My current stack looks like this:

PASTORAL:
The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
A Christian’s guide to leadership for the whole church by Derek Prime

DEVOTIONAL:
Voices from the Past: Puritan Writings
Spurgeon’s practical wisdom (Plain advice for plain people)

BIOGRAPHY:
Contending for our all by John Piper (the lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen)
James Henley Thornwell, His life and letters

So I was wondering if anyone else has read a good book or is planning to read something in the coming year that might inspire a few of us to read it as well.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a firm believer in the local church, as am I.  He was, of course, sympathetic to every evangelistic endeavor that did not compromise any Biblical truth; but he believed that the gospel preached in a worshipping church, and in a local setting, has an advantage over other situations.  Here the preacher is not just one man addressing a crowd; he is part of a community of believers who are not onlookers; they are involved; they too are witnesses in whom the Holy Spirit is present.  When this is a reality, the incomer is confronted by something that has no counterpart in the world – - “thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth‘ (1 Corinthians 14:25).

From New Testament times onwards, a vibrant, praying, witnessing church has always been the strongest authentication of the gospel.  For ML-J mass evangelism without a recovery within the churches was no solution.  The Biblical order is, ‘God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him‘ (Psalm 67:7).

I couldn’t agree more.

From Lloyd-Jones Messenger of Grace by Iain Murray

The first chapter of the book is entitled The Lloyd-Jones Legacies and there are six listed.  This is #2.

LEGACY #2 – THE TRUTH THAT CHRISTIANITY IS GOD-CENTERED RELIGION

God-centered Christianity does not mark churches in decline and it was rare in twentieth-century Britain.  In the Welsh chapel life of ML-J’s own background, the pulpit ethos was mainly sentimental, moralistic, and anecdotal.  It was worse in the many churches where liberal theology held sway; the message was akin to saying that a God of love exists for man’s comfort and happiness.  Even in evangelical circles the message of the gospel was too often reduced to the forgiveness to be gained by responding to Jesus Christ.  For Lloyd-Jones the whole approach was different.  Preaching needs to start from where the Bible starts: ‘In the beginning God’ – God Almighty, the Eternal, the Ruler and Judge of all.

“The Bible,” said Lloyd-Jones, “is the record of the activity of God.  God is the actor.  God is the center.  Everything is of God and comes from God, and turns to God.  It is God who speaks.  It is God who acts.  It is God who intervenes.  It is God who originates, who plans everything everywhere.”

Now it would be entirely incorrect to believe that DMLJ was disinterested in the needs of man and the application of the Bible to the lives of His hearers.. but he believed it is fatal to BEGIN with man and his needs rather than God and His glory.  His desire was to bring man a sense of God’s majesty and in turn to get a sense of our lives lived in response to it.

I think he was onto something, and my continual prayer is that my God-given opportunity to open the Bible with the company of God’s people will never come across as man-centered & self help, but God-centered and full of grace & truth.

Click here to view the embedded video.

‘LET THEM COME HOME’

by Abraham Piper

When I was 19, I decided I’d be honest and stop saying I was a Christian.   

At first I pretended that my reasoning was high-minded and philosophical. But really I just wanted to drink gallons of cheap sangria and sleep around. Four years of this and I was strung out, stupefied and generally pretty low. Especially when I was sober or alone.

My parents, who are strong believers and who raised their kids as well as any parents I’ve ever seen, were brokenhearted and baffled. (See sidebar story below.) I’m sure they were wondering why the child they tried to raise right was such a ridiculous screw-up now. But God was in control.

One Tuesday morning, before 8 o’clock, I went to the library to check my e-mail. I had a message from a girl I’d met a few weeks before, and her e-mail mentioned a verse in Romans. I went down to the Circle K and bought a 40-ounce can of Miller High Life for $1.29. Then I went back to where I was staying, rolled a few cigarettes, cracked open my drink, and started reading Romans. I wanted to read the verse from the e-mail, but I couldn’t remember what it was, so I started at the beginning of the book. By the time I got to chapter 10, the beer was gone, the ashtray needed emptying and I was a Christian. 

The best way I know to describe what happened to me that morning is that God made it possible for me to love Jesus. When He makes this possible and at the same time gives you a glimpse of the true wonder of Jesus, it is impossible to resist His call.

Looking back on my years of rejecting Christ, I offer these suggestions to help you reach out to your wayward child so that they, too, would wake up to Christ’s amazing power to save even the worst of us.

1. Point them to Christ. 

Your rebellious child’s real problem is not drugs or sex or cigarettes or porn or laziness or crime or cussing or slovenliness or homosexuality or being in a punk band. The real problem is that your child doesn’t see Jesus clearly. The best thing you can do for rebellious children—and the only reason to follow any of these suggestions—is to show them Christ. It won’t be simple or immediate, but the sins in their life that distress you and destroy them will begin to disappear only when they see Jesus more as He actually is. 

2. Pray.

Only God can save your children, so keep on asking Him to display Himself to them in a way they can’t resist worshiping Him for. 

