Anon. “The Didache” in The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (3rd ed., Michael  Holmes, translator, and editor). Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007. 

Every year I try to refresh my understanding of the earlier manuscripts of the Church. I seem to have new insight every time I read them now that I have a little more knowledge. I also like to work with the Greek text as a refresher as well. There are few translations better than Michael Holmes. He does an outstanding  job, and it is nice to have all these documents in one volume. This year, I revisited The Didache (Or from the Greek, “The Teaching”). It was most likely written between 175-300 AD. When working with these  documents, it is important to remember they are not scripture. The early church rejected, including them in the canon, but they are useful to see the practices of the early church. For example, here, The Didache  clearly condemns abortion, twice in the text. It encourages baptism in running water or pools of water. Effusion should only be used when there is no access to the other two. The Eucharistic ceremony does not mention Jesus’ blood or body (clearly before the Roman doctrine of transubstantiation). It states  unequivocally only those who have been baptized in the church should participate. It tells the church to  appoint elders and deacons (both in the plural for each individual church). We should also note it speaks of things foreign to our church’s practice, such as praying the Lord’s prayer three times daily, welcoming  prophets as they speak in the Spirit and that an office of “apostle” which seems to be an itinerant ministry was still occurring. Much of these discrepancies can be explained for the period, while in practice, there were not enough New Testament documents to govern such exercises as the canon had not been established. It makes me thankful for the Bible I have today. 

Challies, Tim. Understanding & Trusting Our Great God. Harvest House: Eugene, 2023. 

Last year, I used Challies’ previous “Words from the Wise Series” entitled Knowing and Enjoying God devotionally. I thought I would give the second book a go. This is a collection of notable quotes from  Christians that have been displayed on Challies’ blog. They are displayed against beautiful back drops and  then the author provides a brief one-page devotion. This volume was on the attributes of God and based  on the Westminster Shorter Catechism question, “What is God?.” I still enjoyed using this as to pump the  primer for my thoughts as I approached God, but I did not enjoy it nearly as much as the first or his book,  Pilgrim Prayers. This one felt a little forced. But it was still a good companion anyway. 

Davis, Dale Ralph. Focus on the Bible: 1 Samuel. Christian Focus: Fearn, 2000. 

I am working through the text of 1 Samuel. I always love to have Dale Ralph Davis guide my thoughts. Once  again, another of his expositional commentaries has blessed me. This volume nicely follows his previous  work on Judges. If you are familiar with his writing, then you know Davis is a master of using a historical  anecdote to illustrate his main points. He is a nice blend between “devotional” and “academic” (which is  usually found in the footnotes as not to disrupt the flow). I was challenged spiritually by this commentary.  I don’t think I would recommend it for more intense study as there are times Davis avoids tricky points. I  do think it will help your understanding of salvific history through a robust Biblical theology. It is perfect  as a devotional.

Harvey, Dave. The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders. New Growth Press:  Greensboro, 2025. 

Sometimes, you can see God’s hand coalescing events to teach you something in the moment. A good  friend gave me this book last year. I had it on my book list to read on the topic of leadership for 2026. I  “happened” to be reading it as I was contemplating Acts 9:16. (You can hear the sermon from that online).  Dave Harvey has written another wonderful leadership book to help us see that God uses our weakness  and suffering for his glory. The premise of the book falls under a helpful equation: “Our Weakness + God’s  Power= Resilient Ministry.” “Weak leaders” (as in admitting our frailties and finiteness) can demonstrate  God’s power in sustaining us through the hardships. He shows the reader seven wonders of how God does  this. Harvey illustrates this by revealing some painful events from his own life. The result is increased  confidence that the Lord is working through us even when we cannot see it in the moment. The first five  chapters are excellent as Biblical exposition. I would say the last two are weaker as they come across more  as proof-texts to make his point (especially the sixth chapter when he uses the acronym of H-E-A-L-T-H-Y). Overall, this is a nice book to encourage struggling leaders in the church. 

Jones, Dan. Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King. Viking Books, 2024. 

Henry V is considered by some as the greatest monarch of the medieval period. He was not only a brilliant  military strategist, but for a brief period he united both crowns of England and France. Most of us know  him from the famous Shakesperean play named after him. Historian Dan Jones proves that Henry was no  foolish boy who awoke from his immaturity to be a great king. His father, Henry IV, ensured he would be  trained and enmeshed in politics from an early age. This new biography was fascinating. Jones goes to  primary sources to reveal a young man who recognized what characteristics it would take to be a king that  others would follow. Sadly, part of this was Henry giving himself wholly over to the Roman Catholic church.  He had no real understanding of the gospel. He murdered the Lollards who were a pre-cursor to the  Reformation. I encourage you to read this biography. You will learn just as much about the time period,  religion, and politics (and whether or not theonomy was valid then), along with understanding the man Henry as well. 

