Consider the Lillies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God
By: Jonny Ardavanis

1. Would you Recommend this Book?
YES! If you or someone you love struggles with anxiety then this book is a must read.

2. What is the Main Point?
You don’t have to be anxious because God’s character is worthy to be trusted.

3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?
Part II (Chapters 6-12) give an indepth view of the character of God and why we can find peace in him. One chapter that is a must is Chapter 7: Forever Himself, Forever Good.

4. Why does this book Matter?
As anxiety continues to squeeze the life out of many Christians, Ardavanis’ book offers the remedy of setting our eyes on God’s character, particularly from Jesus’s words in Matthew 6, as our truest hope of dealing with being anxious.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?”
It is an easy read but it is long (256 pages). Don’t be in a rush on this one and take time to really consider the questions at the end of each chapter. While it’s an easy read, it’s also a weighty topic that requires you to slow down.  

6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?
Jonny Ardavanis is the pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin Tennessee. Spending many years as a camp counselor and working with teenagers and young adults he understands the wide net of anxiety that ensnares so many. I really like his writing and think it’s helpful how he maneuvers through theology, real life experiences and personal application.

7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?
While therapy and counseling are great resources, we will never truly find peace outside of the character of God. Continually set your eyes and mind on Christ and who he is to combat the daily struggle with anxiety.

8. What was One point of Disagreement?
I was on high alert when reading this book because of how often topics such as anxiety can be mishandled or not really offering the hope and encouragement people need. However, this book is very encouraging and correcting as it sets your eyes on the sovereignty of God in a much need, loving and biblical way.

9. What are any other things that stood out to You?
He does a great job of digging into the depth of anxiety that people are facing as well as how far reaching it is in our younger generations.

10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?
A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Edward Welch. Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges.

A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul 
By: David Mathis

1. Would you Recommend this Book?
Yes. I have recommended it often and refer back to it myself regularly.

2. What is the Main Point?
Regular exercise, good sleep, and eating well are worshipful ways to prepare and maintain our bodies for the service of the Lord and to enjoy him in both body and soul.

3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?
Chapter 1, 3, 6 and 7 are particularly helpful.

4. Why does this book Matter?
Because our bodies matter and we’ve only been given one to steward. Exercise is and should be a lot more worshipful than we realize and its benefits extend way beyond just looking and feeling good.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” 
Very easy to read and can be done in one or two sittings at only 128 pages. Mathis packs a lot into this short (little) book providing robust theology and practical application.

6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?
David Mathis is the executive editor of desiringgod.org, pastor, and adjunct seminary professor. His writing is both richly deep and easily accessible. He’s gifted in explaining deep theological truths in simple language that leaves the reader ready to understand and apply the truths to their lives.

7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?
Exercise doesn’t have to be something that you hate or neglect in your life. Ask for the Lord’s help to gain a bigger view of the “why” of exercise and as you begin your exercise pray and ask the Lord to help you worship him as you care for the body he has given you.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?
Mathis spends a little bit of ink on speaking about diet and I wish he would have done more. Everything he said was great but I believe there is a lot more that could be said but that’s to be expected with a “little theology.”


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?
Chapters 4 and 5 were really helpful in furthering my view of what we are doing for our mind and will as we exercise, building our capacity to endure hard things.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?
This book is a great introduction and foundation whether you’re an avid exerciser or someone who has struggled for years to have any form of exercise in your life.

A.C.M.E. stands for the Association of Churches for Missions and Evangelism. ACME (I’m going to stop using the periods now because it takes more effort than this parenthetical explanation I am writing to inform you of my cessation of such keyboard monotony) at this point is the only official group or entity with which we at King’s Fellowship are associated. The reason for this is simple: we wanted to team up with other local churches for the advancement of the gospel here and abroad, and this association is the most like us in all things. I am sure we will associate in some capacity with other groups in the future, but if you picture these associations as a target with concentric circles, the closer to the center being those churches more like us, then ACME is the bullseye.
 
We had to go through a relatively extensive process of their investigating our foundational documents and our processes to make sure that we aligned with their core values and requirements before we were accepted; this included things like expositional preaching,  meaningful membership and discipline, elder-led congregational polity, one unified assembly, biblically oriented public worship, church-centric missions & evangelism, historic baptistic ecclesiology, and reformed soteriology. To literally all of those we shout, “YES AND AMEN!” So, naturally, what makes this association so attractive to us is that all of the churches that are part of ACME profess all of these values and have been through the same investigation, and so all of the decisions about funding missionary efforts and church planting efforts are being driven by these distinctives.
 
There will likely be times that we are willing to compromise on one or more of these things in order to support a Christian brother if we deem the work worthy despite such things, but with our giving to ACME we can have great confidence in the kind of work and the kind of churches that are being supported through our money; only ACME churches are able to submit applications for ACME funding grants.

This association allows churches to come together, pulling funds to do more than we would be capable of doing on our own. ACME states that ideally, each church would give between 2-4% of its annual budget; we plan to honor this and potentially exceed it each year, if the Lord wills.

We see in the Bible that healthy churches know and encourage one another (Rom 16:16, Eph 6:22), strengthen one another (Ac 14:22), and are generous with one another (Ac 13:22, 29, 3 Jn 7-8). We are not competing with other churches, they are not against us, they are for us.


ACME is a very young association having just begun in 2024; we were one of the first hundred churches accepted. If you want to see what the money was used for since 2024, you can see that here: https://acmefellowship.org/grants

(There is a conference every year where we celebrate what God has done through the giving of ACME churches, if you are a member of King’s WE WOULD LOVE for you to join us; reach out to one of the pastors with interest.)

Tactics
By: Greg Koukl

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely and I have often, this is a great follow up for introductory apologetic reading.


2. What is the Main Point?

This apologetic book is not about the arguments themselves, it is about how to use the reasoning of the arguments in real world conversations. Because I am more drawn to ideas, I put off reading this book as less interesting than the ones primarily about the philosophy than the practicality; I regret doing so. The main idea is to not enter those sorts of conversations feeling the burden of arguing someone into faith, but asking questions to get to know their real beliefs and lead the conversation primarily through asking questions, not first informing.

 
3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

By a significant margin the part that was most helpful to me, likely because the other sections are covered at least in part in ordinary apologetic works, was the opening section on what he calls the Columbo Tactic.


4. Why does this book Matter?

It is relatively easy to learn the apologetic arguments and reasoning for Christian defense, learning how to use those weapons in a way that glorifies Christ and loves others is much more difficult. This is the best book I have read at helping a Christian do just that.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes. Around 250 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Koukl is a well known Christian apologist and author, he writes for the normal Christian and he is skillfully articulate.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Asking people questions to clarify their beliefs will often avoid most of the land mines that can come about in evangelistic conversations; most people haven’t really thought through their positions intellectually and just helping them think through things with questions is often more gentle and effective, letting them come to their own conclusions rather than telling them what conclusion to come to.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

It isn’t always as simple as he can make it out to be, though it often is.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Koukl does a good job with reminding that how one speaks is more important than what one speaks.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Yes any solid introductory apologetic book would be helpful to read before this one. Good options would be Reason for God by Keller, The Case for Christ by Strobel, Is Atheism Dead by Metaxes, or On guard by Craig for a bit more academic.

The Case for Christ
By: Lee Strobel

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

This is one of my most commonly recommended books, especially for young Christians who need answers for why they believe what they believe and for good faith skeptics.


