Review of Your Church is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan

I just finished reading Mark Buchanan’s new book Your Church is Too Safe.  My view of the book is different from when it first came in the mail from Zondervan for me to review.  When I first received the book I liked the cover, thought the concept was catchy but honestly figured that this would be a book that I would skim, gather a few nuggets and move on with life and ministry.  If I’m being honest, this is what most books written to challenge and reinvigorate the church end up doing in my life.  I learn a principle or two, I appreciate them, I assimilate some of the thoughts into my life and ministry, and then I move on.  That is what I expected to get in Buchanan’s new book.

Sitting here on the other side of Your Church is Too Safe I must confess that the Lord is using it to really shake me up to the core.  It’s something the Lord has been doing for awhile but something about this book served as a dagger to rip open my heart.  And I think that is what Mark wanted to do.  He wants pastors and church folk like me to read this book, be torn to shreads, and then stare over our congregation and community and ask—“what the heck am I supposed to do now”?  You won’t find a cookie-cutter answer in this book.  But I think you’ll find Jesus and that’s enough.

Summary

For those that have read a good amount of these type of books the first few chapters may not be anything all that new—at least they weren’t for me.  They are good reminders that we are called as believers to love and reflect the love of Christ.  We are called to bring the kingdom of God to bear on the communities that God has entrusted us with.  I was in basic agreement but nothing really slapped me across the face. 

Then I read what may be the nerdiest chapter in the book: Going to Mordor.  The whole thing is an analogy using Lord of the Rings to show the difference between fellowship in the midst of battle and fellowship outside the battlefield.  It’s different and meaning fellowship really only happens in the midst of battle.  Something about this chapter sparked that part of my heart that God has been kicking around for a few months.  From this point forward I was hooked.  Some chapters are better than the others but all of them use Scripture to remind believers that church (living out the Christian life with other believers) is not meant to be safe.  It’s messy.  It’s dirty.  And this is the way of the master. 

My Take

Buchanan is a really good writer.  He masterfully weaves biblical stories, personal stories and anecdotes, along with compelling and convicting truths.  As I read through this I wanted to pull out my Bible and try to argue with some of the things he was saying.  Truth is I wanted to be comfortable.  I don’t like to think that about myself but God has used this book alongside a few other things in my life to expose this idol of comfort and safety.  I want to talk missions and outreach and Christ-centeredness but I want it to be nice and neat. 

Buchanan is biblical.  And that’s partly what makes this book frustrating where others fail.  Many of the other books in this ilk have weak theology attached to them.  They keep me safe, because I can disagree with the theology, point out their Swiss-cheese biblical interpretation, and then throw out the whole book.  Buchanan’s book doesn’t really let me do that.  I want to try to argue with him but the Spirit within convicts my heart that I’m just trying to hide from what Jesus is really asking of my life. 

There is much in this book that leaves me unsettled.  There is much that leaves me asking “what does this mean for ______?”  What does a church do when you have limited resources and people that it seems genuinely do not want help but just want to milk your church continue asking for help?  What do you do when you’ve counseled somebody hundreds of times and it seems like they just want “counsel” for some reason other than actual life change?  I wish Buchanan would have answered some of these questions, but at the end of the day I’m glad he didn’t.  I’m glad because I know myself.  I would have tried plugging in a formula.  Where it stands now I’m just left to pour over Scripture, pray, and get to know more deeply the heart of Jesus.  That’s a better place.  I can’t help pastor a church that’s not too safe without the Master guiding our steps, and that’s a good place to be.

Should You Buy It?

If you want to stay safe and comfortable I would stay away from this book.  It’s kind of like David Platt’s Radical but there is something about this book that brings about a different experience.  I loved Platt’s Radical and I also found this book very helpful.  If we are honest all of our churches are too safe.  You may not rush to the store to buy this book because few people like to be made uncomfortable, but I really think it is needed and you should certainly try to get your hands on this book.

You can buy it here for 12 bucks.  Your Church is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan.

