Sets are available in small, small deluxe, large, and large deluxe sizes.

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Once again, Francis Schaeffer blew my mind and brought such joy to my heart in this book simply titled: Art and the Bible. I’ve come to love Schaeffer’s passion for truth and the way he brings to light the way we live out the lies we don’t even know we believe. His practical philosophy gets to the heart of the modern believer, and this book was no exception.

The book is a compilation of two essays: “Art in the Bible” and “Some Perspectives on Art.” I appreciated the publisher’s choice to publish them together as they build on each other to create a complete and yet concise presentation of his thoughts.

“What is the place of art in the Christian life?” “Shouldn’t a Christian focus his gaze steadily on ‘religious things’ alone and forget about art and culture?” These are the questions Schaeffer seeks to answer in his first essay. He speaks to God as Creator and all the times that God commands that art be erected in His honor. Scripture is, in a fashion, a piece of art, with poetry, music, drama, and dance all portrayed and utilized by God Himself. Such false ideas as misinterpretations of the First Commandment and the mindset of art as primarily secular are quickly addressed in the light of Scripture and proper hermeneutics, as the glory of mankind as image-bearers of the Creator of the Universe is revealed.

“How should we as creators and enjoyers of beauty comprehend and evaluate it?” In the second essay, Schaeffer speaks to a matter that has often laid heavy on my heart—namely, that the Church has fallen from being at the forefront of great art and beauty to being pleased with ourselves if we can manage to produce passible imitations of secular art. God has given us more to reach the lost with the Gospel than just apologetics and solid reasoning. He has also given us beauty, empathy, expression, and a thirst for something greater than ourselves. By relegating art to the secular world in order to focus on “religious things,” we may be equipping the mind, but we are abandoning the soul in the process. The arts are full of styles, mediums, and modes in which the full realm of the human soul can be expressed from one person to another in a way that simply nothing else can.

I will take the risk in saying that never have we been more in need of awe-inspiring, God-glorying, raw, beautiful art than today in this post-Informational Age where compassion and connection are quickly becoming the most important qualities to the culture in which we strive to bring the truth. As Schaeffer says, “The Christian’s life is to be a thing of truth and also a thing of beauty in the midst of a lost and despairing world.” This book was truly a blessing, and I would highly recommend this short and easy read to anyone wondering what art can do for the believer.

As a young basketball coach, I worked with fifth grade to eighth grade students, focusing on the basics of the game and drilling the fundamentals. As I taught more advanced students, I built on those fundamentals and instructed at a higher level. One joy for many coaches is the acquisition of more knowledge to teach their players. I harvested basketball knowledge everywhere I could find it, even to the point of traveling with a box of three-ring binders full of sketched offenses, defenses, drills, and game plan elements. 

I didn’t realize, though, that my acquisition of knowledge had blunted my effectiveness as a coach. What woke me up was a pointed statement from a more experienced instructor: “Coach, you know enough basketball to win games right now. The question is, ‘Can you teach anybody what you know?’ That is what will make you a coach.” I spent the next year studying not basketball, but how to teach it.

This pattern is carried out in congregations all over the world today. We love the fundamentals of the faith, and we love learning the meat and potatoes too. However, we often assume too much, using jargon to teach intelligent students, assuming that they possess a low level of intelligence and a high level of education. We simultaneously dumb down the precious truths of the Bible and talk down to our students, who are (in fact) highly intelligent but (often) not highly educated. 

Enter the text under consideration, Effective Bible Teaching. Teaching Scripture is both an art and a science. The ability to teach (beyond the mere willingness to do so) Scripture is the one explicitly biblical aptitude for pastors and elders. But teaching Scripture is also a skill that can be obtained, and, once possessed, improved upon. 

Wilhoit and Ryken consider two types of ineffective Bible classes: The class that knows it is failing, and the class that is painfully unaware of that failure. Then they address solutions to make those classes effective, including committing to the power and authority of Scripture, exegeting Scripture, interpreting various genres of Scripture, developing good course and class objectives, asking good questions, and securing student engagement. 

Many classes fail, say the authors, because they have no clear goal in mind other than meeting together with Scripture having some role, even if it is unspecified. They claim that, with some prayerful, intentional effort, a Bible class can become the highlight of congregational life. I agree, and this text fueled my love for Bible teaching in the congregation. 

I would like to add a personal note. Engaging with a text like this is a humbling effort. In order to improve your teaching, you must be willing to consider that there is room for improvement. Satan tempts us with our pride to consider this an impossibility, yet once we admit that perhaps I, even I, could learn from such a text, he begins to tempt us to despair. I found myself wanting to offer a refund to my former congregation—wanting to do it all over again. But that’s not fruitful or productive, nor is it the intention of this book, or continuing education in general. Dive in, learn what you can, and move on. 

Who is the ideal teacher? He or she is a travel guide through the Bible, traveling with students through life, accompanying them with God’s Word, and becoming a friend in the process (Wilhoit and Ryken, p.41).

“Who is sufficient for these things?” rings in our ears along with “Let not many of you become teachers.” But the Spirit and the gifts are ours, and Jesus Christ, who both gifts and calls, also prepares teachers for His own service. While some more than others are “born” teachers, every teacher can—and indeed must—learn new instructional skills while they hone those they already possess. The result will be students who are engaged with the Bible—the most essential curriculum in the world—and mature in Christ.

Reviewer’s note: While this volume is a popular work, it is also the primary text for the 2018 Summer Institute of Theology at AFLTS August 6-10. For more information, visit https://aflbs.org/events/2018-summer-institute-theology-sit/ or call Marilee Johnson at (763) 544-9501.  

