Book Review—1/23/12

Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary, J. D. Greear, 2011, B&H, Nashville, Tenn., ISBN 9781433673122, 265 pages, $14.00, softcover.

What does your church, your faith, need to “level up?” Is it greater focus on missions, a more passionate worship experience or deeper theological understanding? These are all fine pursuits, but none has the ability to influence quite as deeply as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, no believer would dispute this — the Gospel is, after all, familiar territory, the basis of our salvation. But what would it look like if individuals and churches let this doctrine radically shape the very minutiae of their lives?

In Pastor J.D. Greear’s sophomore book, he explores this power of the Gospel and how to center one’s life on it. Though at first glance this book may seem targeted toward newer believers, Greear’s fresh insight may enliven mature believers and encourage and equip pastors and teachers in their work. As Peter says in 2 Peter 1:13, “I think it right…to stir you up by way of reminder,” so this book can stir up Christians of all walks by way of reminder.

Gospel is broken into three sections: a contrast of religion with the Gospel, Greear’s own “Gospel Prayer,” and how to understand life through Gospel-centered lens. All three are helpful, but the “Gospel Prayer,” taking up the largest portion of the book, is where he is strongest. It is the heart of his message.

Greear’s four-part prayer takes the reader through the Gospel and its implications, starting with a treatise on the Christian’s identity and the means by which we can change. His writing really picks up pace, though, as he delves into an explanation of idolatry, which reads like a condensed version of Timothy Keller’s Counterfeit Gods.

One refreshing chapter is on how American Christians are to handle their finances. The money principles pastors derive from Scripture are many and diverse, but I especially appreciated Greear’s balanced approach.

The section most likely to push buttons is the one in which he criticizes different types of churches’ failure to operate under Gospel centrality. He addresses “younger” churches, Reformed churches, charismatic churches, you name it, but he does so with gentility and firmness. Beyond this admonition, this chapter may give pastors and leaders a vision for their churches and ministries that is sorely needed.

The takeaways from Greear’s Gospel are abundant, but what his book has that many like books lack are non-gimmicky practical applications that will keep its message “frontal lobe.” Greear’s concluding remarks are a powerful summary of his book, and reason enough to give it a read: “The Gospel is not merely the diving board off of which you jump into the pool of Christianity; the Gospel is the pool itself.”

Michelle Bower

Target: Pastors/all
Type: Preaching
Take: Recommended