Synopsis:
In this short volume, historical theologian John Fesko (Westminster Seminary California) exposits the first eight chapters of Psalms and shows how they present a series of Christological hymns.
Strengths:
1) Christological:
Each chapter begins by explicating the immediate purpose and meaning of the text of the Psalm. They appear to be organized into three sections by Dr. Fesko; the original author’s historical context and apparent reason for writing, the Christological (how the verse points to Jesus Christ) meaning and lastly, the practical implications for Christians.
True to the book’s title, J.V. Fesko analyzes the dual meaning behind “the suffering King,” in that it applies to the lamentations of king David and the prophetic foreshadowing of how it relates to the real son of David; King Jesus, who suffered at the hands of God’s enemies to redeem His people.
2) Practical:
Each chapter concludes with a series of study questions that further reinforce the Christological meanings of the Psalms and encourages deeper study into other parts of the Bible. It also engages the reader to reflect on the themes we read about and how they apply to our Christian walk.
For example:
a) In the chapter 1 study questions, we are asked to “find another biblical passage that, like Psalm 1, describes the gentle and gradual descent into sin.” (pg 23)
b) How might God’s favor lead us to become arrogant? (pg. 61)
c) How much time do you spend in prayer? How could your prayer time be improved? (pg. 76)
3) Musical:
Each chapter concludes with metrical versions of the Psalms. This allows the reader to digest the particular Psalm and meditate on it musically. You can pray the Psalm or sing it, reflecting on the weight and glory of its Christological power.
Weaknesses:
1) Paper & Cover quality:
I am usually very careful to retain the cover and pages of my books; especially paperbacks. My biggest pet-peeve is getting a book returned with its pages and cover all bent out of shape. However, the composition of the paper is really weak and within a few reads, the book looked like it had been used several times over. It was very difficult to keep the book in good condition, which really just a personal thing.
If this is not a big deal to you, then I wouldn't let this deter you from purchasing it. It’s just that most of my paperbacks are still in pretty good shape after many uses and this one didn't make it past the review reading. So there’s that. But this has nothing to do with the content, but I had to put SOMETHING down that the book could improve on, but this is more on the publisher than anything.
Final Verdict.
Buy it.
No, really. This is a fantastic way to do a study on at least the first 8 Psalms. It’s like a commentary, but with a pastoral devotional flair that is wholly accessible and applicable. Dr. Fesko is one of the best modern writers on the Scriptures and Historical Theology (see his work on the Westminster Standards).
You would do well to add this to your library.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Small Book that Packs a Big Punch
It is said that dynamite can come in small packages, but is nevertheless capable of a great "kaboom!" The same can be said of this small, unassuming book.
To be honest, when I first heard of the title, I was underwhelmed at the prospect of it being able to offer anything new from the countless other apologetic attempts to defend the Bible. I was pleasantly surprised at the unique insights and delivery of basic ideas that were presented when addressing the common objections to the trustworthiness of the Bible.
The book is comprised of two components:
1) The historical and biblical case for the reliability of the Bible (expressed in different phases through the few chapters)
2) Q&A addressing the various common objections as to the trustworthiness of the Bible (ex. The Bible is a product of its time, irrelevant for today; The stories of Jesus as just legends or myths; Using the Bible to defend the reliability of the Bible as circular (and therefore, invalid?) argument.
The latter component appears as small essays interspersed within the chapters, appearing in gray text boxes. The issue in the Q&A box will relate to the particular part of the case being addressed in that section of the book, so it's really easy to follow along.
Both components really add great value to the whole of the book, as you can really use the Q&A boxes as quick references when in need of addressing a specific objection when you encounter them. The entirety of the case then helps the reader to understand the context of the questions to fill in any gaps of knowledge and understanding.
