Book reviews

Posted: 1/05/07

Book reviews

Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey by Rick Richardson (InterVarsity Press)

“Evangelism as closing the deal on a sales call” is an approach that will become less prevalent as the days progress, according to Rick Richardson. Even Christians find this approach a hindrance in their quest to follow Christ. Instead, normal conversation is the best way to share your faith. Investing in another person’s life provides the opportunity for them to hear and observe your everyday life and fall in love with Jesus through your expressions and example.

What are you reading that other Texas Baptists would find helpful? Send suggestions and reviews to books@baptiststandard.com.

Reimagining Evangelism’s premise is that each believer is a missionary sent by God. The task is not delegated to a special few. A missionary understands and applies the gospel within a person’s culture. All church members are to assist others on their spiritual journey. The unfocused spiritual journey of each nonbeliever can become a beginning point for you, as a Christian, to engage others in a lifetime of Christ-likeness.

Fred Ater

Congregational strategist

Baptist General Convention

of Texas

San Antonio

Exiled: Voices of the Southern Baptist Convention Holy War edited by Carl L. Kell (University of Tennessee Press)

The reality of the conflict within the Southern Baptist Convention is that this struggle not only removed from the rank-and-file those who were on the “wrong” side of the battle, but that the convention lost godly men and women.

This book comprises short essays, letters and autobiographical statements about how the people were removed from power and the extreme pain and suffering that resulted from such a conflict.

There are always two sides to every story, and this book presents not only the other side of the story but allows the reader who is unfamiliar with the story to understand just how painful splits, conflicts and power struggles can be. Kell’s book focuses on the convention level, but the reader comes to understand that people not only have experienced this in the SBC, but also in many local congregations. It brings to the forefront the dangers of engaging in such a conflict in the name of God.

The reader would do well not only to read these accounts, but also take to heart that in every conflict there is a winner and a loser and that the loss may impact the spiritual far greater than the physical.

Jeremy Johnston, pastor

Preston Highlands

Baptist Church

Dallas

Learning to Pray Through the Psalms by James W. Sire (InterVarsity Press)

Christians ready to move beyond “wish list” prayer should go to school in the Psalms. They preserve generations of inspired prayers touching every emotion and angle of life. James Sire has assembled a guidebook anyone can pick up and immediately put into practice.

The author is well known for books aimed at giving college students support for a Christian worldview. With this book, he has provided a useful tool for all kinds of adults.

Each chapter reprints a whole psalm (or two) and then walks the reader through a series of steps to understand, absorb and follow the psalm in prayer. Sire offers helpful examples of finding both the logical flow of a psalm and its emotional structure as well. Then the reader gets step-by-step direction for praying through the psalm as an individual or in a small group.

The book is peppered with Sire’s own experiences and personal insights. Readers who like Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson will appreciate this companion to praying the Psalms.

Rick Willis, pastor

First Baptist Church

Lampasas