Posts under ‘Books’

If you’re looking for a gift for a Christian loved-one this Christmas, here are two recommendations…
I recently had the privilege of attending a day on prayer run by Paul Miller and his team. It was a hugely encouraging and liberating day – great to know that I’m not the only one who struggles with [...]

I think we sometimes have a sense in which we have discovered things that our forefathers never experienced. As we read the latest Tim Keller we are thrilled by the way he incisively undermines the idols of our day. But as we dig into some of the great writers of the past we [...]

Just a quick post to say I cannot commend this highly enough…

I have been reading this book in my daily devotional times recently and it is all that you would expect from Dale Ralph Davies as he tackles the first 12 Psalms. He handles the text carefully and brings it to life vividly and [...]

I have just returned from a holiday in a well-known wine-growing region of France, but that is not why I am enthusiastic about vine-work. Rather, it is because I have just finished reading The Trellis and the Vine.

The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything
Others are far more able to give [...]

I am rapidly become a big Tim Chester fan. I am reading a couple of his books at the moment and they are a real blessing. Today’s encouragement comes from:

I’ve just had a wonderful reminder of the way humility and assurance are rooted in the Cross of Jesus. Particularly good to be [...]

In some ways this is one of the hardest chapters to summarise because it ranges over several topics, yet I also found it one of the most challenging yet. The chapter is structured around the 3 temptations of Jesus after his baptism, and explores the idea of Affirming the Will of God.
I found the [...]

It has been a while since I have had time to do any non-essential reading, and so it is rather ironic that the title of this chapter is Retreating from Activity.
As ever, looking to the model of Jesus, Fernando points out how regularly Jesus took time out, especially before particularly significant moments in His ministry, [...]

This third chapter is called ‘Affirmed by God.’ Fernando argues that:
“The ministry is so challenging that when we think of it, the primary focus always needs to be on what God does for us. Otherwise when problems come and we are faced with our own inadequacy, we could react in harmful ways.”
I would [...]

Having highlighted our need to identify with the people we are ministering to, Fernando secondly emphasises the importance of ministering not in our own strength but in God’s power through His Spirit. As before he roots this in the ministry of Jesus, and also relies on the account of the early church in Acts.
Fernando [...]

In deference to my reader in Suffolk (you know who you are!), rather than just plugging this book I thought I would add the odd comment/summary as I read through it over the next days (weeks? months?!).

Chapter 1 is all about ‘Identifying with people’ – and in particular the people you minister amongst. The [...]