Life + Faith

Tag: Books

  • 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

  • J.I. Packer – An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken

    I first came across J.I. Packer and his writings while I was at university, which was some 20 years ago. And since then Packer has been influential in my faith, particularly through numerous popular volumes that currently sit on my bookshelves. Over the years I’ve found him to be a stabilising and assuring voice on everything from scripture, to ministry, to theology, and ethics. I remember being struck the last time I read his most popular book, Knowing God, just how different his writing is to writers in this current age. Packer’s work is dense, it requires thinking, and steeped in scripture, theology, and history. While he has written for the average Christian his work is of such substance that he puts many of the current Chrsitians books to shame.  

    Due to Packer’s influence in my life I’ve always been fond of reading about the man himself. From various biographies over the years, as well as articles written about him, I’ve managed to get the main outline of his life. A few years ago Sam Storms wrote Packer on The Christian Life, which explores themes in his life from a theological angle, and is a terrific read. And over the course of the last few weeks I’ve made my way through Leland Ryken’s overview on Packer’s life and ministry, J.I Packer: An Evangelical Life. 

    This work by Ryken is almost three biographies in one. The three distinct parts of this volume deal with Packer’s life in a chronological order, who he is as a person in an attempt to help us understand Packer more, and then a thematic approach to Packer’s life and how they impacted him and his ministry. It is a unique way to do biography, one that is helpful in weaving a picture of his life and ministry together, and also slightly repetitive, which I’ll get to later. 

    If you’re unaware of who Packer is then just know that he has made a considerable contribution to the Christian world. He comes from a low-middle class family in England and gained his education through various scholarships, which ultimately enable him to study at Oxford. His life was all about teaching, which was evidently his calling, and he did this in various capacities. We could say his main focus has been to train people for ministry through theological colleges (or seminaries), including a 25 years tenure at Regent College in Canada. However, even before he got there in 1979 he had already spent 20 years teaching and being an evangelical voice to the broader church in the UK, particularly the Anglican tradition. And today it is through his teaching that he is most known for, culminating through the hundreds of books, articles, reviews, forewords, messages, and lectures that he has presented. His life has been one of commitment and contribution to church, academic, denominational, and broader evangelical life.

    I enjoyed reading Ryken’s take, for want of a better word, on Packer’s life. He writes in an engaging way and made good progress through the chronology of his life. For more people their teenage years and early young adulthood is formative to who they are, and this is the case for Packer as well. When read biography I find you can be overwhelmed by all the person’s accomplishments and what they’ve done – I mean, why would they have a biography written about them in the first place if they weren’t considered so worthy. And this can be the case when reflecting on Packer’s life. It seems his productivity was immense, his output and depth in all his writing and teaching was voracious. And while you or I are never going to match what he did I still found it an inspiration toward something. To do something. To commit to something. In this case, I was reminded of the commitment to teaching, reading, and writing, and spending time intentionally improving these things. In reading Packer you can’t help being inspired by his commitment to the scriptures either, to knowing them and seeking to teach them well and clearly. 

    There were a few times I felt this biography dragged a little. 

    I will concede I wasn’t particularly interested in a couple of chapters, which were focussed on his denominational work or his style of rhetoric. It seemed Ryken was trying to extract a bit too much through his unique structure. However, one particular loss to this book, which I felt was missing, was any in depth look at his married and family life. I got the impression Packer and his biographer wished to maintain that area of his life as private, but it would’ve added so much more. I know he was married to a woman called Kit, but I know nothing of how their relationship worked, whether they had children, and what Packer was like in the home. This I thought was a particular shortfall to the book, not because I wanted any juicy gossip but because there is more to a person than their ministry contribution. 

    Another cost of this unique structure to this biography was its repetitiveness. I don’t know how many times I heard about the conflict Packer had with Lloyd-Jones, how he was no longer involved in the Puritan Conference, the tension of moving from the UK to North America, or the angst evangelicals have toward Packer for his ecumenical contributions. Due to the lenses Ryken applied in the biography some topics and aspects to his ministry life are repeated. 

    Despite what I’ve just said here though I’d still recommend this biography. It was a great read. It was worth the 400+ page investment in reading, and it is an encouraging read for one’s faith and ministry. It gave great insight into Packer’s resilience to continue to uphold the Chrsitian faith through the lens of biblical authority. His interest in the Puritans, which led to the formation of who he was, can’t be understated and inspired me to get on and read a few more of them. His conflicts and relational breakdowns with others who considered him ‘not evangelical enough’ was also an interesting insight and made me reflect on how tribal we can be as believers. 

    In any case, a great read. 

