Book Briefs

There are always more books than time, but here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed reading in the past few months.

Wayne R. Spear, Covenanted Uniformity in Religion: The Influence of the Scottish Commissioners on the Ecclesiology of the Westminster Assembly (RHB, 2013). The book is what it says it is: an examination of how John Maitland, Alexander Henderson, George Gillespie, Robert Baillie, Samuel Rutherford, and Archibald Johnston shaped the Assembly’s doctrine of the church. Spear does a good job demonstrating which issues were controversial and where compromises had to be reached. He also shows how the Scottish commissioners often brought to London a more robust (and more opinionated) view of ecclesiology than their English counterparts did.

Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Vine Project: Shaping Your Ministry Culture Around Disciple-Making (Matthias Media, 2016). The practical, how-to follow up to The Trellis and the Vine. At 350 pages, I wish the book were a little shorter, but the process Marshall and Payne lay out is extremely valuable. I’ve just started using the book with a vision committee in our church.

Jason L. Riley, False Black Power? (Templeton Press, 2017). Riley, a Black conservative, argues that the current civil rights movement has done little to help Blacks get ahead in life. Riley insists that true power for African Americans comes not by looking to politicians, but by looking to their own past. The book finishes with (partially) dissenting opinions from John McWhorter and Glenn Loury.

Andreas J. Kostenberger and Scott R. Swain, Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity and John’s Gospel (IVP, 2008). This book was helpful for my systematic theology course and continues to be helpful as I preach through the Gospel of John. I’ve been edified by every volume I’ve read in the NSBT series, and this is no exception. The chapters are well organized and can be used as a stand-alone essay if you don’t have time for the whole book.

D. A. Carson, Praying With Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Second Edition (Baker Academic, 2014). Somehow I had never read this volume from the Carson canon. I’m glad I did. Simply put: It’s one of Carson’s best books and one of the best books on prayer period. A great mix of conviction, inspiration, and exegetical insight.

Jonathan Beverly, Your Best Stride: How to Optimize Your Natural Running Form to Run Easier, Farther, and Faster–With Fewer Injuries (Rodale, 2017). And now for something completely different—a book on running stride. I’m a sucker for new running books. I can’t say my running has been revolutionized, but then again, I can’t say I’m doing many of the things the book tells me to do. Basically, running form takes work, but if you want to work at it, this book is the place to start.

Gilles Emery, The Trinity: An Introduction to Catholic Doctrine of the Triune God, translated by Matthew Levering (The Catholic University of America Press, 2011). This is a good mid-level introduction for students and pastors to the historic, orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. I found the writing (the translation maybe?) a little hard to track with at times, but the content is excellent (if occasionally more Roman Catholic than I needed).

Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (Grand Central Publishing, 2016). This would have been on my Top Ten list, except that it was published last year. This was a great book to read while starting a new job (or two new jobs). Like most people my age and younger, I struggle to make the time for “deep work.” Newport provides powerful reasons why I must do this and good suggestions for how I can.