Book Review - Songs of a Suffering King (10/10)

One of the hardest things for a preacher to do is to find Christ in all of Scripture. This difficulty lies not in the text itself, but in the preachers themselves. As we are reminded from the story of what happened when Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus in Luke 24. We see how Jesus had no difficulty in trying to explain how all of scripture concerns him rather it was the disciples who were slow of heart!

The Psalms, in my opinion are one the of the most overlooked books in this aspect. John Fesko has written an excellent book to cover this gap. In this book, Fesko shows the readers exactly what the Psalms are: Songs. Next, Fesko is always careful to exegete the passage in it’s original context and bringing out it’s application from there. Finally, Fesko brings out Christ, not by force but naturally from the text. This is where Fesko really excels in this book. He is able to help readers see how each of the Psalm, from Psalm 1 to 8, is directly link to Jesus!

So within each of the chapters, Fesko expounds of the psalm faithfully and biblically. Although personally I not agree with the flow proposed by Fesko from Psalm 1 to 8, I do see that Fesko is able to link each of them from to the another and each from the context of David, and then to Jesus. Fesko should be applauded from his valiant effort! This is no easy feat to say the least. One can only lament that Fesko has not continued for the next 142 psalm. I highly recommend and anticipate Fesko to carry on this series so the whole of the psalms would be covered. And I recommend pastors to give this a thorough read, see how each and every psalm can preached in context and also be connected to Christ. One of the clearest books on how Christ can be seen in the psalms so far in the market currently, this is truly Christ-centred preaching at its’ finest.

Rating: 4.75 / 5

If you're interested, you can get it here and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review - A Vine-Ripened Life (16/9)

What does it mean to be a fruitful christian? Growing up as a christian, I knew that fruit bearing was important, but what fruits am I to bear? That was always thoughts that surfaced in my mind as I grew up and over time such thoughts slowly disappeared. Until I did a bible study on the fruit of the Spirit that made me grew in my understanding in this area. Now, after reading this book, I’ve gained an even deeper understanding of it.

Stanley Gale has attempted to write about the fruit of the spirit in a very unique way. He not only teaches each of the characteristics of the fruit of the spirit. But he teaches it in an expository way, for each of the characteristics, Gale would centre his teaching on one particular text, focusing on how God has first shown the particular characteristics on us, and how we are then to live out that characteristics.

Gale then proceeds to shown 2 important characteristics that are ‘missing’ from the fruit of the spirit, humility and grace. It might seem weird at first as to why the author has added these 2 chapters, but, on further thought, it certainly does make sense. If one grows in the fruit of the spirit, it may cause one to grow in arrogance or pride despising those who aren’t living up to what the fruit of the spirit says. Wouldn’t this be the un-working of the fruit of the spirit? I must say that often, Calvinist and those who are puffed up with knowledge are in desperate need of this chapter. I certainly see that this together with the last chapter of grace were the best part of the book.

The last chapter on grace teaches us on will keep us growing in the fruit of the spirit: Grace. Surely Paul was right! It is only God who can let us grow in the grace-enriched soil.

This book is especially helpful if you want to grow in the understanding of the fruit of the spirit, and would be good for groups as the author has produced very short and helpful discussion questions that will help summarise and consolidate what the readers have learnt in each of the chapters.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

If you're interested, you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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