July 9, 2008

• "The Big 5 Books"/Summer Reading

  Steve McCoy (Reformissionary) has a been doing a series of posts asking his readers to list their "Big 5 Books" in various categories, for example, books worth rereading, books on leadership, evangelism, marriage, parenting, prayer, books that made you laugh out loud...you name it...

  For me, so long as I have a Martyn Lloyd-Jones book nearby that pretty much covers it...

  I do thank God for a library where I can checkout a lot of DML-J's books which I don't own.

  This summer I've been rereading:

  Ezekiel
  John White's "Magnificent Obsession"
  Alan Redpath's "Victorious Praying: Studies in the Family Prayer" (a book on the Lord's Prayer, which Redpath more accurately calls "the Family Prayer")
  
  R.T. Kendall's "All's Well that Ends Well: The Life of Jacob"

  ...and I've been reading for the first time:

  The Doctor's "An Exposition of Romans 8:17-39: The Final Perseverance of the Saints"
  Karl A. Olsson's "Passion"
  Tony Sargent's "The Sacred Anointing: The Preaching of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones"

  If you preach or teach or plan to do so in the future (and after all, aren't we all teachers in one way or another since we're all supposed to be discipling others–Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you), or if you've come to appreciate the Doctor, I would urge you to get your hands on "Sacred Anointing" and then to pray for the sacred anointing...

  In our view, to describe Lloyd-Jones as a charismatic preacher is not only accurate, but it is the key to understanding his philosophy of preaching. His belief in the empowering of the Spirit both in the preparation and delivery of sermons shaped his ministry. It deepened his dependence on God and his esteem for his congregation. It accounted for the relative brevity of the notes carried in his waistcoat pocket, his pulpit prayers and his choice of hymns. This is why he seemed dismissive of homiletics per se. To approach preaching as a science or a craft and to risk distancing oneself from the charisma, romance and total dependence on the Spirit of God was anathema. The absence of such ingredients explained the low quality to which he believed preaching had generally sunk. In turn, this is the reason why congregations were so sparse.
  
  To preach in 'word only' and remain satisfied was impossible for him. This should be the case for any preacher. The one thing needed above all else is the accompanying power of the Spirit. This is what Charles Spurgeon dubbed 'the sacred anointing'. It is the afflatus of the Spirit resting on the speaker. It is 'power from on high'. It is the preacher gliding on eagles' wings, soaring high, swooping low, carrying and being carried along by a dynamic other than his own. His consciousness of what is happening is not obliterated. He is not in a trance. He is being worked on but is aware that he is still working. He is being spoken through but he knows he is still speaking. The words are his but the facility with which they come compels him to realise that the source is beyond himself. The man is overwhelmed. He is on fire. 'If preaching the word of God is the word of God' then this is the only context befitting such a daring assertion. Such was Lloyd-Jones's understanding of unction. (28-29)

  ...I'm also revisiting parts of:

  Chris Lowney's "Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World," a book on the Jesuits which I read a while back (and then kept checking it out of the local library until I found a copy at the used bookstore). (Len at Next Reformation has begun some posts on Lowney's book.)

  Jeremiah Burroughs' "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"

  What have you been reading this summer?

  • 2:41 PM
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