It’s time for another edition of Book Blurbs. Below you will find some of the books I read through over the past few months. Many of the books overlap with my best books on the Sermon on the Mount post and my top 10 books of 2019.
1. Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons
The subject of church government is increasingly on my mind, especially when it comes to elders and deacons. This is an area I hope to study more deeply, which is why I bought, I think, five books on the subject this year. I started with this one for some reason and I was not disappointed. I was delighted to discover that Anyabwile is a talented writer. As this subject of eldership continues to marinate in my mind, some of the points in this book will serve me well in my ministry context.
2. Why Elders?: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Church Members
Speaking of church eldership, this little book is really good. If you’re looking to help church members better understand the reason behind having church elders, this would be a good book to give out.
3. The Sermon on the Mount: The Character of a Disciple
An enjoyable read that not only explains the best sermon ever, but shows how to apply the content to your life.
4. The Message of the Sermon on the Mount by John Stott
A responsible and accessible commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. If you’re preaching or leading a Bible study on this topic, this would be a helpful resource to have.
5. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: A Study of Matthew 5-10
A helpful resource. In this book, you will find sound exegesis, but also some of Carson’s sermons on part of the Sermon on the Mount.
6. Faithful Endurance: The Joy of Shepherding People for a Lifetime
I enjoy reading these kinds of books. With contributions by Tim Keller, D. A. Carson, and many others, this book will give you sound and biblical advice on various challenges that are familiar to those in pastoral ministry.
7. 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy 
A friend bought this for my birthday. Highlighting the lives of Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and many more, this book is a tremendous blessing to my soul. It’s a book filled with quotes, and it’s surprisingly an easy book to read. Haven’t read the whole thing yet, but the amount I have read has been incredibly encouraging.
8.On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor
Pithy and practical. H.B. Charles Jr. is a man who has been in pastoral ministry for over 25 years and started at the staggering age of seventeen. This book is not an in-depth exegetical oversight of what the ministry is about, but instead a short guide with practical and concrete tips on pastoral ministry. I particularly enjoyed the personal stories and illustrations in the book. Indeed, this is an enjoyable read. I read it, highlighted what stood out to me, and wrote down what I highlighted to help with memorization.
9. The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians
This is the kind of book that can lay the proper foundation in ministry for decades. I love the emphasis on keeping Christ crucified as central in ministry.
