Fight For Your Pastor – Peter Orr

Peter Orr, Fight For Your Pastor (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 112 pp.

Pastors have a difficult job. They are asked to be top-notch scholars and theologians, counsel hurting people, lead churches with skill and godliness, feed the people of God, and protect the flock from enemies within and without. Peter Orr understands the pressure that pastors face. It was this understanding and sympathy that led him to write, Fight For Your Pastor.

Fight for Your Pastor is a call to people in the pew. It is an urgent plea to cease complaining and criticizing. It is an entreaty for the people of God to come alongside their pastor and encourage him, pray for him, and submit to his leadership.

Orr includes seven chapters that are both encouraging and convicting. Church members will do well to follow the author’s godly counsel and directives. The result will build pastors up and help ensure that the next generation of Christian leaders will be viable and spiritually strengthened for the most difficult job in the world.

The closing words of the author summarize his heart and passion:

In the end, this book sounds a call to abandon a passive, consumerist model of the church. it calls us to abandon the notion that the pastor performs the ministry which we evaluate according to how it benefits us … It is a call for us to be devoted to the work of the Lord. It is a call for us to love and support our pastor. It is a call to fight for him!

I urge Christians to pay heed to Peter Orr’s wisdom. Pick this book and absorb it. Then track down your pastor and fight for him!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Workers For Your Joy – David Mathis

David Mathis, Workers For Your Joy (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 341 pp.

There is a leadership deficit in churches across the nation. A dirth of unqualified leaders fills pulpits and boardrooms that weaken the church and draw criticism from the watching world. David Mathis addresses the important matter of leadership in his book, Workers For Your Joy: The Call of Christ on Christian Leaders.

Mathis’s work is basic in some respects as he alerts his readers to the biblical qualifications for the office of elder. This basic study is a necessary one as many churches have either forgotten or are neglecting the qualifications that appear in Scripture.

The author carefully unpacks each biblical qualification and provides practical examples of how each qualification, giving elders and elders in training an inside look at God’s expectations. The writing is clear, gospel-saturated, and biblically informed. There is no hint of legalism here. Mathis clings tightly to biblical authority but he does so with a gracious tone.

Workers For Your Joy is a much-needed work in our age of pragmatism and man-centeredness. It would be a helpful book for elder training and would also be suitable for Bible College students and Seminarians.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Legacy of Luther – R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols, Ed.

lutherR.C. Sproul and Stephen J. Nichols, The Legacy of Luther. Sanford: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2016, 308 pp. $15.66

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the castle door in Wittenberg. One act of courage sparked a theological firestorm in Germany that set the world able in a matter of days. Spreading like wildfire, thousands were introduced to the gospel, which is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

The Legacy of Luther celebrates the accomplishments of this godly man. Edited by R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols, the book surveys Luther’s life, thought, and ultimately his legacy. A wide range of pastors and theologians contribute to this volume; men like Steven J. Lawson, Michael Horton, Sinclair Ferguson, and Derek Thomas, to name a few.

The Legacy of Luther is a sweeping look at the German Reformer. The book contains basic information that will appeal to first-time students of Luther. But it is also filled with a wealth of information that will satisfy the most deeply entrenched Luther scholar.

The Legacy of Luther certainly honors a significant man who stands head and shoulders above most others in church history. But at the end of the day, the book does not exalt a man; the book exalts the gospel of grace and celebrates the accomplishments of our Savior. The neglected gospel truths which were recovered by the Reformers are proclaimed with passion in zeal in this important volume.

Readers may be interested in my recently published book, Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther.

What is Saving Faith? – John Piper

John Piper, What is Saving Faith? (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 300 pp.

In 1986, John Piper penned Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. The thesis of the book is also a reflection of the author’s life, namely, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” When I picked up Desiring God over thirty years ago, I never dreamed of the impact it would have on my life.

Fast-forward to 2022. John Piper’s book, What is Saving Faith? is really an extension of the arguments that were originally set forth in Desiring God. Piper writes, “God is glorified when he is trusted as true and reliable. He is more glorified when this trust is a treasuring trust – a being satisfied in God as our great reward.”

Dr. Piper is also extending the argument that John MacArthur set forth in his monumental book, The Gospel According to Jesus. Piper argues that saving faith has affectional elements that are absolutely necessary. Faith without these affectional elements is not saving faith.

The central argument that props up Piper’s thesis is receiving Christ as our supreme treasure. The author excavates dozens of Bible passages that help support this claim. In the end, he successfully defends his argument.

