Life + Faith

Author: Jon

  • My Top Books of 2024

    My Top Books of 2024

    It’s been two years since I wrote about the books I’ve been reading. Last year I was not in a place that enabled me to write and my dear readers will have noticed that if they were observant enough. However, books and writing about books remain a cornerstone of my personal and ministry rhythm and I’ve been back in the swing of things for a little while now. 

    I find books inspire, challenge, and shape my understanding of the world, ministry, and myself. This year reading remained constant, with numerous books being read at the same time, whether in paper, digital, or audio form. 

    The top books I read this year include those below, they are books I rated 5 stars. From biographies to practical theology to books on leadership and burnout. This year’s reading list has been somewhat diverse, except for all those crime-thriller fiction books I read. 

    Without further ado, here are my top books of 2024: 

    Zeal without Burnout by Christopher Ash

    This is a short book, and it’s full of impact. Anyone in ministry should really read this. Ash reminds us that we are finite and fragile. Through scripture and personal experiences he highlights the importance of sustainable ministry. As Ash addresses the risk of burnout he offers practical, wise, and compassionate advice that is grounded in God. I reckon I’ve read this a few times now. In different seasons it has had more impact. This year it named things I hadn’t realised I was doing or experiencing before, and it has made me more self-aware of my experience in the past 12-18 months. 

    Tiger Woods by Armen Keteyian and Jeff Benedict

    This is a great biography of such an iconic sportsman. The real highlight of this biography is actually the writing, it was such great sports and biographical writing. 

    Woods is the all-time great golfer with unbelievable talent in his profession yet, as we know, is deeply flawed. This book walks through his childhood, his relationship with his father and mother, and seemingly pseudo-friends through his life. It really is a character study on family dynamics and the influence of nurture and nature. It is a captivating read and brings together talent, pressure, and personal struggle surrounded by celebrity and sports.  

    Burnout: A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery by Gordon Parker, Gabriela Tavell, and Kerrie Eyers

    This book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, identifying, and recovering from burnout. It offers strategies for self-care, stress management, and developing resilience to prevent future occurrences. I find this book helpful as it provided me with understanding about something I’d experienced within the year prior to reading it. It’s a clear, compassionate, and actionable book, which is also based on practical research-based approaches. Many of the case studies from various industries are helpful as they confirm that many different people in many different roles in life can hit burnout. 

    The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams by Seth Godin

    Seth Godin is always a fun read and this one is no exception. I’ve found he just thinks differently, gives great historical background and context about culture, particularly work culture, and then reframes it. In this case, Godin reframes modern work, leadership, and team-based collaboration within business and organisation. It is a call to shift out ‘success metrics’ toward meaning, dignity, and purpose. For those of us who deal in teams, there is the encouragement to collaborate around a shared vision in order to flourish. 

    Pastoral Perseverance by Brian Croft and James Carroll

    I try to read anything Brian Croft writes. He’s a grounded ministry leader who provides plenty of practical experience for pastors. In Pastoral Perseverance the books does what it says in its title, it encourages pastors and provides strategies to help persevere in the ministry. From navigating the complexities of leadership, congregational life, and personal challenges Croft and Carroll offer encouragement and biblical depth to shepherding the flock. 

    Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes

    I listen to a few of Paul Holes’ podcasts and have followed a few that speak into the Golden State Killer. Holes was the investigator who helped crack the case of GSK after so many years of pursuing him. In this account of his life and career Holes describes the personal, emotional, and career highs and lows in the police force. I found it fascinating but also reminded of the human cost to relentlessly pursuing ones goals. 

    Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton

    Ruth Haley Barton has been recommended to me plenty of times in the last year or so and I had never heard of her before this time. I ended up picking this one up and giving it a go, to which I am rather thankful for. This is a book for the soul. There is wisdom and helpful teaching, but also practical spiritual practices that will nurture faith and depth of relationship with God. All the usual spiritual disciples of Word, prayer, silence, solitude, and the like, but in the context of a regular rhythm to life. Again, it is another book this year that focuses on the devotional life of a disciple and also a life that seeks to avoid burnout. 

    Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

    I reckon this is one of the best time management books around. Rather than simply teaching habits and strategies Burkeman makes us realise that these ‘hacks’ won’t actually help us accomplish a life we want to live. Instead, Burkeman is realistic, and highlights that we should be embracing our limitations and constraints in life and time in order to live meaningfully within them. It’s a thought-provoking book, and he’s helpful to listen to one a few podcasts too. Instead of striving for tweaks to life so that we might hit our goals and to-do-lists every so often, it’s about thinking about life in more depth and with deeper purpose in mind. 

    Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence For Every Believer by J. Oswald Sanders

    This is a classic Christian leadership book that continues to be helpful and resonate. It’s quite easy to read because of the short chapters, but each one seems to pack a punch to the gut. Sanders doesn’t sugarcoat the cost and challenges of Christian leadership but also highlights the eternal significance of the work. 

    Pastoral Leadership: For the Care of Souls by Harold L. Senkbeil

    Harold Senkbeil is another one of those authors worth reading. I first came across his book “Care of Souls”, published a few years ago and then came across this one only a few months ago. While there would be some differences between him and I, he’s Lutheran and I’m Baptist for example, the pastoral wisdom is worth the price of any of his books. This is a guide to shepherding God’s people with humility, grace, and courage. It has theological depth and a deep concern for the pastoral care of those in a congregation. Again, there is emphasis on the care of the soul for the pastor as well, which seems to have been a theme in my reading this year. 

    Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United by Alex Ferguson

    I was fascinated by listening to Alex Ferguson’s book on leadership. It was really his biography or another way of doing a memoir, but with some leadership principles applied. Evidently, a man who leads Manchester united for so long and with such sporting success will have a few things to say in this area of life. But, it was also a great insight into his life, values, and philosophy to football and leadership. 

    Love in a Time of War: My Years with Robert Fisk by Lara Marlowe

    Robert Fisk is one of the great writers about the Middle East. Evidently he has his demons and this is something that his former wife, Lara Marlowe, speaks into throughout this book. But his work cannot be ignored, nor his continual insight into the people of the Levant and beyond. Pity the Nation was the first book I read of his, which traces lines of history and experience for those who lived in Palestine-Israel and through the Lebanese civil war. This is more a personal memoir from Marlowe, who had known his for so long and worked alongside him in the Middle East and UK. A great read. 

    Well, that’s it for my top books for 2024. I had plenty books which were 4-star rated, and some special mentions of those include: 

    • The Unhurried Pastor by Brian Croft and Ronnie Martin
    • Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund
    • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
    • The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash
    • The Harvard Business Review’s Guide To Beating Burnout
    • And any crime thriller novel by Daniel Silva, James Patterson, David Baldacci or Vince Flynn. Always one of these on the go. 

    I’d love to hear what books have shaped you in 2024. Drop your recommendations in the comments—I’m always looking to add to my stack for 2025!

    This now makes it 10 years where I’ve published my favourite books of the year. If you’re keen enough you can go back and have a read of previous years here: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, 2022. 

    If you’d like to see all the books I’ve read in 2024 then head to Goodreads to see a summary.

    My Top Books: Yearly Series
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    2022
    2024 (this post)
    2025

  • Preaching as Community Building

    Preaching as Community Building

    In this book, The Priority of Preaching, Christopher Ash highlights how preaching isn’t just about personal or individual growth but it is for shaping and growing community. He pushes back against the idea of faith as an individual journey, suggesting instead that preaching is a communal act that draws the church together under God’s Word. He’s already made the point that preaching is to have a sense of urgency. Here Ash argues that preaching isn’t to be a private conversation between the preacher and the individual listener; it’s an act that gathers and unites believers who are strengthened and encouraged together by His grace. 

    At one point Ash writes, “The church is not a collection of individuals who sometimes assemble; it is an assembly whose members may sometimes be dispersed.” This reflects his belief that the church isn’t defined by the scattering of believers during the week but by their gathering regally together to hear the Word preached. Therefore, preaching builds up the church as a whole. It is the reminder that all parts of the body make up the body, when one part is missing then it’s not the whole. This is similar to 1 Corinthians 12:12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

    The communal nature of preaching can be traced back to the Israelites’ gatherings in the Old Testament. Ash points out that in Deuteronomy, the people didn’t gather as isolated individuals; they assembled as a covenant people, standing together to hear God’s Word (Deuteronomy 31:11-13). This gathering wasn’t just a formality; it was a formative experience where they were reminded of their identity and purpose as God’s people. Preaching today carries the same purpose: it’s an act that brings people together, grounding them in God’s promises and shaping their collective identity as a church.