Joyce, Mike. The Drum. New Modern Books: London, 2025. 

Mike Joyce was the drummer for the Smiths (one of my favorite bands). I have read a couple of biographies  of the two main song-writers, Marr & Morrissey. This was the first time I had an in-depth look at the  rhythm section. There has been a minor feud over who should be getting song-writing royalties. Marr and Morrisey wanted to exclude the other two members. The issue was settled in court with each member of  the band receiving a share. I loved getting this perspective. There is no bitterness in Joyce. He recounts  wonderful anecdotes of the band’s formation along with life in the studio and on the road. It was highly  readable and didn’t sink into the sensationalism of “let me reveal all the dirty secrets.” It’s very clear that  Joyce wanted the music to continue. I can classify this as a “fun read.” 

Long, V. Philips. The Reign and Rejection of King Saul: A Case for Literary and Theological Coherence.  (SBL Dissertation Series 118). Scholars Press: Atlanta, 1989. 

The reasons why King Saul was rejected by God has been a matter of debate ever since the 19th century. Some see a discontinuity in the record and assume later insertions into the story explaining why it appears disjointed. In his Cambridge dissertation, Long has aptly proven that the narrator of 1 Samuel has provided a consistent account of what went wrong with Saul’s reign. Saul’s failure to rule was not a judgement on

Saul alone, but also upon the people who wanted a King for the wrong motives. Saul becomes a contrast to King David, the one whom Yahweh chose. This is a technical work. It is not for the casual reader. I found  it very helpful in my own studies. I would commend it to anyone doing a deep dive into 1 Samuel. 

Lundgaard, Kris. The Devoted Mind: Seeking God’s Face in a World of Distractions. P&R Publishing:  Philipsburg, NJ, 2023. 

Our staff went through this devotional earlier in the year. As an author, Lundgaard is best known for taking the often-complicated works of John Owen and paraphrasing them for the lay-reader (see The Enemy  Within which based on Owen’s Mortification of Sin). He has done so again with the great puritan’s work, The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded. He presents Owen’s teaching under three themes - the devoted Mind, the seeking of God’s face, and the Beloved. Lundgaard explains these as Contemplation,  

Inclination and Satisfaction. The basic premise is to turn from the world (or self), move toward the person of God, and allow that to elevate our affections. It is a worthy goal. I must say, unlike Lundgaard’s previous  works, this one did not work as well. Owen’s original is much more superior. Lundgaard might have  reduced it too much. The material worked well as a discussion matter with the staff and we enjoyed the fellowship around it. 

McCullough, David. Brave Companions: Portraits in History. Simon & Schuster: New York, 1992. 

David McCullough was an excellent American historian. He first began his career as a journalist, which I  think helped him become a natural inquisitor. Most people know him for his magnificent biographies of  presidents. Here, he has compiled some of his shorter essays. There are seventeen based on either events  or personalities. I was completely fascinated by each. Who wouldn’t want to know about lesser-known figures such as Alexander von Humboldt, a German scholar and explorer of the Americas, who became  friends with Thoms Jefferson? Or the essay on the discovery of schematics of the Brooklyn Bridge, works  of art in themselves, that were rescued from a basement and now part of a permanent display in New  York? The subjects are diverse and pertain to the United States: perfect for our 250-year celebration. While  McCullough was not a man of faith, his writing on history is wonderful and pleasant read that will edify  you. 

Newton, Phil A. & Matt Schmucker. Elders in the Life of the Church: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for  Church Leadership. Kregel Publishing: Grand Rapids, 2014. 

I recently led a retreat at another church on the topic of elders. As I gathered materials, I took the opportunity to reread this volume. Phil Newton had written an earlier version of this book that I read in  the mid 2000’s. This is a revised version done with Matt Schmucker. I would say it is much improved! The  first version was good, but this is even better. The book is divided into three sections: Why Elders?, Four  Key Biblical Texts, and From Theory to Practice. I love that the authors provide Biblical exegesis along with  historical examples. They also get very practical at the end. They advocate for an elder led (not ruled)  church in congregational polity. The book is full of stories that show the need for a plurality of elders in a  congregation along with how churches transitioned into this model. This is an excellent overview for  church leaders who are moving into this form of church government.

