Book Reviews for your growth and ministry

Mission Possible: Winning the Battle Over Temptation
Gil Stieglitz, 2007

I’ve been working with John Herman, EFCA Director of Pastoral Care, on care and restoration for wounded and fallen pastors. Along the way, John gave me a copy of fellow District Superintendent Gil Stieglitz’ book. I found the book to be very practical and direct, full of strategies for gaining victory, especially over sexual temptation.

John comments: “In the Book of Ephesians Paul provides action steps to living a life worthy of our calling that involve “putting things off” and “putting things on.” Mission Possible includes both of these ways to address temptation. Some of the chapters recommend workouts that help you get rid of harmful things. Some of the chapters recommend workouts that help you do positive things.”

The latest issue of EFCA Today is given to the topic of sexual addiction among church leaders. The very thought of it is sobering, and I want to say it isn’t happening here and never could – but I’d be wrong. We need to arm ourselves personally in this area (1 Cor 10:12), and arm the people in our churches as well. Gil’s book will make a great weapon in the fight.

Here’s what one father had to say: “Mission Possible: Winning the Battle Over Temptation has been an incredible tool in our son's life in overcoming personal temptation. He said this book has given him a game plan for dealing with the struggles men face. He asked his Dad to go through the book with him and to be an accountability partner for him. He has seen God change his desires and help him walk in victory.”

Pastors and leaders who read this book will be better equipped to disarm Satan of one of his most powerful weapons, both in their own personal lives and in the lives of those they serve in the church.

Reviewed by Ken Moberg



Money, Possessions and Eternity
Randy Alcorn
Tyndale, 1989
451 pages, paper

Alcorn provides a biblical theology of stewardship in this book, demonstrating the importance of money to the biblical authors and to Jesus Himself.  The book is full of practical help for preaching and teaching on this vital issue that reveals the allegiance of our hearts.  My favorite illustration is on pp128-129, where Alcorn asks us to imagine ourselves as Northerners living in the South near the end of the Civil War, knowing the North would soon win.  He asks the insightful question, “What will you do with all of your Confederate money?”  He suggests that if you’re smart, you’ll trade it in for the currency that you know will last, and only keep enough of the funny money to meet your basic needs while you’re still living in the South.  The implication for Kingdom living is obvious.

One of the benefits of this book is that it will embolden us to preach on a subject that is of vital importance to living a life of faith, and one which our people are much more willing to hear about than we fear.

I should mention that Alcorn has also published a smaller volume called The Treasure Principle (Multnomah, 2001), which is a wonderful book to give to the people in our congregations.  It distills the heart of the larger book and will challenge our people to examine their handling of money in light of eternity.  Some of our churches have distributed this book free to people who would promise to read it, and have seen it result in spiritual growth and wiser stewardship.

Reviewed by Ken Moberg