3. Acknowledge that something is wrong. 

When your daughter rejects Jesus, don’t pretend that everything is fine.

If you know she’s not a believer and you’re not reaching out to her, then start. And never stop. Don’t ignore her unbelief. Ignoring it might make holidays easier, but not eternity. 

4. Don’t expect them to be Christlike.

If your son is not a Christian, he won’t act like one, and it’s hypocrisy if he does. If he has forsaken your faith, he has little motivation to live by your standards, and you have little reason to expect him to.

If he’s struggling to believe in Jesus, there is little significance in his admitting that it’s wrong to get wasted, for instance. You want to protect him, yes, but his most dangerous problem is unbelief—not partying. No matter how your child’s behavior proves his unbelief, always be sure to focus more on his heart’s sickness than its symptoms. 

5. Welcome them home.

Because your deepest concern is your son’s heart, not his actions, don’t create too many requirements for coming home. If he has any inkling to be with you, don’t make it hard for him. God may use your love to call him back to Christ. Obviously there are instances when parents must give ultimatums: “Don’t come to this house, if you are …” But these will be rare. Don’t lessen the likelihood of an opportunity to be with your child by pushing him away with rules. 

If your daughter stinks like weed or an ashtray, spray her jacket with Febreeze and change the sheets when she leaves, but let her come home. If you find out she’s pregnant, then buy her folic acid, take her to her 20-week ultrasound, protect her from Planned Parenthood, and by all means let her come home. If your son is broke because he spent all the money you lent him on loose women and ritzy liquor, then forgive his debt as you’ve been forgiven, don’t give him any more money—and let him come home. If he hasn’t been around for a week and a half because he’s been staying at his girlfriend’s—or boyfriend’s—apartment, urge him not to go back, and let him come home. 

6. Plead with them more than you rebuke them.

Be gentle in your disappointment.

What concerns you most is that your child is destroying herself, not that she’s breaking rules. Treat her in a way that makes this clear. She probably knows—especially if she was raised as a Christian—that what she’s doing is wrong. And she definitely knows you think it is, so she doesn’t need this pointed out. She needs to see how you are going to react to her evil. Your gentle forbearance and sorrowful hope will show her that you really do trust Jesus.

Her conscience can condemn her by itself. Your role is to stand kindly and firmly, always living in the hope that you want your child to return to.

7. Connect them to other believers.

Obviously, you are distant from your wayward child; otherwise you wouldn’t think they’re wayward. This is another reason why pleading is better than rebuking—your relationship with your rebellious child is tenuous and should be protected if at all possible.

But rebuke is still necessary. A lot of rebellious kids would do well to hear that they’re being fools, but you’re probably not the one to tell them. Try to keep other Christians in their lives and trust God to connect your son or daughter with a believer who can point out your child’s folly without getting the door slammed on them.

8. Respect their friends.

Of course your daughter’s relationships are founded on sin. And, yes, her friends are bad for her. But she’s bad for them, too. And nothing will be solved by making it evident that you don’t like who she’s hanging around with.

Be hospitable. Her friends are someone else’s wayward children, and they need Jesus, too.

9. E-mail them.

When you read something in the Bible that encourages you and helps you love Jesus more, write it up in a couple of lines and send it to your child. The best exhortation—better than any correction—is for them to see Christ’s joy in your life.

Don’t stress out when you’re composing these as if each one needs to be singularly powerful. Just whip them out and let the cumulative effect of your satisfaction in God gather up in your child’s inbox. God’s Word is never useless.

10. Take them to lunch.

If possible, don’t let your only interaction with your child be electronic. Get together with him face to face if you can. You may think this is stressful and uncomfortable, but trust me that it’s far worse to be in the child’s shoes—he is experiencing all the same discomfort, but compounded by guilt. So if he is willing to get together with you for lunch, praise God, and use the opportunity.

It may almost feel hypocritical to talk about his daily life, since what you really care about is his eternal life, but be sure to do it anyway. He needs to know you care about all of him. Then, before lunch is over, ask about his soul. You don’t know how he’ll respond. Will he roll his eyes like you’re a moron? Will he get mad and leave? Or has God been working in him since you talked last? You don’t know until you risk asking. God will give you the gumption.

11. Take an interest in their pursuits.

Odds are that if your daughter is purposefully rejecting Christ, then the way she spends her time will disappoint you. Nevertheless, find the value in her interests, if possible, and encourage her. You went to her school plays and soccer games when she was 10; what can you do now that she’s 20 to show that you still really care about her interests?

Jesus spent time with tax collectors and prostitutes, and He wasn’t even related to them. Imitate Christ by being the kind of parent who will put some earplugs in your pocket and head downtown to where your daughter’s CD release show is. Encourage her and never stop praying that she will begin to use her gifts for Jesus’ glory instead of her own.

