Book Reviews

This is one of those books that’s been on TBR List for a while. When it first came out I actually avoided it because I didn’t want to read about what I was experiencing. But my spiritual director recommended it would be helpful so I pulled it off the shelf, blew the dust off, and jumped right in. And boy was it helpful. I really appreciated how author Chuck DeGroat consistently calls his readers to a posture of humility. They may not be the grandiose narcissist we typically think of, but all of us feel the pull to preserve and project a false self to the detriment of our own soul. It would be easy to pick up this book for ammunition to rage against the narcissists in our lives. But it gently pulls us towards healthy, Christ-like humility and what a healthy relationship with ourselves looks like. This book will also help you see narcissistic behavior so you can guard yourself against its abuses. Page after page I found myself saying, “Yep, been there. Experienced that. Glad to know I’m not crazy.” It helped me personally understand how past wounds made me stay in a narcissistic environment for as long as I did. If you have ever been hurt by narcissism in the church, reading this book will help you feel seen and validated. It will also give you the tools to help navigate and get out of that dangerous environment. Chuck pulls from decades of counseling experience to help his readers understand the wounds that lead to narcissist behavior while at the same time time holding narcissists accountable for their abusive behavior. And does so while displaying the true heart of a pastor. I highly recommend reading When Narcissism Comes to the Church. You can pick up your own copy by clicking the link below.

Prayer is one of those topics that always seems to convict me. I have never heard a sermon or read a book on prayer and not been challenged. Even as I am writing this review there is a bit of imposter syndrome because I know I should pray more. In A Praying Church , Paul Miller writes about how to become a people of hope in a discouraging world through prayer. And he does so in a way that was very authentic and accessible. While I was consistently challenged, I was also consistently encouraged. Throughout the book, he takes you on his journey of developing a personal prayer life plus countless stories of ministries that developed communal prayer as a vital component of their life together. One thing that struck home with me throughout these stories was the reality that prayer always grows out of desperation for God. There were several things that I found very helpful in this book. One of them was the connection between a life yielded to the Holy Spirit and a vibrant prayer life. The power to do anything of eternal importance comes from the Holy Spirit and the Spirit moves in response to prayer. Paul shows us a biblical pattern we see throughout the New Testament. Prayer-Spirit-Jesus-power. However, this is not a simple formula to get God to do what you want. Another thing I appreciated about this book is Paul tells us time and again that the Spirit often moves in ways we don’t expect and that almost always includes difficulties. The Spirit enables us to look more like Jesus and that means joining him in the fellowship of his suffering. So this is not a “how to turn God into your personal genie” scheme, like many books on prayer. God often answers in ways we don’t expect and in places we don’t anticipate. This book is also full of practical help. I’ve already mentioned the stories he tells, but Paul also offers several helpful charts, strategies, and ideas to help put into place what he writes about (and lives by.) At the end of each chapter, he has a section called “A Word To Pastors” with a few paragraphs of wisdom to help them become a person of prayer and then lead their congregation to become a church of prayer. This book also made me thankful that I am a part of a church that has sought to grow in corporate prayer over the last few years. This would be a great book for any ministry leader who is burdened with the prayer life of his or her church. But it’s also a great read for any believer seeking to develop their own prayer life. Crossway was kind to send me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get a copy of it at the affiliate link below.

Let me start this review by saying everyone should read this book. If you've grown up in Evangelicalism, you‘ve no doubt heard of purity culture. For the last several years we have seen the harm that has come as a result of this sub-group of Christianity. In Non-Toxic Masculinity, Zachary Wagner does an excellent job unpacking its teaching and the damage that has come as a result. He explains so well the angst I've been feeling with the movement and how often the Church falls short and winds up doing more damage. But unlike many critiques, this one also points a way forward. We know what toxic male sexuality looks like. We see it in the news and unfortunately, in the Church. But what does healthy male sexuality look like? What does it look like for me? What will it look like for my boys? In my heart, I know what I want it to look like, but so often I struggle to find the right words to express it. Non-Toxic Masculinity paints a healthy picture that is (re)humanizing and ultimately looks like Jesus, who, like all of us, had a sexual body. Zach is also very transparent in this book and God used his transparency to encourage, challenge, and convict me. As you read his story you will no doubt find yourself resonating with him on some level. Every man should read this book for themselves first and foremost. But if you have sons, nephews, grandsons, or young boys in your life, reading it is a must. Non-Toxic Masculinity is a breath of fresh air that will prove to be a tremendous resource for generations. Thank you Zach for writing it and sharing your story to serve us.