Another added bonus is the few additional lined pages at the back of the book for the engaged reader to take notes. This might help you remember some names of people important to you in reference to whichever helpful parts of the book may address their specific concerns. Maybe Uncle Bob blames the Bible for moral atrocities committed in its name, you could note: "Uncle Bob, page 35"-- so you can quickly find the page and review it before spending Thanksgiving Dinner with him. This time you can pass the mashed potatoes AND answer to his once hostile objection.*
I enthusiastically recommend this small gem of an apologetic resource. Not only is it great when confronting challenges to your faith in the interest of prepared evangelism, it is also a great encouragement when and if you experience your own doubts. We're all prone to wander and doubt, so it's more likely than not that you will experience seasons of strained faith in God and His Word as sufficient--this is a great, quick little pick-me-up to remind us of how timeless and priceless the Word is to our lives--even today and until we meet our Lord in glory.
*I do not necessarily advocate these discussion types at Thanksgiving unless you want to discover a new way a turkey leg could become a weapon. But you get the point.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair review from the publisher through Cross Focused Reviews. There was no obligation to provide a positive review.
To be honest, when I first heard of the title, I was underwhelmed at the prospect of it being able to offer anything new from the countless other apologetic attempts to defend the Bible. I was pleasantly surprised at the unique insights and delivery of basic ideas that were presented when addressing the common objections to the trustworthiness of the Bible.
The book is comprised of two components:
1) The historical and biblical case for the reliability of the Bible (expressed in different phases through the few chapters)
2) Q&A addressing the various common objections as to the trustworthiness of the Bible (ex. The Bible is a product of its time, irrelevant for today; The stories of Jesus as just legends or myths; Using the Bible to defend the reliability of the Bible as circular (and therefore, invalid?) argument.
The latter component appears as small essays interspersed within the chapters, appearing in gray text boxes. The issue in the Q&A box will relate to the particular part of the case being addressed in that section of the book, so it's really easy to follow along.
Both components really add great value to the whole of the book, as you can really use the Q&A boxes as quick references when in need of addressing a specific objection when you encounter them. The entirety of the case then helps the reader to understand the context of the questions to fill in any gaps of knowledge and understanding.
Another added bonus is the few additional lined pages at the back of the book for the engaged reader to take notes. This might help you remember some names of people important to you in reference to whichever helpful parts of the book may address their specific concerns. Maybe Uncle Bob blames the Bible for moral atrocities committed in its name, you could note: "Uncle Bob, page 35"-- so you can quickly find the page and review it before spending Thanksgiving Dinner with him. This time you can pass the mashed potatoes AND answer to his once hostile objection.*
I enthusiastically recommend this small gem of an apologetic resource. Not only is it great when confronting challenges to your faith in the interest of prepared evangelism, it is also a great encouragement when and if you experience your own doubts. We're all prone to wander and doubt, so it's more likely than not that you will experience seasons of strained faith in God and His Word as sufficient--this is a great, quick little pick-me-up to remind us of how timeless and priceless the Word is to our lives--even today and until we meet our Lord in glory.
*I do not necessarily advocate these discussion types at Thanksgiving unless you want to discover a new way a turkey leg could become a weapon. But you get the point.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair review from the publisher through Cross Focused Reviews. There was no obligation to provide a positive review.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Jesus, the Coming King for You
Synopsis:
The first book I picked up in this series was Timothy Keller's "Galatians For You" and was thoroughly impressed with it. This series does not seek to be considered a commentary, but an application-friendly approach to the themes found in the books it seeks to dive into. I think this volume does a fantastic job at proving itself worthy of the series and I could not help but have my Bible open and to follow along as Tim Chester connected prophetic dots between the story of Israel without a king and the fulfillment of Hannah's prayer in the coming King Jesus.
Pro's:
1. The first chapter on the affliction of Hannah (pg 11-15) hooked me right away. The practical discussion on the sovereignty of God in suffering and that he hears those he loves really encouraged me in my own prayer life. It has never been as consistent as I wish it could be, but a lot of that has to do with doubt--whether God really cares what happens to me. But God loved Hannah a "double portion" and yet he still closed her womb--but then through her prayers, she would be blessed with a child that would be directly tied to coming King of Israel.