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Mary J. Moerbe and Gene Edward Veith have done it again—they have written an excellent resource on vocation, this time for children! If you’re not familiar with the doctrine of vocation, it’s not just jobs, careers, or how we make a living, but it’s the areas of life God has called us to so that we can love and serve our neighbors. This does include the workplace and also the family, society, church, etc. Even children have vocations, and this book is a great way to introduce them to how they can love and serve their neighbors by being a helper!

Dr. Veith has written a very beneficial note to parents (or any adult, really) at the beginning of the book that explains the doctrine of vocation. His daughter, Mary J. Moerbe, has written the text of this little book in a way that is easily understandable and relatable to children. The illustrations by Jennifer Zivoin are well done and show examples of people living out their vocations by being helpers.

I had a chance to read this book to three children in my life who are ages six, eight, and ten. Afterward they said they liked the “happy” pictures. They also said that others who read the book will learn about how to help others and how others help them. We were able to discuss specific ways we can help others (obeying our parents, doing chores, picking up dropped things) and specific ways others can help us (parents feed us, pastors tell us about Jesus, doctors make us healthy). They each gave the book a “thumbs up”!

As the Christian Education Director at my church and an aunt to seven nephews and nieces, I highly recommend this book. It will be a great addition to any family or church/Sunday school library!

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If you would like to read one book that summarizes the attempt of seminaries to impart pastoral wisdom to its students, The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business is such a book. This little (190-page) book, using theologians from the past and present, attempts to encapsulate fundamental pastoral training.

Part one of the book includes an impressive list of theologians/authors from the past: Augustine, Martin Luther, C. H. Spurgeon, B. B. Warfield, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and C. S. Lewis. Each theologian’s teaching and advice was given a chapter and included several personal quotes. Because I have read little of him before, I was especially interested in the chapter featuring B. B. Warfield. Warfield tackles the tension of an educated clergy versus a godly clergy. Warfield opposes such a dichotomy, “Why should you turn from God when you turn to your books, or feel that you must turn from your books in order to turn to God? If learning and devotion are as antagonistic as that, then the intellectual life is in itself accursed, and there can be no question of a religious life for a student, even of theology” (p.51).

Part two of the book is comprised of current theologians, each writing about his particular area of theology: D. A. Carson and Biblical Studies, Carl Trueman and Church History, Gerald Bray and Systematic Theology, Dennis Hollinger and Christian Ethics, and John Woodhouse and the Theological College. Each theologian writes about his area of expertise with special concern for the practicality of the discipline. For instance, Gerald Bray articulates his concern that while Systematic Theology is popular among some students, the concern is that it be applied to ministry and not just theoretical. He writes, “Late-night discussions of supralapsarianism or annihilationism, replete with obscure quotations (preferably in Latin or German), energize them in a way that nothing else can. They are usually so caught up in what they are doing that they fail to see that they are alienating almost everyone else, confirming the fears of other people that systematic theology has no relationship to everyday life” (p.150). Bray explains that Systematic Theology is practical and that it comes in handy when the pastor must come up with an answer to a difficult question quickly: “Only a man with a well-grounded systematic mindset is likely to be able to think the issues through deeply enough to be able to come up with a viable answer in the short time that is usually available to him” (p.160).

The Trials of Theology is a worthwhile book for any pastor or seminary student to read and have on his shelf for further reference. I heartily recommend it!

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Pastoral Care Under the Cross had been on this writer’s “need-to-buy-from-Parish-Ed-wishlist” for a number of years. And once it was purchased and read, the book did not disappoint. In the messiness of the world’s problems, pastors find themselves dealing with issues that leave them feeling overwhelmed and underequipped. What is your view of suffering? Is it a result of something I did wrong? Is God trying to teach me a lesson through it? Where is God in the midst of suffering? And what is my pastor’s role when I go through suffering? These questions, and many more, are handled with care in Richard C. Eyer’s book.

The book is divided into two parts: The first part lays the theological foundation for pastoral care, and the second part deals with practical issues, including chapters on homosexuality, grief, mental illness, and ethics.

The reader of this book feels like an intern pastor through each chapter, being in the same room with the senior pastor, quietly listening and observing his actions as he ministers to a member of the flock. Solid instruction is provided for the nuts and bolts of a healthy pastoral visit. “The pastor needs to learn how to move the visit from a superficial to a deepened level of discussion” (p.72). The tools needed to do effective pastoral care are gleaned through experience. This resource gives the theological foundation needed to navigate each new, unique pastoral care case study. The focus on the cross of Christ is central. Sound theology intersects with day-to-day living in the stories included.

A huge issue in today’s world is that of mental illness. There is quite a spectrum of perspectives on this issue, but Eyer takes the “Goldilocks” approach that Mike Emlet from CCEF (Christian Counseling Education Foundation) advocates: not too hot (accepting psychology wholesale and pushing Scripture aside) and not too cold (complete dismissing anything from the field of psychology and only using Scripture). This sentiment is expressed by Eyer in this quote: “I am not calling for the rejection of a psychological self-understanding or of the pharmacology that some pit against faith . . . we need to reintroduce to the world the deeper realities behind human thought and behavior” (p.120). It is vitally important for pastors and congregational members to think clearly about mental illness. While this resource does not provide a comprehensive plan for dealing with these difficult issues, it does provide a solid starting point from which to work.

One does not need to be a pastor to enjoy or benefit from this book. It may give insight into a pastor’s world that most don’t realize exists. Any lay person can benefit from the lessons gleaned from this grizzled, veteran pastor. And all pastors should have this book and read it. It will not benefit any pastor to bury his head in the sand on these vitally important issues. Don’t say “I’m not gifted in that area.” Read this book, and you will find yourself better equipped.

