Book Review: Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

This short read was definitely encouraging to me during my time off this past month. In Kevin DeYoung's book, Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will, he gets right to the point about discerning and knowing God's will because essentially this is a question that haunts so many Christians. What is God's will for my life? What's my purpose on this earth? These are all questions I would constantly ask myself and at times still find myself asking. 

To be fair, questions like the ones mentioned above are purposeful. Some simply don't want to let God down while others are crippled by making the wrong choice that they simply don't do anything with their lives. Read this book. It's short and to the point while being theologically on point, relieving, and encouraging. 

SANCTIFICATION

As I mentioned, Kevin gets straight to the point in his book about approaching and defining God's will and that is...drum roll please...sanctification. Yes, that's right. God's will for you and me is our sanctification; that we would be drawn closer to God through the person and work of Jesus Christ and when it comes to everything else, simply make a decision. 

I don't want to give too much away, but Kevin does a wonderful job in presenting the reader with several reasons as to why this generation (millennials) simply don't do anything; that is, making decisions. And several of his reasons from pride to a plethora of choices resonate in me because I can remember thinking some of the same things or worse, being crippled by some of these very reasons on making a decision. 

Just Do Something

I recommend this book to every 20-something who finds it difficult to make decisions and who is often dazed and confused about God's will for their life. In short, Kevin's formula for making a decision is (and he gives better clarity and detail) to search the Scriptures, being in constant prayer, receive wise counsel, and finally make a decision. Honestly, when I read this I was taken back because I felt like it couldn't be that easy, but that's the whole point! When I make a sound decision or a decision in general, God is still at work in my life whether it's allowing me to face some hardship or provide revelation. He's not thrown off but rather at work intimately. God wants people not automatons. 

Here's the link for the book that you need to buy today: Just Do Something, A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung. And then, I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book; love conversation. 

Disclaimer: upon reading several reviews, many readers were disappointed that Kevin didn't dive deep into the world of theological confusion and wish he did. In the beginning pages of his book, Kevin openly says this is not going to be a deep theological brain buster, but a book about helping you make a decision! 

Book Review: Am I Called? The Summons of Pastoral Ministry by Dave Harvey

I've decided to review this book by beginning at the end. The final chapter, While You Wait, in my opinion was biggest time of reflection for me. This is not to imply that the rest of the book was of no use, rather I think this entire book should be on the shelf of every man who believes they're being called to pastoral ministry. The final chapter is a great place to start (for review) because it brought me to a place of nostalgia and is very authentic. 

In short, Am I Called? is a book written by Pastor Dave Harvey where he gives a biblical breakdown of the qualifications for an elder as seen in 1 Timothy 3. Additionally, it's a book that provides a great deal of academic resources for further reading with complimentary real-life stories from men who have gone before us. 

REVIEW & REFLECTION

"A man listening for a call is never a man sitting still." - Dave Harvey (p. 188)

I cannot begin to stress the importance of this statement. First, I wish to begin by saying that I do not write this from a position of "arrival," but from a place of understanding, failure, and reflection from my experience in ministry. 

I believe that the Lord was calling me into pastoral ministry when I was 22 years old, just 8 months after surrendering my life to Him and hearing about Him for the first time. It was intimidating and scary bringing that up to my pastors. I had never set foot in a church much less imagine that one day I would be a pastor! 

However, during that time, I was discipled primarily by our lead pastor (Tom) and several other godly men. And if I could summarize my attitude and spirit from that season into two words, they'd be prideful and hungry. I wrestled with (and still do today) with wondering how quickly or soon God would place me in pastoral ministry not knowing or understanding that I was already involved: the set-up team. We had just planted our church and setting up chairs was the need. I never thought that serving in that capacity would help shape me. More than anything else, my pride was soaring based on my ability to potentially lead others and knowledge of the Bible. I was an observant punk. Nonetheless, serving in multiple capacities helped me to not only pursue humility, but taught me patience and that ministry was going to be a journey. For the time being, my primary role was that of repentance (1 Samuel 16:7). 