2. What is the Main Point?

Strobel went on a personal journey from militant atheism to being converted to Christ largely because of seeing how conversion had changed his wife. Being a well-established journalist, Strobel attacked the claims of Christianity like he would any story, seeking actually to disprove it, but finding far more evidence than he could have imagined. In this book, Strobel establishes the pattern that almost all of his books follow, flying all over the world to interview some of the best minds inside of Christianity to ask them the hard questions. The main point is that Christianity stands up to questioning, and is not only reasonable, but the best explanation of the evidence.

 
3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

This is a book where each chapter stands on its own, so look at the chapters and pick the topics that interest you most if you like.


4. Why does this book Matter?

Though most of this war has been won in my estimation, this book was on the forefront of Christian apologetics to the mainstream, showing Christianity as intellectually rigorous, and had a significant impact on the culture.
 
Strobel interviews all of the right people, and this book has SO much in it; it may be the most all encompassing introductory apologetics book.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes. 464 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Strobel, as a journalist, is a wonderful writer that is a joy to read. More importantly, he asks all of the right questions with incisive precision. He asks the questions that the skeptic asks.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

The part that I still think about often is how each of these expectantly hardened academicians became emotional when asked about their personal life with and love of Christ. Loving Christ with our minds isn’t first to win arguments or defend the faith, it is to know and love Christ more.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

No disagreement, but there is plenty more to say about each chapter’s topic than he is able to cover in this book; use this as a jumping off point to delve deeper into the topics that you have the most questions about.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?
 
See the One Key Take-Away


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

This is a Great number 1.

Finding the Right Hills to Die On
By: Gavin Ortlund

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely.


2. What is the Main Point?

Everything does not all matter the same amount in Christianity, some things are more important than others. Some things are important enough to call out as heresy and divide sharply over, emphasizing that differences here impact whether or not someone is even a Christian, while some things are important enough to divide over as local churches, to separate as denominations, though not important enough to treat each other as if we are not Christians together, while even other things can be disagreed upon by fellow members in the same local church without issue.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Chapters 1 and 2.


4. Why does this book Matter?

This book helps us walk the line between standing firmly for the things that are most important, but not disrupting real unity on the things that we are able to join Christians throughout history in disagreeing over. You have heard us as pastors use the phrase “Theological Triage;” we get it from this book. This helps us designate topics as either Tier 1 - like the deity or resurrection of Christ, Tier 2 - like baptism and church authority, and Tier 3 - like eschatology, and respond wisely to each in right manner. This book helps both the unity of the church universal and its witness as a pillar and buttress of Truth.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes Ortlund is very easy to read and this book is short, around 200 pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Ortlund is a scholar and a pastor, and is best known for his YouTube channel “Truth Unites,” which I watch almost daily, as well as his books such as this one, “What it Means to be Protestant,” “Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t,” and more.
 
Ortlund is, as always, incredibly gracious and takes care not to overstate his case or be too dogmatic where it would be unwise to do so; however, he does not shrink from strong statements with clarity. He is very easy to understand and is pastoral in his writing; he is often the source I look to first when beginning to think through an issue or topic.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Strive for unity whenever possible, whenever tier-1 issues are not at stake, but stand strongly for those issues. Additionally, while disagreeing at tier-2 levels may not be ideal for Christians, it is inevitable and okay; Christians have always had such disagreements with everyone just seeking to honor Christ.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Nope.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Ortlund, as always, emphasizes well that being right in the wrong way can be as harmful as anything.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Nope.

Mere Christianity
By: C.S. Lewis

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Of course. This is perhaps the first apologetic type book that I ever read and I try to go back and read it again every few years. This is one of the 5 books that I recommend most often.


2. What is the Main Point?

Lewis is arguing for the truth of Christianity, and as opposed to defending particular secondary or tertiary issues, he focuses on that which he calls “Mere” Christianity. This is a great book to introduce one to this kind of thought and to give an intellectual grounding for many things the Christian believes already and the non-Christian takes for granted.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Read Book 1 (which will make you want to read the rest)


4. Why does this book Matter?

Lewis addresses common issues of doubt without hostility but with hard to argue against reasoning; Lewis himself was converted largely through the lines of thought that he uses in this book, so he has thought through them well and feels them emotionally. Even the non-Christian will really enjoy this book and acknowledge the truth of so much in it even if they disagree with the foundational truth for which he is arguing.
 
In a modern world that has gotten worse at thinking, this book is immensely helpful. And of course as Christians, we should strive to be able to talk to the world with as much wisdom, clarity, and power as Lewis.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

It’s not as easy as you’d want it to be, but I’m not sure it could have been made easier and held onto its profundity and beauty. Go back and read that sentence again, and the next one too, and anytime you need to. Take your time; there’s more there than first meets the eye anyway so you might as well go slowly. Around 220 pages, depending on version.

 
6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

There is no writer like Lewis, in my humble opinion; he is the best when it comes to writing style and displaying his thought.

 
7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

This book will help you understand Christianity better, think better, and talk with young or non-Christians better.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Nope.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

You’ll finish reading and want to start again just for fun.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

If desired, reading a chapter on morality in a less profound but more clear book like “On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision,” or “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Athiest” could be helpful.

The Anxious Generation
By. Jonathan Haidt

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

If I was the Czar of America, I would force everyone to read this, AT LEAST all those whom God has entrusted with the title and task of Parent. Honestly, as much effort as one has to go through to adopt a child, is it too much to ask every Jack and Jill that walks into a hospital to welcome a new child to read this book before they can leave???


2. What is the Main Point?

The dramatic rise in anxiety, depression, self-harm and fragility among Gen Z is the result of having moved from a play-based childhood, like most of us grew up in, to a screen-based childhood. Modern parents, for whatever reason, whether care or laziness, have over-protected their children from the real world while under-protecting them from the digital world.

 
3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

READ IT ALL, but if you just refuse, read chapters 1-4.


4. Why does this book Matter?

Heidt doesn’t simply take the low hanging fruit and argue that something is wrong with modern young people, he explains exactly what has made it this way and offers real world practical solutions to the problem. This book is making waves in the culture, praise the Lord.
 
I have told my oldest sons, who are just 18 years younger than me and are 18 years old, that they have to endure the the fortunate (though in their mind unfortunate) reality that their parents grew up on the front side of the shift to digital and social media while all of their friends’ parents did not, so we know better than to give them free reign. I am convinced that the next generation of parents will do better, because they know better and can see the harms of screen-based childhood and of social media on young minds for themselves.

Heidt’s evidence is incredibly clear, and it confirms what we are all seeing with our eyes. Let us make the change together!


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes, Heidt is brilliant but writes in this book for normal parents. It is not short but it also isn’t long, it is around 400 pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Heidt is a social psychologist who has spent years studying why this generation of young people struggles in seemingly novel ways, his writing is clear and incisive; he writes more as a scientist than anything.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

This book not only cemented what I believed was happening with modern young people, more importantly for me is it made it clear to me that I have been guilty of overprotecting from the real world. After reading this, my children have been given much more freedom for unsupervised play, and my teenagers more freedom to learn things naturally and not have me hovering trying to protect them from all of life’s pains.
 
His 4 practical steps to take are
No smartphones before high school
No social media before age 16
Phone-free schools (not just keep it in your pocket or locker)
Restoration of Free Play and (childhood) Independence


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Heidt is not a Christian so there is obviously dissonance there, but we need this book.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Childhood brain development is being significantly hindered by always having parental supervision. Children learn from their brains being challenged to solve problems, social dilemmas, avoid pains on their own, and when parents are around, we can’t help ourselves from doing those things for them because we love them!

Risk (age-appropriate risk) is NECESSARY for children, and we have largely taken it away from modern childhood. One comedian joked that you don’t see kids in casts anymore and that this is a sign of a society on the downturn, saying, “You can’t grab a sharpie and sign someone’s anxiety disorder.”


