Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.
1) Praying the Lord’s Prayer by J.I. Packer
This coming Sunday I will start a short sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer. There are numerous books on this magnificent prayer, and I have read several and perused others. This one is by far my favorite. Packer has the ability to say more profound truth with fewer words than any other author I can think of. He is clear but not simplistic. And he seems to understand the heart of God as well as a man can. Stylistically, this book reads almost like a devotional, with short chapters on each phrase of the prayer. In content it is sermonic and rich and deep. If you are looking for a worshipful, thoughtful guide to the Lord’s Prayer, this is it.
2) Bible Speaks Today Commentary Series
Commentaries come in so many forms, depths, and technicalities and serve a variety of purposes. I am not a proficient Greek reader or any sort of Hebrew reader, so the more technical commentaries are over my head. The Bible Speaks Today series is my over-all favorite (especially the volumes by John Stott, Derek Kidner, Dick Lucas, and Christopher Wright). They are expository, but don’t get bogged down in the minutiae of translation. They emphasize the message of each passage and each book. If you are looking for cultural background commentaries or exegetical guides, these aren’t for you. But to help you understand the fabric and purpose of a text these commentaries are wonderful. They are scholarly without being academic and are easily accessible for any thoughtful Christian.