Also feel free to check out some of the other reviews that are part of the Engaging Church: Your Church is Too Safe blog tour.

Review of How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens

Part of God’s calling on my life is to teach students how to read the Bible.  Occasionally, I will have some students that desire to learn how to do Bible studies, write sermons, and do other types of ministry.  Inevitably, in both these endeavors I find myself consistently telling them to make sure that Jesus is the hero of every text.  That is a question I ask of my own preaching and one that I hope to instill in the lives of students that God has entrusted me with. 

One of the difficult things in this endeavor is to have a Christ-focus in various Old Testament passages.  It can be rather difficult for the beginning Bible reader to discover how exactly Christ is found in Leviticus, the conquest of Canaan or other passages.  Even in some New Testament passages it can be easy to apply the imperatives (do this) without first putting on the Jesus lens (indicatives). 

Michael Williams’ new book, “How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens” is written to help beginning Bible readers learn how to use a Jesus lens in reading all of the Scriptures.  The book covers all 66 books of the Bible in four pages each.  Every section has a short summary of the book with a helpful statement of the books major theme.  A memory passage is also highlighted as well as a few “hook questions” to give each chapter staying power.  Williams also applies the Jesus lens to the books major theme and then dives into a few contemporary implications. 

What you are getting with this book is a brief, popular level (though not shallow), introduction to the Bible.  This book is written for beginning Bible students with the hopes of “avoiding the dry, data-intensive introduction to the Bible” that most introductions fall into.  Here you will get a simple and concise theme for each book and then be shown how the books overall thrust can be read with a Jesus lens. 

I figured one of the best places to give the book a trial run would be the book of Job.  Here Williams views the theme of the book as being the truth that “God is active in areas and realms beyond our understanding”.  In response to this theme, Williams encourages the reader to use the book of Job to “see God at work in our suffering”.  When we put on our Jesus lens we see that Christ gives us the “ultimate picture of the righteous sufferer as he accomplishes God’s saving purposes” (71). 

How To Use This?

With every book that I read and review I try to determine who would benefit from reading the book.  With this particular book I know that the audience will be those that are relatively new to reading the Bible (or perhaps those new to trying to reading it in a Christ-centered way).  As I went through this book I tried imagining one of my students that is newer to reading Scripture.  How would he use this book?  Would it be beneficial?  What disciplines would reading through this book cultivate in his walk with Christ? 

I picture a new believer opening up his Bible to Job.  The only Bible that he has is just a simple pew Bible with very little “helps” inside of it.  There is no introduction to his copy of Job, but he did just pick up a copy of this Jesus Lens book.  Before he begins reading Job he reads through this book.  He learns here that the book of Job is about suffering—and suffering that doesn’t seem to make sense.  From the beginning pages he knows that Job will be exhorting him to trust in God even when it seems really dark.  He will find—through picking up his Jesus lens—that Christ is not only a model for enduring suffering but is the one by whom we are able to endure suffering and the one in whom suffering is ultimately conquered. 

My Take

Part of me really likes this idea.  I am in absolute agreement that we should read the Bible “through a Jesus lens”.  I also welcome a simple and easy to read introduction to not only this practice but also to books of the Bible.  I love being able to hand someone a quick reference that will help them see how to apply a “Jesus lens” to the book of Job, or Nehemiah, or any other book in the Bible.  So, part of me loves this idea.

The other part of me is…something.  I’m really not certain what word to call it.  Disappointed?  That’s too strong.  Cynical?  Yes, but that probably doesn’t apply here.  Whatever word you want to call it I question whether this book will actually accomplish what it intends to do.  I do not think it is myopic (that means narrow focused) to read everything through a Jesus lens.  But what I do think might be myopic is applying the Jesus lens only to the books major theme. 