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

No.

Christians Reading Classics
By. Nadya Williams

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Yes I would, mainly as the first book that leads one more fully into the classics.


2. What is the Main Point?

The main point is simply to outline (arguably) the most influential writings in classical human history, the writings that we humans have considered the classics and that best help us get a grasp on various stages of this world the Lord has given us. Williams also spends time with each work connecting or contrasting to Christian themes and giving examples of what the Christian can learn from reading each.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

She moves chronologically, so if mainly interested in one particular time period, focus on that section; otherwise, it is all enjoyable and helpful.


4. Why does this book Matter?

I picked this up because I am trying to read more of the classics myself, and this book was very helpful as a guide to doing this. Modern education is largely failing us in this regard and it certainly did me, as so many of these writings are new to me, while they would have been foundational for any educated person beforehand. My children just began homeschooling through “Classical Conversations,” and their reading list was convicting to me as they are reading so many ancient writings that I had not read; I am endeavoring to solve that and this book was particularly helpful.

It is fascinating through these writings that start before and finish after Christ to see how his life and death changed everything.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes, Williams is not writing technically and the overviews and connections are easy to understand. 320 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Nadya Williams is a classicist and historian passionate about connecting modern Christians to ancient writings and thought; despite its breadth her writing was clear and easy to understand, though at times I would have liked some more philosophical depth.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

I am not part of some new race of humans, but a long line of people foundationally the same as I am from whom I can learn greatly. We take for granted that all humans have also thought like we think, but reading the classics helps illuminate the falsehood of such an assumption, while also showing the ways we are similar despite millenia of difference.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

There were plenty of times that there seemed to me much more meat on the bone for Christian application and thought than she bit off, but obviously the book could only be so long.

 
9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Williams is, understandably, very interested in the implications for female history in particular, and is likely more left-leaning politically than most Alabamians; this shows up more in her other writings but it pops it’s head up here occasionally as well.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

This is a great book 1.

What it Means to be Protestant
By: Gavin Ortlund

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely, particularly as an introduction to what protestantism is and how it came to be, as well as the o so many in the young generation that are considering a move to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy.

 
2. What is the Main Point?

This book is what it claims to be, arguing that to be Protestant is not to leave behind the one holy catholic (little c) church, but in fact to BE exactly that, and simply to be always reforming underneath the sole infallible authority of the Word.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Chapters 1, 3, and 8-11.


4. Why does this book Matter?

Perhaps the primary usefulness of this book for me will be to thicken up everyday protestant’s understanding of protestantism, to help people see it not as novel or as new but as old and weighty and historical. It is easy to be negative about protestantism if you judge it by its lightest and least historical (and worst), which are unfortunately the biggest churches in America; however, Ortlund argues that this is not protestantism’s heart and foundation. He wants us not just to stick with protestantism, but to reform modern fluffy evangelicalism back to the historical church and its much deeper stronger roots. Ortlund refocuses us around the heart of protestantism and to view the accretions both in Roman Catholic/Eastern Orthodoxy AND modern evangelicalism as what they are.

 
5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes, it is very readable and around 300 pages.

 
6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Ortlund is a scholar and a pastor, and is best known for his YouTube channel “Truth Unites,” which I watch almost daily, as well as his books such as this one, “Finding the Right Hills to Die On,” “Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t,” and more.
 
Ortlund is, as always, incredibly gracious and takes care not to overstate his case or be too dogmatic where it would be unwise to do so; however, he does not shrink from strong statements with clarity. He is very easy to understand and is pastoral in his writing; he is often the source I look to first when beginning to think through an issue or topic.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

I should seek to understand church history better and ground my spirituality in the 2,000 years of such instead of only or primarily in personal experience or the modern church movements that are themselves largely disconnected from this history.

 
8. What was One point of Disagreement?


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Orltund’s tone throughout, as always, was as instructive to me as the content itself; despite his impressive learning and intellect, he remains humble and open to correction amidst his confident teaching.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

This is a great first book on this topic. Mark Noll’s overview of church history could be helpful to join to this one either before or after.

Crime and Punishment
By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Constantly, this book had a significant impact on me and put me on reading fiction again largely because of how this book impacted me. This is the first example that I give of how fiction/narrative, like all good art, is able to say things that non-fiction is able to say even when directly attempting to.


2. What is the Main Point?

What a question this is; here is my effort: The Moral Law written on the heart of man is real, and is stronger and deeper in us than any intellectual argumentation and our reason is actually impotent to war against it. In Raskolnikov, we see what Adam only glimpsed; the result and absolute pervasiveness of the poison that is sin.

 
3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Sorry, read it all, it may be the greatest book ever written.


4. Why does this book Matter?

In an age still pervaded by naturalism, that attempts to place our reasoning capacity transcendent above all other human faculties, even to the point of denying the objective existence of morality or an internal moral law, this book is needed again. This book is the best moral argument you can read.
 
Spoiler alert (it’s early in the book): Raskolnikov is a brilliant but poor student who convinces himself through seemingly sound logic that he can and even should murder an old woman who was hated by those around her and made their lives more difficult than they had to be. He reasons that since this useless woman has lots of money, and he could take that money and use it to his extraordinary advantage, he can do that and even should do that for even the good of humanity. What happens throughout the book is that we see that even though he had reasoned his way to this murder’s justification, something deeper in him than his reason knew that what he had done was Wrong and Evil and that he deserved punishment. We see this not through the legal ramifications of such sin, but the internal, psychological, moral law written on the heart that progressively twists and crushes him individually.

Raskolnikov hears and tells himself the lie that we all tell ourselves, some sin is worth it or is justifiable; the devil still tells the same lie.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Eh, probably not; but it also is still fiction so not particularly difficult either.
 
Depending on version, it is around 600 pages, and while during reading there will be plenty of those pages that feel superfluous; they are not.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Potentially the greatest author ever; that is all. Dostoevsky was a Russian author in the 19th century, and a Christian. He wrote many works that are very well known; this one and Brothers Karamazov being the most well known.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Sin is heavier than we think, the pathway to redemption is real confession, justifying your self and your sin only leads to more misery and to increased lostness, self-sacrifice is the better path than self-service, being right with God has nothing to do with intellectual superiority and everything to do with a humble repentant heart.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Nope.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

As the reader you struggle with whether or not you want Raskolnikov to get caught, seeing in yourself your own temptation to keep sin hidden in the dark, while also knowing the only pathway to real redemption and justice is for it to be brought to the light.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Nope.

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution
By Louise Perry

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

 Yes! With 1 caveat: Not long after writing this book, Perry converts to Christianity, but she writes as a non-Christian and that can show itself from time to time. She expresses views that may make you uncomfortable, and though normally simply quoting some cultural mantra, occasionally uses very vulgar vernacular. While it very rarely comes off as gratuitous, you will join me in wincing at these moments (as the author intends) and also wishing she had done it less.


2. What is the Main Point?

Feminism and the sexual revolution has harmed humanity, especially women. While this movement promised freedom, equality, and happiness, it has instead become what it claimed to hate and privileged male sexual desire, brought women into increased despair, and weakened the guardrails that civilization had built to restrain exploitation.

She argues for the same things Christians argue for for men and women, but from biology, sociology, and history.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Read the introduction, chapters 1, 2 and 8.


4. Why does this book Matter?

This book is one of the key books that is helping to change the cultural narrative about the so called “sexual revolution.” It has been assumed for a couple generations now that this revolution was a benefit for humanity, but it has been long enough for us to determine that this particular human experiment failed and failed miserably. This book is particularly helpful in the conversation since it isn’t even arguing theologically (at least explicitly), but makes the potent argument from a secular perspective.

