Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
If you assume that the parable of the sower is just one of Jesus' bland earthly stories with a heavenly meaning, you may want to think again Jesus doesn't do bland. Dr. Tim J.R. Trumper reflects this by showing in Christianese or Christ? how, set in the context of the kingdom of heaven, our Lord's best known parable challenges us to the core whether we be: -preachers or hearers of God's Word. The former Jesus calls to return from the razzmatazz of celebrity culture to the counter-culture rigors of Christ-like kingdom ministry. The latter he addresses according to our standing, whether we be authentic Christians tempted to cut the corners of worship and service amid the present spiritual malaise; professing Christians who confuse cultural "Christianity" (christianese) for biblical Christianity (Christ); or non-Christians enticed amid the current easy-believism to receive Christ as Savior but not as a king. If taken to heart, Jesus' parable of the sower can be a means God uses to revive pulpits and the pews, to purge the church of self-seeking hangers while yet enlarging her through the conversion to Christ of both false professors of Christ and non-professors. Christianese or Christ? is, then, no mere regurgitation of the parable of the sower. It is a tract for our times, calling us back to God. The study questions equip the book for use in personal study, pastoral study groups, or small group studies. Don't miss, then, what veteran preacher Geoff Thomas calls "a superb example" of preaching. He continues, "There is much help here for the Christian and also for every pastor as they are introduced to the great Sower who constantly goes forth sowing the see of the Word."
Synopsis
If you assume Jesus' parable of the sower is but a bland earthly story with a heavenly meaning, think again. Jesus doesn't do bland Read in the context of the kingdom of heaven, our Lord's best-known parable offers a welcome tonic to faithful preachers and hearers of God's Word while countering the infringement of celebrity culture on the church with its encouragement of pseudo-Christianity. Christianese or Christ? constitutes, then, a tract for our times. It calls those of us who preach the Word to jettison our coolness for the biblical rigor of Christlike disciple-making, and those of us hearing the Word to ponder Christ anew. His sovereign claim to our lives comports with neither an authentic Christian's malaise, a professing Christian's cultural "Christianity," nor a non-Christian's selective interest in him as Savior but not as King. With eternal destinies and the church's witness at stake, Jesus' parable merits personal and group study, as also earnest prayer for the revival of our persons, our pews, and our pulpits. Endorsement by veteran Welsh expositor, Rev. Geoff Thomas D.D.: "This is a superb example of the preaching I love, systematic, expository, evangelistic preaching. This Welshman, Dr Timothy Trumper, stands in the succession of preachers exemplified by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, but his ministry has been expanded by his own keen mind, theological training, international experience, warm spirituality and the utterly contemporary nature of his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ. So equipped, he faces ideas and issues that congregations and pulpits have to face. There is much help here for the Christian and also for every pastor as they are introduced to the great Sower who constantly goes forth sowing the seed of the word."