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How does the local congregation minister to families? As churches seek to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with families, the approach taken has varied across a broad spectrum. This book assembles practitioners from three major approaches to present how they pursue healthy family ministry. It then offers space for the others to respond to each one’s approach. The result is an effective resource for biblical evaluation to apply discernment for serving families in your congregational context.

Why is “family ministry” getting attention in the current Christian conversation? A number of reasons contribute to the rise in family ministry considerations in the local congregation. The first four chapters of the book allow for some reflection on the trends in American families and the local church as well as the place of youth ministry. The editor and authors acknowledge that a healthy approach to family ministry is not another program. With a biblical foundation for congregational life and the family established, the text turns in the last six chapters to explore what family ministry looks like.

What does a person mean when referencing “family ministry”? Each of the three practitioners individually develop their portion of the spectrum as Family-Based, Family-Equipping, and Family-Integrated. The responses of the other two to each one’s description enable the reader to get a sense of these applications, including the areas of overlap. The strength of the text is its ability to let the reader prayerfully think through scriptural convictions and immediate congregational context. For those that value a conclusion or an epilogue to a book, you will find it ending abruptly without one, like the book of Jonah. The missing end serves as an invitation to our start in seeking to sharpen our Gospel ministry with families.

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Share Life! Outreach Lessons from Jesus is a short book that goes over multiple lessons Jesus taught during His time on earth. As you read through each page, there are sections of Scripture that accompany the lesson. The format of reading the text from the Bible and the text from the book works very well and brings the focus to Christ and the Scriptures. The lessons are based on Jesus’ example during His time on earth. Each lesson teaches the reader about an attribute of Jesus’ or a way Jesus handled a situation. It then has the reader apply these lessons to their own lives.

I learned a lot from reading this book. The lessons shared were very relatable to my life today. I was encouraged, challenged, and motivated to live and shine for Jesus, as well as taught in ways to share His love. One of my favorite lessons was titled, “Adore the Lord or Feed the Poor.” It was about Mary anointing Jesus with perfume in John chapter 12. The lesson’s main point was happiness comes from Christ, and we should spend our time with Him and in His Word. The author encourages the reader to take time during the week to spend time with Jesus alone, and to also schedule times to have Bible studies and fellowship with others while sharing your faith through it all. This really convicted me to prioritize Jesus in my life. Even though there are many distractions in this life, Jesus is who I need. Therefore, I should spend my time worshipping Him, sharing Christ’s love with others, and pointing others to Him in what I do.

Throughout this book, the message of sharing Jesus with others is stressed. Great, practical suggestions are provided in how to apply this lesson to the way you live and how you outreach to others. While you are growing spiritually throughout the lessons taught, you are reminded to act on these lessons and truths. I loved that the author fills this book with the message of the Gospel. The book continually points to Christ and how we need Him as our Savior.

In conclusion, “Share Life! Outreach Lessons from Jesus” is filled with many practical, spiritual and encouraging lessons taught straight from Jesus and His Word. We all need to be reminded of these lessons of Jesus and to live out our lives following what Jesus has taught us and continues to teach us through His Word. I pray you are encouraged by this book!

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Most of us would agree that the Small Catechism is an invaluable resource. Our churches subscribe to it as a faithful expression of Scripture. Yet, that being said, it doesn’t seem to be used for much outside of confirmation instruction. As much as we value it, I think that most of us have a difficult time teaching it in our home.

For this reason, I was excited when I received an ad from Concordia Publishing House advertising a new book that was being released. It’s now been out for several months. It’s titled Why Am I Joy:fully Lutheran? And it’s written by Pastor Matthew Harrison, who currently serves as president of the LCMS.

The easiest way to describe this book is the Small Catechism in devotional form. Each part of the Catechism is presented, followed by a devotional style teaching on that section.  Next, there is a short description of why this is important to us as Lutherans. And finally, there is an applicable prayer to conclude the chapter.

I have greatly enjoyed this book, although it didn’t fit the need for which I purchased it. I had hoped to use it as a devotional resource with my younger children. However, as I read through it on my own, I found that the phrasing was difficult for their ages. And, as I tried reading it with them, this was confirmed. I had to spend much time and effort rewording the material for their understanding.

That being said, I would highly recommend it as a resource for teenagers and adults. Having the Catechism in this format encourages me to read it and to consider its meaning. It doesn’t feel like reading a textbook.

Although it would take much less time to simply read the Catechism itself, the length is not a deterrent. Each chapter is only four to five pages on average. A person can easily sit down and quickly read a portion each day.

I would also suggest that pastors use this book as a resource for their congregations. Many of us encourage our members to make use of the Catechism, with little to no effect. However, in this format, I believe people will do so willingly.

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Reading books to young children, with their eyes full of wonder and discovery, must be one of the most delightful tasks an adult can experience. Whether from the lyrical rhythm of words or the telling illustrations, the responsive zeal of children is contagious.

Engage young children with the Easter story through the vivid, expressive illustrations of Something Wonderful by Carol Bergt. See the fear and wonder of people who directly encountered the Resurrection and realized again and again that something truly wonderful had happened. Then celebrate together on the last page, because we know Jesus is alive. Alleluia!

One of the best gifts children can receive is books—books to enrich their lives and books to teach them biblical truth, books for birthdays and Christmas and books for any ordinary day! Something Wonderful is a perfect Easter gift. If you’re a teacher, it’s affordable enough to give to every student in your class. Do not skip the two Easter songs in the back of the book, both easily singable for families at home or for Sunday school children to share with the congregation in a worship service. The last one (by an unknown author and set to the tune of the well-known hymn “Immortal, Invisible”) will imprint the wonderful Easter story on the minds and hearts of all.