What is Saving Faith? is a challenging book. The arguments are tight and the logic is compelling. Sometimes the arguments seem repetitive, which may be intentional or a reflection of this reader’s poor comprehension. In any case, Dr. Piper’s newest work is deeply encouraging and educating. The God-centered themes will surely spark a new generation of faithful evangelism and a host of followers who find their satisfaction in God and the beauty of his Son in the gospel.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Truth, Theology, and Perspective – Vern Poythress

Vern S. Poythress, Truth, Theology, and Perspective (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 160 pp.

Each time Dr. Vern Poythress writes a new book, he offers the church a gift that should be treasured. His keen mind and heart for God are rarities in today’s generation. His newest offering is no exception. In Truth, Theology, and Perspective, Poythress utilizes the theme of truth as a lens (or perspective) to explore the rich themes that emerge in sacred Scripture. What makes this work so unique is that the author uses truth as a primary perspective to shed light on major doctrinal themes. Dr. Poythress adds:

By using truth as a perspective, we hope to encourage readers to appreciate more deeply the biblical teaching and its inner harmony. Any one aspect of doctrine, such as the theme that God is true and that the Bible is true, is in harmony with every other aspect.

The four major themes explored in Truth, Theology, and Perspective include 1) The Doctrine of God, 2) The Doctrine of Man, 3) Redemption, and 4) Application of Redemption.

The final aim of the author emerges near the end of the book. He writes, “To know truth fully is to know God” (p. 144). In the end, Poythress accomplishes his goal which leads people on the path of truth. Indeed, “This increase in knowledge is an increase in possession of the truth and enjoyment of the truth. It goes together with a consummate increase in many other aspects of human existence in communion with God.”

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God – John Piper

John Piper, Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 159 pp.

Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper explores the sweet and bitter providence of God in the book of Ruth. The author lays the book out in a clear and compelling way, inviting readers to engage with God and trust his promises.

Piper’s concluding appeals are worth the price of the book and are worth noting in order:

  1. Study the Scriptures
  2. Pursue Sexual Purity
  3. Pursue Mature Manhood and Womanhood
  4. Embrace Ethnic Diversity
  5. Trust the Sovereignty of God
  6. Take the Risks of Love
  7. Live and Sing to the Glory of Christ

The principles that Dr. Piper articulates will be controversial in some minds. But careful readers will note that he is merely unpacking biblical reality and commending God’s truth for anyone with ears to hear. These principles cut against the grain of postmodern culture and help encourage a strong and robust Christian faith.

The sum of the matter concerns a great eschatological reality. In Piper’s words:

The best is yet to come. That is the unshakable truth about the life of the woman and man who follow Christ in the obedience that flows from faith. I say it to the young who are strong and hopeful, and I say it to the old, for whom the outer nature is quickly wasting away. The best is yet to come. And God is at work in the darkest of your times to get you there.

Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God is a deeply encouraging book. It will challenge and encourage anyone who has a heart that heeds the Word of God!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Give Me Understanding That I May Live – Mark Talbot

Mark Talbot, Give Me Understanding That I May Live (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 236 pp.

Give Me Understanding That I May Live by Mark Talbot addresses the topic of suffering with the heart of a shepherd and biblical faithfulness. The author presents a well-rounded framework for understanding suffering in categories that are clear and compelling. The author observes:

Suffering prompts us to reconsider our lives now, before it is too late. It can burn the fat off our hearts, teaching us by God’s grace to delight in his ways.

Dr. Talbot has the ability to weave answers to the thorny subject of suffering through a redemptive grid that is helpful and encouraging.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

I Belong – Joyce Holstege

The Heidelberg Catechism is a game changer. John Frame calls it “one of the great devotional works of all time.” Elector Frederick III secured the services of a twenty-eight-year-old theology professor from Heidelberg University named Zacharias Ursinus and a twenty-six-year-old preacher named Casper Olevianus to pen a catechism that would help disciple young people. This Catechism would also be a tool for pastors and help them equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12-14).

The first question and answer is posed:

Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?

A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

Joyce Holstege beautifully captures the essence of the answer to the first question in the Heidelberg Catechism in her book, I Belong. The author walks slowly through the answer in ways that children can understand and includes artwork that corresponds to each section. The narrative is engaging, personal, practical, and most importantly – biblical.

The book assumes that listening children are regenerate. This is in keeping with the tenor and tone of the Catechism. However, parents should be sure to emphasize the importance of placing faith in Christ with their children. They should never assume or presume that children are regenerate until a child has turned from his or her sins and placed personal faith in the risen Savior.

