Book reviews
Humility: True Greatness
by CJ Mahaney
Published by
Multnomah
Price: £9.00
available from The Good Book Company
This is a very interesting and readable book.
At the heart of this book are the texts found in James 4 v 6 and 1 Peter 5 v 5, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
The author has divided the book into three sections,
- Our greatest friend, our greatest enemy
- The great reversal
- Our great pursuit
God loves the humble: CJ Mahaney reminds us that humility gets God's attention. Isaiah 66 v 2 says, "This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humbe and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Humility draws the gaze of our Sovereign God.
The struggle with pride: We know that God hates pride (Proverbs 8 v 13) and pride is the greatest enemy of the child of God. Even Jesus' disciples were not without pride. Mark 9 v 33-34 sees the disciples arguing about who was the greatest. James and John wanted a prominent place in Christ's kingdom. Yet Jesus tells us that whoever would be great must be a servant of all.
A definition of humility: CJ Mahaney gives us this definition, "Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in the light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." How can we be proud when standing before the King of Glory nailed to a cross. 'Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote the following about the surest way to pursue humility, "There is only one thing I know of that crushes me to the ground and humiliates me to the dust, and that is to look at the Son of God, and especially contemplate the cross."'
Practical suggestions: The author also gives a practical strategy on learning how to practise humility. He lists a number of ways we can weaken pride and cultivate humility. He also covers the areas of encouragement and responding humbly to trials.
The final chapters of the book are concerned with how to model humility and teach humility to our children.
The final word: CJ Mahaney ends his book by focusing on the core of the gospel - and our response to it. God saved His people by the death of His beloved son for the sake of proud sinners like you and me.
"His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er his body on the tree,
Then am I dead to all the globe
And all the globe is dead to me."
Lilian, Tunbridge Wells
Finding God’s Pathway Through Your Trials by Elizabeth George
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Price: £8:99
This book is really about the journey we take as Christians to spiritual maturity. It is written for women but the general principles are applicable to all Christians.
The book is divided into 5 sections: Becoming a
- Joyful woman
- Stable woman
- Mature woman
- Mighty woman
- Enduring woman
Elizabeth George begins with those wonderful words that we all know and love in James 1:2.
‘Count it all joy my friends, when you fall into various trials.’
She highlights the point that we are not told to feel joyful but to count or consider it all joy when we face difficulties. The rest of the book goes on to look at the benefits and blessings of developing this attitude, as well as considering the hindrances to developing such a mindset.
If we are serious about growing spiritually, and hopefully we are, we need to expect trials and challenges. We know that the Lord Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, so we must expect something of the same, although to a much lesser degree. It is by facing challenges that we grow and develop spiritual muscles.
This is an excellent book, both for preparing us and equipping us for times of trial in our own lives, and for equipping us to get alongside others when they may be going through difficult times.
Elizabeth George does not skirt around the issues. She makes us face our pride, immaturity and spiritual laziness head on, then gives great encouragements to develop a more Christ like response to trials. Through the book she highlights wonderfully the glorious work that God is doing through the trials He brings into our lives. We are reminded of the eternal perspective we must develop in order to view and respond to trials appropriately.
‘God is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to ask us to submit to trials without them being for our best good and His best plan.’ page 120.
Reviewed by Vicki Gardner, Bethersden
Feminine
Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother
Published by Crossway:
Price £9.99
Living as a godly wife and mother is a great challenge in today’s world. In this book Carolyn Mahaney uses Titus 2 verses 3 to 5 to biblically face those challenges. She writes in a warm, God-centred, practical, and easy-to-read way, and I found it a very useful, challenging and stimulating read.
A quote from the first chapter will give you an appetizer….
'consider the loveliness of a woman who passionately adores her husband, who tenderly cherishes her children, who creates a warm and peaceful home, who exemplifies purity, self-control, and kindness in her character and who gladly submits to her husband's leadership ...; there are few things that display the gospel jewel with greater elegance. This is true feminine appeal.'
A chapter is devoted to each of these seven characteristics, and there are study and discussion questions at the back of the book. Most of the young wives and mothers in our congregation are reading a chapter a week, then discussing it informally – why not try it!
Reviewed by Esther Cowley, Crowborough
'The Cross Centred Life' by C J Mahaney
published by Multnomah available from The Good Book
Company
Price £6.00
This book is an appeal to get back to basics. It describes how easily we get distracted from the one thing that is and should be of first importance - and that is the cross and the fact that Christ died for our sins.
