Review: God Is Stranger: Finding God in Unexpected Places

God Is Stranger: Finding God in Unexpected Places by Krish Kandiah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Krish's strength is his ability to contextualize obscure biblical motifs with modern-day metaphors that would ring the light bulb in every reader's mind; biblical theologians will appreciate (and possibly pick up) how he simply presents and illustrates complicated theological terms. I also really loved how he would compare similar scenarios that multiple biblical characters face, and how his careful exposition of Scripture was highly accessible to novice theologians.

Reading the bio on the book's rear cover, I wondered if he would proof-text Scripture with hermeneutical lenses of justice and mercy, and I am glad to discover that he did not force it especially in the first few chapters of the book. Towards the end of the book, the passages he chose to expound on increasingly covered the theme of loving the poor, the stranger and one's neighbour.

While I recognise that this book is excellent in many ways, it does not qualify a spot on my bookshelf of truly exceptional 6-star books. I felt that the editor could use a stronger hand and make the book a 250 or even a 200 page book, because of the many times I got lost in certain long-winded and off-tangent sections. Although I struggled to retain interest, I soldiered onto the end because I was determined to write this review, and I suspect that many other readers would have given up. Thankfully these problems were observed in only a few chapters that could have done with better brevity and clarity; the rest of the book was flawless.

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Review: The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission

The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission by Christopher J.H. Wright
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The content is rather light and easy to read quickly through. I recognise that Chris Wright is one of the leading theologians in the field of missiology, but I found this title a tiresome to read and rather unengaging. Perhaps in trying to be accessible for a lay-level reading audience, the theological depth was compromised to a point that more advanced readers would not find it useful. When I read it 2-3 years as a bible school student, I found that I craved "deeper" theological reflections on the topic, and when I read it recently for the purposes of obtaining material for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, I too found it wanting. I cannot recommend this book and would recommend that you consult Walter Kaiser or Michael Goheen instead if you were exploring the theme of the biblical theology of the OT and church's mission respectively.

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Review: A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story

A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story by Michael W. Goheen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goheen may not be a theologian who introduces earth-shattering new defining concepts for us to chew on (like Newbigin for example), but he is a master researcher who compiles the material in a concise and very readable package. With a 1500 page reading requirement for a Missions module, this was by far the breath of fresh air amidst some other very painfully tedious (and boring) titles.

Of the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this was the one I found the most enjoyable to read. My guess is that this provides a lighter dose of his more comprehensive "Introducing Christian Mission Today" that is almost twice as thick, and where many similar concepts are visited but in greater detail. Goheen writes with an interest in the biblical theological framework and what made the book a truly pleasurable read was that even novice readers would find the title highly engaging and accessible. More advanced readers can refer to his abovementioned lengthier title.

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Review: Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology by Andreas J. Köstenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This title is targeted at intermediate and advanced readers, for the deep theological content is difficult to skim through quickly without engaging into time to digest and reflect. For the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this was the one I found the most insightful. It was also really easy to read and its thickness is due to the breadth of issues discussed. It is a pity that this book is out of print (and I did notice many ideas from various other authors being quoted without acknowledgement).

Nevertheless, I recommend obtaining a copy because of its usefulness. It would still be a good investment for sermon or bible study preparation, especially for the last chapter (concluding synthesis) provides a "light" and easily comprehensible summary of the topic. If you find that a certain subsection in the concluding summary that seems potentially useful, you can tend leaf your way into the in-depth corresponding chapter.

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Review: Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations

Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the read and found this book very insightful. Kaiser packs in deep theological material and somehow managed to make the material a joy to leaf through. I appreciate the footnotes and references that he provided for further reading. Intermediate and advanced readers would probably find the content engaging, and because of the extremely small number of pages, maybe even novice readers would be able to read a chapter or two that catches their interest.

Of the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this title is a close second on my list of favourites that I found most insightful/helpful (the standout title was Michael Goheen's excellent "A light to the nations."

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Review: Delivered from the Elements of the World: Atonement, Justification, Mission

Delivered from the Elements of the World: Atonement, Justification, Mission by Peter J. Leithart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read an average of about a book each week, and this masterpiece from Leithart has got to be one of the highlights! The last time a book made such a profound impact on me, calling me to reflect critically and deeply, was probably when I read Edmund Clowney's The unfolding mystery (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...). This is first time I've read a book by Leithart, and my curiosity has been quipped to find out how his other more popular works are like!