We welcome glad Easter when Jesus arose
And won a great victory over His foes. Refrain

And tell how the Marys came early that day
And there at the tomb found the stone rolled away. Refrain

And sing of the angel who said, “Do not fear!
Your Savior has risen, and He is not here.” Refrain

Now think of the promise that Jesus did give—
That all who believe in Him also shall live. Refrain

Refrain:
Then raise your glad voices, you children, and sing.
Bring sweet Easter praises to Jesus, our King.

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Sampling  from Something Wonderful!

Christianity Today released an article in October 2018, highlighting an alarming report from Ligonier Ministries. It noted, “More than two-thirds (69%) of Americans disagree that the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation. . . .” (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/october/what-do-christians-believe-ligonier-state-theology-heresy.html) Putting the most charitable construction on the findings of the report, the state of theology in America today is confused. Well-intentioned people are revisiting ancient teachings the Church has deemed heretical. That being said, how does the average church member protect himself from being led into one of these teachings?

Thankfully, we don’t have to start at square one. A good study of church history is an invaluable tool, but not everybody can have a memory like Pastor Robert Lee, well-known Professor of Church History at AFLC Schools. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some short, concise statements explaining what Christians believe? Insert the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creed (though to some, the Athanasian Creed might not seem concise). The ecumenical creeds are great places to start.

In the Lutheran Church, we have another helpful document, the Augsburg Confession. Dr. Iver Olson, the first dean of our seminary, said this of the Augsburg Confession: “The doctrines enunciated in the Augsburg Confession are, in the main, the teachings of the Protestant Churches. We can go even further to declare that with some exceptions, they are the doctrines of the whole Christian Church” (The Augsburg Confession: Its Meaning for Our Day, p.8). Somewhere along the way, this book found its way into my library. It sat there for a while, untouched, in a queue of books waiting to be read whenever I find time. This year I found time. I’m glad I did.

This book was the work of numerous pastors and professors of the AFLC. It goes through the Augsburg Confession and provides an explanation to why it matters today. I figured being an “older” book (the binding was already pretty sun-bleached) it wouldn’t be as contemporary as the times we live in. However, I found as I was reading it that it’s still very applicable. The writers have done a good job of showing the importance of doctrine in everyday life—doctrines like justification, original sin, what the Church is, confession, baptism, freedom of the will, and plenty more.

This is a book worth having on your shelf, but even better, in your hands. Theology ought to point you to Christ. Bad theology points you elsewhere and ultimately ends up pointing back to you. It offers no comfort. Pick up this book and be pointed to Jesus.

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“Convictions, unless discussed and taught, die.” These words were penned by Rev. John Strand more than 25 years ago. They are words that convey the importance of teaching our biblical Lutheran heritage. Words that express a grave possibility if teaching is neglected.

Still today, people of the AFLC are concerned about continuing our heritage of “free and living congregations," and many have expressed a desire in recent years for resources to preserve and teach our Free Lutheran history and biblical foundations for generations to come. In response to these concerns, the Board of Parish Education prayerfully discussed how they might better serve our congregations by providing tools to teach our history and heritage. The idea of an AFLC Heritage Series was conceived and was further encouraged by the Coordinating Committee.

The AFLC Heritage Series is a series of publications that aims to serve our congregations by providing resources that reflect the unique Lutheran, pietistic, and Scandinavian heritage of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations. The writings in this series are of theological, historical, biographical, or devotional content. The goal is to include new works, works previously published, and works not previously translated. Intended to be ongoing and open-ended, additional volumes will be added to the series for an indefinite period of time. Four volumes have been published to date.

VOLUME I
Romans: A Devotional Commentary leads readers through the book of Romans verse by verse in a devotional style. This out-of-print book was selected for the first volume because of its author and content. The emphasis of the book of Romans is foundational to the Lutheran church: justification by grace through faith in Christ. The writings of Carl O. Rosenius in the mid-1800s were a significant influence in Scandinavian Lutheran piety. Rosenius was especially known for his monthly periodical called "The Pietist" and for his exceptional ability to divide law and gospel.

VOLUME II
Free and Living Congregations: The Dream That Would Not Die celebrates the 40th anniversary of the AFLC and is dedicated to the memory of Rev. John P. Strand, the first AFLC president. Topical chapters written by members of the AFLC answer questions such as: What does it mean to be a "free and living" congregation? What is the role of pastors and laypeople in a free church? How is the Lutheran Free Church related to the AFLC? How and why did the AFLC begin? What makes it unique? Why go to an Annual Conference? The book also contains a collection of photographs from early AFLC history, a section of historical documents including the Fundamental Principles and Rules for Work, as well as selected writings by Rev. Strand from The Lutheran Ambassador and annual reports that are especially pertinent to congregational life. A correlating Study Guide leads readers through the book chapter by chapter and serves as a practical tool for small group discussions and classroom or personal study.

VOLUME III
Translated from Finnish, They Lived in the Power of God: Lutheran Revival Leaders in Northern Europe is a collection of biographical writings by Lutheran scholar, Dr. Uuras Saarnivaara. These writings reflects the European heritage of Lutheran congregations in America and includes individuals from Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, who have significantly impacted spiritual life among Lutherans between 1500 and 1950, such as Hallesby, Hauge, Rosenius, and others. Translated by Rev. Rodger N. Foltz and Aila Saarnivaara Foltz, with historical introductions by Rev. Rodger N. Foltz and Rev. Robert L. Lee.

