Make the Most of Your Productivity – Ana Ávila

Ana Ávila, Make the Most of Your Productivity (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 156 pp.

I’m a sucker for books that address personal productivity. So when the chance came to review Make the Most of Your Productivity by Ana Ávila, I jumped at the opportunity. Mrs. Ávila is a senior writer for Coalición for el Evangelio. The author brings some keen insight into the subject of productivity.

The groundwork for the book is established with a working definition of productivity:

The productive life is a life that seeks to honor God with all that you have.

Such a definition goes against the grain of conventional wisdom and is grounded first and foremost in the gospel. In other words, we don’t seek to be productive to merit favor in God’s eyes. Instead, we work hard and strive to live productive lives as an overflow of gratitude for what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Or, as Ávila writes, “God is God and does not need us, but he still delights in making us part of his plan. He uses our efforts to accomplish his purposes.”

Ávila reminds readers that productive, in the final analysis, isn’t about following regimes and routines: “But being productive isn’t about finding the perfect tool to keep your schedule under control. Rather, being productive is being transformed day by day into a person who uses what they have for the glory of God and the good of others.”

Make the Most of Your Productivity contains value tools and suggestions that one would expect. But this book is a cut above, since the principles are grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end, the only thing that matters is glorifying God. This theme echoes throughout the book. For this reason, I enthusiastically commend it without reservation.

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

A Call to Contentment – David Kaywood

David Kaywood, A Call to Contentment (Geanies House, Fern, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2024), 156 pp.

The package arrived in the afternoon. Not recognizing the return address, I hastily tore into the parcel, like a schoolboy on Christmas Eve. My misguided enthusiasm led to a ripped front cover of a new book. My first thought: Disgust and discontent. My second thought was one of conviction as I read the title of the book by my friend, David Kaywood – A Call to Contentment: Pursuing Godly Satisfaction in a Restless World.

The title of Pastor Kaywood’s book shot like a bullet through my heart. Here I sat, sulking at the prospect of a complementary book I received from a friend. Yet, all I could think about was frustration because the front cover was torn.

I taped the front cover, leaving a permanent reminder of the experience. With that, I dug into David’s book. After reading the first chapter, I knew I was in for a treat!

A Call to Contentment is a book written for Christians of all ages and maturity levels. The author defines contentment as “the freedom from dependence on desired circumstances that comes from God’s empowering grace to enduring everything with rejoicing.”

The book confronts various symptoms of the heart that resists contentment: coveting, grumbling, unrighteousness anger, and worry – to name a few.

The force of Kaywood’s work is a blend of conviction and encouragement. The book is packed with convicting challenges, but the author never leaves the reader hanging. The author presents the gospel as the answer to meet the needs of the unsatisfied soul throughout the book. Over and over, one can hear the faint whisper of Augustine, “Oh, Lord Thou has created us for thyself and our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.”

The most enduring feature of A Call to Contentment‘s relentless commitment to Scripture. Kaywood never deviates from the text. He never compromises with worldly solutions. Rather, he consistently points readers to find their satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in sacred Scripture.

I trust that A Call to Contentment will receive a wide reading and that many people will be compelled by the biblical wisdom in this excellent book.

Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age – J.I. Packer

J. I. Packer, Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 141 pp.

It is to my utter shame that I fell asleep in the middle of a J. I. Packer sermon during my freshman year at Multnomah University. The man in the pulpit that morning helped restore Reformed theology in America. This man was a stalwart of the Christian faith. He was brave, bold, and uncompromising. And I fell asleep. Oh, that I could hit the “rewind button” and have another chance to hear Dr. Packer preach the Word of God.

J. I. Packer has been with the Lord since 2020. But even after his death, the Anglican churchman continues to speak. Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age is a series of lectures, originally delivered at Reformed Bible College in 1978. The lectures focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Packer presents Christ’s humanity and his deity. He unveils the death of Jesus and also presents his uniqueness.

Each chapter is packed with typical Packer flair (a word that he would have likely abhorred). He simply had a way of presenting biblical reality in a candid way that never deviated from the sacred text. These chapters are much-needed in our day and remind us that compromise always has consequences. Packer’s challenges undermine and destroy theological liberalism while uplifting and glorifying Jesus Christ.

May the Lord raise up faithful men like J. I. Packer; men who will stand unafraid and proclaim the unvarnished truth of the gospel.

