Book Review: Note To Self , The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself by Joe Thorn

Note To Self , The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself by Joe Thorn is a refreshingly easy to read and digest little work that is long overdue. Written in short, easy to absorb chapters, this one is a winner and should be on everyone's devotional shelf, after it is read, of course. Author Joe Thorn has written this work in a self-talk style that suggests to the reader that we should all be talking to ourselves in a corrective and positive manner.

Consisting of 48 chapters under three major headings, Note To Self covers a wide range of topics wherein we should be telling, or rather preaching, to ourselves Biblical truth. Ranging from love to risk taking to worship and work, we learn or re-learn Biblical maxims that should be at the core of our thinking. We often fail when we fall back into sinful modes of thought that drag us away from holiness and happiness. But Thorn neatly shows us how to preach to ourselves daily in each of these familiar areas of life. Thorn defines this private preaching as, "Preaching to ourselves is the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God leading to ongoing faith, repentance, and greater godliness." So, we should find that, "...preaching to ourselves puts us into a cycle of law and gospel where we move from our guilt and need to God's grace and provision and then back to the law as joyful and free obedience." The result? "Here the broken find hope and courage, for in Christ we have power and victory to obey, and we will, in the end, be raised in his likeness."

He concludes his introduction this way, "To preach to yourself is to challenge yourself, push yourself, and point yourself to the truth. It is not so much uncovering new truth as much as it is reminding yourself of the truth you tend to forget." So, let me challenge you to obtain, read and preach to yourself in the manner described within the pages of this work for your greater joy in Christ. This little tome is well worth your time and effort to further your spiritual growth and well-being. Don't pass this one up.

Book Review: How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home by Derek Thomas

How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home by Derek Thomas is one for everyone's bookshelf. Don't borrow it - buy it. Read it, digest it, meditate on it and refer back to it often. Author Derek Thomas does a marvelous job walking his readers through "the best chapter in the Bible," Romans 8.

Perhaps nowhere else in Scripture do we have such a clear explanation of the Gospel as we find in the first chapters of Romans culminating in chapter 8. The book chapters are divided into 11 digestible chunks taken from Romans 8. Thomas weaves his way through developing a clear understanding of grace, the work of the Spirit, union with Christ, legalism, killing sin, adoption, our hope in glory and much more. We're accepted in Christ rather than in our own works. We're given an understanding of how are lives are to be lived in light of the Gospel and we see the final hope we have in the life here after.

Thomas writes in an easily understandable style meant to convey theological truth with devotional warmth. You'll enjoy this and will be edified. You'll see how, indeed, the Gospel brings us all the way home.

Busyness Kills More Christians Than....

Great discussion at Christ the Center on Kevin DeYoung's new work Crazy Busy. This little book is a great read for those whose lives, like most of us, are just too busy. DeYoung explains the balance needed to have joy in God, serve Him, and yet still be productive. Being busy, even in God's work, can have the opposite outcome than what we might expect. Jump over and a have a listen!

Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.

Book Review: "A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology." By Kelly M. Kapic

An excellent book review of A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology can be found at Rev. Scott Wright's blog, Wright Thinking. A little teaser from his summary...

With this excellent little book Dr. Kapic helps his readers avoid the strong dichotomies of what he calls theological detachment, “a view which produces a divide between spirituality and theology, between life and thought, between faith and agency. ...This is anything but a dry and dreary exercise, and one can imagine the sparkle in Dr. Kapic’s eye as he writes, “we are on an adventure.”  Yes, and God calls us “to come, to gaze at Christ, to hear his word and to respond in faith and love.”

Hurry over and read Pastor Wright's analysis of this valuable "little book." It may be just what you're looking for.

Look What's New

Hey, take a look at what's new at Crossway. Good reading indeed!

From their website, " From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives.
Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology."

Take a look at what else is new here.

There’s no fluff here

A good review of Jennie Allen's Anything can be found at Rachel Cooper's blog, A Jacket for All Seasons. She writes...