  • My Top Books of 2022

    If you’re a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know books play a key role in my weekly, monthly, and yearly rhythm. I have numerous books going at once. I am surrounded by books in my office. If I’m not reading then I don’t think I’m living a particularly healthy or helpful life. And when it comes to holiday periods I’m usually struggling to decide which books to leave behind and not take with me. 

    This year has involved a few changes in life circumstances but it has also included a strong desire to keep reading, even though there have been times where it has lapsed for weeks on end. In any case, this year I’ve managed to work through 36 books, ranging from biography to practical theology to trashy crime novels. And, as usual, I have a few here to recommend to the interested reader.

    Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World by Stephen J. Nichols

    I can’t recommend ‘The Christian Life’ series enough, so much so that there are two on this list. 

    If you’re unfamiliar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer then this is a good introduction to him. He is considered a friend to both liberal and conservative theologians with much written about his days as a pastor-theologian in Germany during the 1930-40s. It is clear Bonhoeffer was a very smart and clever man, someone with an exceptional intellect who could interact with scholarship. However he is also known for his mentorship and community-driven focus on what it means to be the church together. This book highlights Bonhoffer’s life in Nazi Germany and the tension of being a disciple in such a regime, his heart as a pastor, and the various theological themes that helped guide his life and understanding of God.

    The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones – 1899-1981 by Iain H. Murray

    I think this is the best biography I have ever read. Murray condenses his large two-volume set on Lloyd-Jones into one, and I think he makes it better, sharper, and more poignant. 

    Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a significant Welsh evangelical pastor of the 20th century, sensing a call to the ministry while entering the echelons of the medical fraternity in London, England. Lloyd-Jones’ upbringing wasn’t easy, with his father making some unwise decisions for the family unit that meant they struggled financially. However, given his aptitude and some help along the way Lloyd-Jones studied and was mentored in medicine by the top doctors in Harley St, London. However, in his late-20s he sensed a call to preach and with his wife moved back to Wales to serve in a local church. After 7 years he then moved to London again and was involved as assistant or senior minister at Westminster Chapel. 

    This biography gives a terrific outline of his life and the major turning points in his faith. It works through his childhood and some tragedies that occurred during that time that may have shaped him further in life. The book I have now has oodles of underlines in it and it is an encouraging and inspiring read, particularly for anyone considering or in ministry. Those seeking to know more about a minister-preacher a generation or two behind us will also find it enjoyable. 

    Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus by Jeramie Rinne

    I found this a helpful book to consider what the criteria for elders is and also how to think through their role in the local church. It gives a clear understanding of biblical eldership, although some will debate the complementarianism that is explicit throughout. Nevertheless, this is a book worth working through with leadership groups or other pastoral staff. It is worth talking through the chapters presented with elders themselves. This book isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re in church leadership or at a church that has people considered ‘elders’ then this would be a helpful volume. 

    Teach Us to Pray: The Lord’s Prayer in the Early Church and Today by Justo L. González

    I read a number of books on prayer in the lead up and during a series I preached through the Lord’s Prayer. I found this work to be the most fascinating as it works through each line of the prayer through a historical theology lens. That is, it talks about the meaning of the text as it has been understood by the great theologians and pastors of church history, working from the early church fathers, through the middle ages, into the reformation and then more recently. I just found this so helpful and it provided more insight into the text. It was also comforting to know how powerfully this prayer has been through the ages and that we continue to be part of that today. 

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

    The Narnia series is almost an annual read for me and in this year’s read through I was struck by the classic story of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Perhaps part of the joy in reading this again was that I read it with my daughter too, but it again highlighted those Christian themes of discipleship, love, sacrifice, and the whole good versus evil things as well. If you’ve never read it then you’ve got to grab a copy. If you have and it’s been a while then I’d recommend returning to it. 

    Preaching for God’s Glory by Alistair Begg

    Preaching has gone up a step for me this year. In becoming a senior pastor the majority of the years preaching has now fallen to me. This being the case I thought this short book on preaching was a helpful reminder in the task. While I may have read plenty of books on preaching there is always more to learn, think through, and be reminded of. I found this book does all of these things. Plus, Alistair Begg is my favourite preacher of this era so I knew I was going to like it. 

    Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary by Jeannine K. Brown

    Next year our church will spend a significant amount of time in the Letter to the Philippians. As part of my preparation I read through this commentary on the book. It’s a reasonable length, published in 2022, and an update in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series. 

    I found Brown engaging in her writing of this work and it gave me good insight into the issues that modern scholars are thinking through about the letter. Because it has been so recently released I feel like it has given me good oversight of things commentaries in the past may not have been thinking about. If you’re leading a Bible study on the book, preaching through the letter yourself, or just want some further depth to personal study then you won’t find much better. 