 
5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Most would not consider this book particularly easy, though it is relatively short. 200 Pages.

 
6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

I discovered Louise Perry through Glen Scrivener’s Youtube channel Speak Life; she is absolutely brilliant and incredibly articulate and is perhaps the leading thinker on this topic. Her writing is simply great.

 
7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Sex is Holy and should be treated as such, and the “sexual revolution” should be seen primarily as harmful and not primarily as freeing.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

She assumes an evolutionary worldview that will press on most Christian readers. Additionally and arguably more importantly, she makes strong and convincing arguments throughout her book, but as a non-Christian (at this point) fails to follow the arguments to their logical ends which must be grounded in God. There are multiple occasions where the Christian who has thought about these things will respond to her with something like, “based on what,” because she fails to ground the strong assertion properly in God.

Perry already at this point acknowledges that Christianity is what she calls “sociologically true,” that it works and is the best paradigm for human thriving; it is this realization that is seen throughout this book that the Lord uses eventually to convert her.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

So much. She uses an illustration early that was poignant and helpful in showing that sex is of a different sort of value than other things. She points out that if a boss asks his subordinate to make a cup of coffee, though this task may not be in the job description of the employee, the request isn’t objectionable; however, if the boss asks the employee for sex, this is rightly and immediately seen as repulsive and even abusive. She argues that the current ideology of sexual disenchantment demands that we see sex like making coffee and we harm ourselves and others when we pretend we can see things that way. “If we try to pretend that sex has no special value that makes it different than other acts, then we end up in some pretty dark places. If sex isn’t worthy of its own moral category, then nor is sexual harassment or rape. . . once you permit the idea that people can be products, everything is corroded.”


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Scrivener’s The Air we Breathe would be helpful to read beforehand, but not necessary.

Prioritizing the Church in Missions
by Aaron Menikhoff and Harshit Singh

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely, it played a significant role in shifting how I view missions.


2. What is the Main Point?

The main point is implied by the title, that the local church, not parachurch organizations or individual missionaries, is God’s primary means and authority for carrying out the Great Commission. The authors point out that the modern church often acts as if it has forgotten this reality, emphasizing speed and strategy over ecclesiastical centrality.
 
The simple thesis is that the local church is both the means and the end of missions; it should be the church that is primarily responsible for training, equipping, appointing and sending missionaries, and the goal of the missionary efforts on the field should be aimed at planting or building local churches.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Chapters 1-3 present the primary argument of the book, while the rest of the book fleshes out what that can and should look like; so chapters 1-3.


4. Why does this book Matter?

So much of our modern ills are due to the modern church, at least in the West, not being all that God has called it to be, and due to a lower view of the church by everyday Christians than any generation before us. If we are to be faithful to the Great Commission, we must ground missions in the church. It is the church that the gates of hell will not prevail against, it is the church that is a pillar and buttress of the truth, it is the church that has been given the keys to Christ’s kingdom. Additionally, the church is God’s primary tool of discipleship; so if we go preach the gospel in new places and see people converted, but leave these people on their own or without this God-ordained tool, we are not finishing the call of the Great Commission.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes it is, it was written not just or even primarily for pastors, but for church members. 232 Pages.

 
6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Menikhoff and Singh are two of the leading pastors in ACME, the missions association that we are members of at King’s Fellowship. I enjoyed their writing very much and look forward to reading more from them. They are not just scholars, they are pastors doing the ordinary work in local churches, and you can feel it in their writing.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Looking for opportunities to give to missions is great, but prioritize giving through your local church and to missionaries that are endeavoring to plant or build churches.

 
8. What was One point of Disagreement?None that I can remember.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Parachurch missions organizations can be wonderful things if those organizations see their task as being servants and partners of the local churches of which their missionaries are members. This is all relatively new to me, personally, but we have worked some already with Reaching & Teaching and they have just been incredible in this regard.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

No prerequisite needed. There is a parallel book to this one that is coming out soon (may be out when you read this) that is titled Prioritizing the Church in Missions I believe. 9Marks has a new series of books on missions that they are unrolling currently.

Advent is the four-week season leading up to Christmas that prepares our hearts to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ and to anticipate His promised return. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” Historically, the church has understood Advent as a time of longing and hope, much like Israel longed for the Messiah before His birth. We remember Christ’s first coming in humility and anticipate His second coming in glory as Advent forms the church into a people shaped by a confident hope in Jesus.

Advent reminds us that the Christian’s story begins with God coming to us. Humanity was lost in darkness, yet the Father sent His Son as the true light of the world. Advent teaches us to feel the weight of that darkness and not wallow in despair, but to grasp the wonder of Christ’s light. When we slow down during this time we understand more deeply why Jesus came and how desperately we require His grace. The season helps us resist the cultural pressure to rush toward Christmas sentimentality without acknowledging the brokenness Christ came to heal.

Advent also reorients our hearts toward the hope of Christ’s return. The early church lived with an expectation that Jesus would come again to restore creation and reign in righteousness. Advent renews that same longing in us every year. It teaches us to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” as the cry of a people who know that true joy comes only from Him. In our world that is marked by sorrow and sin, Advent anchors us in the promise that Christ will finish what He began.

During Advent we proclaim the faithfulness of God, who kept His promises to send a Redeemer, and who will keep His promises to bring His kingdom in fullness. We meditate on Scriptures from the Old Testament that announce Christ’s coming. These readings draw our attention to Christ as the fulfillment of all God’s redemptive purposes and promises. They lead us to repentance as we prepare room in our hearts for Him, and to joy as we marvel at His steadfast love.

Finally, Advent cultivates a rhythm of waiting that is countercultural to our modern sensibilities. The world urges immediate gratification, but Advent teaches hope-filled waiting rooted in Christ. As we are waiting, we learn to trust Him more deeply and to bear witness to the Light that has entered the world.

We celebrate Advent because it centers us on Jesus—His coming in the flesh, His presence with us now by the Spirit, and His future coming in glory. As we remember and anticipate Christ, the church becomes a people of hope shaped by the One who has come and will come again.

At King’s, our celebration of Advent will include lighting the candles of hope, peace, joy, love, and finally, the Christ candle during our Lord’s Day gatherings leading up to Christmas; our special Nine Lessons and Carols service where we meditate on the Scriptures that announce Christ’s coming and sing together; as well as many opportunities to fellowship with our brothers and sisters as we remind each other to slow down during this busy season.

Throughout the history of the church, God’s people have used concise statements about what they believe according to the Scriptures. These are commonly referred to as creeds or confessions. These statements are not Scripture, but they are helpful expositions of God’s Word that facilitate affirmations of faith shared by the church universal. It is not uncommon on a typical Sunday at King’s for us to employ one of these confessions as a part of our gathered worship. You will hear us regularly say that our liturgy is meant to be participatory and a creed or confession is a helpful tool that unites our voices together to proclaim God’s truth.
 
When many people think of creeds The Apostles Creed or The Nicene Creed are the only two that come to mind. The Apostles Creed was beginning to be formed as early as the first century and The Nicene Creed came along around 325 but what you may not know is that early Christians used sections of Scripture as corporate creeds in the infancy stages of the church. 1 Cor. 15:3-5, Rom. 1:3-4, Phil. 2:6-11, Col. 1:15-18, and 1 Pet. 3:18-22 were regularly used as corporate confessions in the late first century and served as the basis for the early ancient creeds.
 