VOLUME IV
Footprints of the Faithful: Fifty Years of the AFLC Mission in Brazil celebrates fifty years of AFLC missions in Brazil. This volume focuses on God’s work during the early mission years through the lives of the first four AFLC missionary couples: Rev. John and Ruby Abel, Rev. Alvin and Frances Grothe, Rev. George and Helen Knapp, and Rev. Connely and Carolyn Dyrud. From a primitive Brazilian frontier through western expansion and to the developing cities, God prepared the groundwork, provided workers to plant the seed, and brought about growth in Christ through the Word of God. Though fifty years of mission work have certainly brought challenges, unforeseen circumstances, grief and loss, there is cause for celebration as these historic accounts demonstrate God’s hand, guiding, sustaining, and expanding the work of AFLC–Brazil to the present. The book gives a chronological history and includes testimonies, maps, and photographs. This book is a history, but it is also multiple biographies—the intertwining of lives and ministries.

​In C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, four siblings travel to the English countryside to escape World War II. But when the children stumble through a magical wardrobe into Narnia, they quickly realize they have escaped one war only to be embroiled in a new one. Except this time, there are umbrella-carrying fauns, bickering beavers, a prophecy that the four siblings will rule Narnia, and a wicked witch determined to enslave them all.

Lewis’ writing style may be whimsical and lighthearted, but this classic runs deep with themes of good and evil, love and sacrifice. Perfect for children craving adventure and for those of us who are “old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” If you love the fantasy genre, epic struggles between good and evil, or CS Lewis’ talent for relating timeless truths, you will find this book as addicting as a box of Turkish Delight. Enjoy!

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The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics 8-Volume Box Set
Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. Boxed together for the first time, this collection of eight of his signature classics is perfect for gift-giving! The C. S. Lewis Signature Classics (8-Volume Box Set) contains: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, A Grief Observed, The Abolition of Man, and The Four Loves.

​Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Order your copy here: Ambassador Publications Online Store

Order The Abolition of Man here.

Order The Four Loves here.

​Certain words can create strong reactions in people. Something about the verb “blanch” makes me not hungry anymore. Maybe there’s a new diet idea.

Sadly, this also happens when talking about the most basic teachings of Christianity. Notice, I didn’t say “doctrines.” I don’t want to lose your attention.

Say the word “petition,” and eyes glaze over. Mention something about God’s “first article gifts,” and people look confused. Ask someone if they remember what the “catechism” teaches about truth in the Eighth Commandment, and you’ve lost them. Because of this, Luther’s Small Catechism often is viewed as that little book used in Confirmation classes but has little value afterward. The word “catechism” comes from the Greek word “echo” and the preposition “again.” Oops. I used the word “preposition.” Keep reading.

In his new book, Echo, Jonathan Fisk seeks to repackage the basic teachings of the Small Catechism with fresh language and a faithful, interconnected approach. 

Echo walks through Luther’s Small Catechism without using the normal jargon. Instead of the “Ten Commandments,” the book opens with “The Ten Important Things about Being Creation.” Rather than considering the “articles” of the Apostles’ Creed, Pastor Fisk walks through the “Three Elements of the Gospel.” In place of the various “petitions” of the Lord’s Prayer, you have “The Seven Edges of Christian Holification.”

Filled with drawings that help illustrate and outline how each part builds upon the others, Echo gives a very accessible, easy-to-read foundation of the Christian faith. Each chapter boils down a part of the catechism to its most basic meaning.

For example, the subtitle of the chapter on the Seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” is “God Gave You Stuff.” The chapter shows how God has provided you with everything you need in life. The things you own are given to you by God through others. And God intends you to use the things He has given to you, not to sinfully hold on to and trust, but to help and bless your neighbor.

If you read Fisk’s previous book Broken and, like me, found it to be difficult because of its style, Echo does not have the same hurdles. 

Echo would be a fantastic gift for someone interested in Christianity, for confirmation students and graduates, for people who are curious about Lutheran theology, and for seasoned Lutherans to help brush up on what they learned years ago. I highly recommend this book.

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Order Broken: 7 “Christian” Rules That Every Christian Ought to Break As Often As Possible here. 

Order Handling the Word of Truth: Law and Gospel in the Church Today here.  

Order Truth That Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World here. 

​Dr. Iver Olson gave a series of lectures in 1951 on the subject, “Baptism and the Spiritual Life.” From those lectures, we have this little book of the same title. Do not let the length of the book (86 pages) deceive you; it is a helpful study of pertinent biblical texts regarding Baptism.

Olson sets forth that Baptism is a means of grace. The Word of God is the primary means of grace. The Word of God then makes Baptism into a means of grace, means by which God conveys His forgiveness to sinful man.

In chapter 2, Olson moves to a discussion of how to interpret the Scriptures. He discusses five interpretative principles of which all Christians can and should agree. This is an especially important chapter as most of the book addresses Bible passages that deal with Baptism.

In the next chapter, Olson establishes the fact that all are sinners. All mankind including children are sinners by nature and deserve God’s wrath. Both young and old are in need of salvation and the mercy of God in Christ.

Chapter 4 is a highlight in this little book. Using the solid biblical interpretation principles discussed earlier in the book, Olson studies eleven Bible passages regarding Baptism. He concludes by setting forth the value of Baptism. Baptism makes one a disciple of Christ; it is an agent of regeneration; it leads to the forgiveness of sins; it washes and cleanses; it unites with Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection; and it saves.

Chapter 5 is another highlight of the book. Olson argues from Bible passages the validity of infant baptism. He sets forth the necessity and reasons for such a practice.

In chapter 6, Olson discusses the forms of Baptism: immersion, sprinkling, and affusion. He focuses much of his attention on the argument against immersion and for affusion. If there is one criticism, it is that I would have liked a discussion about sprinkling and pertinent Bible passages, such as Isaiah 52:15, Ezekiel 36:25, and Hebrews 10:22.