Job has more gospel in it than simply that “God is active in areas and realms beyond our understanding”.  There is more to it than that Christ is the ultimate righteous sufferer and that He is in the business of making all things right even when we do not see His hand.  I agree with all of this theologically, and I even agree that these truths you can find in Job.  But what about what we can learn through Job about Christ-centered counseling?  What about the truth that Christ is the instrument by which God’s proclamations in Job 38-41?  There is so much more that a Jesus lens enlightens than could be covered in four pages. 

So again I’m…still can’t find the word.  I love the idea.  I love the practice.  I even like the simplicity of this book.  I just wonder if the fact that each book is only given four pages will be training readers to be a tad too myopic in their reading of Scripture.  Does it really train them to read through a Jesus lens or does it train them to read the Bible through a meta-narrative?  Both are crucial, but they are different.

Should You Buy It?

If you have been reading the Bible for years and already practice reading the Bible through a Jesus lens you may not find a ton of help here.  It’s not really written for you.  But you could buy it and give it to a new believer.  Even with my reservations I do heartily recommend this book for new Bible readers.  Do not attempt to make this book a stand alone or even the definitive book on teaching someone “how to read the Bible through the Jesus lens”. 

You can buy the book here.  And you really should.  Williams is a really good writer and he packs some in depth stuff into a really short section.  He does it, though, in a way that is not “heady” but it is written on a popular and very helpful level.  You will benefit from the book. 

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I received this book free from Zondervan in exchange for a review.  This review is also part of a Blog Tour that you can check out here.  Read the other reviews because other reviewers focused on other books of Scripture. 

Review of For the City

Churches can be IN the city, AGAINST the city, OF the city, or FOR the city.  It is the latter approach that Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter encourage churches to adopt.  Actually the word “city” could be replaced with culture.  Whether it be a rural farming community, a ghetto, a wealthy suburban area, or a gathering of mountain men in the hills of Kentucky the church has these four options in regards to her response to the culture. 

The church in the city is primarily focused with bringing outsiders into the church.  The church against the city has adopted a defensive posture that considers the culture irredeemable.  The church of the city “bends so far to the culture that they lose their distinctive Christian identity—they lose their ability to speak truth effectively.” (25)  But the church for the city is:

…a model of engagement where a church speaks the truth of the gospel and is not afraid to uphold a biblical worldview and moral standard.  Such a church proclaims the truths of Scripture with passion, clarity, and boldness.  At the same time, though, this is a church that commits itself to seek the shalom, the flourishing, of the city.  This means seeking the shalom of the people they live in community with, living sacrificially and using their gifts, time, and money to seek the peace and prosperity of their neighbors.  (26)

It is this vision that Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter unfold in the latest book in the Exponential Series:  For the City.  Carter and Patrick each write four chapters and then tag-team on the last two.  In the first part of the book (which is very engaging) both men share their experience of planting a church in a large city.  Patrick helped plant The Journey in St. Louis and Carter helped plant Austin Stone in Austin, TX. 

In the second part of the book Patrick tackles the topics of contextualization, community, and what it means to serve the city.  Carter considers equipping and suffering.  The book closes with both men sharing confessions of what they have done wrong, and then with a passionate plea to live like Jonah. 

Analysis

The community that houses the church where I serve is home to a little over 15,000 citizens.  If you combine the smaller surrounding towns there is at maximum 40,000 people in the area.  This is hardly what Carter and Patrick have in mind when they use the term "city”.  But that is okay says Carter, “those of you who aren’t located in a larger city, many of the concepts we discuss will work equally well where you are”.  (26)

So does it?  That is one key question that I was asking as I read through this book.  Does it transfer or do I need to be in a big city to apply the principles of For the City?

Darrin Patrick’s chapter on contextualization is certainly something that can be transferred to our church setting.  After giving a brief definition and defense for the necessity of contextualization he asks wide-open questions that can be used to exegete any culture.  He encourages churches to ask head, heart, and hand’s questions.  Such as, “what events rally the community?”, “what do they suffer and sacrifice for?, “what are people passionate about”?  Answering these questions can help a person exegete any community no matter the size.