The pastoral tone of this book makes it very easy and enjoyable to read. The applications are rich, but for those who may be turned off by deep theological insight into the Scriptures will be drawn into the ways in which Dr. Chester brings the realities of the OT saints into our own context.
2. Further driving home the practical application of the stories we read about in these chapters are the review/discussion questions which could easily turn this into a perfect study group book. The chapters are relatively brief and the author makes great efforts to explain concepts that may be foreign to the reader, making it accessible to the layperson who is looking to get more than a cursory read of 1 Samuel.
3. The Christological anchor that ties all of the chapters together. Like a good sermon, each chapter concludes with a tie-in to how each step of the 1 Samuel narrative points to the greater promise of the King that would rule in eternity and provide redemption for a wayward people.
For example, in chapter 6 (pg 103), we see how the sovereign choice of God to reject Saul did not spell the end of God's plan, but the next phase in that he would tell Saul to anoint David as King of Israel--and it would be David's son Jesus who rescues His people from their sin and separation for God. Each chapter concludes with these brief little reminders that there really isn't one iota of the Old Testament that does not in some way point forward to the cross of Christ and demonstrate God's covenant faithfulness to be victorious over sin and death.
Cons:
1. There were some grammatical and syntactic errors spread across the book. They were not egregious, but they were distracting from the flow of the author's thought.
Ex. pg 71, the author is speaking about suffering and asks, "What hardship you are enduring?" Unless it's a British syntactical quirk, shouldn't it read: "What hardship are you enduring?"
There is also the misuse of "its"--which is one of my pet-peeves and I suppose I hold a professional publishing company to higher standards to not miss such basic distinctions between "it's" and "its". (pg 127)
2. In the first chapter, while I did mention that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Hannah and the affliction of being barren and God's sovereign plan for that, there was one part that I felt could have used a little more explaining.
When discussing 1 Samuel 1:5, the author is referring to the text that says, "He gave her a double portion..." and simply states, "It's ambiguous and probably means a single portion." OK, but how does double mean "single" all the sudden? There was little attempt to discuss how the Hebrew may have had a different connotation than what we see on the face. This little section did trip me up a bit, but I suppose the upside is that it did spur me on to go look deeper into what the meaning was. Perhaps that was the intent, but it is unclear and others may be confused by this brief and somewhat dismissive comment about that, especially trying to make sense of how God could give her a double portion and then close up her womb. More careful analysis could have cleared that up.
Final Verdict:
I have never been very faithful in my studies of the Old Testament. Some of the stories seem so obscure to me; but as Mr. Chester shows, there is not one part of the Old Testament that does not testify to God's fulfillment of the promise that goes back to Genesis 3:15--that there would be a solution to the sin problem and that the promise to Abraham would be fulfilled in the King of Israel who would redeem all of his people for his glory.
This book is Christ-centered and easily applicable with its study questions at the end of each chapter. To the person who truly wants to discover the treasures of God's love hidden within each page of His Word, this is a gigantic map with clear signs as it pertains to the book of 1 Samuel. If you can read this and not be compelled to underline, highlight and explore the passages of Scripture along with the author, then not only will you be missing out on the riches this book unearths, but maybe you just don't get it.
Despite its technical editing errs, I was incredibly blessed by this volume. It was admittedly distracting when I came across these imperfections; one might expect more of a professional publisher, but if you allow yourself to look past these errors, you, like I, will benefit greatly.Tim Chester makes 1 Samuel come alive and I plan to pick up his other contribution to this series; Titus For You. This is a worthwhile read and will likely bless you, as well. I highly recommend it.
Disclosure: I received this book from the Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.