Olson concludes the book with a helpful discussion on the spiritual life after Baptism. He encourages the telling of Bible stories to children, attendance in Sunday school and Bible study, participation in the congregation’s Confirmation program, Bible camps, and revival meetings. All of these things should have as a primary goal to assure the baptized Christian of salvation in Christ.

I highly recommend this little book. The value of the book lies in Olson’s careful and clear thinking and interpretation of Bible passages about Baptism. He provides a valuable resource to laity and pastors alike.

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Order Did My Baptism Count? here.  

Order Baptized into God’s Family here.  

Order Commentary on Luther’s Catechism: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper here.  

​​​“My group isn’t outward focused enough! They don’t know much about the Bible! Our discussions always seem so shallow!” Thus, Trevin Wax, author of Gospel-Centered Teaching summarizes the concerns of Bible teachers everywhere. Modern Christianity tends to counteract these concerns by reinventing either the teacher or the curriculum in order to reengage the student. Wax presents a different, thoroughly biblical approach. He argues, “Get the message right, and God will work through a variety of methods. But miss the message, and the best methods in the world won’t bring about transformation” (p.7). 

What is this message? It is the Gospel, or good news, of salvation in Jesus Christ. Using Christ’s own words in John 5:39, “[The Scriptures] bear witness about me,” Wax demonstrates the importance of recognizing the centrality of Christ throughout the Bible and what that means for the Bible teacher. He shows the Gospel to be the power of God for salvation, the power of God for sanctification, and the motivation for the Church’s mission to bring Christ to the world. Refusing to see the Gospel as merely the first step in one’s salvation, he begs teachers of God’s Word to see how every account in Scripture centers on this truth and shows how God uses such an approach to transform lives.

To accomplish this, he guides the teacher to ask three questions of every text they preach: How does this passage fit into the big story of Scripture? What is distinctively Christian about the way I am addressing it? And, finally, how does this truth equip God’s Church in her mission? About half of the book (the last three of five chapters) addresses practical insights into these questions. Using excellent examples, he illustrates both the error of law-based approaches and how to correct this with a gospel-based one.

Without using this distinctively Lutheran terminology, the author does a fine job of noting the distinction between law and gospel and showing how a failure to make such a distinction can be catastrophic. As such, I would highly recommend this short, accessible, and practical book for the various teachers within our congregations. It is a great gift for Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, and even as a refresher for pastors as they endeavor to proclaim the good news of God’s love for us in Christ.

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Order Effective Bible Teaching here.  

Order Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids here.  

Order Teaching to Transform Not Inform here.  

​“End of the Spear” is the dramatized account of five missionary families that had a heart to go deep into the Amazon jungle of Ecuador in 1956, in search of the Waodani, a tribe of fierce warriors completely isolated from civilization. When the five missionaries come face to face with the warriors, tragedy strikes, as all five are murdered at the end of a spear. A couple of these missionaries are Nate Saint and Jim Elliot. With the death of these men, their families are left husbandless and fatherless, yet the wives and children stay to share the Gospel with the Waodani.

Years later Steve Saint, Nate’s son, is told by Mincayani, who is now his friend, that he was the one who speared Steve’s father. There is an intense scene in the movie in which Mincayani offers a spear and tells Steve to kill him. Steve responds that no one took his father’s life—he gave it! At the end of this scene, Steve Saint says, “My father lost his life at the end of a spear. It was at the end of the spear Mincayani and I found ours.” From that time on, Steve Saint and his sister adopted Mincayani as their father.

This DVD brought back memories for me when I was at the multi-national evangelism event “Amsterdam 2000” and saw Mincayani and Steve Saint in person. Steve Saint stood on the stage with his arm around Mincayani, telling us that this was the man that speared his dad. He said that he now sees Mincayani not only as his father but also as grandfather to his children! Mincayani stood there with a smile and praised God for God’s forgiveness and for Steve’s forgiveness! What a gripping moment!

This movie is a picture of five families who loved Jesus more than their own lives. As I watched the movie, I was moved to tears by the great love shown to the Waodani tribe through these five missionary couples. Mincayani’s testimony of God’s great love was challenging. Likewise, Steve Saint’s unconditional love moved me as he adopted as father the man who murdered his father at the end of the spear.

This is a must-see DVD.

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Order Steve Saint: The Jungle Missionary here.  

Order Through Gates of Splendor here.  

Many different resources seek to serve teenagers and the caring adults that interact with them, but few over the last 25 years have delivered that goal as much as Handbook on Counseling Youth by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. 

Designed as a menu of fifty topics, the Handbook enables pastors, youth leaders, and other believing adults a window into issues that American adolescents deal with on a regular basis. Each chapter follows a similar structure. The topic is introduced via a case study, which is helpful in the instance that a Christian leader is not familiar with the influences involved. An overview of the issue is given next including common contributing factors, as the authors draw from other Christian professionals. The biblical perspective is offered with corresponding Scriptures, and then an acrostic of LEADER (Listen, Empathize, Affirm, Direct, Enlist, and Refer) is utilized for the reader. 

This book can be an effective tool on the shelf for a new youth director, a seasoned pastor, or an interested parent. The LEADER acrostic has been most beneficial to me over my years involved in youth ministry. Although the fifty topics do not claim to present an exhaustive list, I still find myself referencing this menu on a monthly basis, because I find very valuable the systematic way it treats topics.

Newer resources may better cover more recent trends among young people like vaping activities or transgender conversations, but the framework in this resource covers a broad spectrum of adolescent concerns.

It is twenty years since I received my first copy of it, and the Handbook on Counseling Youth has stayed on my desk throughout each of those years. The youth culture in this country will continue its movement in a state of flux, but McDowell and Hostetler’s contribution remains effective in framing major issues, understanding some of the factors, providing a biblical perspective on it, and guiding a person to a Christ-centered response. 

