Book Review: MacArthur's Remaining Faithful in Ministry

Often it is the slender books, the brief books, that are most profound. In this class I would include such writings as Andrew Murray’s Humility: the Journey toward Holiness, Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy, and Stott’s Basic Christianity. I can now add MacArthur’s RemainingFaithful in Ministry to this list. At just seventy-seven pages it is a book that punches far above its weight.

MacArthur writes on selected texts from 2 Corinthians 1-4, drawing nine points of faithful ministry out of Paul’s testimony to the Corinthian church. In one sense it is standard MacArthur: solid yet accessible exegesis, comparing Scripture with Scripture, delving into Greek terms when it enhances the meaning of the English text, combined with biblically faithful application. The power of his writing lies wholly within his skillful use of the biblical text.

The subtitle is 9 Essential Convictions for Every Pastor, and the book delivers abundantly on that theme. Every man in pastoral ministry should read this book and come under the weight of its convictions. Five stars, highly recommended.

List of Twelve Top Books

In Sunday's message, I encouraged folks to make an intentional effort to grow in Christ this year. The text was from Paul's own testimony in Philippians 3:7-16, and the critical point was that "pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" implied specific, strenuous effort.

It is this passage in which we see clearly that sanctification is, as Jerry Bridges puts it, a "joint-venture" between us and God. Paul says in verse 12, "I press on so that I may lay hold of [our part of our own sanctification, notice the implication of effort] that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus [God's part of our sanctification]."

In any case, among the practical suggestions that I gave for areas of growth in which to strive in this new year, was a recommended reading list of good books. I've been asked to provide this list, so here it is. Note that the list is weighted heavily toward theology in general, and the holiness of God in particular. While it contains some samples of application (Priolo, Viars, Metzger, and one of Bridges), these books are more about knowing God than they are practical Christian living.

There are multiple reasons for that. One of them arises out of the text. Paul speaks in verse 8 of "knowing Christ my Lord," and verse 10, "that I may know him." Our deepest errors are not failures of practice, but a failure to know God, and the truth about God, properly. I would argue that all failures of practice can ultimately be traced back to a defective knowledge of God, and a defective love for Him.

In no particular order, here's the list:

• Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges
• Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
• Basic Christianity, John Stott
• The Dangerous Duty of Delight, John Piper
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Packer
• Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul
• Knowing God, JI Packer
• Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges
• Heart of Anger, Lou Priolo
• Teach them Diligently, Lou Priolo
• Putting your past in its place, Steve Viars
• Tell the Truth, Will Metzger

There are many excellent books that could be added to this list. Most of these on the list are books I find myself turning to over and over again. A few are recent additions that I believe are "best in class" or close to it.

God has given the church teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Use them. Pick them well, pick them carefully, but use the teachers with which God has blessed His church.

John Stott; promoted to Glory

John Stott has gone home to be with the Lord. In my opinion, Stott was one of the premier Anglican theologians of the last fifty years. I am sorry to lose him now, when the Anglican Church most needs its scholars that are genuinely biblically faithful. But the Lord of the Church makes no mistakes.

While Stott authored many books, the one which I really treasure is his Basic Christianity. This little book is both an explanation, and somewhat of a defense, of the basic doctrines of Christianity. I have used it as an evangelistic tool, as well as a small study to get believers up-to-speed on the faith.

If you have not read this little book (available in both the BFC library and bookstore, as well as on Amazon), you are denying yourself an excellent intro to Christian doctrine.

Rest in peace, John Stott.