Ben Zornes

Living and Dying to Show the Preciousness of Christ

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Book Review: The Reading & Preaching of the Scriptures by H.O. Old

Book Review: The Reading & Preaching of the Scriptures by H.O. Old

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The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church, Volume 1: The Biblical PeriodThe Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church, Volume 1: The Biblical Period by Hughes Oliphant Old
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

H.O. Old’s work is very good; you can see the weathered features of many painstaking, tedious, and diligent hours of study, thought, and prayer. This is no slip-shod work. Full of very rich and well documented historical insights, all presented in a manner that is very accessible to most readers.

The wisdom & insight here is very helpful. The main thrust is to show that preaching is worship, and has been a part of the worship of God’s people from the beginning. It is not isolated to the 1950s, but rather is a long-honored tradition, worthy of continuation until the end of time. And preaching has always been solidly founded upon God’s Word.

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Book Review: Isaiah by J. Alec Motyer

Book Review: Isaiah by J. Alec Motyer

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isaiah - motyerIsaiah by J. Alec Motyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Motyer’s commentary on Isaiah was marvelous. Commentaries, at least in some circles, often carry a negative connotation. And, to be fair, there are some commentaries out there that fit the caricature of a stale & lifeless outline of the mere words of Scripture.
Motyer, however, overwhelmingly soars with an aim to exalt the heart of the text of Isaiah: a coming King, a promised Servant, an Anointed One. He was indeed very exact and thorough in his overview of this wonderful section of Scripture, but he was rarely needlessly tedious, and overall was profound, useful and best of all Christ-centered.

One quote to whet your appetite for more:

“The particular value of the doctrine of God the Creator is, of course, that it brings all that is true about God to bear on this world. Consider, then, the absurdity of losing faith in One who, in relation to the earth, is all-powerful, all-wise, dominant, wit no god to challenge, check or rival Him, King of kings, sovereignly in charge of His world down to the smallest detail so that everything is in its place, nothing overlooked, nothing lost.”

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Book Review: Spirit Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia

Book Review: Spirit Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia

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Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involve the Holy Spirit in Your MinistrySpirit Empowered Preaching: Involve the Holy Spirit in Your Ministry by Arturo G. Azurdia III
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Azurdia’s “Spirit Empowered Preaching” is a profoundly helpful book for those called to preach the Word to God’s people. It is refreshing that this is a contemporary work with much wisdom, as well as rebukes for much of our modern evangelical folly. We cannot expect God to work mightily if we are not faithful to obey His command to “preach Christ”. This is foolishness to the world.
Further, while many want to replace preaching in the church with motivational speeches, dialogues, debates, rock ‘n roll worship experiences, Azurdia reminds the church of our generation that nothing can replace preaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit.
One of the final chapters I found most edifying was the chapter which exhorted congregations to “do their 7307963092_064c54660epart” in preaching; that is, be attentive, eager, discerning listeners. It is no wonder that we get so little out of preaching, precisely because we come predisposed to dislike, critique, and even disdain the message preached.
Azurdia presented some real solid portions here, worthy of consideration and implementation. However, there seemed to be a lack of original material here, and while the quotes he provided were wonderful, it seemed to me that the arguments made relied a bit too heavily on external material rather than original reasoning.
Overall, really good. Worth reading by both pastors and parishioners!

More Book Reviews

A Serrated Edge by Doug Wilson

Between Two Worlds by John Stott

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien

The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts

Other Somewhat Related Stuff I’ve Written

Of Skinny Jeans and Papal Robes

Preaching by Proxy

The Consequences of Repentance

 

Book Review: A Serrated Edge by Doug Wilson

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A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian SkylarkingA Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking by Douglas Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m grateful for mentors like Doug Wilson, who challenge me to think biblically, write winsomely, and stand for truth unflinchingly. I’ve been convinced for several years now that one of the most lacking things in modern evangelicalism is the gruff voice of the prophet. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal, but many of us Christians act more like mice in a library.
In “Serrated Edge”, Wilson casts a vision, and provides instruction for using satire in the communication of the Gospel. We ought not to be afraid of godly insults, nor should we equate “being loving” with a “Jane Austen-y” romanticism. Sometimes the most loving thing to do is tell someone they are a “whitewashed tomb”. The prophets of old were unafraid to mock heresy, idolatry and the like, Christ was notorious for lambasting the hypocrites, the Apostle’s knew how to make their point satirically, and godly men throughout history have been known give some well-placed rhetorical upper-cuts to the heretic’s jaw.
I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend for writers especially.

More of my Book Reviews

The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien

Live Like a Narnian by Joe Rigney

William Tyndale by David Daniel

The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts by Douglas Bond

The Puritan Hope by Iain Murray

Book Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elsje and I read through this together, and it was Elsje’s first time through Narnia. Needless to say, we really enjoyed it (though there’s debate on who enjoyed it the most).

One thing I’d forgotten/missed is that when Lucy gives Edmund the cordial, Lewis tells us that this restored Edmund not just from his injuries, but to his “real old self again”. It is a beautiful allusion to the work of salvation that makes us most as God intended us to be.

The other section that I found particularly lovely (this go round), was Lewis’ description of Aslan blowing on the statues and bringing them to life. He breathes and for a while nothing seems to happen. But slowly and surely, as Lewis puts it, like a flame creeping over a paper, the statue went from cold, stony and lifeless to vibrant, alive and “itself” again. A rather Calvinistic moment, I’d say! When God breathes life into a soul, it may seem still hardened to the Gospel, but the regenerative work has begun and will not falter nor fail, until He redeems that lost soul and restores it to himself.

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Book Review: Between Two Worlds by John Stott

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Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching TodayBetween Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today by John R.W. Stott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a wonderful book. Very practical and helpful. Stott is thorough, deliberate, witty and humble enough to glean and aggregate many wonderful quotes from a wide, wide variety of pastors, preachers, and theologians throughout church history.

The sum of the message of the book is that the preacher is bridging two worlds…the Bible and our current generation. The Bible doesn’t bend to the culture, but we must ensure that in communicating the Gospel truths of scripture, we apply them to our present culture with great thoughtfulness and dexterity. We must labor to bring these two worlds together, with humility, courage, and faithfulness to God’s Word.

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Ben Zornes