Salt, Light and Cities on Hills

"Salt, Light and Cities on Hills: Evangelism, Social Action and the Church -- How Do They Relate to Each Other?" by Melvin Tucker succinctly addresses the two sides, two expressions, two manifestations, or two applications of the gospel: evangelism and social action. Historically, churches have generally emphasized or predominantly practiced one side, often at the expense of the other by minimizing or neglecting its importance.

Though this is a rather broad generalization, so-called "conservative" churches incline toward evangelism, while so-called "liberal" churches incline toward social action. Churches that emphasize preaching and the importance of Scripture and the Bible (generally traditional conservative churches) incline toward evangelism, while churches that emphasize living out one's faith (generally emergent or liberal churches) incline toward social action. Thus, there tends to be discipleship churches and activist churches. Yet, as Tucker repeatedly points out--using history and exegesis of various biblical texts--the church should be doing both.

Having been in a conservative, Word based church for several decades, as expected the predominant emphasis has been on Bible study, teaching the Bible, preaching, evangelism and discipleship, with only occasional token efforts at social action, especially in taking up offerings during times of national or international disaster. But Tucker discusses throughout his book, citing Scripture (The Sermon on the Mount, Isaiah, Acts) and various scholars and notable Christians (John Stott, Tim Keller and others) that Christ was actively involved in both preaching and teaching the good news of the kingdom (evangelism) and healing the sick (social action).

I recommend this book for Christians to know and understand the tension and practical implications of the importance of both evangelism and social action.

I received a free copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews on behalf of Evangelical Press.

Slandered, Opposed and Attacked (Psalm 7)

Psalm 7:1-17; 8

"The Lord judges the peoples; vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity" (Ps 7:8, HCSB).

What do you do when you feel misunderstood, maligned and marginalized? Psalm 7 is a lament, petition and prayer by an innocent person who was slandered, opposed and attacked by those who wanted to discredit and dishonor him. Psalm 7 is titled by three different commentaries as follows:

1. A Cry for Justice (Ps 7:8-10).
2. The Blessing of a Good Conscience (Ps 7:3-5, 9-10).
3. Surviving Slander (Ps 7:1-2, 6, 14; 4:2; 5:6, 9).

Justice. David's primary concerns and motivations were not just for his own personal vindication, but for universal justice before a Righteous Judge who examines each person's thoughts and emotions (Ps 7:8-10).

Conscience. Despite being slandered, opposed and attacked, David checked his conscience before God (Ps 7:3-5), instead of retaliating with the spirit of vengeance and revenge.

Slander. David was being ruthlessly slandered by his adversaries (Ps 7:1-2, 6, 14; 4:2; 5:6, 9). Oftentimes slander causes a deeper hurt than mere persecution, for slander accuses a person of lacking nobility and integrity. Slander does not address one's words or behavior, but cuts to the heart of one's very core inner being. Saying, "I don't agree with the words you said and the actions you took," is quite different from saying, "you are an untrustworthy and ungrateful person; you are despicable and vile."

What do you do when you are slandered, opposed and attacked? Like David, you can do the following:

1. Pray (1-2): Seek refuge in God.
   
2. Pledge (3-5): Search you heart. Don't cheat your conscience.
   
3. Plead (6-11): Cry out for justice before the Righteous Judge.
   
4. Ponder and Pause (12-16): Consider God's sure and certain justice.
   
5. Prevail and Praise (17): Thank God!

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Zemek, George. Road Maps for the Psalms: Inductive Preaching Outlines Based on the Hebrew Text. Valencia, CA: The Master's Academy International, 2006.

Only Ending the Old Way Produces a New Way

Yearning for a new way will not produce it. Only ending the old way can do that.

You cannot hold onto the old all the while declaring that you want something new.

The old will defy the new; the old will deny the new; the old will decry the new.

There is only one way to bring in the new. You must make room for it.

Feeling ruffled and slighted

...if you become ruffled with every comment that you consider a 'slight,' you will never find peace.

Nor will you find it by always separating yourself from those who ruffle you. You can only end so many friendships before you find yourself very much alone.

You can keep making new friends, of course, but sooner or later they will ruffle you — and then what?

Perhaps the better course might be to let the ruffle go. People rarely mean it when they do that, and a touch of gentle tolerance and easy forgiveness every day is even better than an apple…

Love others grandly

...love is the center and the core of everything, and that Self is the place where all love must begin.

Those who love others grandly are those who love themselves grandly. Those who have a high toleration and acceptance of others are those who have a high toleration and acceptance of themselves.