    The Work of The Pastor by William T. Still

    I’d never come across William Still before reading this book. He happens to be a 20th century minister of a church in Scotland and had a strong expository preaching ministry. Again, like Begg’s preaching book above, I found this a helpful volume as I stepped up into the senior leadership role. 

    This is part biography, part war stories, and part ministry tips. It’s not a long book, it’s full of examples that relate to anyone who has been in ministry for a while, and it provides insights to the work from a Scottish perspective. I was encouraged and inspired in parts as it reminded me of the main focus of pastoral ministry.

    Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire by Jason C. Meyer

    Yep, you read that right, another Lloyd-Jones book, this time in ‘the Christian Life’ series. Flowing on from the Murray biography is a dense volume that not only dips into aspects of his life but gives a greater focus on the theology Lloyd-Jones taught and lived. From a theology of God the Father and God the Son through to the work of the Spirit to a theology of prayer and preaching this isn’t an easy read but a worthwhile one in thinking through such themes. I took a few turns in getting through it but found it helpful in my understanding of God and living the Christian life with solid foundations. 

    Well, this now makes it nine years in a row where I’ve published my favourite books of the year. If you’re game enough you can go back and have a read of previous years here: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. 

    If you’re that keen to know all the books I’ve read in 2022 then head to Goodreads to see a summary.

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

  • 3 Specific Reading Reflections

    Reading is an important building block in my life. It’s part of my relaxation and leisure time, it’s part of my role as a pastor, it’s part of my development both personally and professionally. Reading, forever and a day, has always been part of my life and I can’t really think of a time when I haven’t read. Maybe late high school and into university, but that’s about it.

    Each year I have a certain number of books I seek to read. This number of 26 (equivalent to one per fortnight) hasn’t changed since I was 24 years old. Some years I don’t make this target, most years I exceed it. And I don’t say this for boasting sake, but I say it for goal-setting purposes. I know I won’t be able to finish a book each week. I know I won’t be able to retain as much information as I would like if I read more non-fiction than I already do. I know I prefer to read physical books over audiobooks and ebooks. I know certain things about my reading habits, now having analysed my last 15 years of reading.

    However, over the years I have learnt certain aspects to reading that has helped me know myself more. This includes these three tips below. Perhaps they’ll be helpful for you as you think about your reading too.

    1. Choose Books You’re Interested In

    If you’re not interested in the topic or theme of a book don’t waste your time. There are too many books out there to waste time on ones you’re not interested in. For example, I’m not particularly interested in reading about military battles, so I don’t really read anything military related. I’m interested in sport biographies, particularly cricket and basketball. I’m interested in Christian history. I’m interested in junk-time crime thrillers. None of them may interest you, you may think they’d be so boring. Stay away then. Pick books you’ll be interested in, it makes reading easier.

    2. Stop Reading The Book If It’s Terrible

    There is no need to finish a book if it’s not happening for you. If you are finding a book isn’t meeting your expectations then just stop and leave it. You don’t have to finish every book you pick up. Last year I tried to read a very popular leadership book by one very famous and highly recommended leader. I got about 60-80 pages in and pulled the pin. I found the writing terrible, the examples used were lacking depth, and it just didn’t seem like a book worth the expectations. It was time to finish up.

    3. Use A Pencil, Mark-up the Margins, and Dog-ear the Pages

    A book is to be read, and to be used. Show me a book in perfect condition and I’ll show you a book that either hasn’t been read, thought about, or digested.

    A book is one of the cheapest development tools, particularly if we’re thinking non-fiction, and so we should mine the gold as much as possible. What other lifelong development tool is available for $15-$25?!

    When reading non-fiction I like to use a pencil to underline important sentences and paragraphs. I’ll also dog-ear the page so that I know there’s something important in the book that I can go back to and make reference to or re-read later. I also make notes or comments in the margins that spark thoughts or memories or questions. Sometimes I even write short notes at then of chapters. Doing this slows my reading down, but it also allows me to think through the various issues and helps me learn more from the book. At the end of every read I usually copy those underlines and dog-eared paragraphs into a searchable digital format.

    I get it. I enjoy reading. I enjoy learning. I think it has a place and priority in life. You may not. I get it. However, if you want to get more into reading or would like to improve in it then that’s a few random reading reflections for you. Any you would add?

  • My Top Books of 2021

    I’ll be honest. I’m not particularly satisfied with the balance of my reading this year. Sure, I well and truly went over my goal of 26 books for the year, but the balance of authors and topics just wasn’t right. If I was to analyse it I would say that I didn’t have enough ‘old’ books, ones which might have helped my understanding of the present world from the perspective of a different time and place. Perhaps this might change as I begin to think about next year’s books.

