Book Review: A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis

As the new year begins, I am sure many of you have made New Year's resolutions. If I had to guess which resolution most will have their list, I would say losing weight or exercise more than last year. There is nothing wrong with that goal yet some many give up within a month, a week, or even a day of trying. 

There are some that say exercising is not that big of a deal in the Christian life. Some would say our spiritual growth is more important. So, the question is our spiritual health more than important than our physical well-being or are both important? David Mathis addresses this question and others in his latest book, A Little Theology of Exercise.

Mathis points out that our spiritual formation and maturing in Christ is vitally important but caring for our bodies are essential as well. He said, "We train our souls through conditioning our bodies. and what we do with our souls can greatly affect our bodies." Mathis is not being legalistic here. What is saying that the body does matter and we should do our best to take care of it. Not caring for our bodies does affect us in various ways.

Mathis goes on in the book saying we can make exercise Christian as we seek to honor the Lord as we take care of it. Mathis points us various passages of Scripture regarding our bodies. Mathis shows his readers that God has made our bodies even though sin has seized it. Jesus came in a human body and God dwells in the body through His Spirit. The body is not something God cast to the side. He made it to honor Him. 

Mathis shows us we honor God by caring for our bodies and it does help condition us spiritually. While physical health is important, it does not mean it is more important than spiritual growth. As the Apostle Paul wrote that "bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8, LSB). 

There are not many Christian books on exercise that I am aware of. If there are any, it is usually from a worldly point of view. Mathis gives a Biblical worldview on exercise that does not make anyone feel guilty because they have not done enough exercise in their lifetime. So, take, read, and then go for a walk to the glory of God.

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Review: Workers for Your Joy by David Mathis

We see in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, the spiritual qualifications for those desiring to be a church leader. There are qualifications for elders and deacons that have to be met in the Word of God. There can be a little confusion with these qualifications depending on what translation of the Bible you are using, which is why there needs to be careful study of the expectations for leaders in the Body of Christ.

David Mathis's latest book looks at these qualifications and explains them to his readers. The book is titled, Workers for Your Joy. The title is based on Hebrews 13:17, which says in the ESV, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." Mathis stated that his book wants to give leaders a "renewed sense of preciousness of (their) charge and enrich the joy (they) find in it-for the good of (their) people." 

As the book begins, one thing that Mathis states that should be appreciated by those in pastoral leadership or a layman in the church is that pastors are first and foremost sheep. They are do not become super saints or high-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. They are prone to sin and error just like all of us. They are not immune to temptation and yielding to it. 

The first part of the book deals with Christ calling those in ministry. One thing that Mathis states is the Bible never distinguishes between Christian vocation and secular work. We are all to work for the glory of God. What makes Church leadership different is the desire and aspiration to do it as 1 Timothy 3:1 says, "It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work" (LSB). Mathis continues on that pastors are not recently converts to Christianity so that they will not become conceited or arrogant. Also, pastors must teach the Word. They must have a desire to communicate God's Word clearly and accurately. 

The next section of the book deals with the moral qualifications, which are that pastors must self-controlled and the husband of one wife. Pastors are to keep themselves and doctrine in check so that they may lead their people well and not astray. They are also to be devoted to their families as well. Many pastors have the tendencies to neglect their families. It is a sad reality, but for the man to lead God's church, this must not be so. 

The final section addresses how to deal with outsiders. What is meant by this is those outside the church. Lost people regardless of their social stature or economic status. Is the pastor respectable to all outside the church and hospitable to all? 

This book is not a commentary to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, but a simplified study on these passages and what is expected for church leadership. 

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for a review.

Can You Hear God’s Voice?

Desiring God:



Recommended Reading:

Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis

A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness by John Piper

Twelve Gospel Passages To Soak In

Mere truth won't sustain our souls. We desperately need the gospel. "The grace of God in truth" (Col. 1:6) is the shock that brings a dead soul to life and the charge that keeps it living. The gospel is the fuel that awakens and energizes the human heart, not mere truth - essential as truth is. Two plus two equals four - that's true. It just doesn't do much to jump-start and drive a languishing soul.