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Order Eutychus Youth: Applied Theology for Youth Ministry here. 

Order Sticky Faith: Youth Worker’s Edition here.  

Order Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis here.  

If you ever struggle with the “ordinariness” of life, if you ever struggle with having to do the “mundane” things, if you are ever disappointed because your great hopes and plans and dreams seemingly have not materialized in the necessities of living, then you are encouraged to read Gene Veith’s book on vocation. Dr. Veith clearly and with refreshing simplicity explains Luther’s understanding of the biblical doctrine of vocation, and Veith explains how this doctrine impacts our everyday life.

In a sense, the title of Veith’s book summarizes the content of the book: God at Work. Vocation is God choosing “to work through human beings, who, in their different capacities and according to their different talents, serve each other. This is the doctrine of vocation” (p.14). In others words, God heals through doctors, God provides daily bread through farmers, God provides housing through the carpenter, God gives comfort to the infant as Mom changes a diaper, and so on. Vocation acknowledges that the work of doctors and farmers and carpenters and moms is all God-work. All of a sudden, ordinary everyday life is transformed, because vocation is God at work through us. As we are faithful in the various stations of our lives, the ordinary becomes extra-ordinary by faith in the Creator-Redeemer because the ordinary is a God-work as God works through us. 

In his book, Veith applies the doctrine of vocation to our calling in the workplace (chapter five), in the family (chapter six), as a citizen (chapter seven), and in the church (chapter eight). He also discusses the ethics of vocation (what is permitted and not permitted in vocation, chapter nine), and explains what it means to “bear the cross” in vocation (chapter ten).

Having a proper understanding of vocation helps remove discouragement and false pressure from our lives. As God’s children by faith in Jesus, we don’t have to be extra-ordinary or do extra-ordinary things. We are set free to be ourselves as redeemed by God in the place where God has placed us and to delight in the fact that God serves and blesses our neighbor through us. Recognizing vocation as “God at work” places vocation within the realm of Gospel; it is “a manifestation of God’s action, not our own” (p.23). As such, vocation sets us free and gives dignity to our work.

I strongly recommend this book. It has been for me an encouraging and life-changing read.

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Order What is Vocation? here.  

Order Family Vocation: God’s Calling in Marriage, Parenting and Childhood here.  

Order Luther on Vocation here.  

As a young basketball coach, I worked with fifth grade to eighth grade students, focusing on the basics of the game and drilling the fundamentals. As I taught more advanced students, I built on those fundamentals and instructed at a higher level. One joy for many coaches is the acquisition of more knowledge to teach their players. I harvested basketball knowledge everywhere I could find it, even to the point of traveling with a box of three-ring binders full of sketched offenses, defenses, drills, and game plan elements. 

I didn’t realize, though, that my acquisition of knowledge had blunted my effectiveness as a coach. What woke me up was a pointed statement from a more experienced instructor: “Coach, you know enough basketball to win games right now. The question is, ‘Can you teach anybody what you know?’ That is what will make you a coach.” I spent the next year studying not basketball, but how to teach it.

This pattern is carried out in congregations all over the world today. We love the fundamentals of the faith, and we love learning the meat and potatoes too. However, we often assume too much, using jargon to teach intelligent students, assuming that they possess a low level of intelligence and a high level of education. We simultaneously dumb down the precious truths of the Bible and talk down to our students, who are (in fact) highly intelligent but (often) not highly educated. 

Enter the text under consideration, Effective Bible Teaching. Teaching Scripture is both an art and a science. The ability to teach (beyond the mere willingness to do so) Scripture is the one explicitly biblical aptitude for pastors and elders. But teaching Scripture is also a skill that can be obtained, and, once possessed, improved upon. 

Wilhoit and Ryken consider two types of ineffective Bible classes: The class that knows it is failing, and the class that is painfully unaware of that failure. Then they address solutions to make those classes effective, including committing to the power and authority of Scripture, exegeting Scripture, interpreting various genres of Scripture, developing good course and class objectives, asking good questions, and securing student engagement. 

Many classes fail, say the authors, because they have no clear goal in mind other than meeting together with Scripture having some role, even if it is unspecified. They claim that, with some prayerful, intentional effort, a Bible class can become the highlight of congregational life. I agree, and this text fueled my love for Bible teaching in the congregation. 

I would like to add a personal note. Engaging with a text like this is a humbling effort. In order to improve your teaching, you must be willing to consider that there is room for improvement. Satan tempts us with our pride to consider this an impossibility, yet once we admit that perhaps I, even I, could learn from such a text, he begins to tempt us to despair. I found myself wanting to offer a refund to my former congregation—wanting to do it all over again. But that’s not fruitful or productive, nor is it the intention of this book, or continuing education in general. Dive in, learn what you can, and move on. 

Who is the ideal teacher? He or she is a travel guide through the Bible, traveling with students through life, accompanying them with God’s Word, and becoming a friend in the process (Wilhoit and Ryken, p.41).

“Who is sufficient for these things?” rings in our ears along with “Let not many of you become teachers.” But the Spirit and the gifts are ours, and Jesus Christ, who both gifts and calls, also prepares teachers for His own service. While some more than others are “born” teachers, every teacher can—and indeed must—learn new instructional skills while they hone those they already possess. The result will be students who are engaged with the Bible—the most essential curriculum in the world—and mature in Christ.

Reviewer’s note: While this volume is a popular work, it is also the primary text for the 2018 Summer Institute of Theology at AFLTS August 6-10. For more information, visit https://aflbs.org/events/2018-summer-institute-theology-sit/ or call Marilee Johnson at (763) 544-9501.  

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Order Teaching With Heart: A Guide to Cherishing and Challenging Children in the Christian Classroom here.  