You cannot show another a part of you that you cannot show yourself. Therefore, begin where all growth, where all evolution, where all love must begin: with the person in the mirror.

Will you not love yourself grandly today? For the world's sake?

The quickest way to success

……it is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.

Napoleon Hill said that, and he was right. Nothing ensures success like ensuring another's success. And there is someone who is looking for your help and your support today.

Lift that person up, give that person credit, do whatever you can to help that person be a success.

And always remember: What goes around comes around.

Neale Donald Walsch

The Deceptiveness of Sacrifice

Jesus sacrificed himself for us. So we Christians often think that we ourselves should sacrifice, and that others better sacrifice like us! But such thoughts, as well intentioned as they may be, block our path to truly seeing the way to life because of the deceptiveness of our own selves (Jer 17:9). The following quotes are by Richard Rohr in his excellent book, Immortal Diamond, from chapter 2, What is the "False Self"?:

"Sacrifice" usually leads to a well-hidden sense of entitlement and perpetuates the vicious circle of merit, a mind-set that leads most of us to assume that we are more deserving than others because of what we have given or done.

When you sacrifice, you always "deserve." Sacrifice, much more than we care to admit, creates entitlement, a "you-owe-me" attitude, and a well-hidden sense of superiority.

Jesus knew that most notions of sacrifice ... are almost always manipulated and misused by people, most institutions, and warring nations.

Jesus was criticized because he was not ascetic like John the Baptist (Mk 2:18)... Ascetic practices (and various forms of self-sacrifice) have far too much social and ego payoff, which is why Jesus advised against anything pious or generous being done publicly (Mt 6:1-4, 16-18): "Don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," he says. External religion is also dangerous religion.

Jesus, along with Buddha, had a much more foundational death to walk us through than mere personal heroics or public grandstanding. They point to an eventual and essential "renouncing" of the False Self, which will always be the essential death. It is at the heart of the spiritual journey.

Barely Able To Pray (Psalm 6)

Psalm 6:1-10, 2-3a

"Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony" (Ps 6:2, NLT). "...my whole being is shaken with terror" (Ps 6:3a, HCSB). "...my soul is in deep anguish" (Ps 6:3a, NIV).

From reading several different commentaries on Psalm 6, for some reason numerous (similar and different) titles for this sermon came to my mind that all seemed proper and appropriate to this psalm:

• Crying in Helplessness.
• Praying in Weakness.
• Grieving Prayer.
• Agonizing Prayer.
  
• A Troubled Conscience.
• Feeling Helpless and Hopeless.
• Shaken by Weakness.
• Broken and Shaken.
  
• Overwhelmed, Yet Triumphant.
• From Defeat to Defiance.
• From Desperate Need to Great Assurance.
• From Depression to Elation.

All of the above considerations and titles are, I think, all good, meaningful and relevant. Finally, I settled on what I think might be a not uncommon scenario among Christians: Barely Able To Pray. Notice the following stages in the psalmist's prayer, especially in times of weakness, trouble, personal sin, or God's discipline:

1. Terror (1-5).
2. Weeping (6-7).
3. Answer (8-10).

To put this Psalm in some practical personal context, suppose that you:

• hate and loathe your current life situation, or your job, or your (lack of) job prospects.
• are filled with worry and anxiety about your very uncertain and murky future.
• are single and rapidly getting older with not a single person as an even remote possibility for romance.
• are tortured and tormented by some recurrent besetting sin.
• are consumed by guilt because of your past or present sin.
• feel you are being sorely tempted and about to fall into sin at any moment.

What then would you do?

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Zemek, George. Road Maps for the Psalms: Inductive Preaching Outlines Based on the Hebrew Text. Valencia, CA: The Master's Academy International, 2006.
   

Joy Among Liars (Psalm 5)

Psalm 5:1-12; 11

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy" (Ps 5:11, NLT).

Psalm 5 is a lament and a prayer petitioning the Lord in the midst of distress. Why was the psalmist distressed? The psalmist's distress is caused by liars and deceitful speech. However, the psalmist also expresses trust and finding refuge in the Lord's protection.

Lies hurt. The devil is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). The destiny of all liars is the second death (Rev 21:8). James understood how destructive lying words can be (Jas 3:5-6). We have all experienced that when lies are spread about you, it wounds, disheartens and devastates you. David experienced devastating lies said about him (Ps 4:2; 5:6, 9). If he allowed the words of liars to get to him he would become bitter and crushed. He would have retaliated in anger and rage. But when he took refuge in the Lord, he found joy amidst the scathing lies (Ps 5:11).

