Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Best Reads of 2022 - Ministry and Faith

Whew!  It is the first week of February and I have finally found time to finish the last of my yearly book blogs.  Sadly, this is the first year since I have kept track of my reading that I did not reach my ministry book reading goals.  I usually aim for 20 ministry-oriented books every year, but fell one short in 2022 with 19.  Unfortunately, I am not on track to meet that goal this year either – I have yet to find time to read a single chapter in a ministry-oriented book in 2023.  Sigh…

Here are the best ministry and faith books I read this year:

Deeper:  Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund.  Dane Ortlund blessed the body of Christ with his book Gently and Lowly a few years ago.  You could say Deeper is the follow-up to that book.  It addresses the topic of sanctification – how do we grow in our relationship with the Jesus whose is gentle and lowly in spirit, and whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light?  I thought the chapters on the Bible and the work of the Spirit were especially good.

 

Strange New World:  How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman.  This is a shortened version of Trueman’s book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.  Trueman asks the question – who do people think and see themselves so differently now than 20 or 30 years ago?  He chalks it up to the acceptance of what he calls “expressive individualism” which is summed up in the assumption that a person’s heart desires are the most important and for them to be genuine they must follow where their heart desires lead.  It is, I believe, a powerfully accurate diagnosis of what we see today in modern society.

 

In the Lord I Take Refuge:  150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms by Dane Ortlund.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find it difficult to find a good devotional book that has meaty content and thought-provoking ideas.  Ortlund’s journey through each of the Psalms is one of those.  There is a short devotional for each of the psalms in which he highlights a theme or a portion of the psalm and frequently looks at it through a gospel lens.  I enjoyed it so much, it provided the impetus to create a sermon series on the Psalms, which I am currently preaching through.

 

Rejoice and Tremble:  The Surprising Good News about the Fear of the Lord by Michael Reeves.  I have yet to read a disappointing Michael Reeves book.  Christians today do not talk enough about the fear of God.  In this inviting yet challenging book. Reeves talks about what it does and does not mean to fear God and how that fear, properly understood and applied, should change our walk with Jesus.

 

Is Atheism Dead? by Eric Metaxas.  Metaxas asks the question – does the evidence of science, archeology and history point to the fact that atheism is dying?  The book takes us on three journeys.  First, Metaxas unpacks the myriad of scientific evidence that the universe was created by a designer.  Second, speaks to the many different ways archeology has proven the Bible to be an accurate ancient record.  And finally, he addresses the historical track record of atheist regimes, showing that atheism has never produced any kind of free society.  As a caveat, Metaxas is not a young earth creationist, but much of his information is not dependent on whether you agree with him or not.

 

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers.  Chalmers was a Scottish pastor who lived from 1780 to 1847.  I was first exposed to his ministry a few years ago.  This past year, I was able to pick up a copy of his most famous sermon – The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.  Chalmers speaks about how it is our growing affection for Christ that has the power to bring true, lasting victory over the sin in our lives.  At only 72 pages, this is a little booklet well worth your time.




God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants:  A Concise Biblical Theology
by Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum.  Christians are frequently divided in their understanding of the Bible between two poles – dispensationalism and covenant theology.  Or, how I like to explain it, discontinuity and continuity.  I struggle with aspects of both viewpoints, and have good friends that share both viewpoints.  Gentry and Wellum’s perspective, called progressive covenantalism, seeks to find a middle ground between these two camps.  Time will tell if they have succeeded.  It was a very interesting read.  I liked a lot of what I read here, but I found I could not agree with everything.  Thus, my quest continues….


Other very good books I read this year:

When Harry Became Sally:  Responding to the Transgender Moment by Ryan T. Anderson

Embodied:  Transgender Identities, the Church & What the Bible has to Say by Preston Sprinkle

Gender Ideology:  What do Christians Need to Know? by Sharon James

Hidden in the Gospel:  Truths You Forget to Tell Yourself Every Day by William P. Farley

A Journey to Victorious Praying:  Finding Discipline and Delight in Your Prayer Life by Bill Thrasher

Resilient Ministry:  What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving by Bob Burns, Tasha D. Chapman and Donald C. Guthrie

Chief Scottish Man:  The Life and Ministry of Thomas Chalmers by Sandy Finlayson

With All Your Heart:  Orienting your Mind, Desires and Will toward Christ by A. Craig Troxel

The Loveliest Place:  The Beauty and Glory of the Church by Dustin Benge

A Still and Quiet Mind:  Twelve Strategies for Changing Unwanted Thoughts by Esther Smith

Changes that Heal:  Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Henry Cloud

 

Books that I found disappointing (which surprised me, because I generally like Guthrie’s books):

Blessed:  Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation by Nancy Guthrie


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