Order TLC Teaching: Practical Ways to Reach Each Student here.  

Order God at Work: Changing Lives by Teaching Law and Gospel here.  

“The decline of the knowledge of the Holy has brought on our troubles.” This is just one reason that A. W. Tozer states as to why this topic is important. If we think about it in our own lives, how often do you think about the nature of God? Or meditate on who He is and what His attributes are? Many of our beliefs as well as our worldview depend on these answers. How we view God influences how we respond to Him. We can see this every day in our current culture where many of the issues and controversies we deal with as Christians stem from what people think about who God is. They may see God as a genie to grant wishes, an angry executioner hopelessly condemning them, a ball of clay to shape into whatever they want, or as a figment of the imagination, to name a few. It is for reasons like these that a book like The Knowledge of the Holy is so beneficial for us to read. 

Each of the chapters in this book focuses on a single attribute of God. As Tozer goes through those various attributes such as The Self-existence of God, The Goodness of God, The Wisdom of God, and God’s Infinitude, he illustrates why it is so important for Christians to “think rightly about God.” This is a relatively short book, and most people could read it quite quickly from cover to cover. However, the material Tozer covers isn’t something to be glossed over. He uses Scripture, classic Christian writings, and hymns to all aid in illustrating the nature of God and His attributes. 
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​I would highly recommend this book, as it serves to remind us of the importance of studying who God is. I think we could all benefit from taking some time to consider more closely why we must think rightly about God. Tozer states that “the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” So take some time (and your Bible) and reflect on what you actually believe about God.

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Order The Attributes of God here. 

Order The Holiness of God here.  

Order Know Why You Believe here.  

In Family Vocation: God’s Calling in Marriage, Parenting, and Childhood, Gene Veith teams up with his daughter, Mary Moerbe, to add another book to the list of books Dr. Veith has written on the topic of vocation.  His book God at Work is a good introduction to vocation, the idea that God calls us to various callings in life and works in us and through us to bless our neighbors.  The book Family Vocation applies this teaching to the callings that God brings us into in family life. The book is divided into three parts: The Vocations of Marriage, The Vocations of Parenthood, and the Vocations of Childhood.

This is an excellent resource that will help people see these family relationships in a new light.  In addition to calling us to obedience to God’s commands in each of these stations of life, Veith and Moerbe also show how God applies the Gospel to us in these vocations.  This way of presenting the material will shed God’s grace in our hearts in areas where we are often burdened with guilt and shame.  Not every resource dealing with family life accomplishes that goal.  God is at work in our network of relationships at home!

My favorite quote from the book encapsulates the main idea of vocation in the context of family life: “More common, though, is the notion that they have to do ‘spiritual things’—church work or Bible study or witnessing—in order to serve God, sometimes at the expense of their families. This devaluing of ordinary life can be so firmly rooted in our expectations that many Christians will accept only extraordinary supernatural experiences as counting for their spiritual lives, while missing God’s presence in the ordinary and the everyday.”  Vocation, I believe, is one of the hidden gems of Lutheran teaching. Veith and Moerbe don’t let us ignore or look past the countless hours of seeming insignificance in our lives. In this book we are shown how God works in us and through us in the ordinary moments as well as the extraordinary moments.

I would strongly recommend Family Vocation to any brother or sister in Christ as a resource to be strengthened in a biblical view of family relationships. When I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to teach “Relationships and Marriage” at AFLBS, I have assigned this book as required reading.

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Order God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life here. 

Order What Is Vocation? here.  

Order Listen! God Is Calling! Luther Speaks of Vocation, Faith, and Work here.  

Luther put his Small Catechism together during a time of biblical illiteracy among the common people, as well as the clergy. He wanted to develop a tool to teach the basics of the Christian faith. Luther’s Catechism starts with God’s Law—how God calls us to live, with the Ten Commandments. After bringing to light our own shortcomings in keeping the Law of God, he shares the Apostles’ Creed and explains who God is and what He has done to save us as lost and condemned sinners. The rest of the catechism includes instruction relating to the Christian life—how to pray (Lord’s Prayer), and how God keeps us in His grace—Holy Baptism, Confession (and absolution), Office of the Keys, Sacrament of the Altar. The catechism finishes with a section on daily prayers. It’s a short book and an easy read, but inside are beautiful truths of Scripture of what God has called us to—to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Luther’s intent was to provide this tool for families so they would first of all know what God has done for them, but secondly, to protect them from the false teachings of the day running rampant in the church. As an AFLC, we believe that the Word of God is the final authority in the congregation. Congregations have a responsibility then to know what God’s Word says, in order to protect themselves and others from the abuse of false teaching. This is why we teach the catechism in confirmation. But the catechism isn’t just for confirmation students, it’s for all believers.

That being said, it’s good to teach it in our homes to our children, but also to learn it for ourselves. Concordia Publishing House has developed a great tool for this by putting the catechism to music. On this CD, there are 67 songs, each about a minute long. We’ve started to sing the First Commandment (and its meaning) during our family devotions, and our two-year-old just about has it down. He asks us to sing it. When we get that one down, we’ll move on to the next one. The wording is a little different from the AFLC catechism, but the meaning is still the same. Being able to sing these songs is a great aid to memorizing. As a pastor, it’s wonderful to have as a tool for confirmation students, as well as a great gift to give to new parents in connection with their child’s baptism. A correlating songbook is also available as an option. I would recommend this resource to Sunday school teachers, parents, kids, and to be honest, I’ve appreciated it as a pastor too.

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Order Sing the Faith Songbook: The Small Catechism Set to Music here.  

Order Praying Luther’s Small Catechism here. 

Order Timeless Bible Truths: The Illustrated Small Catechism here.