    What are the implications for today, then? 

    First, it challenges the modern day consumer mentality that can (or has) crept into churches, where people approach a service or gathering as a personal experience. While personal application may well be the outcome of the preaching of the Word, it goes beyond that toward fostering a communal identity and purpose grounded in the gospel. Similarly to Ephesians 4:12-13, where Paul describes the goal of ministry as “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith.” preaching isn’t just about a message delivered; it’s about building up the church as the body in Christ.

    Second, this focus on the communal aspect of preaching is a reminder that the church is firstly a gathering of people who are united in Christ. It’s not merely a place for individual self help but a community built on God’s Word. Preaching, then, serves as a regular reminder of who we are together as a church, connecting each believer’s personal faith to a larger identity and greater story of God’s people. This, hopefully, helps us reflect Christ’s love to the world, not as a scattered group but as a community.

    Third, the reminder that preaching is communal highlights the role it has in culture. Ash suggests that preaching, when done with the gathered church in mind, becomes a point of difference between church and the world. This is not to say that preaching is an exercise in cultural critique, rather it should be for the whole of the church to respond to the whole world from a biblical worldview and gospel understanding. When preaching for community, instead of the individual, it enables gospel response and gospel conviction.

    Fourth, this angle on preaching makes us think about the church as something a little more fluid because of the group aspect, rather than simple Sunday services, or select individuals with large voices or passions. It means making application points toward the group as a whole, not just individual self-help messages. For example, when preaching on forgiveness, this is not just about how individuals can forgive, but how we do that collectively in the church and as a church toward others. 

    In some ways, preaching as building community means the preacher needs to recognise the team or the body aspect of the church. In shaping the church culture the calling for action there becomes a clear ‘we’, rather than ‘you’ posture. It is to do what the people under Ezra and Nehemiah do, hear the Word of God, be attentive to the Word of God, and then turn to worship God under the Word of God (Nehemiah 8). 

    Christopher Ash’s vision of preaching as a communal building act causes us to move beyond thinking about the individual and realise its power in the collective gathering of God’s people. In doing so we are strengthened and bound more deeply together as followers of Jesus.

    The Priority of Preaching: Reflections on Christopher Ash’s Book
    Review: The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash
    Part 1: Preaching Grace
    Part 2: Preaching With Urgency
    Part 3: Preaching as Community Building
    Related: The Pastor’s Role in Preaching

  • Preaching With Urgency

    Preaching With Urgency

    In The Priority of Preaching, Christopher Ash challenges those of us who preach with the call to urgency. Last time, I highlighted the idea of preaching grace, this time I want to explore how the pulpit isn’t just a platform for explaining scripture, but a place to bring a sense of urgency to the gospel. Ash argues that preaching isn’t simply giving over information, it’s a call to action that seeks a response. 

    Ash tells a story or illustration about “three apprentice devils” training under Satan. The first suggests they convince people there’s no God, but Satan isn’t impressed, noting that even in a secular world, many still feel a pull toward belief. The second proposes they argue there’s no judgment. Again, Satan says this won’t work, as people often sense that actions have consequences. Finally, the third apprentice suggests whispering, “There’s no hurry.” This plan, Satan says, will work because it plants a subtle complacency, pushing people to put off responding to the Word, assuming they’ll get to it someday.

    The point made here is connected to the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation”. Responding to the Good News is not something to delay. Preaching, then, needs a sense of urgency to combat the tendency to postpone faith or repentance. Without it, people may listen without ever responding, pushing away a decision that requires action today, not tomorrow.

    This urgency can shape the way we approach sermon content and tone as well. Ash writes, “The urgency of faith means we need to preach with urgent passionate clarity.” In other words, urgency doesn’t mean delivering an emotional message or stirring up an anxious response. It’s about bringing clarity and conviction, preaching with a confidence that God’s message requires immediate attention. 