Creeds and confessions serve as doctrinal guardrails. They keep us from running off into the ditch of heresy with time tested interpretations of Scripture. These statements also promote unity in the body of Christ across all times and all places. We recognize when we come together for worship that we never do so in a vacuum. We stand upon the shoulders of faithful saints who have gone before us. Reciting creeds and confessions unites believers across cultures and generations and reminds us that we are part of the “one holy universal and apostolic Church”.
 
These statements also serve a pedagogical purpose. The repeated use of confessions and creeds in corporate worship serves to instruct the congregation in sound doctrine. This is helpful for all the saints… children, new believers, and mature Christians who have followed Jesus for many years. The Heidelberg Catechism, for example, is structured in a way that teaches doctrine and serves to foster heartfelt devotion to Christ. It helps us internalize the truths of Scripture and prime the pump of our heart to adore Jesus.
 
Many may argue that reciting these statements together is wooden or rote repetition and makes corporate worship dry and less spontaneous. We would argue the opposite. Corporate agreement with these statements lifts our eyes to our Savior and his work and fosters deep joy in our agreement together. They help us proclaim what God has done, is doing, and will do, and they anchor our corporate worship in the grand narrative of redemption rooted in the faith “once for all delivered to the saints”. Below is a list of some of the creeds, confessions, catechisms, and statements you will hear us use in our gatherings. We always send out the coming Sunday’s affirmation in our Lord’s Day Look Ahead email so that it will not be new to you when you confess it.
 
The Apostle’s Creed (1st Century)
The Nicene Creed (325)
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
The New Hampshire Statement of Faith (1853)
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Seek First: How the Kingdom of God Changes Everything
by: Jeremy Treat

1.  Would you recommend this book?

Absolutely.  It is an easy read but more than that it illuminated for me things about the Kingdom of God that I hadn't realized I was overlooking or disregarding.  Without realizing it I was focusing more on the Kingdom of God as a future coming event to be prayed for and brought about by God when Jesus returns.  However, it is just as importantly, a right now work being done by us in everything, that is the piece that I was overlooking and which resided in the back of my consciousness instead of in front where it belongs.


2.  What is the main point?

The main point is that the Kingdom of God is: God's reign, through God's people, over God's place.  I quote from pg 18. " The message of the kingdom of God is not an escape from earth to heaven but God's reign coming from heaven to earth.


3.  Which parts should I read if I am short on time?  

All the parts are worth the time - however, I would recommend chapters 1,2, 4, and 9.


4.  Why does this book matter?

It brings to focus the right now of the kingdom of God.  The responsibility we have to bring heaven down, not simply long for heaven.  This kingdom should be showing up IN us because we bear the image of Christ and Christ proclaimed that He was the Kingdom of God that was near.


5.  Is this book an easy read?  

I found it easy to read and follow along. 208 Pages.


6.  Who is the author and what do you think of their writing?  

The author is Jeremy Treat.  This is my first time reading anything he has written however, I would read him again because I think his writing is well thought out and theologically sound.


7.  What is one key take-away or application for my life?  

That the kingdom of God is still here, and not just then when Jesus was here or will be when Jesus returns, but now and I am in it and part of it.


8.  What was one point of disagreement?

pg 131 he writes, "before we bring our apologetics (defending the faith), we may need to bring our apologies (where we haven't been consistent with our faith).  The church hasn't always been faithful to Scripture in addressing racism and sexism, in its use of power, and in matters of financial integrity.  Before we can be a part of the solution, we have to own up to the ways in which we've been a part of the problem."  I disagree if he is stating this for the broader church or the actions of the church in general.  For this would  be true of every person in every situation.  If every conversation or attempt to right a wrong began with a list of all our apologies for the wrongs of others that share a similar theology, last name, skin color, sexual identity, or organization then when would anything get done?  I don't think I have to apologize for something someone else did whose last name is Teems before I can work to make a difference.  Perhaps I would if it were my daughter, husband, son, even pet but not otherwise.  The same with the church - I cannot be responsible for the actions of any church save mine to which I am a member for which I would apologize for.  The history of the church is riddled with mistakes just like the history of any powerful nation against a weaker one.  I could agree with acknowledging these things, if they are current and local but I fail to see how apologising that our church fathers had slaves before I take a stand against slavery or racism doesn't make sense to me.   I hope this makes sense I don't mean it to be unkind or without empathy.


9. What are any other things that stood out ot you?  

Also in chapter 7 he spoke about the idea that in many churches today many minorities feel the pressure to check their cultural background at the door?  I am not sure what he means by this.  He writes, "sometimes the church has downplayed diversity for the sake of unity".  I believe there is much diversity in at least our church body however we do expect that our similarities - love of God, Christ and each other - would be our unity and we would gladly in love of the body not expect to have our uniqueness be made much of since it isn't about us.


10.  Have you read any books similar to this one that you would also recommend?
 
I cannot think of any right now.  In summary for me personally apart from questions in chapter 7 this book has definitely raised my awareness and had a positive impact on me.

As gospel-believing parents, the greatest desire we have for our children is that they would be saved. We long for them to be confronted with their own sinfulness, to hear and understand the gospel, and then to respond to it in repentance and belief. But how do we know when they are truly saved and ready to be baptized?

The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:1-20 offers insight into who is inside and outside the kingdom that Jesus is bringing to fruition. Those on the inside are proven by the fruit they produce. This fruit is evidence of the seed of the gospel taking deep root in the good soil that God has prepared. Of the four soils that Jesus describes, the second type of soil, the rocky ground, is a great source of help in answering these questions concerning our children’s salvation.

As the seed of the gospel is sown on rocky ground, it is unable to truly take root. The seed finds a way under the surface of the shallow dirt, but the roots can only go so deep before hitting the rock that is just below. It springs to life quickly–since the growth can’t go down through the roots, it immediately comes up to the surface–but as soon as the sun rises and the heat reaches its leaves, it withers away. What looked like a sprout that could lead to good fruit quickly died because it had no true roots to sustain it.

Jesus tells us that this rocky ground represents those who come to him to receive what they want: healing, exorcism, good teaching, etc. They are enamored by his reputation and receive everything he says with immediate joy, but they still don’t truly hear and understand what his Kingdom is all about. They are all in on Team Jesus until something hard comes along; then because they didn’t truly hear, truly understand, and truly believe, they immediately fall away.

Sadly, this rocky ground represents many who call themselves Christians today, especially in our “Southern Bible Belt” context. Emotional altar calls have led to many false conversions, many repetitions of the sinner's prayer, and many “rededications.” The gospel is preached, emotions are stirred, a response is expected, and then many are told they are saved. They even proclaim themselves to be in Christ, but as soon as life hits with its many tribulations and persecution arises because of their so-called “belief in the Word,” they immediately fall away. What looked on the surface like spiritual life was actually no life at all. The gospel never took deep root because there was nowhere for the roots to go. A little top soil concealed hard rock right underneath. True believing faith was never there, only emotional response, which is not a substitute for life-sustaining faith.

Parents, this is one reason we encourage great patience with your children as you cast the seed of the gospel onto the soil of their hearts. Yes, we want our children to come to know the Lord! Yes, we are eager for them to come soon! But we do not want to affirm as a true profession of faith what may be only an emotional response to the gospel or unintentionally promote a false conversion by rushing our children to the baptismal pool. Our desire is to see that the gospel has taken root, good fruit is being produced, and there is a genuine faith that we can joyfully affirm–not a mature faith, but a genuine faith. It is not perfection or a certain level of spiritual maturity we look for, but instead good soil receiving the gospel seed that produces repentance and belief, obedience to the will of God, and perseverance.