The first book I picked up in this series was Timothy Keller's "Galatians For You" and was thoroughly impressed with it. This series does not seek to be considered a commentary, but an application-friendly approach to the themes found in the books it seeks to dive into. I think this volume does a fantastic job at proving itself worthy of the series and I could not help but have my Bible open and to follow along as Tim Chester connected prophetic dots between the story of Israel without a king and the fulfillment of Hannah's prayer in the coming King Jesus.
Pro's:
1. The first chapter on the affliction of Hannah (pg 11-15) hooked me right away. The practical discussion on the sovereignty of God in suffering and that he hears those he loves really encouraged me in my own prayer life. It has never been as consistent as I wish it could be, but a lot of that has to do with doubt--whether God really cares what happens to me. But God loved Hannah a "double portion" and yet he still closed her womb--but then through her prayers, she would be blessed with a child that would be directly tied to coming King of Israel.
The pastoral tone of this book makes it very easy and enjoyable to read. The applications are rich, but for those who may be turned off by deep theological insight into the Scriptures will be drawn into the ways in which Dr. Chester brings the realities of the OT saints into our own context.
2. Further driving home the practical application of the stories we read about in these chapters are the review/discussion questions which could easily turn this into a perfect study group book. The chapters are relatively brief and the author makes great efforts to explain concepts that may be foreign to the reader, making it accessible to the layperson who is looking to get more than a cursory read of 1 Samuel.
3. The Christological anchor that ties all of the chapters together. Like a good sermon, each chapter concludes with a tie-in to how each step of the 1 Samuel narrative points to the greater promise of the King that would rule in eternity and provide redemption for a wayward people.
For example, in chapter 6 (pg 103), we see how the sovereign choice of God to reject Saul did not spell the end of God's plan, but the next phase in that he would tell Saul to anoint David as King of Israel--and it would be David's son Jesus who rescues His people from their sin and separation for God. Each chapter concludes with these brief little reminders that there really isn't one iota of the Old Testament that does not in some way point forward to the cross of Christ and demonstrate God's covenant faithfulness to be victorious over sin and death.
Cons:
1. There were some grammatical and syntactic errors spread across the book. They were not egregious, but they were distracting from the flow of the author's thought.
Ex. pg 71, the author is speaking about suffering and asks, "What hardship you are enduring?" Unless it's a British syntactical quirk, shouldn't it read: "What hardship are you enduring?"
There is also the misuse of "its"--which is one of my pet-peeves and I suppose I hold a professional publishing company to higher standards to not miss such basic distinctions between "it's" and "its". (pg 127)
2. In the first chapter, while I did mention that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Hannah and the affliction of being barren and God's sovereign plan for that, there was one part that I felt could have used a little more explaining.
When discussing 1 Samuel 1:5, the author is referring to the text that says, "He gave her a double portion..." and simply states, "It's ambiguous and probably means a single portion." OK, but how does double mean "single" all the sudden? There was little attempt to discuss how the Hebrew may have had a different connotation than what we see on the face. This little section did trip me up a bit, but I suppose the upside is that it did spur me on to go look deeper into what the meaning was. Perhaps that was the intent, but it is unclear and others may be confused by this brief and somewhat dismissive comment about that, especially trying to make sense of how God could give her a double portion and then close up her womb. More careful analysis could have cleared that up.
Final Verdict:
I have never been very faithful in my studies of the Old Testament. Some of the stories seem so obscure to me; but as Mr. Chester shows, there is not one part of the Old Testament that does not testify to God's fulfillment of the promise that goes back to Genesis 3:15--that there would be a solution to the sin problem and that the promise to Abraham would be fulfilled in the King of Israel who would redeem all of his people for his glory.
This book is Christ-centered and easily applicable with its study questions at the end of each chapter. To the person who truly wants to discover the treasures of God's love hidden within each page of His Word, this is a gigantic map with clear signs as it pertains to the book of 1 Samuel. If you can read this and not be compelled to underline, highlight and explore the passages of Scripture along with the author, then not only will you be missing out on the riches this book unearths, but maybe you just don't get it.
