This past Sunday, you may have noticed some books on the shelves of the welcome desk in the foyer. These are resources we would like to highlight to the congregation for a period of time.
This semester’s books have been selected to fall into five categories. Categories and titles include:
Theology: A Theology of Biblical Counseling by Heath Lambert.
Sanctification: Precious Remedies for Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks.
Christian Biography: Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D. A. Carson.
Church History/Cultural Evaluation: 5 Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield.
The Church: The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read by Christopher Ash.
The purpose of highlighting these resources is simply to put biblically solid, Christ-exalting, affection-fueling resources in the hands of the members at Summit Woods for their personal growth in the Lord, to equip them to do the work of ministry, and for use in discipleship relationships.
Perhaps you’ve been looking for a new book for yourself to read in your devotional time, or perhaps you’ve been wanting to get together with a brother or sister in the Lord and desire to encourage them in their walk with the Lord – these resources are there to be readily available for you in addition to the books provided in the resource room.
Today's highlight is The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read (But is Too Embarrassed to Ask) by Christopher Ash.
What would Mark Dever describe as “a modern take on an old form—the church member’s handbook?” What would you consider essential topics to include in a handbook for healthy church members? Christopher Ash offers answers in The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read (But is Too Embarrassed to Ask).
Commenting on his own interesting title, Ash says in the introduction of this book, “Why would you pastor be embarrassed to ask you to read this book? Because it tells you how to care for them...I want to set before you a healthy two-way dynamic in which pastors care for people and people care for pastors; and both pastors and people grow in a glad Christ-likeness.”
The Book Your Pastor Wishes You Would Read is Ash’s attempt to describe “7 Virtues” of a faithful church member who wants to support their pastors’ faithful shepherding of their congregation. These range from daily repentance, open honest, and thoughtful watchfulness, to loving kindness, high expectations, and zealous submission.
This unique book is both engaging and surprising as it challenges Christians in seemingly basic, faithful membership in the church, but with the mindset of affection, submission, and support of those who have been ordained by God to be their overseers. Ash encourages readers to take part in making their church be “marked by a joyful gospel partnership between the pastor and church members.”
In light of our recent sermon series through Philippians on Sunday nights of the joy of gospel-filled partnerships, this book would make a wonderful addition to putting those truths of Scripture into practice.