    A look at biblical preaching shows this same urgency. John the Baptist’s message, for instance, was clear and direct: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus Himself speaks with a sense of immediacy, calling people to follow Him without delay (Matthew 4:19-22). The apostles in Acts don’t simply preach for knowledge; they’re actively calling people to repent and believe, with Peter in Acts 2 urging his listeners, “Repent and be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). In each of these cases, the call is immediate and direct, a reminder that responding to God’s Word is essential.

    Ash’s perspective on urgency challenges us to recognise that we have a responsibility not only to explain the Word but to call people to respond. There is a place for teaching and a place for exhorting, and urgent preaching holds both together, pointing people in the right direction but also giving a “shove,” as Ash puts it, to get them started. This approach challenges the idea of “neutral” preaching—an invitation to consider a message without pressing toward response. For Ash, that kind of preaching risks becoming little more than a lecture, missing the power and purpose of the pulpit.

    The urgency in preaching is not about creating panic or fear but about presenting the gospel in a way that recognises its eternal weight. Ash writes that preaching is never simply information transfer; it’s always aimed at transformation. This brings to mind the warning in Hebrews 3:15, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 

    For those of us who preach regularly, this means preparing sermons with the challenge of urgent decision-making, rather than assuming listeners will naturally follow through. Ash’s approach encourages preachers to explicitly call for a response, trusting that God will use the preached Word to reach those who hear. Our role as preachers, then, isn’t just to explain; it’s to invite and challenge people toward an active faith that starts today.

    In the end, Ash’s perspective on urgency in preaching reminds us that the Word of God calls us to act now, not “someday.” This approach is a counterbalance to our tendency to wait, putting off faith decisions until they seem more convenient. Ash’s point is that, as preachers, we are watchmen—our role is to sound the alarm, not to let people stay in spiritual comfort or complacency.

    The Priority of Preaching: Reflections on Christopher Ash’s Book
    Review: The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash
    Part 1: Preaching Grace
    Part 2: Preaching With Urgency
    Part 3: Preaching as Community Building
    Related: The Pastor’s Role in Preaching

  • Preaching Grace

    Preaching Grace

    In The Priority of Preaching, Christopher Ash writes about that which can get overlooked in our churches: preaching being centred on grace. Ash argues in his book that the preaching of grace is essential, as it keeps the church from turning into what he calls a “club” where people gather around shared interests or personalities rather than a shared commitment to Jesus Christ. Instead, preaching on grace builds a community in humility and binds us together through the Good News rather than individualism. Ash writes, “only the word of grace knocks down our pride.” And it is in this posture we are able to turn back to God, reminding each of us that we are “all one in Christ Jesus”. The playing field is levelled, all of us fall short, and the togetherness of us as believers is on our shared dependence on the mercy of God. 

    This emphasis on grace goes beyond just avoiding pride; it’s also about cultivating a healthy church culture. Without the regular proclamation of grace a church can quickly become an exclusive group that relies on human similarities rather than the gospel to stay connected. This drift can happen subtly, but Ash’s point is that grace is the only foundation strong enough to hold together a diverse community. The church isn’t meant to be a gathering of people who all look, think, and act alike; it’s a people transformed and unified by God’s grace, regardless of background or personality (Romans 12:3-5).

    The challenge to pastors is to make grace a consistent theme in our preaching, a commitment that prevents the church from developing a “club mentality.” Grace-centred preaching doesn’t just speak to an individual heart, it impacts and transforms the whole church. When grace is preached we are reminded of our own limitations, the unnecessary drive to prove ourselves, and a skewed view of success. The focus on grace points us back to the gospel, which calls us to be of one mind and heart, putting others above themselves (Philippians 2:1-14).

    As a flow on effect of this grace-filled preaching the life of the church reaches outside its walls. Well, it should drive us to this. If we are marked by humility and grace, which flows from this kind of preaching, then the culture of the church is to be a place where others are welcomed, even if they don’t seem to ‘fit’. Ash tells us that those churches that preach grace will stand out, drawing others in through the authenticity of the community that is impacted through grace. 

    In practice, this call to preach grace challenges those of us who do preach regularly to focus on the greatness of the gospel, not simply giving our hearers things ‘to do’. While there will be challenging moral and behavioural aspects articulated in preaching, because Scripture is like this too, it does mean framing these things in the context of grace. For example, instead of preaching a “try harder” message, we can emphasise that growth in holiness is an ongoing response to God’s love, not a checklist for approval.

