.
This book was particularly challenging for me, because I have found myself falling prey to each of these various traps at different times in my life. It's hard for someone in the ministry, someone who has made God's work his life's work, to admit that his own life is all too frequently lived out in cages of responsibility or failure or routine or fear. The pursuit of God has too often become a pursuit of stability, a pursuit of financial security, or a pursuit of relational peace; while none of these goals are evil in and of themselves, they are worlds apart from a quest after the Wild Goose. Batterson reminded me that we are called to follow God, and He will work in us and through us to do great things. May you live a life in pursuit of An Geadh-Glas, the Holy Spirit!
Batterson provides a stirring call to chase the Wild Goose, the name Celtic Christians used for the Holy Spirit. Often, our pursuit is hindered by the burden of responsibility or the weight of guilt, misled by false assumptions or shaken by fears. Sometimes we get lulled into a routine that leaves no space for God, and sometimes we are haunted by past failures or the potential to fail. Batterson challenges readers to break out of these cages that keep us from pursuing God and reclaim the adventure God has called us toward in our Christian life.
This book was particularly challenging for me, because I have found myself falling prey to each of these various traps at different times in my life. It's hard for someone in the ministry, someone who has made God's work his life's work, to admit that his own life is all too frequently lived out in cages of responsibility or failure or routine or fear. The pursuit of God has too often become a pursuit of stability, a pursuit of financial security, or a pursuit of relational peace; while none of these goals are evil in and of themselves, they are worlds apart from a quest after the Wild Goose. Batterson reminded me that we are called to follow God, and He will work in us and through us to do great things. May you live a life in pursuit of An Geadh-Glas, the Holy Spirit!
Location:Johnson City, TN
10 July 2010
Review: Radical by David Platt
Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the Early Reviewer program on Librarything.com. The review copy was given to me for free, with the only stipulation being that I read the book and post a review online.
There are many books out today that claim to contain the secrets for living a full Christian life; too often, these books just tend to clutter the shelves. David Platt's Radical, however, has the potential to dramatically reshape the Christian landscape in America. His call for Christians to abandon the pursuit of the American dream and pursue a life dedicated to glorifying God, both at home and abroad, truly is a radical charge, and it is one based squarely in the Gospel. The stories of the power of God to work through Christians challenge the reader to quit living comfortably and start living a life of complete abandon for God. This is not about your best life now; it is not about finding your own purpose in the world. It is a call to the purpose all Christians have been given: to glorify God and to make Him known to the nations. I would highly recommend this book to every college student wondering about their future, to every middle-aged man or woman questioning whether the corporate climb is all there is, and to every retiree pondering what is next. Simply put, this book is something every Christian should read; it's time for the church to start acting like the body of Christ again, and this book offers some guidance as to what that life would look like.
There are many books out today that claim to contain the secrets for living a full Christian life; too often, these books just tend to clutter the shelves. David Platt's Radical, however, has the potential to dramatically reshape the Christian landscape in America. His call for Christians to abandon the pursuit of the American dream and pursue a life dedicated to glorifying God, both at home and abroad, truly is a radical charge, and it is one based squarely in the Gospel. The stories of the power of God to work through Christians challenge the reader to quit living comfortably and start living a life of complete abandon for God. This is not about your best life now; it is not about finding your own purpose in the world. It is a call to the purpose all Christians have been given: to glorify God and to make Him known to the nations. I would highly recommend this book to every college student wondering about their future, to every middle-aged man or woman questioning whether the corporate climb is all there is, and to every retiree pondering what is next. Simply put, this book is something every Christian should read; it's time for the church to start acting like the body of Christ again, and this book offers some guidance as to what that life would look like.
Location:Barnes & Noble, Johnson City, TN
08 July 2010
Opening in Expectation...
Over the years, I've collected quite a few books on ministry, the church, leadership and the sort. However, due to a combination of busy school schedules and the lure of TV shows on DVD, these books have done nothing more than collect dust on my shelves, in boxes on the floor, stuffed in cabinets, and wherever else I could put them. This summer, after talking with my wife Haylie, I've decided that it would be beneficial to pull these books out and read them, both for personal enrichment and for the betterment of my ministry. I've laid out the ambitious goal of reading one book a week, hopefully posting a review every Saturday. May these reflections, reviews and thoughts help you in your own spiritual journey!
First up: Radical by David Platt. I received this book back in April as part of the Early Reviewer's program at LibraryThing.com, but with the end of the semester and the wedding in June, well, let's just say that the early review for the book (published May 4) is no longer early. Look for a review tomorrow!
First up: Radical by David Platt. I received this book back in April as part of the Early Reviewer's program at LibraryThing.com, but with the end of the semester and the wedding in June, well, let's just say that the early review for the book (published May 4) is no longer early. Look for a review tomorrow!
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