CHURCH MEMBERSHIP – Jonathan Leeman (2012)

Jonathan Leeman’s newest installment, Church Membership is his latest contribution to the 9Marks Healthy Church Series.  The author sets out to help readers understand what church membership is – since many appear to be confused or reject the very notion.

Leeman begins by arguing that the church is the highest kingdom authority on earth: “The local church is the authority on earth that Jesus has instituted to officially affirm and give shape to my Christian life and yours.”  So when God’s people gather together, they do so under the kingly authority of Jesus.

Additionally, the author maintains that the church is an embassy :  “A local church is a real-life embassy, set in the present that represents Christ’s future kingdom and his coming universal church.”  Leeman continues, “A church member is a person who has been officially and publicly recognized as a Christian before the nations, as well as someone who shares in the same authority of officially affirming and overseeing other Christians in his or her church.”

And the author presents a principle that really emerges as the theme of the book, namely – “Christians don’t join churches; they submit to them.”  This theme is developed later in the book as Leeman carefully develops the rationale for biblical submission.

Church Membership is a welcome addition to the 9Marks Series.  The arguments are clear and biblical.  The importance of church membership is emphasized in gracious tones that will captivate readers and spur them to action.

3.5 stars

SAVING EUTYCHUS – Gary Millar and Phil Campbell (2013)

I have a confession to make: I love books about preaching.  There’s something exhilarating about reading about God’ spoken word.  Indeed, every preacher is called to “preach the gospel … not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor. 1:17).  Saving Eutychus: How To Preach God’s Word and Keep People Awake is unique in its own right.  It does not exhibit the strengths found in other preaching books, however.  For instance, it does not stress the gravitas of the spoken word like Steven Lawson’s The Kind of Preaching God Blesses.  It does not stress the importance of God-centeredness in preaching like John Piper’s work, The Supremacy of God in Preaching.  It does not address preaching in a postmodern milieu like Albert Mohlers’s, He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Post-Modern World.  And it doesn’t have the punch and power of Martyn Lloyd-Jones book, Preaching and Preachers.  But this is not to suggest that Millar and Campbell have missed the mark.  Nothing could be further from the truth!

Saving Eutychus is a refreshing reminder to pastors to preach sermons that aim for life transformation.  Preaching must change lives and transform hearts.  The thrust of their message is similar to the one I received in my D. Min program under Dr. Donald Sunukjian.  My professor stresses over and over that the primary job of the sermon was not to “inform but to transform.”

Additionally, Millar and Cambell drive home the importance of keeping the people in the pews engaged.   The book includes several practical suggestions for not only keeping people awake but keeping them engaged as well.  And the bottom line: When people are not engaged, it is usually not their fault.  Rather, it is the fault of the preacher.

Saving Eutychus echoes the main theme of Haddon Robinson’s, Biblical Preaching by presenting the importance of developing a sermonic big idea.  Don Sunukjian drilled this into my brain over ten years ago as well.  It is a lesson I’ve never forgotten.

Saving Eutychus includes a section on effective delivery that I found very helpful.  The authors call it the “delivery sphere” where pastors are encouraged to vary their pace, volume and pitch.  They rightly note, “Dull preaching shares a few characteristics.  Monotone delivery – locked on a fixed pitch – is hypnotic.”

Finally, whenever Don Carson recommends a book, potential readers should listen carefully.  Carson gets the last word here: “If I could, I would make this little book mandatory reading for seminarians everywhere, and then urge them to read it a couple more times during the course of their ministry.  It avoids cutesy and manipulative suggestions, and makes its practical points while urging integrity, faithfulness, and imagination.  Many books on preaching are published every year; this one is a ‘must.’”

4 stars

JOHN ELEFANTE – On My Way to the Sun (2013)

Kansas was my first taste of progressive rock in the early 80′s – a blend of heavy guitars, keyboards, and melodic vocals – set to complex melodies and soul-searching lyrics.  Songs like Play the Game Tonight, Hold On, and Fight Fire With Fire set a high watermark for a new generation of musicians.  John Elefante provided the vocals for those Kansas classics.  He continues his musical journey with his latest, release, On My Way to the Sun.

The first thing listeners will notice is the classic sound that catapulted Kansas into the national spotlight over thirty years ago. Strong and melodic vocals dominate the album.  The production is first-rate, the kind of work that Elefante fans have grown accustomed to.  The arrangements are tight and sound is current – really a mix of the present and the past.

The title cut, On My Way to the Sun tracks a pilgrim who learns hard lessons and ultimately comes to the end of himself: “Lately, life’s been good to me/I finally found the key to what it’s all about/This is a life that’s been truly turned around/And this is no make believe.”