Churches in any community are also tempted to drive off the ditch into syncretism and sectarianism.  And the healthy contextualization that Patrick presents--one which clings to “the true gospel with its brutal truth and beautiful grace (81)”—is certainly reproducible in any context. 

Patrick’s chapter on Community is also highly transferable.  Because the concepts are rooted in creation and inter-Trinitarian community they can be transferred anywhere.  The same thing goes for Patrick’s chapter on serving the city.  A smaller community may not be able to reproduce Luminary Center for the Arts or build a Karis House but they can ask questions that discern the needs of the community and figure out tangible ways to meet those needs.

Matt Carter’s chapters on Suffering and Equipping are a little less concrete than Patrick’s.  It is not difficult to see that suffering is universal.  And therefore the need for the church to not only suffer well but also meet the needs of those suffering is easily transferable. 

Carter’s central statement on equipping--1. Act, 2. Repeatedly, 3. Over Time (121) is a helpful reminder to any community.  Such a work takes time.  If we really want to be a church for the city it will take many efforts done repeatedly over time. 

For the City could easily be changed to For your Community because the concepts here really are transferable.  That alone does not make the book good.  Heresy and error could just as easily be transferable to every community as could solid biblical truth.  What makes this book good is that it is very solidly biblical, gospel-centered, and helpful to every church community. 

The fundamental question that this book leaves hanging over every church (or gathering that claims to be a church) is this one: If we shut our doors tomorrow would our community know we were gone?  Would the city leaders celebrate, feeling as if they had gotten rid of a nuisance?  Or would the city grieve and mourn our disappearance? (26)

If the principles of For the City are applied I believe that many more churches would be able to say, “yes our community would know that we were gone, and for the most part they will feel the impact of our departure”. 

One Frustration

There is one frustration that I continue to have with the books like this one.  They are almost solely written for church plants or younger churches.  I’m left with questions about how to apply some of these principles in a church that is heavily burdened (if not out right shackled) by a building program gone to seed. 

I agree that most churches are “so enamored with its own survival and maintenance that it forgot its mission” (74).  But how does that change?  In a church plant the planters/pastors have a much greater influence over creating the church culture.  Those of us that are pastors placed within a context that sometimes has deeply entrenched ideas about missions, giving, contextualization, etc. are often frustrated by the slow movement. 

I’m not faulting Patrick and Carter for not speaking to those of us that are not ministering in church plants.  We are not their fundamental audience.  I am speaking to those that are responsible for this exponential series.  Please, please, please find some people that have done it and write a book about changing a church from missional complacency to missionally passionate. 

I imagine the answer is slow patient but passionate plodding in gospel preaching. 

Conclusion

This book is very helpful.  Even if you are not a church plant and not in a “city” the questions in this book are broad enough to apply.  Every person reading this book will benefit from hearing Matt and Darrin’s confessions.  It will humble and encourage all that read. 

The passionate plea in the last chapter to be like Jonah is so soaked in the gospel that it will hopefully motivate for action and cause the heart to rise in worship. 

You can (and should) purchase this book for only 12.91.  I was fortunate enough to get it for free from Zondervan in exchange for a review. 

The Affliction of the Gospel

Wesley Hill is a celibate gay Christian.  And his new book, Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality, is absolutely breaking me.  Take this quote as an example:

..Far from being a tolerant grandfather rocking in his chair somewhere far away in the sky, God most often seems dangerous, demanding, and ruthless as he makes clear that he is taking our homoerotic feelings and actions with the utmost seriousness…We experience him both as an unwanted presence reminding us that our thoughts, emotions, and choices have lasting consequences, as well as radiant light transforming us gradually, painfully, into the creatures he wants us to be.

