Book Reviews

13 articles.

What's Best Next (Matt Perman)

Matt Perman is a Christian author and thinker who has worked at the intersection of theology and productivity for many years. He previously served at Desiring God under John Piper and later with Made to Flourish, an organization that equips pastors and churches for flourishing ministries. Currently, he is employed by King's College in New York City, where he serves as the Director of Career Development—a fitting position for someone with as much expertise in the areas of productivity and growth.

September 29, 2025 ⏱ 12 min read draft

Weekly Reflections on the Spiritual Disciplines

In the first chapter of his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney argues that "the Spiritual Disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the [G]ospel of Jesus Christ. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times." He continues to explain that there are both personal, the kind on which the book focuses, and interpersonal Spiritual Disciplines.

October 10, 2024 ⏱ 17 min read draft

Biblical Reasoning, Chs. 7-8 & 10 · Against the Darkness, Ch. 7

Graham Cole's Seventh Chapter of Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons is titled "Spiritual Warfare." It provides in-depth definitions (pp. 164-165), perspectives (pp. 165-172), and approaches to the topic (pp.

September 28, 2024 ⏱ 7 min read draft

God's Word Alone, Part 3 & Against the Darkness, Ch. 5

In Part Three, "The Character of God's Word and Contemporary Challenges," of God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, Matthew Barrett systematically argues that Scripture is inspired by God or "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16), that its authority proceeds from its inspiration by the Holy Spirit, and that it deserves the most profound respect (p. 223-224).

September 14, 2024 ⏱ 8 min read draft

God's Word Alone, Part 2 · Against the Darkness, Ch. 4 · Biblical Reasoning, Part 1

Matthew Barrett's Part Two of God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, titled "God's Word in Redemptive History," is far shorter than the previous Part One but still most valuable and informative. The first chapter, "God's Word in the Economy of the Gospel: Covenant, Trinity, and the Necessity of a Saving Word," introduces the next two. Barrett first signifies the distinction between general and special revelation, declaring, "General revelation is sufficient to condemn [humanity], it is insufficient to save [humanity]...

September 7, 2024 ⏱ 11 min read draft

God's Word Alone, Part 1 & Against the Darkness, Ch. 3

In Part One, "God's Word under Fire, Yesterday and Today," of the book God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, Matthew Barrett argues that biblical authority, sufficiency, inerrancy, and infallibility are central to Christian orthodoxy (pp. 23-27). Therefore, his task is to "answer contemporary challenges to sufficiency from traditionalism (with a particular focus on Rome and her view of the canon) to science and reason, and finally experience and culture" (p.

August 31, 2024 ⏱ 10 min read draft

Faithful Theology & Against the Darkness, Chs. 1-2

Faithful Theology: An Introduction by Graham A. Cole is, precisely as the title says, a brief book on faithfulness in the theological process. In it, Cole posits that faithful theology involves five key elements: The Word of Revelation, The Witness of Christian Thought and Practice, The World of Human Brokenness, The Work of Wisdom, and The Way of Worship (pp.

August 24, 2024 ⏱ 8 min read draft

Finish the Mission (Mathis & Piper, eds.)

While this helpful book on missions was written by many authors, it was edited by David Mathis and John Piper. Mathis is the executive director of Desiring God and serves as an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Twin Cities, Minnesota. He earned his degree from Furman University and, at the time this book was published, was completing a degree at Reformed Theological Seminary.

March 9, 2023 ⏱ 8 min read draft

Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life (Jason C. Meyer)

Author, Jason Meyer, sets out in the book, Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire, to tell and inspire other Christians about the God-fearing life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Moreover, Meyer seeks to accomplish a more specific goal in his work: to remind Christians "that according to Lloyd-Jones, the Christian life is doctrine of fire" (p. 21).

November 11, 2022 ⏱ 13 min read draft

When People Are Big and God Is Small (Edward T. Welch)

Edward Welch, a decorated author and counselor, earned his M.Div. degree from Biblical Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Utah in 1981. The same year, he started work for both the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and Westminster Theological Seminary where he serves as the director of counseling/academic dean and professor of practical theology, respectively.

October 7, 2022 ⏱ 7 min read draft