Delivered from the Elements of the World is an exhaustive work dripping with biblical theology. If the popular books are a one course meal, bible scholars would find that this is a delicious buffet spread. Leithart skillfully communicates complex theological concepts in a manner that most lay people would still find highly accessible. For me, this is a wonderful example of vigourous Christian scholarship written with spirit-led conviction and wrapped with Christ-like gentleness.

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this book. In time to come, even if I have to pare down my theological library, it has a very secure spot. I heartily recommend it primarily to bible scholars, and also to well-read laypeople.

I received this book from InterVarsity Press for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Clowney on Jesus as the perfect sacrificial lamb of God

From pages 19-20 of: How Jesus Transforms The Ten Commandments

To do his redeeming work, Christ must be true God and true man. Jesus was therefore born of the Spirit in the womb of Mary. But incarnation is insufficient to redeem. When the Ten Commandments were given as the seal of the covenant agreement between God and his people at Sinai, the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled on the altar, on the law, and on the people. We have seen that the altar sacrifice was at the heart of the covenant. Israel's worship centered on the sacrifice as the substitute for the sinner. Isaiah picks up the theme of sacrifice in his prophecy, emphasizing especially the work of the suffering Servant, who takes the punishment for our sins. By his wounds we are healed, and he must pay the cost of redemption. Abraham was able to spare his son Isaac from the altar, since God provided a substitute, in the form of a ram caught in the bushes. Ultimately, however, there could be no substitute animal when the Father dealt with our sin. He could not spare his own Son, but had to deliver him up for us all. Jesus, God the Son in his human nature, can alone pay the infinite price of our redemption. Jesus is the Lamb of God: the Lamb given by the Father (Gen. 22:8; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

Stop the violence to Scripture please!

To ask people to be like David or not be like Jezebel is to miss the point of what God is saying through his Holy Bible. The main character is God, focus on him (and not the supporting cast).

From Page 11 of:

Old Testament Today

Many have become disillusioned with the Old Testament because they were looking at a pile of threads that had been extracted from the tapestry. In our reorientation we will try to focus on the tapestry without ignoring the contributions of each picture and thread. Focus is the operative term. When we look at a subject through a camera lens, the focus is important. If we focus on the foreground, the background blurs; if we focus on something at a distance, that which is close to the camera becomes blurred. A good photographer must decide what needs to be clear and what needs to be blurred. The larger picture of the Old Testament, from a literary standpoint, is seen in the purpose of each author in the book he is writing. As we keep that in focus, the individual verses and stories must be seen in relation to it. From a theological perspective, the larger picture is God. Individuals fade into the background as we see the Old Testament not as a compilation of stories about Abraham or David of Esther but as a single story about God. If we bring David too much into focus, the picture of God may blur.

Carson on expository preaching

"We have been intimidated by the atemporal systematicians and by the narrowly inductive biblical theologians. And have not done whole bible biblical theology."

From (Time 44:13-44:22) of The Primacy of Expository Preaching, Part 2

Keller on not picking and choosing bible passages

I love how Keller presents how we should treat the bible as a grand narrative (in comparison to using individual passages to teach on topics/lessons you desire to convey).

Excerpt (in verbatim) of his exposition of Nehemiah 3-4 titled "Laboring for a God Who Fights for Us" From 5:03 to 6:05
Laboring for a God Who Fights for Us

That means that the bible ultimately is one story. It is not just a bunch of little stories, though it is in a sense. But it is one large story, there is one large narrative arc. And everything in the bible because it's all written by a divine author behind the human author, is moving and pointing along on that arc.

In this case, here's what we know. We know that this Nehemiah... is pointing to the ultimate Nehemiah. That is, the ultimate one who was in the palace, completely safe, had it made, and who left all of that and went out into danger, to identify with his people. And of course, Jesus Christ the ultimate Nehemiah, not doing that at the risk of his life but at the cost of his life... And what did he come to do? Essentially to make us citizens of the ultimate city.