Despite its technical editing errs, I was incredibly blessed by this volume. It was admittedly distracting when I came across these imperfections; one might expect more of a professional publisher, but if you allow yourself to look past these errors, you, like I, will benefit greatly.Tim Chester makes 1 Samuel come alive and I plan to pick up his other contribution to this series; Titus For You. This is a worthwhile read and will likely bless you, as well. I highly recommend it.
Disclosure: I received this book from the Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Time Travel to the Old Testament
Synopsis:
We are taken back into time—more specifically to the time of the Old Testament. The idea is to paint a mental picture to make the oft-difficult world of the Hebrew texts more accessible. The author senses a strong deficiency in reading the Old Testament in daily study for Christians and seeks to remedy it by offering a tour that helps us jump back into time and into the world of those we read about.
Pro’s:
1. The author’s emphasis on story.
The author discusses the value of good story-telling and that God is a master story-teller. He uses the story of Esther and how God appears to be absent in the book because He does not show Himself to her. However, he points out all of the so-called “coincidences” in the story where only God, Himself, could have been orchestrating the movements to show His power over a plot of genocide against the Israelites. Explicit details are not always provided, but it allows the reader of the story to have numerous “A-ha!” moments as they watch the pieces of the puzzle come together.
This also provides to us further evidence that God made us in His image as rational creatures, capable of reading, interpreting and drawing the exact conclusions intended in the story. Instead of always spoon-feeding the point, God provides JUST ENOUGH clues for us to experience those discoveries and put a smile on God’s face as we, His children, “get it.” When we change our perspective and see the masterfully woven thread for what it is, we will see true history as an unveiling of a beautiful tapestry of God’s works. This hasn’t always been my point of view and have struggled with getting through some of the OT—but this volume has stoked a new fire and provided new glasses with which to see.
2. The “Bible Field Trips” at the end of each chapter. Each excursion takes you to a different part of the Old Testament and has a goal of extracting story details from each passage. It guides the reader in locating the purposeful details in the tapestry. It’s not enough to cite verses here and there; it’s often too cursory a citation to illustrate a point. These exercises provide a practical application that is meant to incite more passion for the excavation of God’s treasure trove in the Hebrew stories.
3. Pictures. Everyone loves pictures. But not too many. And the author does a good job at offering some effective images in just the right places to bring additional value to the discussion. It’s not over done, so it is welcome and does bring the reader to the scene that’s being painted by the story.
4. A faithful progression towards Christ. If this is the only book one reads in trying to grasp the OT, it is a great choice because it will guide the reader to the covenantal promise and fulfillment in the Second Person of the Trinity; Jesus Christ. Sure, many other faithful books on the OT do the same, but this well-written, engaging volume brings the reader gently to the realization that the entire point of the OT is to point us to the covenant promise of salvation in Christ. All of the strange rituals, sacrifices, etc.—all pointed to the coming Redeemer.
The author is gifted and is able to speak in a good balance of modern and scholarly vernacular. It’s accessible, readable and educational.
There are other valuable aspects of this book that warrant its purchase and careful study, but this review is already getting a bit long. So I will cite something, for the sake of being balanced, that perhaps this volume could have done better, if only by a little.
Cons:
1. The cover art is a little cheesy and may appear to some as a low-budget, self-published book. No offense to the artist—it is a good image, I am just not sure it will appeal to those who might judge books by their aesthetic cover. Some, like myself, are more attracted to simple yet affective cover art. There just appears to be too much going on with the picture that was used. I am speaking for myself here, but when I originally saw the cover, I wasn’t too eager to read the book. I know—shallow, right? But, this review was provided in exchange for a copy of the book so I read it so I can provide an honest one. I am glad I did. So this is such a minor distraction, but if you read this review and are not sure because the art work looks cheesy—overcome the distraction and purchase the book. It’s worth it. Get the Kindle version if you must—but get it.
