Book Reviews

The Shepherd Leader (P&R Books) by Timothy Witmer is a biblical survey of the nature of authentic Christian leadership. Witmer surveys the primary ministries of shepherds -- knowing, feeding, leading and protecting -- and applies those insights to our lives as church leaders.

The final volume of Hughes Oliphant Old's masterful history of preaching and worship is now available with the publication of Volume 7, Our Own Time, in the series The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church (Eerdmans).

Have we manipulated the gospel in order to fit our own cultural preferences? In his new book Radical (Multnomah), David Platt urges us to step away from a lifestyle shaped by the "American dream" and enter a lifestyle shaped by Christ. In the process, David tells the story of how his own church has begun to get serious about the gospel. This is not a comfortable book to read, but it's an important one.

The Worship Architect (Baker Academic) by Constance Cherry offers practical counsel for designing worship. A professor at Indiana Wesleyan and former minister of music, Cherry offers a blueprint for the weekly process of designing meaningful worship experiences. The book is packed with helpful ideas and resources, and will be a valued resource for pastors and church leaders.

John Stott has been a wonderful leader and teacher within the evangelical movement for many years. Now 88, he takes up the pen one last time to talk about or walk with Christ in his new book The Radical Disciple (InterVarsity). Stott deals with several elements of Christian discipleship that are often neglected. The book also includes the text of his final address (at the 2007 Keswick Convention) before retiring from public ministry.

Alan Nelson's book Spiritual Intelligence (Baker) discusses how to use Jesus' discipling methods in enhancing your own spiritual growth.

Students of leadership--and that should include most church leaders--will enjoy the new book The Steward Leader (InterVarsity Press) by R. Scott Rodin.

Jonathan Merritt has taken on the subject of creation care and provided a balanced and biblically faithful treatment in his new book Green Like God (Faith Words). He argues that one can't be serious about loving God without caring about His creation.

J.I. Packer is one of the most gifted theological minds in today's church, so the revised and updated edition of his book Rediscovering Holiness (Regal) is welcome news.

Vernon Whaley's new book Called to Worship (Thomas Nelson) is an excellent study of biblical ideas relating to worship.