And the Truth Shall Set You Free

A book review of Neil Shenvni’s, Why Believe?, published at TNAA.

My Banned Amazon Review – Clarity in Confusing Times

Edit: I found out this morning that my review was removed by Amazon for violating their “Community Guidelines” without further explanation nor a process for appeal. Read the “gritty” review below at your own risk:

Dr. Trueman’s Strange New World is well worth the low price of admission for its final chapter alone. Chapter 9, appropriately entitled, “Strangers in This Strange World,” addresses how the Church – the gathering of the faithful – must take the first step in addressing the topsy-turvy world we live in. He encourages the Church to refrain from pessimism or optimism and instead endeavor on a realistic mission within our neighborhoods and communities living as an alternative to contemporary Western culture.

Lest you are tempted to merely skim the final chapter, the entire book is phenomenal in distilling exactly what has happened in the last several hundred years that led to such an accelerated change in Western culture in a few decades. Trueman successfully explains to laity and scholars alike why culture has shifted and changed so dramatically and reminds the Church that is it part of abdicated our role as living witnesses of Christ that is to blame.

Rather than ending his work in an opportunity to lambast the Church, Trueman guides us back to the ancient church of the first two centuries. He provides us with a few examples from the age of the apostolic fathers to remind Protestants and Roman Catholics alike, that we have much to learn from the Church surviving and thriving in a pagan world. Much more, he would say (and I agree), than navel-gazing and wishing it were the age of the Magisterial Reformation or High Middle Ages.

I highly recommend and thoroughly enjoyed Trueman’s work. It will lead me to tackle his more complete (and much larger) work, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.

Disclaimer: Crossway provided a complimentary copy for my review. This review was not in exchange for a favorable review.

The Beauty & Power of Biblical Exposition – A Review

The Beauty & Power of Biblical Exposition, Douglas Sean O’Donnell & Leland Ryken, Crossway, 2022.

This work is unique in its presentation as the Rev. Dr. O’Donnell provides both his own research and thoughts along with those of his former professor, the Dr. Leland Ryken. One gathers the deep relationship between pupil and professor in this work as we are treated to an informal conversation of sorts between the two, courtesy of O’Donnell quoting from Ryken’s notes, works, and lectures. The writing may be a bit distracting to some, but I found it surprisingly conversational and pleasant. But after all, shouldn’t our sermons be geared towards preaching the eternal Word in a manner that is easy to digest and meets people wherever they are at? O’Donnell certainly accomplishes this in his work.

As a matter of fact, I found myself picking up this book and easing back into it between my own sermon prep and frankly reading more books than I should at once. But regardless if it was a week or two between reading a chapter, I found myself back at home with O’Donnell distilling Ryken’s thoughts as he imparts wisdom of his own. Indeed, his ability to write as though you are having coffee with him on a topic such as Biblical genres is so smooth that I find myself thinking this book isn’t simply for those who preach the Word but is also extremely useful for teachers – lay and clergy alike. I plan on suggesting and recommending this work within my parish for those who are new to the genres of Biblical literature and to assist them in preparing lesson plans for Sunday school or small group classes.

O’Donnell organizes his work in six chapters, totaling just under 300 pages. He divides his work into preaching narratives, parables, epistles, poetry, proverbs, and visionary (apocalyptic) literature by noting the distinctions between these categories and equipping the reader with an eye towards preaching the text but easily transferrable for use by small group leaders, Sunday School teachers, and youth pastors alike. I see this work profitable for use in teaching a class on “How to Read the Scriptures” for high school youth and adults or as a gift to a potential seminarian or current student.

As an Anglican, I may quibble with some pointers he has on doing artistic presentations during a sermon, but his heart is in the right place to utilize the talents of the congregation and to reach people by medium and means that speaks to them. However, this fuddy-dud traditionalist would say, keep the preaching the main thing – Word and Sacrament ministry for a worship service. Instead, perhaps consider utilizing those suggestions as a separate class and outside of worship. But I also realize he is writing to a broadly evangelical audience that commonly uses multiple forms of medium during worship services.

Bottom line, I recommend this work and appreciate the contributions O’Donnell and Ryken make towards encouraging and equipping better preaching. It is easy for congregations to be held captive not by the Word of God preached, but an hour long lecture or five step plan to make one feel better about themselves. This work should serve as a helpful catalyst for pastors to fine-tune and equip their sermons with a focused intent to deliver the Word afresh and anew to share the Light of the world to His body, the church.

I was provided a free copy by Crossway but my review is based completely upon my thoughts about this work and not in exchange for the book provided.