When happens when the mountains of suffering in our lives don’t move? What do we do then? How do we move forward when our prayers go unanswered? Many of us have had those experiences. And it’s to us that Jennifer Holmes writes those book. Filled with her own pictures of beautiful Canadian Mountains, Jen shares scripture, prayers, and her own story to remind us that God is with us, even in our darkest valley.

I am a sucker for a nice leather-bound Bible. While the CSB is my go-to Bible translation, I have always loved Crossway Bibles. They are so well-made and look gorgeous. For the last month, I have been using the large print, wide-margin Bible from Crossway and I have absolutely loved it. It features a genuine leather cover that feels nice in your hands, but you won’t be afraid of actually using it. It feels sturdy and after putting it through its paces the last month, I can tell you it holds up really well. This is a Bible that will last. The Bible is also a great size. It measures at 6.25 x 9.0 inches which is the perfect blend for a personal or preaching Bible. It has a great feel and weight to it, but you don’t feel like you are lugging around a giant family Bible. (Remember those?) It isn’t a Thinline Bible, but it isn’t super thick (the width is about 1.5 inches,) which is surprising considering how great the pages are for writing. It offers ample space on each page to take notes. And one of my favorite features of this Bible is how opaque the pages are. This is a must for any wide-margin or note-taking Bible. It also makes it incredibly easy on the eyes to read. The 11 point font also helps with that. (Is it a sign that I’m getting old that I appreciate bigger font??) Overall this is a great Bible. The gold-gilded edges contrast nicely with the black leather cover. It feels great in your hand and can be your go-to Bible for years. It would be a great place to keep track of how God works in your life, a record of sermon notes, or just a Bible to write your own study notes in. I know many people who will fill a Bible up with notes for a specific child or grandchild. This Bible would be a great option to do that with. So whether you are looking for your next “everyday carry” Bible, a Bible to preach and teach with, or an heirloom Bible to pass on to future generations, this wide margin from Crossway would be a good choice. I received a free copy of this Bible in exchange for a honest review.

Life can be hard. That is how the summary of A Faith That Will Not Fail starts. I read those words and thought, “ Yeah, no kidding. ” You don’t have to tell me that, lol. But let me tell you, Michele Cushatt doesn’t write those words as merely an observer. She writes them as one who has lived them more than most of us. I remember thinking multiple times, “ Can she just get a break? ” I’ve often thought about my own life. The prayer that goes up is, “ Haven’t I had my fair share yet? ” So as I read this book and heard her story I found myself relating in many ways. But the point of her books isn’t to prove the adage “misery loves company” true. It’s to equip the reader to have a faith that will not fail when life feels like it’s falling apart. And that is exactly what it does. Throughout the book, Michele kept lifting my eyes from myself towards our gracious Savior who gave everything for us. She helped me cling to God by showing me how she has clung to him and why he IS worth clinging to. Michele walks her readers through 10 practices that will build up their faith when life is hard. Practices like Lament, Shalom, Perspective, and Connection. Each practice includes 5 days' worth of readings that help deepen your confidence in the God who can handle your difficult questions and provide you with peace and security. I think I have only finished one or two devotionals in my entire life, but this one I just read straight through! I am happy to recommend this one. You can get your copy at the affiliate link below.