Final Verdict:
Reading the Old Testament has always been a labor of love for me. It’s not an easy read and sometimes some of the rituals and rules seem harsh and this makes it even more difficult to read. However, Chris Sinkinson has done a splendid job of transforming the reading of this oft-challenging half of the story of God’s plan for humanity. He tackles the real thoughts that have at least gone through my head at times when reading the OT and does a great service to the readers in rearranging the perspective to make it not only bearable, but ENJOYABLE to read!
This is a fantastic resource for those who struggle with reading through the Old Testament and even for those who enjoy it, because there are some great parts that might help you encourage others who struggle if they don’t ever pick up this book. So even if you can honestly say, “Oh, I have always loved the OT and find it a joy to read”—you should buy this book. But if you are like me and struggle to find much joy in the beginning of God’s story, then you MUST pick up this book.
We are taken back into time—more specifically to the time of the Old Testament. The idea is to paint a mental picture to make the oft-difficult world of the Hebrew texts more accessible. The author senses a strong deficiency in reading the Old Testament in daily study for Christians and seeks to remedy it by offering a tour that helps us jump back into time and into the world of those we read about.
Pro’s:
1. The author’s emphasis on story.
The author discusses the value of good story-telling and that God is a master story-teller. He uses the story of Esther and how God appears to be absent in the book because He does not show Himself to her. However, he points out all of the so-called “coincidences” in the story where only God, Himself, could have been orchestrating the movements to show His power over a plot of genocide against the Israelites. Explicit details are not always provided, but it allows the reader of the story to have numerous “A-ha!” moments as they watch the pieces of the puzzle come together.
This also provides to us further evidence that God made us in His image as rational creatures, capable of reading, interpreting and drawing the exact conclusions intended in the story. Instead of always spoon-feeding the point, God provides JUST ENOUGH clues for us to experience those discoveries and put a smile on God’s face as we, His children, “get it.” When we change our perspective and see the masterfully woven thread for what it is, we will see true history as an unveiling of a beautiful tapestry of God’s works. This hasn’t always been my point of view and have struggled with getting through some of the OT—but this volume has stoked a new fire and provided new glasses with which to see.
2. The “Bible Field Trips” at the end of each chapter. Each excursion takes you to a different part of the Old Testament and has a goal of extracting story details from each passage. It guides the reader in locating the purposeful details in the tapestry. It’s not enough to cite verses here and there; it’s often too cursory a citation to illustrate a point. These exercises provide a practical application that is meant to incite more passion for the excavation of God’s treasure trove in the Hebrew stories.
3. Pictures. Everyone loves pictures. But not too many. And the author does a good job at offering some effective images in just the right places to bring additional value to the discussion. It’s not over done, so it is welcome and does bring the reader to the scene that’s being painted by the story.
4. A faithful progression towards Christ. If this is the only book one reads in trying to grasp the OT, it is a great choice because it will guide the reader to the covenantal promise and fulfillment in the Second Person of the Trinity; Jesus Christ. Sure, many other faithful books on the OT do the same, but this well-written, engaging volume brings the reader gently to the realization that the entire point of the OT is to point us to the covenant promise of salvation in Christ. All of the strange rituals, sacrifices, etc.—all pointed to the coming Redeemer.
The author is gifted and is able to speak in a good balance of modern and scholarly vernacular. It’s accessible, readable and educational.
There are other valuable aspects of this book that warrant its purchase and careful study, but this review is already getting a bit long. So I will cite something, for the sake of being balanced, that perhaps this volume could have done better, if only by a little.
Cons:
1. The cover art is a little cheesy and may appear to some as a low-budget, self-published book. No offense to the artist—it is a good image, I am just not sure it will appeal to those who might judge books by their aesthetic cover. Some, like myself, are more attracted to simple yet affective cover art. There just appears to be too much going on with the picture that was used. I am speaking for myself here, but when I originally saw the cover, I wasn’t too eager to read the book. I know—shallow, right? But, this review was provided in exchange for a copy of the book so I read it so I can provide an honest one. I am glad I did. So this is such a minor distraction, but if you read this review and are not sure because the art work looks cheesy—overcome the distraction and purchase the book. It’s worth it. Get the Kindle version if you must—but get it.
