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 Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D. A. Carson.
Written as a biographical tribute to his father, D. A. Carson’s Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor follows the simple life and humble ministry of Tom Carson through his personal journals and the recollections of his family.
Situated between various cities, languages, and churches across Canada, Carson’s Memoirs are a short but powerful glance across the decades of what faithfulness looks like in the pastorate, the family, and the personal life of a man of God. Carson recounts both his father’s passion and discouragement in the ministry, his long work to make inroads for the gospel amid French and English-speaking congregations, and his constant dependance on the Lord, both in and out of pastoral work.
Ligon Duncan’s endorsement notes that “Faithfulness, not numbers, not ‘success,’ not novelty, not ‘relevance,’ but faithfulness is the accrediting mark of gospel ministry, and that message comes through loud and clear from introduction to conclusion of this memoir...it is utterly refreshing to be instructed and encouraged by the recounting of unfamous, lifelong, biblical fidelity in gospel labors.”
This book is an excellent introduction to Christian biographies given its fascinating context, short size, and encouraging accounts. The chapter on Tom's loving care for his wife, Marg, during her last days with Alzheimer’s is particularly inspiring and worth reading by everyone.
As Summit Woods continues partnering with and pursuing church planting endeavors, such as those with NETS and Pillar Network, Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor is an unlikely blessing of a book to show what quiet, God-honoring faithfulness looks like over the long haul of spreading the gospel through new churches among new communities.