I Belong is a helpful discipleship tool that parents should use to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

SDG!

Is Hell Real? – Dane Ortlund

Dane Ortlund, Is Hell Real? (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 48 pp.

The doctrine of hell is under attack. Voices that fuel the fire against the doctrine of hell come from philosophers, and university professors, and are tragically opposed by some pastors. Dane Ortund makes a biblical case for the doctrine of eternal punishment in his recent book, Is Hell Real? Ortund’s work is included in Church Questions, a series produced by 9Marks ministries.

Dr. Ortlund summarizes his work at the beginning: “Hell is needed, awful, close, and deserved by everyone – but there is a way to avoid getting there. This fitting summary becomes the basis for the remainder of the book as the author presents his case for the doctrine of hell. The book is clear, compelling, winsome, humble, and most of all – biblical.

Churches would do well to make this book available to people in the pews for instruction and help with evangelism.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

The White Flag: When Compromise Cripples the Church – David Steele

The Kindle version of my book, The White Flag: When Compromise Cripples the Church is available for a limited time for only $2.99.

https://www.amazon.com/White-Flag-Compromise-Cripples-Church-ebook/dp/B07WH7VGFQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17K4NK7QQ5Z6H&keywords=the+white+flag+steele&qid=1662645530&sprefix=the+white+flag+steele%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

“Here is a passionate call from a pastor’s heart, from a man widely read, who sees with great clarity the difficult situation the church now faces, with opposition without and weakness and compromise within, who believes the battle will be won by the faithful believing and by the courageous teaching and proclaiming of the Word of God.”

DR. PETER JONES, Director, TruthXchange; author of The Other Worldview, Escondido, CA

“In every generation, believers are called to contend earnestly for the faith, and pastors must act as watchmen on the wall, protecting the flock from danger. David Steele does exactly that in The White Flag. This book is overwhelmingly biblical, meticulously thorough, and refreshingly practical. Frankly, I love books like this; books that inform the mind and stir the soul!”

NATE PICKOWICZ, pastor, author of Reviving New England and Why We’re Protestant

“Dr. David Steele exposes a clear and present danger threatening our churches. This is a biblical, bold, urgent call-to-arms reminding us that our Commander-in-Chief has entrusted to us a “Precious Treasure” that must be protected as well as proclaimed.”

WAYNE C. PICKENS, Senior Pastor, Homestead Country Gathering, La Grande, OR

“David Steele is a champion for the truth of God’s word. The White Flag not only exposes the destructive enemy of doctrinal compromise that threatens the contemporary church; it inspires godly courage in all believers to stand firm in defending the truth of Scripture no matter the cost. Read this excellent book to be blessed and emboldened by its timely message.”

STEVE BALVANZ, Senior Pastor, Spring Creek Bible Church, Bellingham, Washington

“A scholar with a shepherd’s heart, Dr. David Steele guides the reader through the waters of compromise. Desiring to see the church pure and sound in doctrine, he pours out his heart with the call to be alert, for the “wolves are growling at the gate.” Dr. Steele’s book is saturated with Scripture and seasoned by his own pastoral experience. A must-read for anyone who loves the church.”

BRYAN PICHURA, Associate Pastor, Valley Heights Community Church, BC Canada

“We are living in a day when not only is truth under attack, it is belittled, and dismissed. Our popular culture continues to churn out a message through the mainstream media that we can be all that we can be if only we will succumb to its message regarding gender roles, abortion, humanity, the climate, and more. Even as secular humanism continues to rise in our day, the Lord continues to raise up voices that challenge the status quo by calling Christians to remain faithful to biblical orthodoxy. One of these voices is Dr. David Steele. In his latest book, The White Flag: When Compromise Cripples the Church, Steele calls his readers to stand firm not in their own might, nor in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ. Along the way, he not only identifies the problem but points to the cure, Jesus Christ. Steele’s wise and biblical counsel will help new and seasoned Christians to navigate the shifting sands of compromise by buttressing themselves in the ancient paths of sound biblical orthodoxy. The White Flag is a welcome addition to the calls to reformation, revival, and renewal in the church. It not only diagnoses the problem, it lays out a biblical-theological vision grounded in the gospel that will help every Christian navigate the way forward in our hedonistic, humanistic post-Christian culture to the glory of God.”

DAVE JENKINS, Executive Director, Servants of Grace Ministries, Executive Editor, Theology for Life Magazine, Host, Equipping You in Grace Podcast