Book Reviews

Some pastors read about churches that consist mostly of a single demographic category (like young suburban couples) and recognize their own churches (with a mix of generations from babies to seniors) are sharply different. Howard Vanderwell has brought together a team of writers to produce The Church of All Ages.

Sometimes it seems there's a whole industry now producing books questioning Christian faith and biblical truth (often by citing later Gnostic writings as if they are on a par with the biblical canon). One author making a living off such skepticism is Bart Ehrman.

With identity theft a growing problem, pastor Mike Breaux takes a creative turn with the topic in the book Identity Theft (Zondervan), discussing how we can reclaim the authentic person God created you to be. I suspect this grew out of a sermon series (as do so many great books!), and it offers some great ideas to other pastors for developing their own series on the topic.

Using multiple learning approaches, Greg Ogden and Daniel Meyer help leaders further develop their gifts in Leadership Essentials (InterVarsity). Dealing with topics like character, vision, and specific challenges faced by leaders, this resource would be particularly valuable for staff training, though it can also be used individually.

In Getting into Character: The Art of First-Person Narrative Sermons (Brazos Press), pastor/playwright/actor Stephen Chapin Garner offers practical advice for preparing and presenting first-person narratives that will be fresh and engaging. Pastors who don't have much experience with such sermons will find this a helpful resource and an encouragement to try such sermons from time to time.

It's an election year, in case you've missed it, and that means more discussion about the relationship of religion and politics. In Faith in the Halls of Power (Oxford Univ Press), D. Michael Lindsay draws on extensive interviews to survey how evangelicals have moved from the edge of American culture to take up leadership roles in politics, on Wall Street, and even in Hollywood. It's a fascinating and illuminating read.

In his book The Good Works Reader (Eerdmans), theologian Thomas Oden draws on the writers of the early Christian church (along with biblical writings) to explore the issue of works in the Christian life. Recognizing the place of faith and works, Oden brings us these classic insights to remind us we are called to lives of holiness.

Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ (Kregel) by Robert M. Bowman and J. Ed Komoszewski is a powerful argument for the divinity of Christ. In a day when the deity of Christ is regularly questioned, the authors use the biblical evidence in a way that is academically solid and spiritually engaging.

Eternal Impact B&H Books) by Kenneth Hemphill offers a biblical analysis of the New Testament church. He discusses characteristics of kingdom-centered churches and giftedness among believers.

In Worshiping in the Small Membership Church (Abingdon), Robin Knowles Wallace discusses the unique challenges of leading worship in a smaller church, and offers practical counsel to those who serve in such settings. A helpful tool for leaders of smaller churches - you might consider giving to each person who helps with worship leadership in your congregation.