Book Reviews
Do you enjoy reading? Then this page is just for you! Check here often for recommended book reads from Pastor Joe!
Missions- March 2024 book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
03/01/2024
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Missions
by Andy Johnson
As we attend church services throughout or lives, we often hear a call to missions. We hear missionaries from far away lands teaching of their ministry. We're offered the opportunities to go on any number of short-term mission trips. However, through all of this we often forget the basic truths behind missions.
In this book, Andy Johnson goes back to basics to remind us what missions is all about. Andy begins by laying the biblical foun
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A Tale of Two Sons- February 2024 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
02/01/2024
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A Tale of Two Sons
By Dr. John MacArthur
If you have ever read the parable found in Luke 15:11-32, you have read the foundation of this book. Dr. MacArthur gives a wonderful exposition of the account found in this passage. The truths found here are both timeless and powerful. As you read this book, the story you have read many times before will come alive and give you a perspective on forgiveness and hope that you may not have had before. In this book we see the beh...read more
The Way of the Master - January 2024 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
01/01/2024
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The Way of the Master
by Ray Comfort
Growing up in the Midwest during the late seventies and eighties, I was often invited to church youth group events. At these events the youth Pastor or his helper would give a short message and then ask if anyone wanted to “accept Jesus into their heart.” I remember raising my hand and thinking, “Sure, if that gets me into heaven, I will do it.” With that, I would repeat some prayer that the Pastor said and leave the meeting thinking
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December 2023 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
12/01/2023
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Loving the Way Jesus Loves
By: Phil Ryken
We often use the word love in a way that tends to make it lose its potency. We declare that we love our spouse and our children, but in the same breath we declare that we love tacos or chicken nuggets. The superficial use of the word love is unfortunate. In this book Dr. Phillip Ryken gives us a glimpse of what true biblical love looks like. He shows us how we can love the way Jesus loved.
Dr. Ryken takes the reader throu
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November 2023 book review
by: Joseph Hamlin
11/01/2023
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The Church
by: Mark Dever
When it comes to life in the local Church, Christians face many practical issues. In this book, Pastor Mark Dever helps to answer many of these questions.
As he begins this book, he goes to Scripture and shows us what the Bible says about the Church. He examines the nature of the Church, the attributes of the Church, the purpose, discipline, polity, and hope of the Church. This portion is essential in setting the foundation for the rest
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OCTOBER 2023 BOOK REVIEW
by: Joseph Hamlin
10/01/2023
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Fighting Satan: Knowing His Weaknesses, Strategies, and Defeat
by Joel R. Beeke
As Christians, we need to understand that Satan hates us. He hates us because we bear the image of God, and because we were snatched from his power. We do not want to overestimate Satan’s power, but we also dare not underestimate his power.
Every believer is in a spiritual battle whether they want to admit it or not. In this relatively short book, Dr. Beeke gives several points of insight on t
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September 2023 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
09/01/2023
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Everyone’s A Theologian
by R.C. Sproul
Many of us get nervous when we hear the word Theology. We tend to think that it involves dry unproductive arguments about minute points of doctrine that no one really cares about. Many prefer to only focus on the basic truths of Scripture and leave the theology to the Pastors and Bible professors.
The fact of the matter is that everyone is a theologian. Anytime we think about a truth that is found in the Bible and we strive to unde
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August 2023 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
08/02/2023
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The Power of Christian Contentment
by Andrew M. Davis
In our world today, including in many churches, people are chasing after happiness and fulfillment. There is nothing wrong with this as long as they find it in Christ. The problem is we tend to believe that the grass is always greener and that if we just had this or if we could only do that, then we would finally be content.
In the first section of this book, Andrew Davis goes to Scripture and shows us the secret
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JULY 2023 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
07/07/2023
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Teach Them Diligently
by Lou Priolo
There has never been a time when a book like this has been more important. If we just look around at this world, we can see the desperate need for our children and grandchildren to be trained in the Scriptures.
Lou Priolo does a wonderful job explaining how this can be done. He begins by pointing out the sufficiency of Scripture as well as the fourfold use of Scripture. He then moves on and discusses the fact that as parents, we are
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June 2023 Book Review
by: Joseph Hamlin
06/03/2023
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The Exemplary Husband
by Stuart Scott.
One of the very real issues in our culture today is a lack of men who will lead their families. This phenomenon is not only relegated to the world but has spilled over into the church as well. The absence of godly husbands and fathers has left a large hole in the church today. Men are called in Scripture to be the spiritual leaders of their home. When this is not taking place, the family is not functioning the way God int
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MAY 2023 BOOK REVIEW
by: Joseph Hamlin
05/15/2023
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Understanding End Times Prophecy
by Paul N. Benware
Have you ever been intimidated by words like premillennialism or Preterism? Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Dispensationalism and Covenant theology? Maybe you love reading your Bible but tend to get confused or frustrated when it comes to end times prophecy. Well, in this book, Paul Benware takes a wonderful comprehensive approach to end times prophecy.
Benware breaks this subject into four categorie
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April 2023 Book Review
by: Pastor Joe Hamlin
04/03/2023
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The Gospel According to Jesus
by John MacArthur
The gospel is the foundation of the Christian message.
The Greek word for gospel means, “Good News.” When we talk about sharing the gospel, we are talking about sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. If we are Christians, we should be doing this on a regular basis. However, to do this correctly we need to know what the gospel message truly is.
In this book by Dr. MacArthur, we are given a clear and concise explanatio
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March 2023 Book Review
by: Pastor Joe Hamlin
03/11/2023
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George Whitefield by: Arnold A. Dallimore
I have found in my Christian walk that one of the most encouraging things I can do is read a good biography. With that being said, there is no better individual to read about than the great Evangelist George Whitefield.
This book by Dallimore gives a great summary of his life. Though it's not as exhaustive as other biographies, it's extremely readable and keeps the reader engaged.
In the first half of the book, various aspects o
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Feb 2023 Book Review
by: Pastor Joe Hamlin
03/09/2023
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God’s Battle Plan for the Mind by: David W. Saxton
When we hear the word “Meditation” it brings to our mind visions of some bearded, long haired middle eastern guru with his legs crossed and arms outstretched. He usually has his eyes closed, his hands resting on his knees, his index fingers and thumbs pursed together pointing upwards to the stars as he hums and breaths deeply. This new age mystical idea of meditation has caused most Christians to pull away from the prac
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Jan 2023 Book Review
by: Pastor Joe Hamlin
03/06/2023
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Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack
Dr. Wayne Mack is a competent Biblical counselor who completed his doctorate at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is currently the Pastor of a Church in South Africa, where he serves alongside his son-in-law. Dr. Mack has written several books on biblical relationships.
In this book, he spends nearly 200 pages helping the reader understand how to strengthen their marriage. Dr. Mack uses Scripture to walk the reader through sever
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