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

Ask Pastor John – Tony Reinke

Tony Reinke, Ask Pastor John (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 499 pp.

I cannot think of a living writer who has wielded more influence in my life than Dr. John Piper. My personal journey began with Piper’s epic book, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. To say the book was pivotal would be a massive understatement. Desiring God was a theological tidal wave that crashed into my life with force, authority, and passion.

After embracing Piper’s Christian Hedonism, many more books followed that only reinforced and encouraged my heart and mind. Reformed theology took hold and I’ve never been the same. The cry of Piper, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him,” has left a permanent mark on my heart.

Almost forty years later, Tony Reinke captured Dr. Piper’s theological convictions and worldview in his book, Ask Pastor John. As the subtitle suggests, the book contains 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions. The book is an extension and overflow of the podcast that bears the same name, Ask Pastor John.

Readers have a front-row seat in this book as it presents topics that range from Bible reading, memorization, divorce and remarriage, spiritual warfare, suffering, technology, and hundreds of other topics. The book goes straight to the heart of John Piper. It not only sets forth his theological positions; it also reveals his heart, his joys, his struggles, his temptations, and his triumphs.

Ask Pastor John is heartfelt, transparent, and humble. Anyone familiar with John Piper will recognize that he presents his positions with authority and dogmatism. Some may react to such confidence and boldness. I am personally drawn to this kind of writing. 

But the most important feature of Ask Pastor John is the deep love of Piper’s love for God, his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, and the preciousness of the gospel. It is impossible to read this book and walk away unaffected. Even after reading Piper’s works for nearly forty years, I can say that my heart was even more transfixed and transformed after reading Ask Pastor John.

Thanks and gratitude go out to Tony Reinke, who curated the podcasts and gifts this wonderful book to the church. Ask Pastor John is truly a labor of love, one that countless thousands of people will cherish for years to come.

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

Make the Most of Your Productivity – Ana Ávila

Ana Ávila, Make the Most of Your Productivity (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 156 pp.

I’m a sucker for books that address personal productivity. So when the chance came to review Make the Most of Your Productivity by Ana Ávila, I jumped at the opportunity. Mrs. Ávila is a senior writer for Coalición for el Evangelio. The author brings some keen insight into the subject of productivity.

The groundwork for the book is established with a working definition of productivity:

The productive life is a life that seeks to honor God with all that you have.

Such a definition goes against the grain of conventional wisdom and is grounded first and foremost in the gospel. In other words, we don’t seek to be productive to merit favor in God’s eyes. Instead, we work hard and strive to live productive lives as an overflow of gratitude for what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Or as Ávila writes, “God is God and does not need us, but he still delights in making us part of his plan. He uses our efforts to accomplish his purposes.”

Ávila reminds readers that productive, in the final analysis isn’t about following regimes and routines: “But being productive isn’t about finding the perfect tool to keep your schedule under control. Rather, being productive is being transformed day by day into a person who uses what they have for the glory of God and the good of others.”

Make the Most of Your Productivity contains value tools and suggestions that one would expect. But this book is a cut above since the principles are grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the end, the only thing that matters is glorifying God. This theme echoes throughout the book. For this reason, I enthusiastically commend it without reservation.

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

How to Memorize Scripture for Life – Andrew M. Davis

Andrew M. Davis, How to Memorize Scripture for Life (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2024), 57 pp.

There was a day in the church when Scripture memory was expected. Something happened around the turn of the century. The emphasis on Scripture memory began to decline, both among children and adults. How to Memorize Scripture for Life by Andrew M. Davis is a book that will help recover a passion for hiding the Bible in our hearts.

Davis first establishes the foundation by arguing that Scripture memorization is mandated. Citing John 15:7-8, the author says, “For me, this is the strongest passage in the Bible on the role of Scripture memorization.” He cites several passages that bolster the case for making Scripture memory a regular part of a disciple’s life.

Next, the author includes several advantages for memorizing the word of God. At the heart of the argument is sanctification. Davis writes, “The word of God must enter us through our minds – through our understanding – in order to change our hearts.”

Another advantage of Scripture memory is evangelism. The discipline of memorizing the Bible helps bless people and presents God’s word in clear and revealing ways. Having the Bible memorized is a powerful tool when defending the faith or pressing the claims of the gospel on our hearers.

Dr. Davis includes a helpful chapter that overcomes objections to memorizing Scripture. He cites several well-known objections and skillfully dismantles them all.