Peterson, Eugene. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Intervarsity Press: Downer’s Grove, 2000. 

This is one of two books I reread this quarter. I read this book in the 1990’s (before Peterson came out with  his paraphrase of The Message). I had a conversation with a friend about the Psalms of the Ascent, and it  made me want to read the revised edition of this volume. Each chapter is based on one of those psalms  (Psalms 120-134) highlighting a major theme within the text. Peterson is instructive and encouraging. It is  full of little gems like, “Repentance is not an emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It  is deciding that you have been wrong and supposing that you could manage your own life and be your  own God; It is deciding that you were wrong in thinking that you had, or could get, the strength, the  education and training to make it on your own; It is deciding that you have been told a pack of lies about  yourself and your neighbors and your world. And it’s deciding that God and Jesus Christ are telling you the truth.” (p. 29). I enjoyed the journey again. However, it is surprising how Peterson sometimes quotes from  theologians and philosophers we would disagree (in fact, the book title, for example, comes from Friedrich  Nietzche). The reader should not assume they are “safe” by his quote. I still would prefer the actual English  translation of the text and not his paraphrases which would later become the Message Bible. That was  easily remedied by having my ESV next to me. With those caveats, I think a reader would be edified by this  book. 

Rinne, Jeramie. Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus. Crossway: Wheaton, 2014. 

I have to confess; this is one of the few 9Marks Building Healthy Churches volumes that I never read. I have  read so many books on elders that I have not needed to read a primer on the subject. However, I lead a  weekend conference on the subject of elders in May and thought, now would be a good time to read a  primer on this topic - learn how to express ideas in a simple format. That is what Rinne has done. He has  given broad overview in what an elder is, and what he is to do in a church within 122 pages. Using a solid  Biblical foundation, this is a good introduction to the topic of elders. I highly recommend it to someone  who is thinking about becoming an elder or to the average church member who wants to know – “what  do my pastors do?” and “are my expectations of them realistic, based upon the Bible?” After all, we are  under shepherds to the Great Shepherd while being sheep ourselves. Read this basic overview. It will provide you with what you need and provide you ways to learn more for personal study. 

Underwood, James Lowell. Deadly Censorship: Murder, Honor, And Freedom of the Press. University of  South Carolina Press: Columbia, 2013. 

A Lt. Governor of South Carolina, on the streets of the state capital, encountered a newspaper editor who  had been critical of his leadership. The Lt. Governor pulled out his pistol and shot him in broad daylight,  claiming self-defense. This was not the wild west, but the main thoroughfare of the state capital in 1902.  James Lowell, a former law professor, has written a history of the event. I was completely fascinated as he  recounted the proceedings of the trial – keeping the reader in suspense by saving the verdict until the very  end. It is courtroom drama better than any TV episode. I learned a lot about politics, the legal system, as  well as paranoia and injustice in the post reconstruction South. It was hard to put down. Keep in mind that  the book was written by a lawyer. The writing style is a little academic and stilted. Overall, the book is  excellent. (Don’t read ahead - you will enjoy the narrative more not knowing if Tilman is acquitted.)

Zane, Warren. Petty: The Biography. Henry Holt: New York, 2015. 

Warren Zane is a former musician with the band, the Del Fuegos. He left the music industry for academics  and is now a professor teaching at New York University. He was an excellent choice to write Tom Petty’s  biography as he understands band life and research. His band opened up for Petty on a few occasions, so  he knows the subject well. I like the music of Tom Petty. He was born in North Florida, so his  “southernisms” resonate with me. I was surprised to learn of the hardship of his early life - his father was  half native American and the prejudice he experienced, along with his alcoholism, had an effect on son’s  upbringing. In some ways reading his story is sad. Sometimes you don’t want to know how the sausage  was made. You don’t want to be aware of the man’s drug use and failed marriage (and consequently his  failings as a father). Despite the musical success, Petty said late in life,” Everybody has their own lives they  are busy with; I’ve got no life. I’m just sitting there. I’m still better than where I was. But I’m between that  and wherever I am going. And I am really starting to wonder if I am going anywhere.” (p. 340). It is sad for  a man who accomplished so much with accolades from the music industry, yet this is how he felt. Petty  died two years after this biography was published. There is no indication that he found what he really  needed.