According to Puritan Thomas Brooks, "to read much and practice nothing is to hunt much and catch nothing." In making this comment, Brooks urges us to consider the fruitlessness of accruing knowledge without the intent of being affected by it. He advocates laboring to apply what is read over a growing imbalance of intellect and godliness. For Brooks, this is both a balanced and fruitful approach. Brooks' conviction echoes what the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, his spiritual son and co-laborer in the Gospel, namely that a "knowledge of the truth...accords with godliness" (Titus 1:1).
We are blessed to have pastors at Providence who labor to help us increase our delight in the Lord by learning and living out His burdenless commands. This was clearly validated in a request I recently issued. The inquiry entailed each pastor submitting the title of a book they hope to read this summer and a brief rationale. In collecting data, it became obvious that our shepherds love reading, yes, but view reading as a conduit to know, love, and serve Jesus better. It also became clear that our overseers seek not only good books that express the wonders of Christ, but great books that lead them back to the Scriptures to discover such truths for themselves.
These things in mind, here are the books our pastors plan to read this summer (and why):
Pastor Rick Jones
Title: Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World Like the Early Church
Author: Stephen O. Presley
Reason for Selecting: "I've heard lots of good things about this book. This book looks to the early church for insights into how they bore witness about Jesus. The early church faced significant challenges and yet they engaged the world in such a way that the gospel moved forward in power. By looking back we can learn how to make disciples and engage culture for the glory of Christ."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor Dan Harris
Title: Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God
Author: John F. Kilner
Reason for Selecting: "It looks into the biblical truth of man being created in God's image. I have always found the topic interesting and I believe a solid understanding of this doctrine is crucial to dealing with the many moral challenges found in our current culture."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor Chris Straw
Title: The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd
Author: David Brainerd (with notes and reflections by Jonathan Edwards)
Reason for Selecting: "Covering a five year period (1742-1747) of ministry to indigenous people in New England, why has this work had such an impact on Christians such as Edwards, Lingston, Murray, McCheyne, Wesley and Elliott? Because it is a testament of how God uses an ordinary life that was broken, weak and distraught to bring glory to Christ."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor Greg Birdwell
Title: When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy
Author: John Piper
Reason for Selecting: "Melancholy can breed complacency, even in delighting in God. This is a good reminder that joy in the Lord is not just worth fighting for. ...we can't afford not to fight for it."
To purchase your copy, click HERE. A free digital copy can be found HERE.
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Pastor Dan Williamson
Title: Songs of the Son: Reading the Psalms with the Author of Hebrews
Author: Daniel Stevens
Reason for Selecting: "Thinking of all of the Psalms referenced in Hebrews, I want to enjoy this as glorification of the consistency and cohesion of God's Word. As 2 Corinthians 1:20 states, 'For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus Christ]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.'"
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor John Botkin
Title: Made in Our Image: God, Artificial Intelligence and You
Author: Stephen Driscoll
Reason for Selecting: "Culture usually embraces 'can' before 'should.' And this seems especially true with the current rush toward AI. Christians need to think about how this technology can be helpful as well as how it can be dangerous."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor Jason Odel
Title: God's Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation
Author: David W. Saxton
Reason for Selecting: "Whereas biblical meditation often points in the direction of Puritan era, it must rightly be understood as one of God's good gifts to all who belong to him (cf. Ps 1:2). I certainly need to develop deeper habits of deep thinking about the deep truths of our deeply wondrous God. In this pursuit, I am hopeful this book will supply a thoroughly biblical understanding of mediation, sharpen my understanding regarding the connection between meditation and personal godliness, and equip me to encourage others toward this oft-neglected grace."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
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Pastor Michael Jones
Title: The Autobiography of George Müller
Author: George Müller
Reason for Selecting: "It's encouraging to my faith to read how a man can be completely dependent on the providence of God to provide for both his own physical needs and for those in the orphanage where he labors."
To purchase your copy, click HERE.
As the pastors traverse across the pages of these books, pray for them. Ask God to finely tune their gifts to better equip those at Providence. Pray for their souls to be refreshed that they may joyfully serve those under their care. Also, take into consideration the majority of these selections are not premature endorsements (except those books being reread). If you purchase your own copies, you'll likely be reading material for the first time alongside the pastors. Therefore, a follow-up blog will be published in the fall highlighting what they gleaned and whether they would pass out copies or simply praise God for the learning experience.
To slightly advance the sentiment of Brooks, let us read much, practice much, and produce much fruit for the honor of Jesus.