Matthew

Another excellent book by Miller on prayer. I really appreciate his comments on learning to see the stories God is weaving through prayer, learning to expand our prayer diet, and the importance of the prayer meeting. Down to earth, full of real stories and practical advice--I highly recommend.

An encouraging read, if not a bit meandering. Chandler and Griffin do a good job of exhorting one to family discipleship, both challenging one to rise higher while encouraging one to rely on Christ. Biblical quotations are extensive in this thoroughly reformed book. My main complaint is that the authors tend to ramble on going back and forth between guarding against opposite extremes. There's some decent practical ideas, but again these seem to be buried in what can come across as unrefined brainstorm lists. If you're looking for some moral encouragement in family discipleship that's firmly rooted in Scripture, this may be a good read for you. If you're looking for practical advice, I'd probably point you to "The Spiritually Vibrant Home" first.

Despite sounding a bit sales pitchy and over the top at times, this book was a welcome challenge to our perfectionist, always on the go culture. Several times throughout the book, I'd find myself sharing a quote that I felt was applicable to some struggle we were going through.

Scazzero affirms the place of grief and lament, challenges us to embrace our limits and vulnerability, encourages us to slow down and "be before you do." He reminds us that Jesus' kingdom really is upside down compared to all that our culture has taught us. But, all too often we absorb the values of our past and our culture without even realizing it. Especially if you feel the pressures of success, busyness, perfectionism, maintaining an image, etc.--I'd recommend this book as encouragement to slow down and start to embrace the ways of Jesus' upside down kingdom.

Practically oriented, but also filled with a decent amount of fluff and repetition (could have been a booklet). There were a few good pieces of advice and the main questions are solid. Some of the more specific advice seemed aimed at larger churches.

Appreciate the author's down to earth candor, his numerous examples, and his practical frameworks for putting together a teaching (will probably refer back to some of these frameworks). I also agree with the overall message of making Jesus the center of every class. Would recommended to anyone teaching children's Sunday school.