Good Reading Material

When you go on vacation, the danger is that you can easily fall into the temptation of eating too much, sleeping too much, spending too much money and wasting too much time. However, when it comes to the reading of good literature, the phrase “too much” need not apply. Reading good Christian literature can bless your soul, focus your mind, and encourage your spirit. Since I am limited in what I am able to do physically due to my illness, I had to resort to spending most of my time reading and catching a bit of sun. Three good books I read this week and would like to recommend to you are:

 

Coming Home to God, by O. Palmer Robertson

Evangelical Press, 2003, 76 pages.

This book is a simple summary of the gospel as illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son. It follows the chain of guilt, grace and gratitude in the life of a sinner who comes to see his sin, repents, is forgiven and saved. This book can easily be read through on a quiet Sunday afternoon, and can be used as a wonderful evangelistic tool to hand out to someone with little Bible knowledge.

 

John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock, by Iain H. Murray

Banner of Truth Books, 2011, 240 pages.

This interesting biography of the extremely popular evangelical preacher, John MacArthur, by Iain Murray is a delightfully surprising read. Iain Murray has written wonderful biographies on great preachers of the past in the Puritan tradition: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and Jonathan Edwards. MacArthur is still alive, and preaching three times per week at Grace Community Church in California (6,000 members) and is heard on daily Grace To You radio broadcasts in more than 35 countries. Murray shows how MacArthur has developed from being a preacher of the fundamentalist stripe into a respected Bible expositor who unashamedly highlights the reformed doctrines of grace. This book is an easy read in the classic well documented style of Iain Murray. The book honestly points out two areas of MacArthur with which conservative Calvinists differ: music used in worship, and dispensational tendencies. Highly recommended!

 

The Sympathy of Christ, by Octavius Winslow, D.D.

Sprinkle Publications, reprinted in 1994, 426 pages.

This meaty work by Octavius Winslow, unpacks from scripture the sanctified emotions of Jesus Christ, as the compassionate high priest for His people. Chapters such as:The Sigh of Christ, The Tears of Christ, The Love of Christ, The Sensitiveness of Christ, The Shame of Christ, The Joy of Christ, The Temptation of Christ, and others, give much incentive and encouragement to bring all our trials and tribulations to the feet of Christ. It is true balm for a wounded soul. This book is not an easy read for the beginner, but once you get used to his style of writing, you will mine comforting nuggets of gold in exchange for your efforts.