This is why we require testimonies and pastoral meetings before baptism for everyone. It is not to keep children or anyone else from being baptized. It is to do our best to affirm that there is genuine profession of faith and a true understanding of the gospel while also upholding what baptism is and who it is for. We seek to affirm the work of God in the lives of our children and others around us as we see it. A great way to lead your child or encourage a friend who is beginning to truly hear the gospel is to say something like, “I see that the seed of the gospel is being planted in your heart.” Then keep planting the seed of the gospel, and water the soil with prayer, Scripture, good conversations, and other counsel as you watch to see if the gospel is truly taking root and producing good fruit.

We want to walk through the baptism of our children with great pastoral and parental wisdom. While baptismal urgency should accompany a genuine profession of faith, with our children we encourage patience so that we may best be able to affirm a genuine faith. We would love to walk alongside any of you in this.

“Women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.”

If you haven’t yet, I would stop now and go read the other helpful essay just titled “Why Deacons?”

We are strongly complementarian.

What this means is that we believe that men and women are, though entirely equal in value and worth and earthly dominion (Gen 1:26-28), different and meant to play different roles, particularly in the home (Eph 5:23-24) and the church.

Despite the fact that we see women throughout the Bible playing prominent spiritual roles, such as serving as prophetesses, judges, and even city representatives in the Old Testament (Ex 15:20-21, 2 Kin 22:14, 2 Chron 34:22, Is 8:3, Judg 4-5, 2 Sam 20:16-22), and prophesying and praying in and out of the church assembly in the New Testament (Lk 2:36-38, Ac 21:9, 2:17, 1 Cor 11:5), we never see them filling the highest spiritual roles in either testament, that of priest and elder/pastor/overseer respectively.

The office of spiritual authority is reserved for men, and this reality is not a result of sin but grounded in creation itself (1 Tim 2:11-14).

Since we believe that the office of Deacon is not a role of spiritual authority, but rather simply of a leading servant, we believe women are capable of holding that office. (If your church’s deacons are operating with spiritual leadership authority, as many do, we would argue against appointing women to that office)


Let me give 4 further arguments for why we believe women can hold the office of deacon:

1. Paul seems to reference women in this role in 1 Timothy 3:11.

• After giving qualifications for elders, Paul says, “likewise” and then gives qualifications for deacons, and then says, “likewise” again before verse 11, a grammatical indicator that begins another category of this official office.
• The Greek word that begins verse 11 can be translated either “wives” or “women,” and there is no “their” there in the Greek which you’d expect if wives were in view. Additionally, Paul already used the “likewise, women” formula in 2:9.
• If what is meant here were “wives,” it would be quite odd that the deacons' wives have qualifications while such qualifications are absent from the elders' wives, though it be the higher office.
• The qualifications given in verse 11 parallel the qualifications in verses 8-10, and appear to be qualifications for actually doing ministry, not just being married to someone who does.

2. Pheobe was most likely in the office of Deacon.

• Paul references men and women that serve along him several places, but this is the only time he uses this formulaic description, “Deacon of the Church at,” along with a specific church. He calls them servants of Christ, or of the gospel, or in the Lord, but here he describes Pheobe with a specific church despite her expansive service. It is most likely that she was serving in an official capacity.
• Paul uses the masculine ending of the word for Deacon, which would have been exceedingly odd if referring to a female servant, but normal if referring to the office.

3. The early church had female Deacons.

• The earliest Christians understood these texts and the apostles intent to include female deacons.
• We know this from many examples, such as Pliny in the 1st or 2nd century, Clement of Alexandria and Origen in the 2nd century, and the Didascalia in the 3rd century. 
• It seems the church only began moving away from women in the office when the office became more of a priest-in-waiting type role that carried some spiritual authority along with it.

4. The need for female Deacons is clear.

• We clearly see that women are needed to be leading servants in various categories in the church where they are particularly gifted, such as to women, children, for hospitality, etc.
• There are only two offices in the local church in the Bible, elder and deacon. Most modern churches are okay with having a woman lead their children’s ministry or their women’s ministry, but they will call them “Women’s minister” or even “Children’s pastor,” often blurring the lines between her role and the role of the pastors. We believe giving King’s women the proper biblical title upholds our complementarian and biblical value of male spiritual authority by drawing the line sharply and clearly between Deacon and Elder, we believe it is practically helpful in setting up proper boundaries between men and women, and we believe it properly honors the women that are already serving in these roles.

Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West
by Andrew Wilson

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely.


2. What is the Main Point?

Wilson argues convincingly that the modern Western world has been built on top of Christian truths, but then has made efforts to keep the fruit while removing the roots. Wilson uses the year 1776 both as a lens and display of this reality. He takes Joseph Henrich’s acronym W.E.I.R.D. to describe the oddness historically of the Western world as Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, and adds Ex-Christian and Romantic, and then arguing that these things are the result of Christianity.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Chapters 1-3 will give you a good understanding of the thesis while the rest of the chapters put meat on the bones.
Chapter 2 may be my favorite chapter, as Wilson shows in very practical terms how much different the average modern western person is from virtually every other human in world history. For instance, you can read, you’ve been educated in a wide variety of subjects that don’t impact your daily life just for the sake of the education itself (and you keep seeking learning throughout your life, like your reading this), you’re sitting within 30 seconds of a toilet, you are neither too hot nor too cold thanks to air conditioning and heat, you have the right to vote, you believe you should be able to choose for yourself what you want to eat, who you want to marry, how big your family will be, and what your profession will be, you doubt the miraculous and struggle with mystery, you distinguish sharply between the religious and secular, you believe in religious liberty, you reject polygamy, you believe the King should be subject to the law, you believe the rich should care for the poor, you abhor slavery, you think the central unit in human relations is the self rather than the community to which the self belongs, you think love is more important than honor, and are more attracted to humility than pride, authenticity is more important than conformity, and the only real moral wrongs are that which cause harm or are unfair, and on and on and on Wilson goes about so many of the things that make us weird compared to all humans historically.


4. Why does this book Matter?

This book will greatly help you understand our American and Western world, and to see the gravity of how different we are as modern people than virtually any humans before us. It is similar to “The Air We Breathe,” and “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self,” in making sense of the world we live in, two books I have already written recommendations for here.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Not particularly, but it isn’t because of heady jargon, just simply because it is pretty dense. 384 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Andrew Wilson is a brilliant pastor from London who is fun to read. I enjoyed this book perhaps mostly just for the wealth of history that Wilson laid out from cover to cover; if you like history, you will love this book; if you don’t . . . you may not.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

This book (along with Scrivener’s and Truman’s), in the best way, has made me question so much that I simply took for granted. Why do I think democratic governments are best, why do I think pursuing education/learning for the sake of itself is a worthy endeavor? Wilson opens up the book of history to show how things have changed and thus how conversations with people in our worlds can be better understood. In all likeilihood, for instance, the non-Christian person I am talking to believes that all humans should be treated equally, but they are sitting on the branch that my Christianity is holding up while trying to saw it off of that tree and expecting it to stay in the air.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Not disagreement, but the reason I will recommend Scrivener’s book ahead of this one is because it is much more clear philosophically about Christianity as the cause of these “Weird” Western beliefs, while Wilson’s thesis can be lost amidst the breadth of history.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

2 things that stood out to me from the book as fascinating:
When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he wrote, “I hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable;” however, Ben Franklin changed it to, “I hold these truths to be self-evident.” This subtle shift from sacred (Holy, set apart, Right) to self-evident shows the shift well that Wilson is outlining. By no means had those truths been self-evident to humans throughout history, but Franklin’s words were an effort to hold onto the good fruit of equality and human rights while cutting them off from the tree trunk of sacred Christian teaching.
Today, all nations but 6 worldwide claim to be democratic (even the ones that aren’t), so today over 7 billion people live in a nation that claims to be some form of democracy; in 1775 that number was Zero.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Yes, first read Glen Scrivener’s “The Air We Breathe,” and I would also read Truman’s “Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self,” as mentioned above.