The following Psalms have so far been considered:

1. The Happy (1:2): A person's happiness depend on how they live and what they think about (1:1-2).
   
2. The Sovereign (2:6): God's sovereign rule can never be thwarted, despite the foolish constant opposition from ego-driven rulers and the nations (2:1-3).
3. The Confident (3:6): The psalmist was remarkably confident and fearless, despite having heavy odds stacked against him.
4.  The Peaceful (Ps 4:7-8): Despite being discouraged by liars, angry people and fatalistic people, the psalmist found joy, peace, good sleep and deep rest through prayer.
   

Five strophes (sections or divisions in a poem) in Psalm 5:

1. Coming to God (1-3): Morning prayer.
2. Affirming God's Character (4-6): God is just.
3. Experiencing Reconciliation (7-8): Enter God's presence.
4. Explaining Liars (9-10): Liars never prevail.
5. Finding Refuge (11-12): Take refuge in God.
   

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Zemek, George. Road Maps for the Psalms: Inductive Preaching Outlines Based on the Hebrew Text. Valencia, CA: The Master's Academy International, 2006. (Psalm 5: Help Me and Harm Them!!)

Peace Amidst Discouragment (Psalm 4)

Psalm 4:1-8, 7-8

"You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Ps 4:7-8, NLT).

From Psalms we learn about the manifold emotional life of the psalmist, who is a believer and a person who has faith in God. So far, the following were considered:

1. The Happy (Ps 1:2): A happy person knows how to live and what to think about (Ps 1:1-2).
   
2. The Sovereign (Ps 2:6): The sovereign God rules despite the constant opposition from the rulers of the world (Ps 2:1-3).
3. The Confident (Ps 3:6): People who pray are confident and fearless, even when the odds are heavily stacked against them.
   

In Psalm 4, we consider The Peaceful. We learn how the psalmist experienced peace and joy in the midst of different types of discouraging people. Consider this psalm in two parts:

I. Discouragements From People

1. The Liars (2).
2. The Angry (4).
3. The Despairing (6a).
   

II. Encouragements From God (which are the fruits of prayer):

1. Relief (1).
2. Knowing God's faithfulness (3).
3. Trusting God (5).
4. Experiencing God's favor (6b).
5. Peace and joy (7-8).
   

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Talking to God and Men. Study guide for Psalm 4 by David Guzik.
   

Confidence Against All Odds (Psalm 3)

Psalm 3:1-8; 6

"I am not afraid of the thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side" (Ps 3:6, HCSB).

Do you feel confident when the odds are stacked against you? Do you live with no fear or anxiety in your heart when you are uncertain about your future? Can you sleep peacefully when there are troubles all about you?

In Psalm 1, we considered The Secret of Happiness. We learn that happiness is closely related to how we live and what we think most about (Ps 1:1-2). In Psalm 2, we proclaimed that God's King Rules. We know that despite unrelenting opposition and rebellion from rulers and nations (Ps 2:1-3), God's plan will never ever be thwarted or hindered (Ps 2:4-9). In Psalm 3, we learn from David, the man after God's own heart, how to deal with adversity without any fear and with full confidence.

Psalm 3 is the first psalm with a title. David is the author and the occasion is Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18). This psalm shows how David models genuine faith in his dire straits. Readers, both past and present, can learn from David's faith how to overcome our own times of difficulty, distress, despondency and despair. Consider David's perspective regarding:

1. What He See (1-2): Human opposition.
   
2. What He Believes (3-4): Divine protection.
   
3. What He Feels (5-6): Confidence without any fear.
   
4. What He Prays For (7): Victory over his foes.
5. What He Knows (8): Blessing that is sure.
   

I. What He See (1-2): Human opposition

II. What He Believes (3-4): Divine protection

III. What He Feels (5-6): Confidence without any fear

IV. What He Prays For (7): Victory over his foes

V. What He Knows (8): Blessing that is sure

Questions:

1. What occasion led David to write this psalm (2 Samuel 15:13-17:24)?
2. What did David know about his adversaries (1)? What did they say (2)? Who in particular (2 Sam 16:5-8)?
   
3. How did David view God (3)? What did he do and how did God respond (4)?
   
4. Why was David able to sleep in the midst of many troubles (5)? Why is insomnia a problem for many?
5. How did David feel knowing that there are thousands who are against him (6; Prov 29:25)?
6. How does David pray (7; Ps 7:8)? Should Christians today pray like him (Mt 5:44)?
7. What is David confident of (8)?
   

