As 2022 starts drawing to a close, I’m looking back at the books I read this past year. Here’s my top five with a short review:
Deeper by Dane C. Ortlund
Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners was the first book I read in 2022. It’s a book on personal sanctification from pastor Dane Ortlund.
Ortlund’s thesis is that growing in the Christian life primarily happens through going “deeper” into Christ and into the glorious truth of the Gospel. It is not a self-improvement or behavior modification project. It must be real change that is affected and that must be done through a deeper knowledge of the Gospel and a deeper personal knowledge of God Himself.
We must “despair” of sanctification through our own means and methods and instead look to Christ as the only hope for personal change and growth in grace.
Ortlund’s treatment of union with Christ is particularly helpful.
Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel by Ray Ortlund
The second book on this list is from Dane’s father, Ray Ortlund Jr.
Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel is a contribution to the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series. This book lays out a narrative/biblical theology of marriage from Genesis to Revelation.
The beauty of this book is that it not only provides a glorious expression and exploration of the Gospel but it also leads to practical application for marriage itself. By seeing how God’s redemption of His people is expressed through marriage, both your understanding of the Gospel and marriage will grow.
This book is short enough to be an easy read and is beautifully written.
Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp
In Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, Paul David Tripp lays out the spiritual danger of pastoral isolation, theological intellectualism, and other heart issues.
Tripp wants pastors (and their congregations) to understand that they are people in the midst of their own sanctification. Therefore, neither the pastor nor his congregation can expect perfection. Tripp warns pastors not to look down on their congregations from the exalted heights of a ministry position and he warns congregations not to place burdensome expectations on their leaders.
Tripp’s treatment of the heart issues behind pastoral struggles is so helpful and I plan to return to this book regularly for renewed encouragement and challenge.
Authentic Ministry by Michael Reeves
Michael Reeves winsomely lays out a heartfelt philosophy of ministry in Authentic Ministry: Serving From the Heart.
Full disclosure: this is the one book in this list that I didn’t actually read all the way through. I listened to it in its entirety on audiobook and then after buying a paper copy, re-read the first couple of chapters.
Reeves’ exhortations are gentle and saturated with the Gospel and with theology. He views ministry not as a job or a burden (though there will be difficult days) but rather as a joy and a heartfelt passion.
Along with others on this list, I will be returning to Authentic Ministry again.
Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G.K. Beale
Since I read three separate commentaries on Revelation this year (More Than Conquerors, When the Man Comes Around, and the one on this list) I would be remiss if I didn’t include at least one. Beale’s condensed version of his full commentary on the Greek text of Revelation is still the longest of the three I read this year at over 500 pages but the others I read by Hendrikson and Wilson are good too.
Since early Spring, eschatology has been a focus of my theological study and exploration. I started the year not knowing much about it at all except for whatever I picked up by osmosis from pop culture.
As I’ve studied the word and other resources on the topic, I have learned a lot. Beale’s “eclectic redemptive-historical idealist” interpretation of Revelation is grounded in Scripture and is very thorough. It also includes questions at the end of each section so that readers can reflect on how the text applies to their lives now.
While I can’t say I’m ready yet to agree with 100% of Beale’s interpretation I can say that my reluctance is not due to any serious misgivings but simply to some questions that require more study before coming to a conclusion. That said, Beale’s overall approach to interpreting Revelation is helpful and biblically sound.
Honorable Mentions:
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray
I look forward to reading more in 2023 and finding new favorites!