Jennie Allen has written a book that is filled to the brim with good doctrine, honesty, and a sincere love for Christ and His people. ...This book is full of Scripture, personal stories (hers and others), and quotes from people like A.W. Tozer and Tim Keller.  There’s no fluff here. 

Check out the whole review here and Jennie's website here.

Good Reading!

Reading Devotionally

Todd Pruitt makes some outstanding recommendations for devotional reading at his blog here. At my house we can't say enough about Todd's featured author, Nancy Guthrie and her #1 recommended book, The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. Just about anything by Nancy Guthrie is worth a read but this devotional has a leg up on all the others. Check out Todd's other recommendations and spend some time learning and being refreshed.

The Problem of Suffering: A Review of Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering

Suffering will always be with us. How we should handle suffering, even in the best of times for the most devoted follower of Christ, may not always be clear to us. In Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering we have a memorable collection of essays from theologians, past and present, sharing their experience and pastoral advice.

The authors in this valuable compilation range from John Newton to Corrie Ten Boom, from Augustine to D.A. Carson, each, in his or her own way, sharing an encouraging and comforting message. Editor Nancy Guthrie has done a brilliant job selecting each essay for the book. Reflecting on pain and suffering is something we spend far too little time on today. Suffering will affect your life someday and this work will enlighten as it informs its reader to God’s merciful work in trials.

Our Strength Comes from the Holy Spirit

You do not know the truth because you have read Hodge's Outlines, Fuller's Gospel Worthy of all Acceptation, Owen on the Spirit, or any other classic of our faith. You do not know the truth merely because you accept the Westminster Assembly's Confession and have studied it perfectly. No, we know nothing until we are taught by the Holy Spirit, who speaks to the heart rather than to the ear.

It is an amazing fact that we do not even hear the voice of Jesus until the Spirit rests upon us. John says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice" (Rev. 1:10). He did not hear that voice until he was in the Spirit. How many heavenly words we miss because we do not abide in the Spirit!

We cannot succeed in supplication unless the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities, for true prayer is "praying in the Holy Ghost" (Jude 1:20). The Spirit makes an atmosphere around every living prayer; within that circle, prayer lives and prevails; outside of it, prayer is a dead formality. As to ourselves, then, in our study, in prayer, in thought, in word, and in deed, we must depend on the Holy Spirit. ...

What does the Holy Spirit do? Beloved, what is there of good work that He does not do? It is His to quicken, to convince, to illuminate, to cleanse, to guide, to preserve, to console, to confirm, to perfect, and to use. How much might be said under each one of these headings! It is He that works in us "to will and to do" (Phil. 2:13). He that has done all things is God. Glory be unto the Holy Spirit for all that He has accomplished in such poor, imperfect natures as ours!

We can do nothing apart from the life-sap that flows to us from Jesus the Vine. That which is our own is fit only to cause us shame and embarrassment. We never go a step towards heaven without the Holy Spirit. We never lead another on the heavenward road without the Holy Spirit. We have no acceptable thought, word, or deed apart from the Holy Spirit. Even the uplifting of the eye of hope or the intense prayer of the heart's desire must be His work. All good things are of Him and through Him, from beginning to end. (Taken from Your Available Power by C.H. Spurgeon.)

A Review of "Does Grace Grow Best in Winter"

Suffering is coming. If you’ve never suffered, be assured that one day you will. Now, before the time of trials and suffering, is the best time to develop a personal theology of suffering. Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? by Ligon Duncan is a book that can help you do that. And if you’re suffering now, this book is especially for you.The first sentence of chapter one sets the tone for the book, “This book considers suffering in light of the sovereignty of our wise and loving God.” That is the thrust of the work.

Each chapter, titled as a question, answers the questions we all ask when we are suffering such as chapter one, “Why Me?” Duncan biblically takes hold of these questions and answers them tenderly and lovingly while teaching us that we must turn the focus away from ourselves and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you’re seeking answers to suffering, in whatever form it has taken, I warmly recommend this book to you. It will be beneficial to you as it strengthens your faith.