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SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
What is the Mission of the Church?
by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

First off, this book is an excellent piece of missiology. It does a wonderful job of defining the terminology used by the church to describe both its role and mission on the earth and, while the book itself is topical, it takes a definite exegetical approach in its arguments. It beautifully differentiates the difference between the role the church is to play in the world and what the mission of the church is (there is a difference-I’ll let the book explain the difference or you’ll be reading for a while). The book seems a little reactionary, maybe even a bit abrasive, in it’s opening chapters as it builds itself a foundation for why the authors had to define the actual mission itself that Jesus, by the authority of the Father, gifted to His church. It deals with the illusive meaning of cultural ideals, such as social justice, and reveals the effect that culture has had on the church through both spoken and unspoken expectations, resulting in a clouded understanding of what the mission of the church is in its most fundamental meaning. I’ll leave you with a teaser quote, “The alleviation of poverty is simply not the main story line of Scripture; the biblical narrative is chiefly concerned with how a holy God can dwell with an unholy people.”
Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
How Does Sanctification Work?
by David Powlison

Sanctification, one of the doctrines in the church that is referenced the most, but maybe, when the rubber hits the road, is the least understood. All Christians would agree that they have areas of their life that do not look like Jesus. All Christians would agree that they need to grow in sanctification, but how does sanctification work? How do I change? How do I become more like Jesus?

There are a plethora of books available to us with “helpful tips” on how we may become more like Christ. Some of these books have helpful elements, but many of them are reductionistic, reducing sanctification to one secret key to unlocking the door of holiness (i.e. one doctrinal truth, one life change, one verse etc.)

Scripture never promises us that sanctification will be easy or quick. Scripture does show us that in the sanctification process there are key elements always involved: God’s Word, God’s people, God doing his work in you and suffering and struggle. These things all work together to bring about change in a person’s life.

This is what David Powlison’s book, How Does Sanctification Work? sets out to do. He wants us to have a bigger understanding of sanctification, an understanding that does not reduce sanctification to a few catch phrases. Powlison says, “No single factor, no one truth, no protocol can capture how and why a person grows into Christ’s image. Multiple factors always cooperate in progressive sanctification.”

This book is not the magic key to your sanctification, but it will help you to understand more of how sanctification works, and as you understand sanctification more clearly, you will grow more in love with our wise God and his designs and you will grow more and more into the image of Jesus.

Reviewed by Graham Parker

SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood
by Melissa Kruger

Being a Mom is hard and being a Mom is glorious. There is great joy in being entrusted by God with the care of our children and yet with that care comes many challenges. Pouring our lives into our children requires a steady stream of selflessness and love which exposes our own constant need of God’s grace and mercy in our lives. Where do we turn to for refreshment and nourishment as Moms. In her book “Walking with God in the season of Motherhood” Melissa Kruger comes alongside you as a Mother understanding firsthand the challenges you are facing and using God’s Word brings encouragement and challenge. She lays out in eleven chapters what it looks like to walk with God during this special season of our lives dealing with what it looks like to walk in faith, wisdom and love. Each chapter is broken down into five separate days, the first four days of each weeks focus on various passages of Scripture designed to increase our love for God and understanding of who He is. The fifth day is more of a devotional summary summarizing what was learned throughout the week. The book includes Scripture already written out making this book great for Moms on the go. Melissa summarizes well that “in the midst of my weaknesses, I need the soul strengthening refreshment that can come only from time spent with Jesus.” The task of being a Mom is too great to face alone, we need God’s help and we need the nourishment that comes from time spent with our heavenly Father.

Reviewed by Jenna Parker

SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
Inheritance of Tears
by Jessalyn Hutto

In order to trust God when His will is difficult to accept, we must know who he is. To rest in his difficult providences, we must have confidence in his character. (Inheritance of Tears, pg. 44)

Having gone through multiple miscarriages herself, Jessalyn Hutto understands the very real pain and sorrow of miscarriage. However, in her book Inheritance of Tears, she resists the temptation to linger very long on the many emotions and experiences that surround the loss of a precious little one still in the womb. Instead, in a personal and compassionate way, she directs her readers to lift up their eyes to beyond their circumstances and see their God. Jessalyn takes her readers to Scripture—back to the garden of Eden—to explain why there is suffering in this life; she then discusses God’s greater purposes for suffering in the believer‘s life. Over and over again, she encourages her readers to find their comfort and strength in knowing God and His character, for He is the One who is always good, sovereign, loving, and trustworthy, no matter the pain He allows His children to go through because of living in a sin-cursed world. Finally, Jessalyn reminds believers of their ultimate hope of eternal joy and glory in the presence of the Savior.

The pain of miscarriage and infant loss does not soon go away (if it ever does,) but Inheritance of Tears may help those going through the pain to see beyond the pain and behold their God more clearly than they did before.

Reviewed by Angie Stanley

SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
Finally Free
by Heath Lambert

With practical and biblical direction, Heath Lambert walks you through eight gospel-centered strategies for overcoming pornography. Whether for personal use or to come to the aid of another, this book is meant for those who are ready to do battle. With the subtitle, Fighting for purity with the power of grace, the author explains, “This is book is not about pornography… this book is about something much better… the amazing power of Jesus Christ to free you from pornography.” He further asserts, “No matter how intense or long-standing the struggle, it is the work of Jesus Christ to set people free from such sin.”

Each chapter of this book explains an essential grace motivated and empowered strategy in being free from porn. These strategies include biblical sorrow, accountability, radical measures, confession, your spouse or your singleness, humility, gratitude and a dynamic relationship with Jesus. The final chapter is a refreshing call to holiness and hope, refreshing because holiness is the heart cry of every follower of Christ and because God’s grace gives hope (confident expectation) that heart cry can be answered.

Reviewed by Matthew Lim

SUGGESTED BOOK OF THE MONTH
Valley of Vision

Prayer is one of most vital spiritual disciplines, yet for many of us it is not nurtured and practiced as it should be. The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers from the likes of men like C.H. Spurgeon, John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, Thomas Watson, Richard Baxter and others. These prayers that have been written down will be an encouragement to your soul as they help cultivate great thoughts about God, the depths of our sin and the riches that we have in Jesus Christ. The Valley of Vision is a great book to add to your daily routine of Bible study and prayer.