Much of the book is devoted to helping readers develop strategies and skills that help them memorize Bible verses. The author makes a strong case for memorizing large chunks of Scripture. More than that, he argues that memorizing entire books is well worth the effort. Readers will be fascinated to learn the various techniques that Davis includes. He is a gracious instructor who leads his readers well.

I hope this book will gain a wide hearing. More than that, I expect many people will accept the challenge of memorizing the word of God. The blessings will bear much fruit and will glorify the great God of the universe!

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

Systematic Theology – From Canon to Concept – Stephen J. Wellum

Stephen J. Wellum, Systematic Theology: From Canon to Concept, vol. 1 (Brentwood: B&H Academic, 2024), 988 pp.

Stephen J. Wellum has contributed significantly to the thorny questions of redemptive history that help bridge the gap between Presbyterian covenant theology and Dispensational theology. Kingdom Through Covenant, co-authored with Peter J. Gentry, provides biblical answers that unlock questions that the church has posed for ages.

In his most recent work, Systematic Theology: From Canon to Concept, Dr. Wellum makes another significant contribution. Volume 1 contains four parts, including:

  1. Introduction
  2. The Revelation of the Triune God Who Speaks
  3. The Biblical-Theological Framework of Scripture
  4. From Biblical Theology to Theological Formulation

Each part contains riveting prose that turns the attention of readers to God’s redemptive work from the creation to the cross of Christ. The section of Providence is worth the price of the book!

There is only one significant disappointment; one that I will probably receive criticism for. Dr. Wellum does not embrace eternal relational authority submission Trinitarianism (ERAS). His arguments against ERAS are not compelling and only strengthen my convictions concerning ERAS. Thankfully, his critique is fair-minded and humble, which is a pleasant twist in this contentious debate.

Overall, I commend this remarkable work and trust that it will receive a wide readership.

Apostasy from the Gospel – John Owen

John Owen, Apostasy from the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2023), 422 pp.

Crossway Books deserves a great debt of gratitude for republishing The Complete Works of John Owen, including his magisterial treatment of Hebrews. Lee Gatiss and Shawn D. Wright edited the series. The volumes are bound in beautiful hardcovers and include an attractive slipcover.

Apostasy from the Gospel (volume 14) is introduced and edited by Joel R. Beeke. The fitting introduction is basic enough for first-time readers of Owen, but will also satisfy Owen scholars. The volume under consideration includes thirteen chapters that draw hearts and minds to the Savior and also warn them of the sin of apostasy.

Owen begins his treatment with a rather comprehensive definition of apostasy and exposition of Hebrews 6:4-6. The message is clear: “And until the word in the heart be mixed and incorporated with faith, it will not advantage us (Heb. 4:2), and there is nothing hereof where there is a taste of the word only.”

The Puritan divine builds upon this framework and explains how various people are prone to apostasy. He highlights various causes of apostasy and admonishes readers to steer clear from an evil heart of unbelief. 

The closing chapter contains several ways to safeguard ourselves from falling into apostasy:

  1. Labor for a real sense of the glory of God.
  2. Keep watch over your hearts to maintain duties and to guard against dangers.
  3. Beware of merely resting in the outward privileges or ordinances of the church. 
  4. Beware of the influences of vices prevalent in your nation.
  5. Avoid the errors of professing Christians who alienate others from the gospel.

Apostasy from the Gospel is a vivid reminder to remain close to the Savior and guard our hearts from sin. It is not only a warning to stand strong but contains gospel treasures throughout. 

Highly recommended!

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

I Am a Complementarian

  1. Scripture affirms that men and women are equal in importance and personhood, created in the image of God, and created to reflect his glory (Gen. 1:26-27; Isa. 43:7).
  2. Scripture affirms important distinctions of roles between men and women and establishes a biblical framework for authority, including male headship, which was instituted prior to the Fall (1 Cor. 11:7-9; Eph. 5:21-33; Col. 3:18-19; 1 Tim. 2:11-15).
  3. While the Fall created gender confusion and distorted God’s intended design for men and women, the redemptive work of God in Christ seeks to erase the distortions that were inaugurated at the curse.
  4. In this biblical model, husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25-30). Wives happily submit to this sacrificial love (Eph. 5:22-24). When men and women fulfill their God-ordained roles by living according to his design for husbands to love their wives and for wives to respect their husbands, they put the glory of God on display!
  5. The Trinity provides a model for interpersonal relationships.
  • The Trinity helps us see equality that exists among men and women, clergy and laypeople, employers and employees, etc.
  • The Trinity helps us see the role distinctions between men and women.
  • The Trinity provides us with a framework for authority; i.e. the Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to the Son, etc.
  • The Trinity shows how to find joy in a relationship where there are clearly defined role distinctions.