British theologian John Webster speaks of “the church facing the resistance of the gospel,” meaning that if the gospel brings comfort, it also necessarily brings affliction.  The gospel resists the fallen inclinations of Christian believers.  When we engage with God in Christ and take seriously the commands for purity that flow from the gospel, we always find our sinful dreams and desires challenged and confronted.  When we homosexual Christians bring our sexuality before God, we begin or continue a long, costly process of having it transformed.  From God’s perspective, our homoerotic inclinations are like “the craving for salt of a person who is dying of thirst” (to borrow Fredric Buechner’s phrase).  Yet when God begins to try to change the craving and give us the living water that will ultimately quench our thirst, we scream in pain, protesting that we were made for salt.  The change hurts.

Be sure you read what Wesley says here a couple of times.  Chew on it.  It’s wonderful.  But it’s also painful. 

My struggle is not the same as Wesley’s.  In fact my struggle is not as intense either.  And that is to my shame. Because his struggle is homoerotic desire and THAT is an abomination, Wesley has to battle.  But my struggle is different.  My struggle is with respectable stuff. So I don’t have to struggle with the same vigor as Wesley. I can fit in with my sin. 

But even though you may be fooled into thinking I have it all together, God is not.  And just as God is intensely afflicting Wesley with holiness—he is relentlessly, doggedly, pursuing me by afflicting my respectable sins with just as much fervor. 

I am thankful that God isn’t that tolerant grandfather.  I’m thankful that he loves me enough to afflict me with a painful gospel that rips my respectable life to shreds.  I am also thankful that he gives me water when I’m screaming for salt. 

You need to read Wesley’s book…Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Tips For Transforming a City

This week I am reviewing and interacting with the fascinating and helpful book by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams: To Transform a City.  You are encouraged to read my review and also the second part of that review. 

I thought today it may be helpful to list the 6 practical things the authors mention for getting started.  Perhaps this will spark some more interest and you will purchase the book to fill out these suggestions. 

Six suggestions for beginning your quest to transform a city:

1. Recognize that loving, serving, and ministering to our communities—getting the church outside the walls—is something God is already doing.
2. Understand that we cannot get different results from just doing more or trying harder at the same things we’ve done in the past
3. Learn all you can about your city (there are tons of great suggestions within the book on this one)
4. Remember that you are a kingdom builder and not just a community volunteer
5. Begin meeting with other city leaders and share your heart and vision for transformation
6. Remember that this is a work of God, who uses yielded people of faith, prayer, and action.

You may also enjoy this week’s Zondervan blog tour on this book.

To Transform a City Review Pt. 2

Yesterday I posted my review of To Transform a City.  It really is a helpful book and will cause you to think.  But hopefully it causes us to do more than just think—hopefully it stirs us to action as well. 

I did mention, though, there are a few questions/concerns that I had with the book.  One was its view of the kingdom.  I’m still learning about that myself, so I mentioned that it’s possible the problem is more with my own heart and mind than the book itself.  I encourage you again to judge for yourself from the Scriptures. 

The other main question/concern that I had can be found with the Quadrant on page 129.  I really wish I could provide you a copy of this, but you’ll have to buy the book yourself.  I’ll do my best to describe it. 

This quadrant is comparing demonstration with proclamation.  Each quadrant is an intersection of being internal or external focused in both these categories.  The fourth-quadrant is the one that Swanson and Williams are promoting.  It has as its goal “saving the lost and serving the least”.  It is externally focused in both demonstration and proclamation.  The quadrant in the lower left corner (I believe that would be Quadrant-II) is internally focused on both deeds and proclamation. 

I agree that it is a great danger to be externally focused on demonstration but quiet on proclamation.  I also agree that it is a truncated view of the gospel to only be verbal and not to also minister with life.  I agree that the gospel should be “show and tell” and not either/or.

But here is my concern.  Without quadrant-II then quadrant-IV cannot exist in any meaningful way.  (Maybe this is what that line across it is referring to, if so then I agree and consider this only a way of highlighting something awesome in the book). 

What I see happening so often are churches that neglect the “building up of the saints” for the sake of saving the lost and serving the least as if one is more commendable than the other.  It is a great faux pas for a church to be “internally focused”.  But the truth is, and they even point this out in the book, unless a church is transformed (inward) there is no real way for it to engage in transformation of community (outward). 

