Books I Read on Vacation
Reviews coming soon! The following are descriptions from Amazon with affiliate links to purchase.
Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages
This bestselling textbook on biblical preaching is a contemporary classic in the field. It offers students, pastors, and Bible teachers expert guidance in the development and delivery of expository sermons.
This new edition provides resources, methods, and advice for new generations of students and pastors. It has been revised and updated throughout by Scott Wenig, professor emeritus of applied theology and Haddon W. Robinson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Denver Seminary. Wenig adds a step to the preaching method that has been widely accepted and utilized by Robinson's former students. The book also includes a foreword by Torrey Robinson.
AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep: Leading and Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Since ChatGPT burst into the public consciousness in 2022, AI has thoroughly infiltrated everyday life. Machines can now take on work once thought to be solely the domain of human beings--from writing college essays to composing worship music. How should Christians respond to this brave new technology?
In this accessible introduction to AI, Sean O'Callaghan and Paul Hoffman explore its social and ethical impacts for ministry and teaching. The authors shed light on the biblical vision for human flourishing--and on how AI can help or hinder that flourishing. Avoiding both alarmism and uncritical acceptance, O'Callaghan and Hoffman offer resources and practical tools for using AI in our classrooms and congregations.
AI can write a generic three-point sermon, but it cannot replace an authentic encounter between humans and the divine. In a time of cultural confusion, O'Callaghan and Hoffmanencourage readers to embrace the clarity found in the gospel. The book includes a foreword by A. Trevor Sutton.
Pastoral Preaching: Building a People for God
More and more pulpits are occupied by motivational speakers rather than preachers.
Church congregations are not being given a comprehensive, biblical understanding of the faith. Drawing on his own experience as a pastor in Zambia, Conrad Mbewe tackles issues such as the content of pastoral preaching, how pastoral preaching relates to church life, finding the time to prepare pastoral sermons, and dealing with discouragement. Throughout the book, it is clear that the authors conviction is to see preachers grow strong churches, to build a people for God.
Terrible Beauty: A Story of Calling, Breaking, and the Unmaking that Made Me
Terrible Beauty is a memoir that explores how life’s most challenging moments—failure, fear, and uncertainty—can lead to transformation and grace. The book weaves together personal storytelling and theological reflection to invite readers to embrace the risks of faith. It reveals the beauty found in the messy, redemptive work of community and trust in God. Rooted in the author’s experiences planting a church and facing personal and marital crises, the narrative blends poetic insight with raw honesty. Ultimately, Terrible Beauty is a meditation on grace, resilience, and the power of vulnerability in shaping an authentic faith.
It is Finished
When Jesus cried “It is finished” from the cross, what did he mean? And why is this so significant today? Ironically, this cry wasn’t about defeat but about triumph. And it wasn’t just good news but the best news ever! Jesus is not simply a notable person from history. He’s the divine Son of God and the living Saviour. He meets our greatest need by providing salvation and rescue. He wins our hearts and our adoration, filling us with deep and lasting joy.
Walking the Way of the Wise: A Biblical Theology of Wisdom
Wisdom Is Not Simply Knowledge or Cleverness
Walking the Way of the Wise is a profound exploration into the depths of biblical wisdom, seamlessly blending scholarly insight with practical guidance. In this addition to IVP Academic's Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT) series, Mitchell Chase invites readers to rediscover wisdom as an essential thread woven throughout the tapestry of Scripture. Chase unveils wisdom not merely as knowledge or cleverness but as a life-giving path of joyful obedience to God's Word. By tracing the themes of wisdom and folly from Genesis to Revelation, Walking the Way of the Wise illuminates the role of wisdom in the covenant life of God's people.
Readers will gain a deeper understanding of how wisdom plays a vital role in the lives of believers. By following the wise path set out by God, we can experience joy, peace, and fulfillment in our lives. Perfect for pastors, scholars, and everyday believers, Walking the Way of the Wise provides thoughtful discussion questions designed to encourage deeper reflection. Discover that biblical wisdom is central to understanding God's grand narrative and our place within it as you read Walking the Way of the Wise.