    As Ash explains, grace is the church’s “ tune.” Without it the church will gradually lose its true identity. Grace keeps the church as the body of Christ. By keeping grace at the centre we create a church culture that reflects the gospel, and open ourselves to be a community that is transformed by it.

    The Priority of Preaching: Reflections on Christopher Ash’s Book
    Review: The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash
    Part 1: Preaching Grace
    Part 2: Preaching With Urgency
    Part 3: Preaching as Community Building
    Related: The Pastor’s Role in Preaching

  • The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash

    The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash

    In The Priority of Preaching, Christopher Ash argues that preaching is not just another church activity but the foundation upon which the church is formed, sustained, and strengthened. Ash presents preaching as the central means by which God calls His people together, aligning the church under His Word to shape their lives, faith, and identity. While the book is a bit academic in parts, Ash’s use of memorable illustrations and his practical advice on the task of preaching make it worth the read.

    Ash builds his case around Deuteronomy, which he describes as less a “law book” and more a “preaching book.” He points out that in Deuteronomy, Israel gathers under Moses to hear God’s Word, binding them together as His people (Deuteronomy 31:11-13). This gathering isn’t about individuals gaining private insight; rather, it’s a communal moment where the people are shaped under the authority of God’s spoken Word. For Ash, this dynamic continues today. Preaching is a way for the church to gather, listen, and respond together to God.

    A major theme in this book is grace, which Ash argues must be central to preaching. He points out that without regular, grace-centred teaching, churches risk becoming exclusive clubs rather than communities of believers bound by Christ. He writes, “only the word of grace knocks down our pride,” reminding us that the gospel keeps believers grounded in humility and dependent on God (Ephesians 2:8-9). This recurring call to grace is a practical one, as it reinforces that the church’s unity and health are not built on shared interests or human qualities, but on the common need for God’s saving grace. Ash’s emphasis here brings to mind Paul’s words to the Galatians, that we are “one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28), a unity that only grace can sustain.

    Ash insists on the urgency of preaching. He uses an illustration of three apprentice devils who each try a different strategy to prevent people from responding to God’s Word. The final one whispers, “Tell them there’s no hurry.” This tactic succeeds, as people assume they can respond later, just “not today.” For Ash, preaching must challenge this mindset, delivering the message with urgency to avoid spiritual complacency. “The urgency of faith means we need to preach with urgent passionate clarity,” he writes, stressing that preaching should move people to a point of decision. This is a reminder that preaching isn’t just informative; it’s intended to encourage people toward repentance and faith, and “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

    Another key insight is the way Ash views preaching and community as closely connected. He argues that preaching isn’t just for individual growth but for binding the church together as a people. “The church is not a collection of individuals who sometimes assemble; it is an assembly whose members may sometimes be dispersed,” he says. This means that the assembly under the Word reflects Paul’s description of the church as “one body with many members” (1 Corinthians 12:12). It is a reminder that the church is not simply a place to receive spiritual insight but is a gathering that God shapes and grows collectively through His Word.

    In terms of the role of the pastor, Ash sees the pastor as a shepherd whose primary task is to “feed the flock” through preaching (John 21:17). Drawing on theologians like John Owen, Ash describes preaching as the pastor’s core responsibility, one that must be done with diligence and humility. The pastor’s role is not about personal authority but about humbly stewarding God’s Word to guide the church. 

    The Priority of Preaching is a book that reinforces the essential role of preaching for the church. The book has an academic tone that can make it a slower read in parts, but uses illustrations to enliven the chapters and make it more accessible. Although some sections may be dense, the book’s core ideas around grace, urgency, community, and pastoral responsibility make it a helpful resource for those who preach or lead within the church. With its combination of practical insights and vivid examples, The Priority of Preaching is a four out of five stars book, bringing practical depth and encouragement for the Church and the preacher. 

    The Priority of Preaching: Reflections on Christopher Ash’s Book
    Review: The Priority of Preaching by Christopher Ash
    Part 1: Preaching Grace
    Part 2: Preaching With Urgency
    Part 3: Preaching as Community Building
    Related: The Pastor’s Role in Preaching