As Christians today we have many things vying for our attention, and they all may be reasonable and legitimate - our work, our service in the church, our family, ethical or moral issues and so on. This book reminds us that if our focus shifts from the central truths of the gospel, our Christian lives will be impoverished. We will experience lack of joy, lack of zeal, lack of passion for the gospel and lack of growth.
The author considers three common errors that Christians sometimes unwittingly drift into - legalism, condemnation and subjectivism. He applies gospel truth to each of these problems. He explains the doctrine of salvation in very simple terms and then goes on to apply it to our daily Christian walk. These chapters were very helpful.
In the last two chapters he gets even more practical. He talks about how these truths relate to our praying, our Bible study and our relationships.
The point the author is trying to make is that the gospel should always be central. As Christians we should never move away from the gospel. Instead, we should move into an ever deeper and more profound understanding of the gospel.
I have one little niggle about this book. I feel slightly uncomfortabe about the term cross centred. I think a better description would be Christ centred.
This is a short book - only 85 pages. It's written in a very informal style and is easy to read. More importantly, it is a book that will encourage you to be spiritually focused.
Reviewed by Irene, Tunbridge Wells
'A cup of Cold Water' by Julia Jones
Published by Day One
Price £3.00
Do you find hospitality difficult?
You are in 1st Century company, for Peter urges his readers to "offer
hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4 v 9) - surely an unnecessary comment, if all his original readers took
pleasure in doing so!
Julia Jones is the wife of a pastor and well qualified through experience to offer practical advice and useful tools for any intending to offer hospitality. She points out that though "exercising hospitality is ... a choice to be made," practising hospitality is a biblical principle. "Love must be sincere ... Practise hospitality," is part of being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12 v 2ff).
If you feel daunted at the prospect of cooking meals for visitors, don't be! Julia reminds us that "Hospitality can be as simple as tea and biscuits." She gives many examples of helpful hospitality, both given and received over the years, as well as interesting - and some of them unexpected - illustrations of hospitality from Scripture. Have you ever thought of Peter's mother-in-law as a role model for hospitality?
"Hospitality tends to be given a low priority ... but ... is vital for the healthy life of a local fellowship. ... Hospitality is a significant way of developing real fellowship."
Conversations after church can be superficial whereas real needs often come to light while relaxing in a home. We need to remember that "hospitality isn't about cooking but about communication and community." More importantly, it is listed in what to look for in an elder (1 Tim 3), making it "one of the qualifications for anyone who is to serve in a leadership role in the church."
Julia encourages us to think biblically and practically. She also extends a warning! Hospitality is not without cost - in time, in effort, sometimes financial, and in its impact on home life or damage to possessions. We are told to "Practise hospitality" so we need to get on and practise!
At times in our lives we need to be on the receiving end of hospitality, Julia advises us to: accept gladly, expect nothing and be prepared!
There are rewards in giving hospitality - not always thanks (or chocolates!) but in the building-up of the local church - "barriers are broken down and trust and understanding is built up." Surely that is what we all want!
Reasonably priced at £3.00, this book is a 'must' for any who are concerned for the welfare of their local fellowship. It is easy to read - only 57 pages with amusing illustrations - but its contents are thought-provoking and challenging.
Reviewed by Grace, Borough Green
'The Good Practice Guide for Parent and Toddler Groups'
Published by Care for the Family
Price £4.99
This is an excellent resource for those wanting to start up a Parent and Toddler group, or for those seeking to improve the running of an existing group.
It provides practical guidelines and will support you in all aspects of running a successful Parent and Toddler group. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Mary, Tunbridge Wells
'Promoting the Gospel' by John Dickson
A Guide to the Biblical Art of Sharing your Faith
Published by Blue Bottle Books
(available from The Good Book Company).
Price £10.00
John Dickson explains that promoting the gospel is the responsibility of every believer. There are chapters on promoting the gospel by our prayers, with our money, in the church, and most importantly by Christian behaviour in daily life.
It was a relief to find that we are not required by Scripture to force the message on everyone we meet, nor to "engineer" opportunities to declare the gospel. Instead we should be alert to take every opportunity that comes naturally. Not necessarily with a complete rehearsal of how to become a Christian, but with something that is appropriate and consistent with our living.
This for me was a refreshing approach, but it is not a soft option. There is a great challenge in that our entire existence should be shaped by the need to bring honour to God and salvation to others. We need to have contact with non-believers and to live "beautiful lives" before them. Day after day, year after year.
This is a warm book, encouraging, stimulating and enjoyable to read. I recommend it heartily.
Reviewed by Pam, Crowborough