The Dude’s Guide to Manhood by Darrin Patrick

Last updated on: March 3, 2014 at 10:58 am By Jim Erwin

The Dude’s Guide to Manhood by Darrin Patrick Darrin Patrick has written a book for manly men. He shares in each chapter how men can become (1) determined, (2) coachable, (3) disciplined, (4) working, (5) content, (6) devoted, (7) family-oriented, (8) connected, (9) emotional, (10) fighting, (11) heroic, and (12) forgiven. The foreword was written by both Willie Robertson, and Steven Jackson. As the title graphic reveals, this book is following on the coat-tails of the popularity of the... Read more

Disciplines of Christian Leadership

Last updated on: June 15, 2018 at 10:07 am By Jim Erwin

Disciplines of Christian Leadership Disciples of Christian Leadership is a sermon from Exodus 24:12-18 which shares five disciplines of Christian leadership. This passage seems like a simple story of a man who leaves his people to have a mountain-top experience with God. The reality is that this passage is filled with disciplines for leadership. Leadership is a discipline. There are some people who believe that only a few gifted individuals can be leaders. However, I disagree. I believe that everyone... Read more

What Did Jesus Really Look Like?

Last updated on: June 15, 2018 at 1:59 pm By Jim Erwin

What Did Jesus Really Look Like? What Did Jesus Really Look Like? is a simple thought culture watch reflection that tries to see what Jesus would really look like. There is a new trend on Twitter – #HotJesus. It comes from the fact that the new movie Son of God (which is produced by the same people who did The Bible series on the History Channel last year) has a person (Diogo Morgado) playing Jesus who looks attractive. Some think it... Read more

Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putman

Last updated on: June 2, 2018 at 12:33 pm By Jim Erwin

Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putman This particular book was a valuable addition to the voices challenging the church to engage and reach the culture. The authors have separate definition for missions and evangelism (3). They also suggest that missions should be viewed in what they call a “glocal” (a mixture of global and local) context. In this view, missions is something in the twenty-first century that can be done locally. With the technology available,... Read more

Evangelism Outside the Box by Rick Richardson

Last updated on: February 25, 2014 at 10:15 pm By Jim Erwin

The premise of this book is that lost people matter to God and He wants partners in the search party. However, it has been difficult for churches to continue their effort in engaging the lost. The book begins with a helpful illustration of the “boxes” we live in, and how to start “thinking outside the box.” God is responsible for changing people. However, He expects us to partner with Him. The world has changed (from modernism to post-modernism) and this... Read more

Churches with Roots by Johan Lukasse

Last updated on: June 2, 2018 at 12:26 pm By Jim Erwin

Churches with Roots by Johan Lukasse This reviewer has found this book, Churches with Roots: Planting Churches in Post-Christian Europe, very helpful. Many of the insights gained from this book matched the reviewer’s experience as a pastor of an English-speaking church in Germany. At many points, this reviewer found himself nodding in agreement. Yet, there were many new insights that were informative and helpful. The book begins with an assessment of the spiritual state of Europe. The author stated... Read more

How Did They Do It by Charles S. Kelley Jr.

Last updated on: June 14, 2018 at 4:28 pm By Jim Erwin

How Did They Do It by Charles S. Kelley Jr. How Did They Do It by Charles S. Kelley Jr. is a Christian book review on the story of the Southern Baptists, in which he shares how Southern Baptists used evangelism effectively to grow their denomination. This book was more helpful to me than I had expected. The author took great lengths to explain the history of evangelism in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). His description of the way... Read more

The Shaping of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch

Last updated on: February 25, 2014 at 6:09 pm By Jim Erwin

The Shaping of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch This book is perhaps one of the most comprehensive books on the nature of the missional church. This reviewer found this book full of helpful information, some theoretical, and most were practical in nature. The authors begin with a definition of the missional church. They suggest that a missional church should be (1) incarnational and not attractional, (2) messianic and not dualistic, and (3) apostolic, and not... Read more

The Book of Acts of the Apostles by Dr. Luke

Last updated on: February 25, 2014 at 5:54 pm By Jim Erwin

The Book of Acts of the Apostles by Dr. Luke Introduction The Book of Acts is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. As such, it continues the narrative of Jesus Christ through his disciples. The disciples continue to multiply and form communities. These communities form the basis for the local church structure(s) that continue today. Mission Principles Local-Global Progression of Missions The Book of Acts is centered on the theme of continuing God’s mission (begun by Jesus... Read more

Survival Tactics in the Parish by Lyle Schaller

Last updated on: February 25, 2014 at 5:31 pm By Jim Erwin

Survival Tactics in the Parish by Lyle Schaller Schaller uses a narrative style to explain the challenges of leading a church. This story follows a pastor who goes on a retreat to meet other pastors of other denominations. As the retreat leader guides the group, each person describes the challenges of leading a church. Weaved into this narrative are explanations about why the church acts the way the church does. The reader begins to understand that the nature of... Read more