Final Verdict:
Reading the Old Testament has always been a labor of love for me. It’s not an easy read and sometimes some of the rituals and rules seem harsh and this makes it even more difficult to read. However, Chris Sinkinson has done a splendid job of transforming the reading of this oft-challenging half of the story of God’s plan for humanity. He tackles the real thoughts that have at least gone through my head at times when reading the OT and does a great service to the readers in rearranging the perspective to make it not only bearable, but ENJOYABLE to read!
This is a fantastic resource for those who struggle with reading through the Old Testament and even for those who enjoy it, because there are some great parts that might help you encourage others who struggle if they don’t ever pick up this book. So even if you can honestly say, “Oh, I have always loved the OT and find it a joy to read”—you should buy this book. But if you are like me and struggle to find much joy in the beginning of God’s story, then you MUST pick up this book.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Worshipping with Calvin--Review
Pro's:
This is surely a scholarly work that is designed to make the case for reviving the rich heritage of Reformed worship.
There is a significant amount of supporting resources, so whether or not you find the case persuasive, it isn't for qualitative lack of evidence. There is also a quality of extensive scholarly support from historical sources of early church history and Reformed polity post-Calvin's Geneva. He discusses John Knox's Scottish Presbyterianism, Zwingli's Zurich, and others who implemented a rich piety within their congregations which carried the rich heritage that is a robust view of worship in the Church. It addresses the historical wane of lectio continua (the practice of reading Scripture in sequence over a period of time) and the rise of more sensationalistic practices of worship--attempt at pop cultural relevancy, personal interest stories, multi-media presentations, etc.
He extols the value of preaching and exaltations from Scripture and gives examples of well-known figures in Church history who were persuaded by the Spirit through the faithful preaching of the Word.
Cons:
Because of the extensive amount of references, the fact that the footnotes are not at the bottom of the page makes reviewing the sources quite laborious. It's unclear if this formatting choice was the publisher's or author's, but it does detract from the ease of reading and consultation of footnotes.
The other side of the references coin is that, when you have too many, it can make it difficult to discern from the author's voice and the copy/pasting of quotations from other sources. Again, I believe the intention was to support the case that is being made, but if one could lose marks for over-supporting, this volume does lose some points for lack of readability due to the amount of "quotes" and references that are not easy to refer to at the back of the book.
Favorite Section: Since becoming sympathetic to the Reformed expression of Christianity, I have had a personal passion for the frequency of the Lord's Supper. Having been part of churches that relegated this part of worship to weekday or monthly observance, I felt a palpable absence of this sacrament. Before I even knew what a "means of grace" was, for some reason I knew that the Lord's table was far more vital to my weekly Christian faith than was shown by the church I belonged to. Even when I had joined a Reformed congregation, it wasn't until a year or so later that they had moved to a weekly observance and I was elated by this change. So I certainly feel that Chapter 6 of the section: III. The Strengths of Reformed Worship and Ministry; "It is Bible-filled-II" is worth the price of this book.
This is an academic work and assumes some knowledge of Latin theological terms. Thankfully I have a Latin/Greek terms dictionary, otherwise I would have spent a lot of time on Google looking up the terms. That being said, this is a weighty and academic appeal that assumes at least some background in theology and historical theology.
Overall, this is a strong work despite its organizational quirks (references being in the back of the book, instead of at the foot of the page) and assumptions of lexical knowledge. It's not light and is probably going to be challenging to a layperson who is simply inquiring about what worship looked like in Calvin's church. You will get that--and a lot more. There's a lot to digest, so don't expect a breezy read.
