Category: Book Review

Stewards of the Kingdom provides a theology not just on money and giving, but, as the subtitle suggests, A Theology of Life in All Its Fullness. The fact that money and fundraising do not appear in the book in substance until the last half of the last chapter demonstrates that Rodin is providing a theology that demonstrates the full nature of the steward, which is an authentic life lived in devotion to Christ (11).

As with any Jack Hayford book, Glory on Your House is dense with lessons learned. These lessons are not esoteric principles, but practical applications of how God’s glory can permeate the life of the believer as well as their church and community. The book provides a framework for me to take these principles and apply them to my everyday life and ministry.

Niebuhr, in his book Christ and Culture, describes a problem with a dual demand on Christians from their faith and from the culture they live (2). Niebuhr observes that a Christian loves with agape love,  hope, obedience to Christ, faith, and humility (28). Culture has its own traits that focus on the social (32), human achievements (33), as well as temporal, material, and conserved values (36-37). To answer this problem, Niebuhr provides five answers (40-43). These answers have two polar extremes and three median solutions. This essay will evaluate Niebuhr’s answers to the problem of Christ and culture and evaluate where they may fit in different cultural applications.

  The scenario: Murray went to a very busy Costco. As he unloaded his shopping basket into his car, he knew he was late picking up his daughter from soccer. Murray realized he had a bottle of Italian Seasoning that he had not paid for. Should he go back and pay for it, or go and pick up his daughter?

Tony Richie's book Essentials of Pentecostal Theology: An Eternal and Unchanging Lord Powerfully Present and Active by the Holy Spirit attempts to answer the questions, “What is Pentecostalism?” and “What do Pentecostal Christians believe and practice?” This quest for definition is challenging because Pentecostal theology is sometimes a moving target, with a broad range of “dramatic diversity” that crosses multidenominational, multicultural, and political lines.

n his introduction to the book, Vanhoozer contends that pastors have primarily abandoned their function of delivering theology in a public setting. Specifically, he states that the “underlying conviction is that theological minds need to return to where they belong: in the body of Christ.” The problem is that, while tied up with a multiplicity of demands, pastors put theology aside, which is ultimately detrimental to the church body.

Having studied theology and the Bible for many years, I need to be reminded (with some frequency) that the conclusions I reach through my study have real-world implications that affect people in real-world situations. This is the case when addressing the issue of women in leadership roles within the household, the church, and society. The conclusions may be valid and biblical, but that doesn’t mean that those conclusions won’t impact people and relationships. Therefore, when doing biblical and theological study, I need to be careful not only with how I study and what conclusions I come to but also need to be careful with how I deliver those conclusions.

On Earth As It Is In Heaven by C. Peter Wagner is a book I have wanted to read for some time. Wagner’s work has been maligned as well as triumphed by many. The term “New Apostolic Reformation” (NAR) has been used chiefly by reformed cessationists as a pejorative against all charismatics (yeah, I’m looking at you, MacArthur), and Wagner seems to be the only one who has used it. The book has been highly influential in Charismatic circles, especially among the leadership of Bethel Church in Redding, California. So, I thought it would be good to familiarize myself with this work. With all respect to my charismatic brethren, this book is a mess of theological hot garbage. I will point out two theological problems with the book from an eschatological and ecclesiastical point of view and two heretical points, one implied and one expressly called out.