Books I Will Read This Year

I Believe in Preaching
by John Stott

This classic by the Anglican clergy on preaching is a must for anyone who is passionate about preaching. It is an inevitable one for those who are called to pastoral and preaching ministry. Stott meticulously deals with the issue of preaching as the means by which God brings health to a church.

"True Christian preaching(by which I mean biblical or expository preaching) is very rare in today's Church. Thoughtful young people in many countries are asking for it, but cannot find it. Why is this? The major reason must be a lack of conviction about its importance. For it is reasonable and charitable to suppose that if those of us who are called to preach (both pastors and lay preachers) were persuaded that this is what we ought to be doing, we should go away and do it. If then we are not doing it (which in the main we are not), the explanation must be that we lack the necessary conviction. " - I believe in preaching - Chapter 3 - Theological Foundations for Preaching

I am currently at the middle of the book, having finished those chapters that establish the role of preaching in the church and moving on to those chapters that deal with how it is to be done and what all disciplines are required for it's proper practice. This book has already won my heart, for it speaks on my insatiable passion which is preaching Christ.

'Our worship is poor because our knowledge of God is poor, and our knowledge of God is poor because our preaching is poor. But when the Word of God is expounded in its fullness, the congregation begin to glimpse the glory of the living God, they bow down in solemn awe and joyful wonder before His throne. It is preaching which accomplishes this, the proclamation of the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God. That is why preaching is unique and irreplaceable.'

- I believe in Preaching - Chapter 2 - Contemporary Objections to Preaching.

Scripture Alone

by James White

It was a surprise to me, when I saw the name of James White in the shelf of a Christian bookshop in town. It is very rare to see good and that too Reformed authors in contemporary Christian bookstores in India. However, during one casual visit to meet a dear brother of mine, who was in the book store, I came across this awesome apology of Sola Scriptura. The value of this doctrine was not that clear to me, at the time of my purchase of this book. However now after an year or so, it is so clear to me why this doctrine is foundational for Christians. In this book, White as an apologist, defines and defends the inspiration and in-errancy of the Bible. Some of the chapters are in the form of a debate between imaginary characters on various aspects of this doctrine. In all these debates the one who speaks for White is a character by the name of Joshua, which by the way is his son's name. 

The relevance of this book is beyond words. For centuries, the Roman Catholics have attacked the Reformed belief of Scripture Alone being the source of all divine revelation. Romanists believe in tradition and Scripture being equal witness of divine revelation. Though this has been the historic context of the debate on Sola Scriptura, over the years the Evangelical Church had to wage the same battle with many other attackers of the Scriptures. The Liberals who do not believe in the infallibility of the Scriptures are still continuing their attacks in new ways - both in the academic and pulpit level. The Charismatics on the other hand, while confessing to believe in the authority and authenticity of the Scriptures, belittles it by turning to subjective experiences and (false) prophecies for guidance and almost all practical needs. Thus the relevance of this doctrine in today's world is manifold.

Scripture alone is the only source of divine revelation. It is the only standard and rule of faith for all believers at all times. A return to this doctrine will surely pave way to a genuine and biblical reformation of the Church,  especially in India.

How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth

by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

Fee and Stuart's book on proper interpretation of the Bible is a primer in hermeneutics. It is a good book for anyone to get an introduction to systematic hermeneutics. It is a sensible book and has an approach which is suitable for laymen. The book does not go into the details of hermeneutics, but rather lays certain principles to guide the reader to expound the Bible properly. It begins with a discussion on choosing the right translation. The authors however suggests that the TNIV is the best among all the translations. This however I cannot agree. NIV and TNIV is well known for its compromises in translation. Apart from that the authors give valuable insight on their field of study - Fee being a New Testament professor and Stuart being an Old Testament professor. 

I have only covered a quarter of this book and hence I cannot say anything more at this stage. The later part of the book is dedicated to each literary type in the Bible.

Normally when I read something - whether it is a book or an article, I am very careful about who the author is. This is one book, where I chose it in spite of my lack of knowledge of who the authors are. I bought this book, because of recommendations from other well known scholars like D. A Carson, who suggests this as a primer for pastors in learning hermeneutics. Moreover Gordon Fee, though a Pentecostal, is a person who believes in systematic interpretation of the Bible and has a heart for theology. Sometime before I bought this book, I heard his views on the improper methods of interpretation employed by Pentecostals. It was helpful in building a confidence in my heart to buy this book. Here is that quote :  

"Pentecostals, in spite of some of their excesses, are frequently praised for recapturing for the Church her joyful radiance, missionary enthusiasm, and life in the Spirit. But they are at the same time noted for bad Hermeneutics. First, their attitude towards Scripture regularly has included a general disregard for scientific exegesis and carefully thought out Hermeneutics. In fact, Hermeneutics has simply not been a Pentecostal thing. Scripture is the Word of God and is to be obeyed. In place of scientific Hermeneutics there developed a kind of pragmatic Hermeneutics. Obey what should be taken literally--spiritualize, allegorize, or devotionalize the rest. Secondly, it is probably fair and important to note that in general, the Pentecostal's experience has preceded their Hermeneutics. In a sense, the Pentecostal tends to exegete his experience." 
- Gordon Fee,  “Hermeneutics and Historical Precedent: A Major Problem in Pentecostal Hermeneutics,” in Spittler, Russell (ed.), Perspectives on the New Pentecostalism (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1976), 119-122.

How true is that observation!! I hope more pastors will recognize that their calling is essentially a calling to the study. It is hard work and requires knowledge and skill, in addition to the inevitable illumination of the Spirit.

What Jesus Demands From The World
by John Piper

One of my dear brothers in the Lord gifted me this book for my birthday. It is a thick book and one even Piper recommends to be read slowly. The book takes every command of Jesus spread across the gospel and spends a chapter on it, thus making up the fifty chapters of this book. Each chapter thus explains what Jesus is commanding or demanding from us. The commands have been listed not in the order as they are found in the gospel, rather that of  - "foundation, progression and climax". Another feature of this book is, you can start anywhere. There is no "demand" to start from the front and go all the way to the end. However I seek to follow that. Since it is to be read one chapter a day or a week, it is a tool for devotion. I hope to cover this book likewise. Piper admits his aim is "God-glorifying obedience" and thus it is an excellent resource for meditation and is worth buying it.