It has some early praise from other theological authors I respect, such as W. Robert Godfrey (Westminster Seminary California) and Derek W. H. Thomas (Reformed Theological Seminary-Atlanta), so I think this deserves careful consideration as a legitimate addition to the works of historical theology. I just think the writing style is a little choppy, which is admittedly a personal preference. I just personally think authors like Michael S Horton and W Robert Godfrey are better written (and oratory) communicators, which makes even the academic more accessible to the layperson. That's a gift that not every author possesses in excess, so I would not let that deter you if this is a topic you are passionate about.
You will certainly be blessed with a deeper understanding of historically Reformed worship, especially if you are a leader in a Reformed church. So pick this up, noting the qualifications noted above.
This is surely a scholarly work that is designed to make the case for reviving the rich heritage of Reformed worship.
There is a significant amount of supporting resources, so whether or not you find the case persuasive, it isn't for qualitative lack of evidence. There is also a quality of extensive scholarly support from historical sources of early church history and Reformed polity post-Calvin's Geneva. He discusses John Knox's Scottish Presbyterianism, Zwingli's Zurich, and others who implemented a rich piety within their congregations which carried the rich heritage that is a robust view of worship in the Church. It addresses the historical wane of lectio continua (the practice of reading Scripture in sequence over a period of time) and the rise of more sensationalistic practices of worship--attempt at pop cultural relevancy, personal interest stories, multi-media presentations, etc.
He extols the value of preaching and exaltations from Scripture and gives examples of well-known figures in Church history who were persuaded by the Spirit through the faithful preaching of the Word.
Cons:
Because of the extensive amount of references, the fact that the footnotes are not at the bottom of the page makes reviewing the sources quite laborious. It's unclear if this formatting choice was the publisher's or author's, but it does detract from the ease of reading and consultation of footnotes.
The other side of the references coin is that, when you have too many, it can make it difficult to discern from the author's voice and the copy/pasting of quotations from other sources. Again, I believe the intention was to support the case that is being made, but if one could lose marks for over-supporting, this volume does lose some points for lack of readability due to the amount of "quotes" and references that are not easy to refer to at the back of the book.
Favorite Section: Since becoming sympathetic to the Reformed expression of Christianity, I have had a personal passion for the frequency of the Lord's Supper. Having been part of churches that relegated this part of worship to weekday or monthly observance, I felt a palpable absence of this sacrament. Before I even knew what a "means of grace" was, for some reason I knew that the Lord's table was far more vital to my weekly Christian faith than was shown by the church I belonged to. Even when I had joined a Reformed congregation, it wasn't until a year or so later that they had moved to a weekly observance and I was elated by this change. So I certainly feel that Chapter 6 of the section: III. The Strengths of Reformed Worship and Ministry; "It is Bible-filled-II" is worth the price of this book.
This is an academic work and assumes some knowledge of Latin theological terms. Thankfully I have a Latin/Greek terms dictionary, otherwise I would have spent a lot of time on Google looking up the terms. That being said, this is a weighty and academic appeal that assumes at least some background in theology and historical theology.
Overall, this is a strong work despite its organizational quirks (references being in the back of the book, instead of at the foot of the page) and assumptions of lexical knowledge. It's not light and is probably going to be challenging to a layperson who is simply inquiring about what worship looked like in Calvin's church. You will get that--and a lot more. There's a lot to digest, so don't expect a breezy read.
It has some early praise from other theological authors I respect, such as W. Robert Godfrey (Westminster Seminary California) and Derek W. H. Thomas (Reformed Theological Seminary-Atlanta), so I think this deserves careful consideration as a legitimate addition to the works of historical theology. I just think the writing style is a little choppy, which is admittedly a personal preference. I just personally think authors like Michael S Horton and W Robert Godfrey are better written (and oratory) communicators, which makes even the academic more accessible to the layperson. That's a gift that not every author possesses in excess, so I would not let that deter you if this is a topic you are passionate about.
You will certainly be blessed with a deeper understanding of historically Reformed worship, especially if you are a leader in a Reformed church. So pick this up, noting the qualifications noted above.
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