Sometimes this book assumes gospel transformation within the body.  It’s a high-wire act to balance inward focus and external focus but I believe a good portion of the NT is given to the building up of the saints.  Yes, that building up of the saints is for the sake of extending the gospel kingdom, but that building up can never be assumed.  And we can never assume that we’ve arrived. 

The truth is that churches should be internal and external.  Perhaps this is also an area where we cannot choose either/or but instead we choose a both/and. 

Tomorrow I’ll give you a few helpful tips from the book on transforming your community. 

Again you are encouraged to read the review and purchase the book.

Review of To Transform a City by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams

When Sam Williams hit the streets of San Francisco to discover the public opinion of church he was struck by one particular response: “The church is a parasite.  It owns the best property.  Doesn’t pay any taxes.  And doesn’t help anybody”.  Granted, that is probably an overstatement.  But far too many churches fit the bill of “doesn’t help anybody”.  Sam Williams and Eric Swanson hope this book is one thing that changes that. 

Their appeal is that churches begin partnering with “any organization that is morally positive and spiritually neutral” (17) for the sake of the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole city.  Obviously, they are not calling on unbelievers to spread a gospel they do not believe in.  But they are saying that churches should engage in community transformation even with unbelievers. 

Swanson and Williams really hope to expand our understanding of the mission and kingdom of God.  They encourage believers and churches to become what they term quadrant-IV Christians.  By Quadrant-IV they mean those who are salt and light that have as our goal both saving the lost and serving the least.  And rather than simply looking to transform individuals we also hope to see a transformed community.  This is an encouragement for churches to not only show, and not only tell, but to actively show and tell the beauty of the gospel.

This book is packed with stories of real people doing what is described in this book.  Williams and Swanson are not passive bystanders merely presenting a theory.  They are actively engaged in doing what this book is talking about.  So because of that they are able to also give some insight and practical help for those inspired to transform their community. 

There is much to commend in this book and anyone desiring to transform a city with the gospel will benefit from interacting with this work.  In fact the book really could be titled To Transform a Community.  The ideas suggested in this book are probably easier to apply in a larger community, but they are certainly just as applicable in a smaller one. 

A few concerns

After reading and thinking through this book I do have a few questions or concerns that cause me to pause.  This may be more the result of the book causing me to think, and/or the Lord creating growth in my heart and mind.  Or it may be legitimate “holes” in the book.  Judge for yourself. 

One particular concern is most clearly shown on page 75.  In this section the authors are discussing how Swanson’s son Andy shares the gospel.  In sharing the gospel Andy actually presents a model of the kingdom to unbelievers and asks things like “what would our campus be like if all of our students followed Jesus and lived as he lived?”  This section concludes with this statement:

“Wow!  Even those who don’t know Christ know that the kingdom is a better story than the one we have.  Life in the kingdom is universally attractive.  The gospel is much bigger than just a personal relationship with God—the gospel of the kingdom can literally change the world”.  (75)

I absolutely agree with that last sentence.  No beef there.  But I do wonder how the “attractiveness of the kingdom” squares with 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (among other places).  It seems to me that the NT pattern is not necessarily that the gospel is attractive to unbelievers but actually a stumbling block.  Undoubtedly Christ grew large crowds of people as he was meeting their needs (see John 6) but often—and this is one of the points of the gospel of John—the gospel is attractive in signs/service but a stumbling block at the point of discipleship (John 6:66). 

So I find myself wondering whether it really is the “whole gospel” if it is met with a “wow, that’s really attractive” type of response.  I agree, and the authors do a wonderful job of showing this, that service is often the open door to sharing the gospel.  But at the end of the day is society really “transformed” in a kingdom type of way while people within it are still rebelling? 

Again, the authors do a wonderful job of encouraging us to engage people with the message of the gospel.  This book does not promote a social gospel, and I do not believe the authors would ever intend to mute or dull the gospel.  But I’m just not sure I agree with their view of the kingdom of God and what its advancement looks like.

