Family Worship

Donald S. Whitney

If you want your children to know what you believe, then do what prominent Christian leaders throughout history have strongly encouraged: lead them in family worship. Whitney (a Baptist minister and professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) quotes these leaders and furthers their arguments by demonstrating from Scripture that God commands husbands and parents to lead their families in godliness. How? By reading Scripture, praying, and singing together. Whitney’s advice is direct and short. Using it is one way to influence your children for Christ and do what you can to yield the eternal results that are in God’s hands.

Tell Someone: You Can Share the Good News

Greg Laurie

Picture turning on a TV news show and seeing a well-dressed news anchor sitting there—and remaining silent for 60 minutes. According to California pastor Greg Laurie, a silent newscaster makes as much sense as a silent Christian. You can and must tell people news—the news that God has sent His Son Jesus as a Savior for everyone who believes in Him. If you don’t want to tell your neighbors, why do you hate them so much? Laurie pulls no punches, but mostly motivates readers with joy, not guilt. He will help you want to share your faith—verbally.

Blood-Bought World

Toby J. Sumpter

Jesus was pathologically hated. So were His early followers. Modern Christians, too, must “embody the threat that Jesus and His disciples so clearly were.” Yet Idaho pastor Toby Sumpter says they often don’t. Why? Idolatry. Jesus died at the hands of church people who feared losing their worldly status. Like them, modern Christians fear evil—and therefore evil need not fear us. Sumpter’s solution: turn from idols and worship Jesus. Simple, but true. Blood-Bought World made me want to jump, shout for joy, and grab bystanders to read them the best parts. Sumpter is jovial, and he will make you merry.

Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches

Brian Croft

How do you revitalize a dying church? Preach the word. Love the people. And stop thinking the grass is greener somewhere else. Churches don’t need “rock-star preachers” or “pavement-pounding evangelists.” One way revitalization happens: people already part of the church grow into new maturity—not necessarily when many new people come in. Croft insists that God uses His Word, His people’s prayers, and His shepherds’ work—not the latest techniques—to resurrect dying and divided churches. Even nonpastors can learn from him about what to look for and pray for as they seek to be faithful sheep.

AFTERWORD

Recess by Ben Applebaum (Chronicle Books, 2016) is a book of classic games that kids used to play in backyards and at recess. The book’s countercultural attitude assumes that competition is good, rough games can be fun, and kids need to play. Chapters include simple hand games like thumb wrestling all the way to contact sports like dodgeball. Older folks will remember more of the games than younger ones, but most of us can use the refresher. What was the point of Red Rover, anyway?

In The Jonathan Effect (IVP Books, 2016), Mike Tenbusch encourages churches to partner with public schools, where most poor schoolchildren receive their educations. He highlights successful church/school partnerships, points readers to additional resources, and provides tools to navigate the pitfalls that keep such partnerships from working. He also encourages individual Christians to form long-term friendships with economically challenged teens. —Susan Olasky