12. Point them to Christ.

This can’t be stressed enough. It’s the whole point. No strategy for reaching your son or daughter will have any lasting effect if the underlying goal isn’t to help them know Jesus. 

The goal is not that they will be good kids again. It’s not that they’ll get their hair cut and start taking showers; it’s not that they’ll like classical music instead of deathcore; it’s not that they’ll vote conservative again by the next election. The goal is not for you to stop being embarrassed at your weekly Bible study or even for you to be able to sleep at night, knowing they’re not going to hell.

The only ultimate reason to pray for them, welcome them, plead with them, eat with them, or take an interest in their interests is so that their eyes will be opened to Jesus Christ.

And not only is He the only point, but He’s the only hope. When they see the wonder of Jesus, satisfaction will be redefined. He Himself will replace the money, or the praise of man, or the high, or the sex that they are staking their eternities on right now. Only His grace can draw them from their perilous pursuits and bind them safely to Him—captive, but satisfied.

God will do this for many. Be faithful and don’t give up. 

I love to read biographies, and of course the vast majority of biographies are written because of somebody’s significance. What drew me to this biography was the title MEMOIRS OF AN ORDINARY PASTOR: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson by D.A. Carson. This sounded like a biography for the rest of us. Those of us that live “ordinary” lives. As far as biographies are concerned, this one was the most “ordinary” I’ve ever read. I mean that in a good ‘change of pace’ kind of way. I appreciate being invited in to the daily life of someone that has had a calling much like mine.

Tom Carson’s ministry was in a small Baptist church in Canada, and the church he pastored met in a room adjacent to his home, and the congregation never grew to more than 50 or so persons. He preached ever Sunday morning and evening, visited individuals throughout the week, and was know for his practical love and concern for all the people under his care.

Tom and his family lived near the poverty line throughout his ministry, and they never seemed to mind or complain.

Don (the author and the subject’s son) writes: “By today’s standards we were shockingly poor… Despite extended illness in the family, which sometimes cost huge amounts of money that we did not have, Dad and Mum would pray, and somehow the money would come in, to the last cent. Dad and Mum made no big deal of this; they were simply quietly grateful.”

He was on the receiving end of some unbelievably unfair treatment by the leader of his denomination which resulted in his support being cut off and his ministry not recognized, and he never spoke poorly of the individual to family or friends. He just continued on faithfully. His son (D.A. Carson) questioned his father later in life about that painful episode:

Don: “So how come you never told us kids any of this?”

Dad (after a long pause): “There were two reasons. First, you were children of the manse, and although you have seen the outworking of the gospel, you have also seen more than your share of difficult and ugly things. And we did not think it wise to expose you to this history when you were young. Second, Marg and I decided we needed to protect our own souls from bitterness. So we took a vow that neither of us would ever say an unkind thing about T.T. Shields. And we have kept our vow.”

Then follows a note from Tom’s daughter Joyce:

“As I look back on life with Mom and Dad, perhaps the one thing I recall most vividly is the memory that I don’t have. Try as I might, I cannot recollect one time when either of them spoke negatively about another person. Although Mom was an extremely astute judge of character, her analyses were well seasoned with grace and the latent potential for redemption.”

What an example and challenge to all of us as parents.

I’ll mention only one more moment from Tom’s life that speaks of his pastor’s heart: Don writes:

“I cannot fail to mention that on one memorable occasion while I was still in high school, I went looking for Dad after the morning service… He was not where he usually was. I found him in his study, the door not quite closed. He was on his knees in front of his big chair, tears streaming down his face, as he interceded with God for the handful of people to whom he had just preached. I remember some of their names to this day.”

Tom retired from his position a few years later, took a government job in translation work, and continued to be a lay pastor for the remainder of his life.

His final years were spent caring for his wife of 50 years as she succumbed to Alzheimer’s.

I am grateful for books like this one. Ordinary lives are the one’s God has chosen for the majority of us, but there is something of the supernatural in the faithful and ordinary, and it is beautiful.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Newton’s turbulent early years through his disastrous teens and twenties as the captain of a slave ship all the way to God’s call on his life into pastoral ministry, this biography gives you a sense of the amazing grace Newton has come to be known for. Newton summarized his own life from his deathbed as recorded by William Jay: “I saw Mr. Newton near the closing scene (of his life). He was hardly able to talk; and all I find I had noted down upon my leaving him was this: ‘My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and the Christ is a great Savior.‘”

He actually wrote his own epitaph that still resides over his grave. It reads:

JOHN NEWTON
ONCE AN INFIDEL AND LIBERTINE
A SERVANT OF SLAVES IN AFRICA
WAS
BY THE RICH MERCY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST
PRESERVED, RESTORED, PARDONED
AND APPOINTED TO PREACH THE FAITH
HE HAD LONG LABOURED TO DESTROY

This self-description, taken in conjunction with what were almost his last words – “I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior” – clearly demonstrated the depth of John Newton’s gratitude to God for rescuing him from disgrace and redeeming him with amazing grace.

I commend this book to all.

Todd