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Psalm 3 -- A Morning Prayer for God's Protection.
1. David's complaint (1-2).
2. David's comfort (3-6).
3. David's cry (7-8).
   
4. ESV Study Bible.
1. What he sees (1-2).
2. What he believes (3-6).
3. What he prays for (7-8).
   

Image: http://www.open-mike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Psalm-3.jpg

God's King Rules (Psalm 2)

Psalm 2:1-12; 6a

"I have installed my king..." (Ps 2:6, NIV). For the Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne...." (Ps 2:6, NLT).

From Psalm 1, we learn the "secret" of happiness, which is really no secret at all, since it is self-evident and freely accessible to anyone and everyone. For anyone to be happy, we simply need to be prayerful and watchful about how we live (Ps 1:1)--who we hang out with (including on the internet), and what we entertain and desire in our hearts (Ps 1:2)--what we delight in and meditate on, which God sees and knows (1 Sam 16:7).

In Psalm 2, God's King Rules, the psalmist declares that God's king will rule, regardless if the kings and nations of the world oppose and rebel against Him. A longer title would be "The world rebels, yet God's King still rules." The four natural parts of this sermon, each with three verses, are:

1. Kings (and nations) Oppose God (Ps 2:1-3): God challenged (Gentile kings revolt).
   
2. God Installs His King (Ps 2:4-6): God laughs (Heaven's perspective on revolt).
3. God's King Rules (Ps 2:7-9): God decrees (King speaks).
4. Serve God's King (Ps 2:10-12): God summons (King advises).

I. Kings (and nations) Oppose God (Ps 2:1-3)

II. God Installs His King (Ps 2:4-6)

III. God's King Rules (Ps 2:7-9)

IV. Serve God's King (Ps 2:10-12)

Psalm 2 speaks of the Davidic kings of Israel. The NT reveals that ultimately Christ himself is the King who fulfills Psalm 2.

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
3. Psalm 2. D.A. Carson. 3 NT texts. Heb 1:5 (Ps 2:7; 2 Sa 7:14, 1-17: 1-10 [A king with religious initiatives rebuffed]; 7:11-14 [A king suitably broken given superb privileges]) - superior over angels; Heb 5:5 (Ps 2:7) - high priest; Ac 13:32 (Ps 2:7) - raised from the dead. Psalm 2 can be broken down into 4 parts:
1. God challenged (1-3).
2. God laughs (4-6).
3. God decrees (7-9).
4. God summons (10-12).
   

Happiness (Psalm 1)

Psalm 1:1-6; 2

"Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night" (Ps 1:2, HCSB). " But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night" (Ps 1:2, NLT).

(Alternate titles: True Happiness. True Blessedness. A Truly Happy Person. A Truly Happy Man.)

Ps 1:1-6, the introduction to the book of Psalms, teaches us the way of blessedness, or true happiness. Our happiness is always related to our life--how we live (Ps 1:1) and what we desire and think about (Ps 1:2) [what's in our hearts], and the rest will fall in place and take care of itself (Ps 1:3). It is also prudent to regard the consequences of an unfulfilling and unhappy life (Ps 1:4-6). Thus, the happy and blessed person carefully watches and considers:

1. Their life (Ps 1:1), their walk: how they live and who they hang out with.
   
2. Their heart (Ps 1:2), their delight and meditation: what they desire and think about.
   
3. Their foundation (Ps 1:3): what they are grounded, rooted and planted upon.
4. Unhappy people (Ps 1:4-6), their lives and the consequences of their life:
1. No permanence: They lack a solid foundation (Ps 1:4).
2. No righteousness: They lack righteousness (Ps 1:5).
3. No life: Their lives dwindle and perish (Ps 1:6).

To be happy, seriously, reflectively, meditatively and contemplatively consider how you are living and what's in your heart.

Personal Application:

1. Love those who are unhappy. Do not judge, criticize or condemn them for their wickedness.
2. Repent of self-righteousness and condescension toward others, just because you think God has truly blessed you, your family and your church. Ultimately, it's not because of you.
   
3. Know the wickedness within ourselves when we:
• blame God and especially others.
  
• worry and are anxious about your future rather than simply trusting God.
• are jealous and envious of others, especially those who have what you want.
• gossip and slander others behind their back.
• are hypocrits by speaking, acting and behaving in a holy Christian way while our hearts are somewhere else.
• lie, are dishonest and not tell the truth.
• do not love others the way God has loved us.
• are ruled by our ego that seeks value, validation and vindication from people rather than from God.
  