This is How the Story Goes is an 11 minute progressive tune that is reminiscent of Kansas; a true feast for the ears. Elefante is quick to alert listeners about the most important thing in life, namely – one’s eternal destiny: “And this is how the story goes/You must believe it all my friends from the beginning to the end/Cause everyone lives forever/We just have to choose where my friend.”  As the tune progresses, the answer is given for people desperate for hope: “A Virgin had a Son/And a stone was rolled away/So how can we be terminal because He lives today.”  Kansas fans will swear that Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope joined Elefante for this one!

We All Fall Short is a brilliant acoustic driven tune that awakens listeners to this fundamental reality, namely, every person has committed cosmic treason against a holy God, and has as a result, fallen short of His glory:  ”But we all fall short of the glory of the Lord/And if we stand on the fence it’s not a life we can afford/No better place to be than beneath His wings/And the love that we crave is the love that He brings.”

This Time is a haunting, cello dominated tune that follows a girl who gets pregnant outside of wedlock and is pressured to walk through the  horrific prospect of having an abortion.  The song is a powerful reminder that life is a gift from God – that life is meant to be cherished and treasured.  A very special song, indeed.

Confess is a gospel-exalting song that celebrates the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and the forgiveness He offers every person who confess their transgressions: ”Praise Him and fall to your knees and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord/And He’ll be faithful to forgive you of your sin/Just confess that Jesus is Lord.”

My hope is that John Elefante’s new work will attract a whole new audience.  This is masterful music that honors God and lifts the cross of Christ high!  Play it loud and worship with a heart that magnifies and exalts the King of the universe!

5 stars

C.H. SPURGEON ON SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP – Steve Miller (2003)

C.H. Spurgeon On Spiritual Leadership by Steve Miller encourages readers, especially pastors, to emulate the life of the prince of preachers – Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  Spurgeon was not only known for his breathtaking preaching; he is also celebrated for his spiritual leadership.

The author has selected some key areas of leadership that mark the life of the British pastor including prayer, faith, holiness, service, love for the Word of God, a heart for the lost, and a single-minded affection for the gospel of Christ.  Spurgeon quotes are littered throughout the book which serve as a catalyst for ministry and further study.

C.H. Spurgeon On Spiritual Leadership, while good –  is a very basic introduction to the prince of preachers.  I recommend Iain Murray’s, The Forgotten Spurgeon for a more comprehensive treatment.

3 stars

PREACH [Theology Meets Practice] – Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert (2012)

Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert love the church of Jesus Christ.  Whenever one of their books is released, it becomes immediately clear that a love for Christ’s church and the gospel are at the very core of each man.  For example, I give a copy of Greg Gilbert’s excellent work, What is the Gospel? to each baptismal candidate at the church I pastor.  It’s that good!  So when Dever and Gilbert combine their collective experience and wisdom in order to write a book on preaching, my attention is automatically piqued.

Of course the authors don’t disappoint.  Preach [Theology Meets Practice] is extremely informative and encouraging.  Part One covers basic theological territory that lays the groundwork for the remainder of the book.  The authors explore the important themes of propositional revelation, the power of God’s Word, and the centrality of expositional preaching.  The kind of preaching they rightly promote is defined as “preaching in which the main point of the biblical text being considered becomes the main point of the sermon being preached.”  Finally, the section concludes with a discussion that discusses the purpose of preaching: “We preach with the goal of spurring believers on in their maturity in Christ and of awakening nonbelievers to their need for the Savior … we preach with two main aims, to edify and to evangelize.”

Part Two surveys the practice of preaching.  This highly practical section includes the nuts and bolts of the preaching task – preparation, structure, outlining, diagraming, and delivering the sermon.  Dever and Gilbert trade back and forth sharing their particular bent on a given matter which brings depth to the overall tone of the book.

Once again, Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert provide an invaluable service to the church.  Preach [Theology Meets Practice] is a terrific book for both beginning preachers and seasoned veterans.  Beginning preachers will be encouraged to focus on the fundamentals of preaching and gain a host of practical suggestions that will inform and enhance their ministries for years to come.  Experienced preachers will be refreshed and will receive new motivation for continuing a work that is of utmost value in God’s kingdom.

4 stars

THEOCRACY – As the World Bleeds (2011)

It’s possible that Theocracy may be one of the best and most under-rated bands in the world.  While the boys from Atlanta boast a huge underground following, for some reason they have not gained the notoriety they deserve.  Their latest album, As the World Bleeds should have catapulted them onto a bigger stage.  It is filled with progressive metal that rivals bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X.