As a complementarian, I affirm the responsibility of biblically qualified men to serve as elders in the household of God and to lead and shepherd the people of God (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 1 Cor. 14:34-36; 11:2-16).1 Therefore, the office of elder/pastor is reserved for men.

I deny an egalitarian framework that rejects role distinctions between men and women.2

  1. “1 Timothy 2:8-15 imposes two restrictions on the ministry of women: they are not to teach Christian doctrine to men and they are not to exercise authority directly over men in the church.” See Douglas Moo, John Piper and Wayne Grudem, Ed. Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood (Wheaton: Crossway, 1991), 180. ↩
  2. Mark Dever alerts us to the troubling trend of egalitarianism: “… There may be no way the authority of Scripture is being undermined more quickly or more thoroughly in our day than through the hermeneutics of egalitarian readings of the Bible. And when the authority of Scripture is undermined, the gospel will not long be acknowledged.” Cited in Wayne Grudem, Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006), 19. ↩

I am a Calvinist

I affirm the sovereignty of God in salvation and embrace a Calvinistic worldview where the glory and supremacy of God are the end of all things. Seven fundamental realities compel me to embrace Calvinism, what C.H. Spurgeon referred to as a “nickname for biblical Christianity.”1

  1. Calvinism is rooted in Scripture. The sovereignty of God over all things, including the salvation of his elect is a pervasive theme in the Bible (Jonah 2:9; Isa. 46:9-10; Eph. 1:11).
  2. Calvinism upholds the dignity of mankind and his total inability in proper tension (Gen. 1:27; 6:5; Ps. 8:5).
  3. Calvinism upholds the sovereignty of God in all things (Ps. 115:3; Dan. 4:34-35).
  4. Calvinism upholds the responsibility of mankind and God’s sovereign control over all things.
  5. Calvinism upholds the joy of the Creator and the joy of the creature. This God-centered joy is captured in the popular acrostic, TULIP:

Total depravity is not just badness, but blindness to beauty and deadness to joy.

Unconditional election is how God planned, before we existed, to complete our joy in Christ.

Limited atonement is the assurance that indestructible joy in God in infallibly secured for us by the blood of Jesus.

Irresistible grace is the sovereign commitment of God to make sure we hold on to superior delights instead of the false pleasures that will ultimately destroy us.

Perseverance of the saints is the almighty work of God, to keep us through all affliction and suffering, for an inheritance of pleasures at God’s right hand forever.2

  1. Calvinism underscores the five solas of the Reformation:

I believe that sinners are saved by God’s grace alone because apart from his grace we do not have the ability nor the desire to please him or earn his favor – Grace Alone (Eph. 2:1-5).

I believe that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone apart from any human merit, works or ritual. Genuine faith produces Christ-glorifying fruit in the people of God for the glory of God – Faith Alone (Eph. 2:8-10).

I believe that we are saved by Christ alone, who is fully God and fully man. Christ was our substitute who died for our sins on the cross and was raised from the dead on the third day – Christ Alone (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

I believe the Bible is God’s absolute truth for all people, for all times; it is our final authority for discerning truth – Scripture Alone (2 Tim. 3:16).

I believe in the triune God who exists in three distinct Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) who created, sustains and sovereignly rules over all things, and to whom belongs all the glory forever and ever – To the Glory of God Alone (Rom. 11:36).

7. Calvinism is God-centered. “A Calvinist is someone who has seen God in His majestic glory and has been overwhelmed.”3

The world may mock and the world may scorn. But the truth holds fast: I am a Calvinist.

  1. I deny the notion of hyper-Calvinism which minimizes human responsibility, promotes passivity, and fails to proclaim the gospel to all peoples. ↩
  2. John Piper, Cited in Tony Reinke, The Joy Project: The True Story of Inescapable Happiness (Minneapolis: Desiring God Ministries, 2015), 6. ↩
  3. Ian Hamilton, What is Experiential Calvinsim (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), Loc. 202. ↩