Book Reviews

Can preachers learn something about communication from television? Absolutely, and TV veteran Tony Gentilucci offers practical guidance in his new book Stop Preaching and Start Communicating (Castle Quay Books). As Andy Stanley observes, the book "goes right to the heart of what it means to be an effective communicator in the 21st century."

In We Speak Because We Have First Been Spoken (Eerdmans), Asbury preaching professor Michael Pasquarello deals with the life and character of the preacher. He offers "a vision that is grounded in personal character, wisdom, judgment and discernment."

Students of the history of preaching (and of American history) will enjoy Preaching Politics (Baylor University Press) by Jerome Dean Mahaffey.

In his book Border Crossings, Rodney Clapp says, "A noted Western philosopher, introduced to the world in 1926, was one day sitting on a log when he heard a buzzing sound. He was puzzled and fell to pondering. As his leading chronicler remembers the event, the philosopher reasoned along the following lines:

Missiologists Alan and Debra Hirsch urge readers to move toward serious missional discipleship in their new book Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship (Baker).

In their new book Jesus Manifesto (Thomas Nelson), Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola argue that the church today is suffering from "Jesus Deficit Disorder" and needs to reconnect with the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.

Sidney Greidanus has written some of the most substantial work on preaching in recent years, and preachers warmly can welcome anything he publishes. His newest book is Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes: Foundations for Expository Sermons (Eerdmans).

Ready for some meaty summer reading? Entrusted with the Gospel (B&H Academic) is a collection of essays on Paul's theology as expressed in the pastoral epistles. The volume provides an excellent foundation of study for a series on Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus.

In Plan B (Thomas Nelson), pastor Pete Wilson deals with how God can work through disappointment to accomplish His purpose in our lives. The book is subtitled What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? There are some great insights here for pastors preaching sermons (and series) on this topic.