But what sets Theocracy apart is their approach to songwriting.  While all the songs are valuable in their own right, a few in particular tunes stand out.  Nailed follows a man who seeks desperately to receive salvation – but he travels a path of works-based righteousness that leads to emptiness and frustration:

I’ve been working for my whole life to get to the other side
And try to achieve true righteousness
All the scourges and whips I cracked
The flesh I ripped off my back
It only led me to emptiness

Here I am, a broken man who’s done all that a man could do
And found that it’s only filthy rags
Monasteries, religious schools, indulgences, laws and rules
It all added up to nothing and darkness and death
Vanity, Heartache, and emptiness
Efforts all fading away
The flesh and defeat that it brings
‘Till You guide me and show me things
That my eyes have never seen before
As I burst forth from the belly of the beast
Never fight it anymore
For the burden on my life has been released
Nail it to the door

Nailed these ninety-five things I’ve learned
They’ll say that I must be burned
For God has no place for heretics
All the things that they try to sell
It’s trickery straight from Hell
To turn it into a den of thieves

See these madmen peddling the wares of dead men’s souls
Collecting on a debt already paid so long ago
There’s fire in my spirit, and fire in their eyes
For now they’ll want to burn me alive
Yet freedom rings
Unworthiness is all I bring
The blood of Christ is all I claim
This grace revealed everything
That my eyes have never seen before
As I burst forth from the belly of the beast
Never fight it anymore
For the burden on my life has been released
Nail it to the door

Of course, the context reveals that the identify of the man:  This is the German monk, Martin Luther who rediscovered the doctrine of justification by faith alone and published his astonishing biblical conclusions for the world to see on the castle door at Wittenberg.  Of course, not everyone is as pleased with these lyrics that celebrate the Protestant Reformation.  But Theocracy is merely rehearsing the God-centered resolve and resolutions of Luther.  Soli Deo Gloria!

30 Pieces of Silver is a fast-moving epic metal tune that gets inside the head of Judas Iscariot:

All the treasure in the world so blinding
30 pieces of silver shining
Tell me what’s the price you seek
To place the kiss of death upon His cheek?
Blood money and the serpent winding
30 pieces of silver shining
Treasure fades away
What a price to pay anyway

Drown explores Peter’s faltering faith and the struggle of every believer to trust Christ in the face of adversity:

I see a ghost, a spirit
Walking on the water
He bids me come to Him
Without a boat
To walk upon the sea

So I jump over the edge
And take a step upon the water
I’m getting closer
As I feel the sea move
Underneath my feet

I feel the wind and hear
The roar of waves
That crash around me
And when they get their hold on me
I feel I’m going down
Please don’t let me drown

Like Peter all those years ago
Who looked away and sank below
When I sink in seas of doubt
Will You take my hand and pull me out?
The devil and the deep blue sea
With open arms awaiting me
But I won’t go down tonight
If I keep my eyes on You, I’ll be alright

Altar to the Unknown God recounts Paul’s address to the philosophers at Mars Hill.  It is a bold denunciation of the propensity for humans to erect idols and bow down to gods of stone and a challenge to pay homage to the one true God:

Build a fire and fan the flame
Sacrifice without a name
Offerings on the altar to the unknown god

Multitudes of gods cover our landscapes and our lives
Images of deities and halls of sacrifice
Philosophers and scholars and sophisticates we are
Our gods are our religion and religion is our god

A stranger came to town one day
And fearlessly proclaimed
“The unknown god you worship
On this altar has a name”
He said, “This god is not an image
Or a statue of the dead
In Him we live and have our being
As your own poets have said”

He dwells not in temples
Built by human hands
He needs no assistance
Or service of man
The nameless you worship
Is greater than all
Your idols of death
Never answer your call
All nations He formed
From the flesh of one man
He marked out their times
And the boundaries of lands
Your life and your breath
He bestows with the day
So seek Him and find Him
For He is not far away

As the World Bleeds is classic Christian metal album with songwriting that is biblically informed and combined with soaring and melodic vocals, screaming guitars, and a relentless rhythm that matches the intensity of the lyrics.  If you’re looking for elevator music to calm your gangled nerves, you might look elsewhere!  But if you’re after face-melting, progressive, epic, Christocentric metal, Theocracy is is for you!

JOHN NEWTON: ANGRY SAILOR – Kay Marshall Strom (2012)

Angry Sailor tells the tale of the 18th century British slave trader, John Newton.  The story sets sail with Newton, an eleven year old boy aboard his father’s ship.  The author traces Newton’s life from a simple sailor to a life of debauchery aboard a slave trading ship.  It is well-known that Newton lived a life of sin for many years, hating God and hating mankind – until the sovereign hand of God rescued him by his grace.  God not only delivered Newton from the horrible slave trade industry; more importantly, he rescued him from the slave market of sin.

Kay Marshall Strom writes this short historical narrative with children in mind.  And she does a worthy job.  The story telling is good and God’s sovereign grace is clearly articulated.  A must read for children of all ages!