D.A. Carson. The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, January 2nd 2018. 160 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster |Amazon
Bible believing Christians know that the Christian ministry must be Cross-Centered but what does that mean? In this 160 page book New Testament scholar and author Don Carson writes a book on what that means based upon the book of 1 Corinthians. This makes for a spiritually edifying read whether you are in pastoral ministry or you are a faithful church member. It is also spiritually edifying whether you are studying to enter the ministry or someone who have been a pastor for some time, and I read this at at a point in my life where I’m close to a decade of full time ministry.
There are five chapters in this book. Chapter One is titled “The Cross and Preaching” and examines 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5. Chapter two is titled “The Cross and the Holy Spirit” and is based upon 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. This is followed by a chapter titled “The Cross and Factionalism” based upon 1 Corinthians 3. Next is a chapter titled “The Cross and Christian Leadership” which looks at 1 Corinthians 4. Finally chapter five looks at 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 and is titled “The Cross and the World Christian.”
I learned a lot from this book and though this book was first published in 1993 it is quite relevant than ever with much compromises of Evangelicals today in ministry chasing after trends and worldliness. The call to worldliness was edifying. Of the five chapters my favorite was chapter three on the Cross and factionalism. It was a good exposition of 1 Corinthians 3. In particular I enjoyed his insight into Paul’s agricultural and architectural analogy. Carson reminds us that in New Testament time it took a long time to build a building compared to today and sometimes massive temples took decades and for some of the workers it was a life time’s work. From that perspective Paul pointed out what we build is not yet complete with the church and we are only making our small contribution. It was humbling and yet exciting to think of that. This chapter also stated that Christian leaders are only servants of Christ. It was also sobering to be reminded that we would be help accountable one day, a point Paul made in his architectural analogy, in which God will judge the quality of each builder in the end.
There were many other rich insight that Carson presented in examining the Scripture of 1 Corinthians. I also really enjoyed his point in 1 Corinthians 4:9 in which Paul talked about being paraded it might reflect the triumphant procession of Roman legions in which the senior military leaders goes first followed by lower ranks and in the rear were prisoners from descending order of importance as well. Paul here is saying that ironically if the Corinthians thought of themselves so highly Paul was quite lowly in the world’s eyes and standards even to say in 1 Corinthians 4:13 that he and the other apostles were the scum of this world. Yet Paul ironically was more like Jesus and that should be a stern rebuke to the church in Corinth.
I recommend this book. Makes for a great gift for a pastor as well or for someone interested in entering the ministry.
Thanks for this good review and for the several highlights that you pointed out. Yup, we work and build for the Lord, but don’t see the end result. Also, in our flesh we crave high honor and the esteem of men, which Jesus Christ and Paul warned against.
Do you ever have the feeling of wanting to go to heaven to see how God use our faithfulness when we can’t see the results now? Sometimes I think that but it also fuel me to be more faithful given that our time is short here now on earth.
Good thought! Yes, we need to be more about Jesus and the Kingdom and less about worthless distractions.
Thanks for sharing your review. D.A. Carson is a scholar with a pastoral heart. That’s why I think he is a great author and speaker. He is a good resource for those entering seminary or who have a desire for a leadership position in the local church. Blessings!
You’re welcome and thanks for reading this book review. You’re familiar with Carson, I can tell. Any books you have read by him that you also like and recommend?
I went to Southern Seminary. We had to read exegetical fallacies by D.A. Carson for biblical hermeneutics. It’s not too technical for a layperson to read. In fact, he breaks it down quite simply. That’s why I like him! Good day sir.
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Thank you.
You’re welcome Maw Maw! Hope your day be a blessing!
Good one so far.:)
I have heard of DA Carson but have yet to read any of his book, largely through TGC. Maybe this is a book to start my reading!
Thanks for this review, Jim! Added it to my wish list.
You’re welcome. Hope you have more strength today and this week brother.
Thanks Jim! I am feeling better.