I’ve read and listened to some great blogs, wonderful books, and outstanding preaching this year. Here are a few of my more memorable ones as I look back at 2014. They are in no particular order.
Books
1. The Pastor’s Justification by Jared C Wilson. Writing excellence and immensely challenging. This is a must have book for any church leader. It should be required reading for seminary students.
2. Can I Really Trust The Bible? by Barry Cooper. Small, orange, and concise. One of my all-time favs this one. It makes what can be a complicated series of issues so accessible for people of all sorts of educational backgrounds.
3. An Infinite Journey by Andrew Davis. A supreme book on the issue of sanctification that is just so down to earth and practical. Written by a pastor of many years experience. And you can tell.
4. Christ Crucified (Understanding The Atonement) by Donald Macleod. I have discovered this legend a bit late. He is an absolute theological monster. He stretches the old grey cell matter but, man, this geezer loves Jesus.
5. Is God Anti-Gay? by Sam Allberry. Another cheeky little number by The Good Book Company. These fellas have raised the bar with this series of books. Simply the best thing I have read on what is still a very emotive topic.
6. The New Calvinism Considered (a pastoral and personal Assessment) by Jeremy Walker. This is quite a provocative book which is guaranteed to make you think. The sort of book that I love. It is short, sharp, punchy, and the author is a very talented wordsmith with a great theological mind.
Surprising Book of The year?
Facing Leviathan (Leadership, Influence & Creating In A Cultural Storm) by Mark Sayers. This is normally the sort of book that has me reaching for a can of petrol and some matches. The sort of clever, uber cool, art- farty work that those who ‘love the city’—and think that Jeremiah stopped at chapter 17—just drool over. I got it from a friend and after a lot of repenting for being a dumb, judgemental, literal minded, inverted snob, and I was hooked almost from the off. It is, without doubt, a simply stunning piece of work. A beautiful voyage of culture, discovery, and leadership. It won’t appeal to everybody. Indeed, many of my more conservative friends will find it overly arty and angst driven. But I loved it. Blew my socks off.
Preacher of The Year
I heard some brilliant preaching this year alongside some absolute shockers. But I continue to love and admire the work of Alistair Begg. You can find him and his wonderful resource library at “Truth For Life” here. He is just a warm, witty, and wonderfully engaging preacher. Pretty much all of my guys love his careful handling of the Bible.
I would also like to recommend Arturo Azurdia III who you can find at “Spirit Empowered Preaching” here. His handling of the OT is the business. He’s one I like to check in with from time to time.
Honourable Mentions?
This is one of the blog posts you do to encourage your readership and then begin to worry that other people who are just as good and have written great books are going to be thinking that I am dissing them. So there is great love out there for 9Marks, Ligonier, UFM, Challies, T4G, and TGC. Along with Garrett Kell, Ed Stetzer, Trevin Wax, Jared C Wilson, Gloria Furman, Erik Raymond, the mighty Lig Duncan (what a gent), Brian Croft, Neil Macmillan (not so much a gent) and the one and only Mark Dever, it has been a year of great personal blessing and growth as I have read and digested their stuff.
Check out my top three blog posts of the year over the next few days.
Mez McConnell is the senior pastor of