Cultural Christians in the Early Church
by Nadya Williams

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Probably only for one who has read a fair amount about church history.

2. What is the Main Point?

The main argument Williams is making is that the problem of “cultural” or nominal Christians in the church is not a new problem, but is instead a problem that has always been present, particularly from the very beginning of the church. Her effort seems largely to be to encourage the modern church, particularly in the places like the Bible Belt where nominalism is rampant, that their enemy is an age old one that the church has always dealt with. She is responding to the general idea that “cultural Christianity” or nominalism didn’t really exist when Christianity was a persecuted religion (in the early church) since it was too costly to say you are a Christian if you were not one, arguing instead that nominalism was a significant problem even amidst persecution.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

The First two chapters and the final chapter.


4. Why does this book Matter?

If she is correct, this book helps change the narrative about the frustrating rampant cultural Christianity in the modern Bible Belt in particular; however, I do not think she is correct or defends her primary thesis effectively. However, Williams does help the reader realize that there have always been a variety of sins that were accepted by the culture that the church had a hard time convincing Christians were really wrong and worth mortifying; this is greatly encouraging. She uses the example of Christian couples cohabitating and sleeping together before marriage today being seen as not that significant of a problem, while the ancient world accepted prostitution as a normal part of citizen life.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes. 256 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Williams is a new author to me; I was made aware of this book in a mention from Gavin Ortlund in one of his Truth Unites videos. Her writing is fine, and she gives great historical insights throughout, though I did find her taking every chance she could to stand on a modern politically progressive soap box whether it directly aligned with the topic at hand or not.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

There have always been Christians who “known the way of righteousness” and yet have either never given up their culturally accepted sins or have turned back entirely from the faith to re-embrace such sins; there have always been people leaving the church and breaking hearts of those inside the church that loved them; that battle is not a fresh one and we, like the thousands of years of Christians before us, can by God’s strength endure.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

There were several. The larger ones were there were several times when it seemed that Williams stretched the passages true meaning to fit the narrative, and even more centrally that she throughout equates cultural or nominal Christians with early church apostasy. She correctly argues that apostasy was a rampant problem in the early church; however, that is not the same problem as people who are still calling themselves Christians and even still coming to church but who are not actually following the Lord. She successfully argues that apostasy was a problem in the early church amidst persecution, but this does not mean that nominalism was also prevalent.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Williams had some helpful pushback for politically right wing assumptions.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

I just think of a general book on church history that I love called “Turning Points” by Mark Noll.

Paul's Vision for the Deacons: Assisting the Elders with the Care of God's Church
by Alexander Strauch

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Yes. It’s a good read for current or aspiring deacons, elders, or members who want a clear, biblical understanding of the deacon’s role.


2. What is the Main Point?

Deacons are biblically qualified assistants to elders, helping care for the congregation so elders can focus on teaching and shepherding. Character, spiritual maturity, and service are emphasized over authority or status.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

It’s a pretty short read but I would say the layout is kind of like this:
Introduction / first chapter - sets out the thesis.
Exposition of 1 Timothy 3:8-13 - core biblical argument, qualifications, and responsibilities.
Summary / Conclusion - practical takeaways for churches.
Appendix on Women Deacons / Deacons’ Wives - clarifies debated points.


4. Why does this book Matter?

It matters because it restores a biblical understanding of deacons, countering modern church trends that either minimize or misdefine the office. Clear teaching strengthens church governance, safeguards pastoral focus, and ensures that deacons are chosen for godliness and service rather than status.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?”

Yes. It’s clear and logically organized. There’s some technical Greek language but he does well explaining what the meaning is.
Length: 192 pages; roughly 3-4 hours.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Alexander Strauch, Bible teacher and elder, known for “Biblical Eldership” and other works on church leadership. His writing in this book is clear and deeply rooted in Scripture; heavy on exegesis. His logical argumentation was strong but it was somewhat repetitive.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

That character and godliness matter more than title. Serve in a way that frees others to fulfill their calling, cultivate integrity, humility, and faithfulness, and focus on supporting the body of Christ, even if not in formal leadership.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Strauch concludes that the office of deacon is limited to men, believing that women are best understood as the wives of deacons. He bases this on 1 Timothy 3:11, arguing that the Greek word diakonoi should not be read as “deacons” or “servants,” but as “assistants.” Although the matter isn’t as clear as I wish, I don’t share his view. His main objection to women serving as deacons is his belief that deacons not only serve but also lead. Yet leadership and teaching are restricted to elders, and the biblical text never says that deacons lead.

Matt Smethurst captures the distinction well: “If elders serve by leading, deacons lead by serving.” That kind of leading does not exercise authority. I also believe Paul calls Phoebe a deacon in Romans 16:1, giving us an example of a woman in that role: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae” (Romans 16:1 ESV). The Greek word translated “servant” here is diakonon, the genitive singular form of diakonos, meaning “servant,” “minister,” or “deacon.” So what exactly is Paul calling Phoebe?


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

Strong exegetical depth, especially Greek grammar and verse-by-verse analysis.
Practical guidance is clear but limited; some “how-to” aspects are left open.
Emphasis on church reform, challenging modern governance patterns.
“The congregation chose its best to care for its least.”


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

I would recommend getting the study guide book to go with this.
Also, I highly recommend, Matt Smethurst’s “Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church”. It is a great book on the Topic of deacons and how they are essential to the Church.

The Holiness of God
by R.C. Sproul

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

As highly as possible, I’m not sure any book has brought me to tears and made me stop reading to worship and pray as much as this one did.

2. What is the Main Point?

God’s Holiness is his defining attribute; God is utterly and entirely unique and different and
Other. The goal of this book is simply a properly high view of God, and he accomplishes it better than any other book I have read. A.W. Tozer said famously, “What a man believes about God is the most important thing about the man;” this book will help you view God properly.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Read it all, but chapters 1-4 are absolutely crucial, along with chapters 7 and 11.


4. Why does this book Matter?

The modern world does all it can to lower our view of God, to reduce Jesus to a rosy cheeked
sheep hugger and the Father to something mirroring modern "tolerance” and much more 21st
century palatable; this is poison. We need this book as much as any generation ever has, we
need to restore the proper fear and reverence of God, we need that in our own hearts and we
need that in the modern church!


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes, Sproul is a phenomenally gifted author and he grabs you immediately with his story about
coming to experience God’s holiness for the first time. 240 Pages


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

R.C. Sproul was a world renowned theologian and apologist, a presbyterian minister, and the
founder of Ligonier Ministries. Sproul has had a significant impact on myself, David and Adam.
We cannot recommend him wholesale due to his presbyterianism, but the vast majority of his
content we would recommend without any reservation whatsoever. He and John Macarthur had a great public friendship and modeled how brothers can love one another deeply despite
disagreeing about important things like baptism and ecclesiology.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

A proper view of God is what it takes to have a proper view of man and self; you will feel the
weight of your sin in this book as it is lifted up against the Holy Holy Holy Alpha and Omega,
and you will thus feel the weight of the Gospel which set you free from even that sin. Nothing
will stir one onward to live a holy life than seeing the holiness of their God.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Some argue that Sproul emphasizes God’s wrath and holiness without properly weighing the
balance with God’s love and mercy, however, he dedicates a beautfully written chapter to doing just this and explaining how God’s justice and his love are not enemies but require each other.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

I was captivated by Sproul’s poetic explanation of God’s ability to create by divine fiat, by the
sheer force of his word. He said, “The first sound uttered in the universe was the voice of God
commanding, ‘Let there be!’ . . . As soon as the words left the Creator’s mouth, things began to happen. Where His voice reverberated, stars appeared, glowing in unspeakable brilliance in tempo with the songs of angels . . . He spoke, and the seas were shut behind doors, and the clouds were filled with dew. He bound the Pleiades and buckled the belt of Orion. He spoke again, and the earth began to fill with orchards in full bloom. Blossoms burst forth like springtime in Mississippi. The lavender hues of plum trees danced with the brilliance of azaleas and forsythia. God spoke once more, and the waters teemed with living things. The snail sneaked beneath the shadowy form from the stingray, while the great marlin broke the surface of the water to promenade in the waves with his tail. Again God spoke, and the roar of the lion and the bleating of sheep were heard. . .”