It's all wonderful and good to learn various truths from the Bible - and there are many crucial truths to learn - but we must not miss or minimize the one truth of the gospel, "the word of truth" (Col. 1:5; see Eph. 1:13), the message so central and significant that the apostle calls it not merely a truth, but the truth, throughout the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim. 2:4; 3:15; 4:3; 6:5; 2 Tim. 2:18, 25; 3:7, 8; Titus 1:1; 14)...These short sections are ripe for memorization, and warrant at least some extended time of reflection. Build your life on them and around them, and let them shape and flavor everything. Soak in them - and soak them in.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:4-5).

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:19-20).

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:14-17).

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:22-25).

Adapted from Habits of Grace by David Mathis

Ten Gospel Verses To Keep Warm

Bible memorization is always time well spent. All Scripture memory is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). And especially useful are one-verse statements of the gospel.

When you memorize a "gospel verse," and keep it warm, you have hidden in your heart a divinely inspired and inerrant expression, in human language, of the very point of the whole Bible and all of history. You carry with you the sword of the Spirit in its strongest alloy. One-sentence encapsulations of the Bible's central message strengthen our spiritual backbone and solidify our core, rooting us deep down in the bedrock of God's heart and confident combat with unbelief, whether our own or someone's else. Gospel verses are invaluable in both evangelism and discipleship.

So, alongside other Scripture memorization efforts, sprinkle in some gospel verses that guide and shape and flavor your whole reservoir. By "gospel verses," I have in mind verses like John 3:16 (don't begrudge this verse its fame-it's for good reason), verses that communicate succinctly that Jesus saves sinners.

Here's a starter list of ten. Perhaps keep your eyes peeled for others and add them as you go-and don't be surprised if you find a lot in Romans:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (1 Timothy 1:15)

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10)

Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9)

Adapted from Habits of Grace by David Mathis

Around The Web-April 15, 2016

Three Temptations Leaders Must Fight Daily by Eric Geiger

The Bible Joins Fifty Shades Among Top 10 Most Challenged Books

Heath Lambert's new book A Theology of Biblical Counseling is on sale along with other books.

Dave Jenkins talks with David Mathis about his book, Habits of Grace

What Is Faith? The Answer from Hebrews 11 by Richard Phillips

Three Things Pastors Can't Do Too Much by Jared C Wilson

Phil Robertson Prays before NASCAR Event, Calls on Americans to 'Put a Jesus Man in the White House'

Tim Chester announces his new book, Why The Reformation Still Matters

Tim Keller, Michael Horton, and Alan Hirsch speak about the worst gospel misunderstandings.

Book Review: CROSS edited by John Piper and David Mathis

There are many conferences that happen all over the world and especially hear in the United States. Some conferences happen yearly and every other year. We have Passion, Desiring God, Together for the Gospel, and The Gospel Coalition. Some of these conferences will have a certain theme to them but what one conference that was focused on students. Some of you would say, "Isn't what the Passion conference does?" I am talking about one that focuses on students whose hearts are for the nations. Those who desire to do missions.

In December 2013, thousands of student gathered together to be mobilized for missions. To go in places where it is dangerous. To places where it is remote and people don't know who Jesus is. This conference featuring John Piper, Conrad Mbewe, Ricahrd Chin, Mack Stiles, Matt Chandler, Michael Oh, David Platt, Thabiti Anyabwile, Kevin DeYoung, and D.A. Carson is called CROSS, which also happens to be the title of this book.

Each chapter is a general session each preacher did during CROSS. Piper addressed the chief end of missions which is the supremacy of God in the joy of all people. DeYoung's chapter was on the five surprising motivations for mission where he addressed the doctrines of grace also known as T.U.L.I.P. which are the five points of Calvinism. I love Mack Stiles' chapter where he expressed if you are called to be a missionary, you must be inspired by the gospel. It does no good for a missionary to go over seas and not love the gospel as they serve the people.

One thing this book addresses is that not all Christians are called to be missionaries. Some are called to go while some are called to stay. David Platt addressed that in the conclusion of this book. What is most important is your obedience to God on whether or not you should be in the mission field. When I was in college, I heard a lot about missions. I kept thinking if God wanted me to go. I felt the speakers who I heard kept making me feel guilty that I am not a missionary. Praise be to God, this book did not give that impression and I hope those who heard these messages felt the same.

This is great book to give to a student considering missions. I think youth pastors will benefit from it too as well as those in college ministry to equip their people.

Thanks B&H Publishing for letting me review this book.