"Obscurity fertilizes man with humility so that what he grows into can really bear fruit." - Dave Harvey (p.194)

I have been involved in the set-up team, security team, teaching in our children's ministry, social media and event coordination, kitchen and bathroom clean-up, hospitality, and many other areas of ministry that I simply had no clue what I was doing. All of the sudden, the confidence I had was quickly diminished by several 8 year olds. The truth is that when I look back at all of these experiences and "random" areas of ministry that I served in, I would not want it any different. Each one of those areas helped teach me my strengths and gifting while others showed me where I was lacking and that I wasn't pursuing humility. 

I recommend this book because it is not only filled with biblical wisdom and insight from Pastor Dave to the call of pastoral ministry, but it provides readers with the realities of waiting- something that's quickly overlooked. Aspiring to a noble task is not the issue, rather it is the heart of man that falls short. 

"The ultimate test of a called man is whether he desires the advancement of the Gospel more than the advancement of his own ministry"- Dave Harvey

If you believe that the Lord is calling you to pastoral ministry then I encourage you to pick up this book. I would also encourage you to read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 over and over again and ask yourself the following questions: 

Am I this man? | What areas do I lack in after reading this passage? | Would I still strive to be this man even if I do not become a pastor? 

In our final installment of Lessons in Discipleship, I'd like us to look at how immensely biblical discipleship is. I feel like this would have served as a good starting point, something foundational but I think visiting this piece last suits as a wonderful reminder. 

As a brief review of our time last week, we looked at humility as not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less and placing others before you; considering them more important. 

Today, we visit the biblical principle of discipleship. For starters, it's the one thing Jesus commanded us to do. Ask yourself: of the questions from the previous posts or perhaps some of the mental notes you took, did you remember that Jesus is at the center of this or were you more occupied about the content? 

DISCIPLESHIP: WHAT IS IT? 

Before jumping in, we must define discipleship. In my experience, I've had plenty of conversations, read enough books, and visited enough conferences to hear the latest discovery and method on discipleship, but not many spend time on actually defining what it is. 

I define discipleship as meeting people where they are in life and taking them to where Jesus wants them to be. It's a "point A to point B" reference. 

Two things on this definition: (1) if you haven't noticed, your context for meeting people where they're at is life, not a classroom and (2) I want you to remember that we're making disciples not converts. I know that may sound odd, but Jesus (in Matthew 28) said to make disciples and to teach and talk about Him. 

In discipleship, you have the opportunity to share the beauty of Christ in the context of ordinary life- whether with a Christian or a non-believer. Paul says it best, "follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). This means that in discipleship, we are teaching people what it means to worship Jesus when the house is a mess, the day has just become scattered, when you're in parent mode with the kids, when you're flirting with your spouse, in a difficult situation, and when you screw up.

The goal is to show, in ordinary life, what it means to surrender everything before Christ so that others may do the same unto Him! 

DISCIPLESHIP: BIBLICAL

Discipleship is biblical and intentional. The primary source of teaching, rebuke, or encouragement is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), but you must be intentional in its delivery; compassionate and humble.

Making disciples is easy and everyone does it; it simply has a different name to it. What do you think gym rats are? What about best friends? Gym buddies do everything together in and out of the gym; they talk about fitness all day long. Best friends share everything with one another, in the good times and in the bad; constantly communicating. Why should Christians be any different when making disciples? It's simple, we talk about what we love. The question is: do you love Jesus enough to always be talking about Him? 

Sometimes we become so infused with the method that we forget about the One whom all of this is founded upon. Consider Paul's words to the church in Thessalonica: "We cared so much for you that we were please to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives because you had become dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8; emphasis added). 

Discipleship is messy, but biblical. It is rewarding, but is an investment of time. And it will push you spiritually because you'll think you're the one working. Friends, we're simply the messengers and the ambassadors. The One at work has done so according to the Father's will and  through the power of the Holy Spirit.