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Kevin Deyoung’s “Hole in our Holiness” would be a great book to pair with this one. As for books to read before, if any, maybe J.I. Packer’s seminal work Knowing God.

The Mortification of Sin
by John Owen

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Absolutely, this is a classic.


2. What is the Main Point?

The main point is that Christians MUST put sin to death in their lives, both initially and
continually, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin is never eradicated in this life, but its power can and should be weakened as we grow in holiness and follow Christ, and this is not optional.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Read the introduction and the first 5 chapters.


4. Why does this book Matter?

We have grown so fearful of legalism in the modern Western church, that we are uncomfortable saying things like, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Owen helps us with this, helping us to distinguish the call to obedience from legalism and giving great zeal in the primary battle that we all have to fight in our lives, the battle against our own flesh and sin.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Not particularly, you can get versions with more modern English which are a bit easier.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Owen was a Puritan and reformed theologian and one of the most prominent theologians and
prolific writers of the past 500 years. As is the puritan pattern, his writing is beautiful and
profound, but can take a little getting used to.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Your battle against sin isn’t flippant or less important because we are saved by grace, it is life or death.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

As a modern man, I could have liked more about why the demand to kill sin is not incongruent
with the gospel of grace.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

It is from this book that the famous quote, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you,” comes; I think about this constantly.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Kevin Deyoung’s Hole in our Holiness would be a great book to read before this one, as well as John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress which was written about the same time and would
help get used to the prose with an easier narrative style.

The Screwtape Letters
by C.S. Lewis

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

I’m not sure there’s anything by C.S. Lewis that I wouldn’t highly recommend, but this one may
be my favorite.


2. What is the Main Point?

The main point of this book is Lewis trying to illustrate the subtle and often unexpected ways
that the devil attacks and tempts us. The author is Screwtape, a more experienced demon,
writing to a demon who is newer (Wormwood) and learning how to deal with a human that he’s been assigned to. In his brilliant fashion, Lewis speaks from our enemy’s perspective and brings to life many various strategies and goals of Satan over us. This book brings the battle against the devil to life and it has shaped the way I think about my own battle greatly.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

No. Read it all. There will be some chapters that really impact you today, and then entirely
different chapters when you reread this book in a few years.


4. Why does this book Matter?

It has been said that the devil’s greatest weapon is convincing people that he doesn’t exist,
because if they knew he existed then they’d prepare themselves for the fight and not be
shocked by the things going on. Adam, David and I have begun saying, “You aren’t fooling
anybody Screwtape,” as a way of calling out things that appear to be the Devil’s efforts.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

I always struggle with this question for C.S. Lewis books, he is the kind of author that is so much fun to read, but he is also the kind that you can read 5 times and hear something new every time that knocks you backward because of his depth and profundity; this is especially true of this book. I’m not sure how many times I have read it but each time it blows me away.
Around 220 Pages.

6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

If you have not read C.S. Lewis, you need to start today. He was the greatest Christian writer of the 20th century.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

There is a spiritual battle going on for my soul, be on guard! “Be sober-minded, be watchful.
Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist
him, firm in your faith.”


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Some argue that Lewis’s portrayal makes it seem like this is definitely the case in reality, that
there is indeed a demon assigned to each human; however, he makes it clear in the introduction that this is not his goal, and there is biblical reason to justify such a depiction.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

I remember the first time I read this book, the letter responding to Wormwood rejoicing because his assignment has gotten sick and is not doing well stood out to me most, because Screwtape chastises Wormwood for his simple mindedness, reminding him the goal is not to wound this man’s body but his relationship to the Creator, and often sickness and pain does the opposite.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one
to read first to help with this one?

I always struggle to decide with Lewis book to recommend to people first, but normally it comes down to this one or Mere Christianity. Read them both.

The Air We Breathe
by Glen Scrivener

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Highly recommend, this is probably the book I have referenced most in conversations over the past year.


2. What is the Main Point?

The subtitle of the book is, “How we all came to believe in freedom, kindness, progress, and
equality.” Scrivener’s main point is that the core values that we all in Western society take for
granted as good and true are almost entirely Christian in origin. He points out that for all of
human history before Jesus, no one held to ideas like all humans are equal in value, or that the weak and vulnerable should be protected instead of oppressed, or that consent was necessary in things like sexual encounters, or that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a good thing, or that freedom is a right and a good, and on and on. We only see these things as self-evident because Christianity is “The Air We Breathe;” like a goldfish doesn’t notice the water in which he swims, we don’t notice we are swimming in Christianity. Scrivener points out that even people who argue against Christianity usually do it from presuppositions that Christianity alone gave them.


3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Chapters 1-2 are must read chapters as he outlines his basic premise and gives illustrations for
how the modern world shows it’s Christian foundations even in its secular ideologies, and
displays how this change in culture has happened throughout history.


4. Why does this book Matter?

As the title implies, it is quite easy to be like a goldfish that doesn’t recognize that they are
swimming in water; this book helps us step outside of the water and understand better the world in which we live. Ironically, because we are Christians we believe gaining knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge is a good and worthy endeavor, and this book accomplishes this by giving us the meta-knowledge of stepping back from the trees to see the forest in which we walk.


5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Yes, Scrivener is superbly articulate and poetic in his writing and this book is both an easy and
fun read, and it is short to boot. 240 Pages.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Scrivener is from Australia and is an Anglican minister, but I came across Glen Scrivener
through his prominent YouTube channel entitled “Speak Life.” Scrivener is incredibly easy to
read and is poetic in his writing, diction and thought. He is particularly gifted in his ability to
apply theological ideas to modern life and to dissect current events through a theological lense. He is incredible insightful and profound.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Recognizing the impact of Christianity on the world is a great apologetic tool for conversations
with others who hold presuppositions that are uniquely Christian without knowing it, as well as
giving us a deeper appreciation for all God has done in the world through this little movement of people following a nobody carpenter 2,000 years ago. This book made me see the world
differently.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Scrivener could have done more (as he does elsewhere) to emphasize that often even some
(self-proclaiming) Christians have failed to display and live up to these good philosophical
underpinnings of Christian thought; many in the name of Christ for instance were pro-slavery,
pro-crusades, etc.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

This book was paradigm shifting for me in thinking about the world we live in, and stirred me
onward to other similar books on the same topic. Scrivener caught the front end of what seems to be a movement in the modern West of recognizing these things all the more and thus a general respect for Christianity returning; this will bring with it its own challenges, but I believe it will be a net good as the truth always is.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

There aren’t any books that I think one needs to read before this one; however, I would
encourage one who enjoys this book to then read Andrew Wilson’s Remaking the World and
Tom Holland’s Dominion to step a bit deeper in these same waters and take a slightly different
angle on the same thesis.