    Nevertheless, there were some great books I did read this year, many of which I would strongly recommend to others and, in fact, have purchased as Christmas presents to fellow pastoral staff members. The books below are all books I gave 5 out of 5. In my opinion they were excellent.

    The Care of Souls by Harold L. Senkbeil
    It was no surprise this book won a 2020 Christianity Today Book Award. While Senkbeil is not of my denominational persuasion, it is clear that he has a great grasp on what it is to minister to people in a congregation. The book walks through aspects of pastoral ministry, highlighting the need to pastor souls within the system of the whole. What I found most helpful was the reminder to focus on people over programs, and the encouragement to give thought to helpful ways in which to care for people in life and death.

    Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
    This book has also won many plaudits and has been promoted heavily in certain circles. I loved the reminder of Jesus’ own description of himself as ‘gentle and lowly.’ I found the first half of the book the most compelling—so compelling that I used Ortlund’s angle in a sermon I preached on Matthew 11:28-30. In a time of busyness, change and added pressure, this book helped to remind me of how Jesus is the one in whom we can rest.

    Spirit and Sacrament by Andrew Wilson
    Our young-adults group did a four-week series on spiritual gifts earlier this year. I read plenty about the topic but found this book most helpful. While the Baptist in me had a few quibbles, the understanding of the Spirit’s work through the gifts today helped solidify my continuationist position. This is not a long book, but it is profound and gets straight to the core issues surrounding spiritual gifts and ordinances.

    Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times by Peter L. Steinke
    What other book does one need to read in the times we live when everyone seems anxious, weary, and stressed by the pressures of the day. Despite being written a little while ago, it is still helpful and helps the reader understand the ‘system’ of our churches. It can help us appreciate, not only understand, the levels of anxiety within our communities, and also how best to lead a congregation in these times. An excellent read for anyone in pastoral ministry

    Visit the Sick: Shepherding the Afflicted and Dying in Your Congregation by Brian Croft
    This is a short practical guide to help pastors and pastoral carers help those who are sick. Brian Croft uses his years of expertise in ministry to provide practical suggestions in how to care for those who are locked-in due to their health, or who need visiting in hospital or at home, or who need to be cared for because loved ones are dying. A perfect book to work through with a group of people and apply it to your local church community.

    Read to Lead by Jeff Brown
    I jumped on one of those pre-release deals to gain a whole lot of other resources alongside this book. I suspect that any of us who have written at TGCA or in these ‘Year in Books’ series would agree that our leadership has been helped by our reading. This book offers both anecdotal and research-based insight into the value of reading. It is a personal growth book with the sole purpose of encouraging leaders to read more and make time for it. I was inspired by the reminder of how the accumulation of reading helps widen and mould my leadership. The importance of reading can’t be underestimated.

    The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
    With the 20th year anniversary of 9/11 this year, there were plenty of books, podcasts, and documentaries reflecting on its impact. I found myself listening to this in-depth audiobook, covering everything from the beginnings of Al-Qaeda, the political climate of the 1970s through to 2001, and the formation of those participants involved in the event itself. It was a compelling 15-hour listen, and I’d recommend it.

    Expositional Preaching by David R. Helm
    Again, this book isn’t a long one but is a great reminder of the importance and place of expositional preaching in the life of the church. While there is a brief case made for the priority of this preaching in the church, I found the practical aspects formational. Topics such as the importance of systematic theology; the balance of contextualisation; the arrangement of material in the sermon; effectiveness through understanding your audience, make this book a great gift for your pastoral team or a book to work through together.

    Leadership is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say – and What You Don’t by L. David Marquet
    Leadership has evidently been a theme in my reading this year, and this was probably the best of the secular leadership books I read. Marquet is known for his TED talk and first book, Turn The Ship Around, which focusses on how, as the commander of a poor performing submarine, he made it the best performer by enabling others to make decisions. Leadership is Language focusses further by highlighting the need to not only ask others to collaborate but also to give people time to pause and reflect on what might help make the work more effective.

    I found this book helpful in providing me with better questions to ask. Marquet provides great examples of when and how to put intentional leadership into practice through the language we use, rather than stifling collaboration through directive and authoritarian questions. This is certainly a worthwhile read for those of us leading teams of people.

    This is now the eighth year in a row I’ve published a post that outlines my favourites books for the year. You can go back and have a read of previous years here: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

    This post was also published at The Gospel Coalition Australia as part of their ‘My Year In Books’ series.

    If you’re that keen to know all the books I’ve read in 2021 then head to Goodreads to see a summary.

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