4. Know that if you are blessed, it is entirely only because of the grace of God, and not because of any righteousness of your own.
5. Jesus is the only truly blessed and righteous person who ever lived out Psalm 1, not you!

References:

1. Motyer, J Alec. The Psalms. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1994.
   
2. Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1 - 72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1973.
   

Gospel Blessedness (Romans 5:1-11)

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:1, NIV). "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Rom 5:1, NLT).

"In the whole Bible there is hardly another chapter which can equal this triumphant text." Martin Luther.

So far in Romans, Paul writes convincingly that the only way of salvation is to be justified by grace, through faith. Now in Romans 5, Paul tells us what the practical benefits of this are.

Gospel fruits or blessings are:

1. Peace with God (1).
2. Standing in grace (2a).
3. Rejoice in hope (2b).
4. Rejoice in suffering (3-8).
5. Saved through Christ (9-10).
6. Rejoice in God (11).

Benefits of Being Justified Through Faith: Study Guide for Romans 5. David Guzik.

Dualistic Thinking

In Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation, Franciscan monk and national bestselling author Richard Rohr writes:

Dualistic thinking is operative almost all of the time. It is when you choose one side, or temperamentally prefer one side, and then call the side of the equation false, wrong, heresy, or untrue. It is often something to which you have not yet been exposed, or it threatens you or your ego in a way, or is beyond your education. The dualistic mind splits the moment and forbids the dark side, the mysterious, the paradoxical. This is the common level of conversation that we have in the world. Basically, it lacks humility and patience, and it is the opposite of contemplation.

Dualistic thinking (which arises from non-silence or a lack of contemplation) is where everything is separated into opposites, like life and death, right and wrong, spiritual and unspiritual, godly and ungodly, holy and unholy, etc. The dualistic mind is almost the only mind left today, even in the church. Even our education teaches us to be very good at dualistic thinking. But it is what Jesus and Buddha would call judgmental thinking (Mt 7:1-5), and they both strongly warn us against it.

Martin Luther and Pope Francis' Articulation of the Gospel, the Kerygma

Both Martin Luther and Pope Francis understand the need of all people to hear the gospel, not just initially for our salvation, but repeatedly, in all ways and in countless ways throughout our days.

"The law is divine and holy. Let the law have his glory, but yet no law, be it never so divine and holy, ought to teach me that I am justified, and shall live through it. I grant it may teach me that I ought to love God and my neighbour; also to live in chastity, soberness, patience, etc., but it ought not to show me, how I should be delivered from sin, the devil, death, and hell.

Here I must take counsel of the gospel. I must hearken to the gospel, which teacheth me, not what I ought to do, (for that is the proper office of the law,) but what Jesus Christ the Son of God hath done for me : to wit, that He suffered and died to deliver me from sin and death. The gospel willeth me to receive this, and to believe it. And this is the truth of the gospel. It is also the principal article of all Christian doctrine, wherein the knowledge of all godliness consisteth.

Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article well, teach it unto others, and beat it into their heads continually."

–Martin Luther, St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians.

This is how Pope Francis summarized the kerygma (the proclamation of the gospel): "Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you."

"This first proclamation is called 'first' not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things. It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment. We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more "solid" formation. Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation. All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the kerygma, which is reflected in and constantly illumines, the work of catechesis, thereby enabling us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats."

" … (the kerygma) has to express God's saving love, which precedes any moral and religious obligation on our part; it should not impose the truth but appeal to freedom; it should be marked by joy, encouragement, liveliness and a harmonious balance, which will not reduce preaching to a few doctrines, which are at times more philosophical than evangelical. All this demands on the part of the evangelizer certain attitudes, which foster openness to the message: approachability, readiness for dialogue, patience, a warmth and welcome which is non-judgmental."

Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel. (Reference: What Life Church is doing right.)

Invitation to James: Persevering through Trials to Win the Crown (Review)

Invitation to James: Persevering through Trials to Win the Crown, Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church (Wooster, OH: Weaver, 2014), Donald R. Sunukjian.

Biblical Preaching for the Contemporary Church made the Bible come alive. This small book of just 123 pages is not a technical commentary on James, but a very practical pastoral guide through James. Its intention is to help preachers learn how to effectively preach through James. Sunukjian's preaching style which is slightly edited for the book in order to preserve its oral style is amicable and relevant to our modern day experiences. His elaborate and interesting introductory stories and illustrations that starts of each of the 14 sermons make this already practical letter very relevant and relatable to our the issues that all of us encounter in life and especially in the church.

A free PDF can be excerpted here.

I received a free copy of this book from Cross Focused Reviews on behalf of Weaver Book Company.