Top Reads: June 2018

I’ve tried to be accountable and careful about what I’m reading – one way that I do this is to share what I’ve been reading in each calendar month.

1. Glen Scrivener Wedding Video – the Royal Wedding Sermon dominated the news and the internet, but is now slightly forgotten. This video, I think, is probably the best response I’ve come across.
2. The Big Bees – a blogger I’d not come across reflects helpful on a modification of the classic ‘Belong, Believe, Behave’ (or any combination therein). Highly recommended.
3. Mere Sexuality – Todd Wilson’s book is a tour de force. I’d love to make it required reading for anyone and everyone trying to talk about sex and religion.
4. A concerning post over at Cranmer about what Islamophobia might mean in the current climate. Worth reflecting on.
5. What on earth happened to Tommy Robinson? With this case likely to divide people for months to come, this is a helpful myth-busting piece from a legally trained and thoughtful blogger. Interested in free speech? Please read this.
6. The New Urban Crisis: When Nothing is Trickling Down by Mez McConnell. This is a sobering but important blog post should challenge all of us committed to mission, evangelicalism, and church planting.
7. ‘Church Planting and the Mission of the Church’ A statement by the House of Bishops. Given that the Bishops of the Church of England have a million and one concerns, I really enjoyed reading this.
8. Why I have changed my mind about penal substitution by Dan Hames. This is a thoughtful and theological read by one of my favourite emerging thinkers. Links to a great article by Tony Lane on the Wrath of God as an aspect of the Love of God.
9. Impossible Love by Craig and Medine Keener. This is a book that everyone can (And should) read. Beautiful.
10. Peter Ould (who we don’t hear from nearly as much as we should – maybe he should write a book?) wrote ‘Vicky Beeching’s ‘Undivided’ trap: Why Evangelicals need a better story’ for Christian Today (which surprised me, but there we go). This is a superb analysis of a deeply flawed book. My review is coming shortly.