Entrusted with the gospel — fan the flame!
Ed. D. A. Carson
IVP, 160 pages, £8.99, ISBN: 978-1-8447-4489-3
This contains six expositions of 2 Timothy delivered at the national conference of the Gospel Coalition in Chicago, in April 2009.
The preachers were John Piper, Philip Ryken, Mark Driscoll, Edward Copeland, Bryan Chappell and Ligon Duncan (I would have liked some biographical information).
It is inevitable that readability and usefulness will vary in a book like this. The messages appear to be aimed at young pastors. Nevertheless, there is much to challenge the thinking and encourage the souls of mature pastors.
The six expositions remind pastors of the centrality of preaching, the influence of godly living, the importance of caring for God’s people and the daily need of God’s presence and power. The application is often heart-searching.
The statistics relating to the number of men who leave the ministry, and their reasons for doing so, are rather depressing (p.29). There are some striking statements, such as, ‘one day death will have a funeral’ (p.100).
The book has subject and Scripture indexes. Buying and reading this book will be money well spent.
Stan K. Evers
Potton