I’ll take up my second concern tomorrow…

At the end of the day though, this book is a really good read and a wonderful resource.  You will benefit from reading it and thinking through it.  You can buy it for only 12.90 at Amazon .

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.

This review is part of a blog tour hosted by Zondervan.  I received this book free from Zondervan in exchange for a review.  You can follow the blog tour here. 

Review of ZECNT Commentary on Galatians by Thomas Schreiner

Perhaps my favorite professor at SBTS is Dr. Tom Schreiner.  He is extremely wise but is also exceedingly humble.  In his classes I not only learn about the text that we are studying, I also learn what it means to be a gracious pastor, expositor, and writer.  Obviously, then, I was excited for the opportunity to review this book.  I received it free from Zondervan in exchange for a review. 

The particular copy that I received is the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Galatians.  The ZECNT is a new commentary series designed with pastors and students in mind.  It is not bogged down by overly technical details, nor is it a simple running commentary.  The ZECNT is unique. 

Each Bible passage has addresses seven primary components: Literary context, main idea, translation and graphical layout, structure, exegetical outline, explanation of the text, and theology in application. 

Probably the most unique feature of the ZECNT is the translation and graphical outline section.  Dr. Schreiner has his students do something very similar in all of his classes.  These are helpful ways of seeing the flow of a passage and how all of the different propositions relate to one another.  It is encouraging to see these in commentaries.  This is probably the most helpful treatment of biblical passages that I have seen in a commentary. 

If you are looking for a really in-depth commentary the ZECNT is only going to scratch the surface.  But if you are looking for something to provide a “feel” for the passage, or if something to help place the text in its literary context, then the ZECNT will be the commentary for you. 

Specifically, this commentary on Galatians is wonderful.  I did not have time to read through all of it but what I did was phenomenal.  I also have the advantage of having sat through Dr. Schreiner’s classes and I know how trustworthy he is as an expositor.  You may not agree with all of his conclusions but you will certainly have a clear understanding of his position.  In my opinion Schreiner is definitely one of the top 5 bible commentators in our day (perhaps the best on Paul). You will richly benefit from this volume.

Who is this commentary for?  Schreiner writes in the preface that this is “especially for pastors and students who want some help with the Greek text”.  And he is certainly right.  Those with a knowledge of Greek and some seminary training will probably be the ones that benefit the most from these commentaries.  But I do not think those without formal education will be hopelessly lost.  There may be some things that are unfamiliar to those without training (like calling something a “gnomic aorist”), but these are not so prominent that you would get lost. 

I highly recommend these commentaries for any student of the Bible.  Especially this commentary on Galatians by Dr. Schreiner. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

You can buy the Galatians commentary for under 20 bucks at Amazon .  That is a GREAT price for a commentary like this!

Review of The Mission of God’s People

A couple years ago I was introduced to the writings of Christopher J.H. Wright.  My first exposure was to a massive book called The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative.  It quickly became one of my favorite books (you can read my review of it here).  In that review I noted that, “I would absolutely love to see a condensed version of this book for those that are more casual readers”. 

I was delighted to see what I thought to be a shorter version: The Mission of God's People .  I was further delighted to receive this book free from Zondervan in exchange for a review.  Much to my surprise I discovered that this is not actually a condensed version of The Mission of God.  It is very similar, and draws from Wrights’ earlier works, but this book is more a follow-up.  As Wright notes:

In this book, I am asking the “so what?” question on behalf of those of us whom this God of the Bible has called into saving and covenant relationship with himself-the church, the people of God from Abraham to the population of the city of God in Revelation.  Who are we and what are we here for?  If the Bible renders to us the grand mission of God through all generations of history, what does it tell us about the mission of God’s people in each generation, including our own?  What is our mission?  (Wright, 17, The Mission of God’s People)

Wright’s goal in this book is to spell out specifically the mission of God’s people.  He begins by explaining that this mission (which is really God’s mission) “requires the whole church to take the whole Gospel to the whole world” (Wright, 26).  What follows is an explanation of what this “whole gospel” entails. 

