Many biblical counsellors work from a set of narrow biblical texts, not thinking to apply principles from seemingly inapplicable passages like DeuteroMany biblical counsellors work from a set of narrow biblical texts, not thinking to apply principles from seemingly inapplicable passages like Deuteronomy 23:15. Wilson deftly handles a host of issues in these letters. Every biblical counselor ought to read this book, and many people in thick of conflict would also benefit....more
This is the best book I read in 2017 and I read it again in 2018. I met Tim Bayly one time a number of years before he wrote this book. I had read somThis is the best book I read in 2017 and I read it again in 2018. I met Tim Bayly one time a number of years before he wrote this book. I had read some of his blog articles and asked him about what I thought was his over-critical stand against Tim Keller. At the time I thought Keller was weak in some ways, but my question for Bayly was, "Why complain so much about someone who is doing so much good work? Why not rejoice that at the very least, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached?" I don't remember his answer, but it seemed weak at the time. Now having seen what soft-complementarianism (if that's not too generous a term for Keller) is doing in the church, I'm so grateful for Tim Bayly's wisdom and courage.
This book speaks to one the most important issues facing the church today--the sexual revolution, and homosexuality in particular. He not only addresses the biblical view of sodomy, but the sin of effeminacy that marks so many heterosexual men in the church. He details his own failing to disciple a man in his church who struggled with homosexuality, and calls out the cowardice that silences Christians, keeping them from loving their homosexual neighbors. This is the book to give your pastor and elders. It's really not about what's happening in the culture, but how the church is failing to take up the cross. ...more
Cloud and Townsend layout healthy values and boundaries in marriage and why each spouse must hold them, sometimes in opposition to the other. Helpful Cloud and Townsend layout healthy values and boundaries in marriage and why each spouse must hold them, sometimes in opposition to the other. Helpful for dealing with problems of enablement and co-dependency. ...more
Second or third time through, this time in a small group. Still good, but Tripp fumbles the need to trust God's promises for your children's salvationSecond or third time through, this time in a small group. Still good, but Tripp fumbles the need to trust God's promises for your children's salvation. He says there are no promises and if there were it wouldn't be news because he wasn't a good enough parent. But that's the point. They're promises embraced by faith, not by works. Still, an excellent book....more
Many helpful ideas and techniques for nurturing children, along with some bogus psychology like encouraging kids to let all their anger out. Chapman aMany helpful ideas and techniques for nurturing children, along with some bogus psychology like encouraging kids to let all their anger out. Chapman almost gets to the biblical promises about children at a couple places--those are the actual secrets to loving children effectively. Still, appreciated this book....more
This is an outstanding, approachable book. I think he could have made a distinction between discipline and punishment, but well-rounded, sturdy and GoThis is an outstanding, approachable book. I think he could have made a distinction between discipline and punishment, but well-rounded, sturdy and God-centered approach to parenting. ...more
Wilson has written so much on marriage that I went in expecting a lot of rehash but this was full of fresh insights and new angles. A tremendous amounWilson has written so much on marriage that I went in expecting a lot of rehash but this was full of fresh insights and new angles. A tremendous amount of wisdom to wither masculinist and effeminate killers of husbandry. ...more
I read this on Kindle and enjoyed it so much I ordered one with poundage.
This book was so good because Bushnell takes the opposite tack to the vast maI read this on Kindle and enjoyed it so much I ordered one with poundage.
This book was so good because Bushnell takes the opposite tack to the vast majority of Christian parenting books. Rather than highlight all the hardships, heavy lifting, uncertainties, and qualifications that make parents feel like raising their kids to love God and walk with him is an exploding minefield, Bushnell takes the Bible's promises, lobs them up off the glass, catches and slams them home. It's fun to watch.
The book could be summarized as "I will be your God, and you will be my people" applied to the family. Like he did with Abraham, God calls men and women and their households into covenant with him. Bushnell is not sentimental about kids or about how hard parenting can be, so he avoids presumption. The only way kids follow the Lord is by faith, but faith works by love in raising them. He addresses baptism and church membership, the problem of denying children the Lord's Supper, Christian education, holidays, hypocrisy, the Sabbath ("a day of humanity"), family prayer and all sort of possible objections.
In such a thorough and serious book, one of the best thing is the impression Bushnell gives of the light, joyful, and gracious environment of the Christian home. You wouldn't know it by looking at picture to your upper left, but if he put into practice what he wrote, this is a happy man whose house you'd be glad to visit. Christians who are serious about discipleship often create a laborious and fussy atmosphere--let's make the kids memorize the Catechism all day on Sunday! Bushnell reveals this for what it is: disobedient and counterproductive.
The only regret about this book is that it's 300 pages long with 130-year-old 19th century prose. That will scare many off who would benefit enormously from it. Take up and read. ...more
Lots of clear, straight-forward Bible teaching on spanking out of Proverbs and elsewhere. I'd like to recommend this book more, but a few flies in theLots of clear, straight-forward Bible teaching on spanking out of Proverbs and elsewhere. I'd like to recommend this book more, but a few flies in the ointment prevent it, like when Ray recommends teaching your kids to respond to the snap of your fingers. No doubt this could be done graciously, but he comes across as tone deaf which makes me wonder how it went for him and his kids. Discipline should be tender, and tenderness should disciplined. Still, for those stuck in the sentimental and lamely argued "all spanking is child-abuse" paradigm, who set aside some lapses for the good biblical exposition, there is a lot here. ...more
About as punchy as seventy pages can be. Wilson begins at the crucial point of defining education and the impossibility of neutrality--all knowledge iAbout as punchy as seventy pages can be. Wilson begins at the crucial point of defining education and the impossibility of neutrality--all knowledge is taken captive to Christ or not. He then examines what American public education is designed to do, what it actually is doing, and what that means for our kids. Although excellent, I think this book assumes a lot at times and therefore will miss a large portion of Christians still supporting public schools. ...more
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