It’s easy to get hung up on specific details when we talk or think about the second coming of Christ. When will it happen? What are the signs? What’s the order of events that take place around his coming? We often get stuck on the specifics and miss the main point - Jesus comes back to earth! In Come, Lord Jesus , John Piper addresses many of those questions but all the while points us back to the main point. Christ is coming back and those who love his second coming will receive a crown of righteousness. Come, Lord Jesus is broken up into three main parts. In the first part, Piper gives many reasons to love Christ’s appearance. In this first section, he gets to the heart of his book. Here he explains why we should love the second coming and all the glorious realities that we will experience when it happens. For me, the chapter on Christ as Sovereign Servant and the joy we will experience when we have personal fellowship with him was most impactful. In his second section, he tackles several questions that surround the second coming of Christ. One of the things I appreciate about John Piper’s writings is he is thoroughly Scriptural. However, I often find myself having to re-read what he writes. I appreciated his seeking to provide biblical answers, but I felt confused more than once throughout this section. Piper’s mind works on a different level. The third section was without a doubt my favorite. In this section, he answers the question of how we are to live in light of Christ’s second coming. Scripture calls us to live with alertness, patient joy, and longing for justice but living in gentleness. The soon return of Christ does not lead us in laziness, but diligence; with a renewed focus on the mission of God and a love for our neighbor. This is the shortest section of the book, but it packed a powerful punch and is full of reminders that we all need regularly. If this section was the entire book, it would still be a great read. Piper concludes the book with a Hymn to Christ which proved to be a fitting end. It puts the truths in the book into song form and I loved reading it. I believe his goal in writing this book is to lead us into the worship of Christ and it does that. Even though there were parts I didn’t fully track with, my mind was still directed toward the coming of Jesus and ultimately worship and for that I am grateful. This book is worth anyone’s time who wants to read it and is a great end-times resource to have. “We are made to image forth the glory of God- to see it, love it, and be transformed by it so as to reflect it.” - John Piper I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get your own copy from the affiliate link below.

In 1650 two Scottish pastors wanted to summarize the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism and make it accessible to the average layperson. The result was the little book The Sum of Saving Knowledge. While this book is now largely unknown it most definitely has its place in church history, specifically Scottish Presbyterianism. Several martyrs of the faith mentioned it in their dying words. Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote in his diary that this little book was instrumental in his conversion. It was so popular when it was written that it was bound with almost every edition of the Westminster standard for centuries. The book has 4 chapters that explain how a person can come to saving faith, have the assurance of saving faith, and what the fruit of saving faith looks like. This book is a seventeenth-century, reformed way of saying: “this is what you need to know regarding salvation.” It’s very easy to read and comprehend in one setting (I did it in two. There was a trampoline break with the kids in the middle.) This little book would also make a great devotional tool because each chapter has several sections that begin with a verse of Scripture, an explanation of the verse, followed by an application section. Crown and Covenant has recently republished this work in a gorgeous hand-sized gift edition in modernized English. I always enjoy reading older theological works. As I was reading this I could sense the pastoral heart of the two pastors who wrote it. It was clear they were striving to create an accessible and concise work of theology that would point many to Jesus. They succeeded. Crown and Covenant has also created a free PDF study guide to go along with this reprinting that you can download on their website. Even for those who, like myself, are not Presbyterian or reformed in the most commonly used sense of the word, this is still a great addition to your library. The historic significance of this work alone makes it worth having.

How does grace shape our humility? There are a lot of different thoughts on what it looks like to be humble, but Gavin Ortlund shows us how the life and death of Jesus shapes this virtue. In Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness he address several misconceptions about humility and shows us what the Bible says about the topic. It isn’t hiding our abilities or pretending to be weak, it’s self-forgetfulness that leads to joy. Gavin unpacks what humility looks like on a personal level, church level, and in one of my favorite sections, a leadership level. This is a short little book (it took me less than 2 hours to listen to) but it packs a punch. It did a good job of helping me understand how to pursue humility without being obsessed with being perceived as humble. (So much irony.) It showed me how a healthy understanding of reality is actually the pathway to freedom and joy. This book displays how humility was a hallmark in the life of Jesus and how his Spirit wants to make it a hallmark in my life as well. This book served a reminder to be on guard against the subtle pride that often creeps into my life. So much of my frustration would be eliminated by living this out. I also realized that when humility frees me from living a self-absorbed life, joy is the result. I highly recommend reading this little book. It’s the first book from Crossway in their new Growing Gospel Integrity Series. It’s a quick, easy, and accessible read that has the potential to be incredibly helpful to all who read it.