He begins with the big story and encourages believers to take the whole story to the whole world.  Where he goes next may seem surprising to some.  His third chapter is dedicated to creation care.  Many may read this and think that Wright has a liberal agenda.  He does not.  He has a gospel agenda.  What I appreciate about Wright is that “his gospel” is always centered on the finished work of Jesus Christ.  But “his gospel” is also full-orbed, touching every sphere of life. 

There are still 9 more chapters and about 200 more pages after chapter 3, but they can be summed up easily.  These chapters are a call to proclaim the living God with our life and with our lips.  Wright gives a passionate plea (rooted in the OT) for personal holiness.  He also encourages the verbal proclamation of the good news.  He closes the book by showing the relationship between worship and missions as well as showing the relevance of mission for today. 

Wright is a great author and is always a compelling read.  He is dedicated to Christ and the Scriptures.  What you read flows from a full-orbed, and well thought out biblical theology.  You may not agree with everything Wright says but you will certainly have a good understanding of where he is coming from. 

This is, however, another example of a Wright book that could be very beneficial but is a little redundant in places.  Even though a good read it still would benefit from being shortened by about 80 pages.  I’m still looking for a condensed version of The Mission of God.  Perhaps a condensed version of the two combined would be helpful.  Nonetheless, you will greatly benefit from reading this book. 

There are also a few relevant questions at the end of each chapter.  I am not certain that this would be conducive to a small group, but using this book when getting together with a few fellow believers to discuss missions may be beneficial. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For only 16.49 this book is well worth a pick up.  You can preview a good bit of it at Google Books as well.  It is also worth checking out the 9-Marks review of this book. 

Turning Controversy into Church Ministry Review

“While some churches debate the issue of homosexuality and others completely avoid it, struggling people fall through the cracks”.  So writes, W.P. Campbell in his new book only 12.91 .  I received this book free from Zondervan to review. 

Campell’s hope is that this book will serve to help people stop debating and start ministering with compassion but without compromise.  My guess is that this book will gain many supporters but also many detractors.  Campbell is not afraid to disagree with those that have “Grace with Compromised Truth” nor those that have Truth with Compromised Grace”.  That typically doesn’t win friends. 

This book has a TON to commend it.  I love that Campbell is bold enough to be biblical and not politically correct.  He truly believes that the way to love homosexuals is through the truth of the gospel.  I also love that Campbell is not afraid to take on those that refuse to have compassion on the homosexual community.  I think both groups, and all those in between, have quite a bit they can learn from this book. 

There is a call in this book that we Southern Baptists (all Christians really) need to heed.  As we are looking at how to be a Great Commission people and reach the unreached peoples of the world, Campbell pointedly asks, “what about the unreached gay culture”?

This book is also divided in a very helpful way.  The first three chapters are an analysis of the current situation (I imagine this will have to be updated in future editions).  The second part is dedicated to dealing with the controversy around homosexual ministry.  The third part is dedicated to specific application.  Sometimes, I question the headings (i.e. The Wisdom, Insights from Psychology), but nonetheless it is a helpful outline. 

I also love the stories from real people that are engaged in real battle at the end of each chapter.  This book from beginning to end is practical and truly accomplishes what it intends—to provide a blueprint for real-life ministry to homosexuals. 

I am not sure that I agree with everything that is suggested, but it made me think about a ton of things.  One particular area that I felt was somewhat neglected is the area of church discipline.  How would a church that practices healthy church discipline interact with homosexuality.  It would be an interesting chapter to add. 

This book warmed my heart in areas and convicted me in others.  It is well written, easy to read, and full of information and practical tips.  I heartily recommend it to anyone that is struggling through this issue, or wants to know how to effectively minister to the homosexual community.  Buy it for only 12.91, or get it on Kindle for under 10 bucks . 

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

There is also a blog tour that you may find interesting, here. 

P.S. I think this book would be well served to have a different cover.