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Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself (Re:Lit)

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Last week (4/12-4/14) at The Gospel Coalition 2011 we were loaded up with free stuff (or, swag, if you will). Even more so for us bloggers fortunate enough to attend Band of Bloggers on Tuesday. On the Band of Bloggers panel was Church Planter and fellow Acts 29 guy Joe Thorn. Thorn is a great guy and I have had the pleasure of meeting and listening to on several occasions, so when I found out he was writing a book and it was getting published though Re:Lit, I was stoked. I was even more stoked when I found out those signed up for Band of Bloggers would be getting a pre-released copy!

It's a small book, not very intimidating and the text is of readable size: a good weekend read. But what a weekend it was, between Note to Self and The Greener Grass Conspiracy, I forcefully, yet lovingly was kicked in the rear end by the Gospel.

Note To Self is really like nothing I have ever read. It's made for the trenches, battle tactics in the Spiritual War we fight as Christians. It is sort of to the Good Guys what The Screwtape Letters is to the Bad Guys, letters from the trenches. The concept is simple yet brilliant. It's Joe (or you) preaching the Gospel to yourself amidst 48 real-time situations that we all have and will continue to face. What Joe does in Note To Self is take a section of scripture and in about 500 words engages in "self talk" as Martyn Lloyd Jones would call it.

Every section starts off with a rich verse of scripture at the top of the page and then the words Dear Self... What happens after that is straight up, honest Gospel talk. Every chapter points back to Jesus and how the Gospel actually matters pertaining to whatever subject Joe is dealing with. The way Thorn writes, you can tell he is not just some armchair theologian, but is living the fight with those, like me, reading what he writes. It is apparent that he gets the Gospel and he gets his sin when he says:

"Dear Self,

You are proud, and what makes this so dangerous is that you don't realize just how proud you are....What you need is a clear picture of God, yourself and your hope; this only comes through law and gospel. You must see yourself as you really are -- creature, not Creator; sinful, not righteous; undeserving, not deserving; dependent, not independent; made for his glory, not your own... This is the theology that erodes pride, builds humility and produces joy." (P. 108)

Woah. Note To Self is really about 136 pages of that. Every single page of Note To Self is drowning in Gospel truths, so much so that it forces you to put a Gospel lens on everything from loving your wife (P.69) to complaining (P.109) to not being a Christian fanboy [personally my favorite chapter] (P.123) to being the Church [close second favorite] (P.87). It is a continual hammering of the Gospel into the thick skulls of prideful people. It doesn't do this directly, but in fact the book is set up as to observe a man preaching the gospel to himself. It is sort of like watching game film of a good team as you prepare for the season.

When I was reading this, I felt as if I was reading Joe Thorn's journal [minus the 'Love you husband' chapter, I just pretended that was his wife writing]. I felt as if I was experiencing a spiritual battle raging, very, very similar to the one that I fight day in and day out. It gives perspective to the war we are truly in and the weapon we've been given, the discipline of preaching [the Gospel] to ourselves. Reading it was challenging, as it confronted a lot of my own personal sin head on and didn't let me shy away from it. It then applied the spiritual rubbing alcohol on to my wounded pride. Every night (as I read it before going to bed) I went to sleep more in love with Jesus than before reading this book.

I foresee this being an incredible resource for the Church in the years to come. As it is small, accessible, practical and biblical. Anyone can pick up this book and get something out of it. And that something is going to be gospel-centered. Because this book is not just gospel-centered, but gospel-submerged, and cannot be avoided. Charis is considering getting a bulk quantity and giving them out at Sunday service.

This book knows its limitations, it doesn't try to be what it isn't. This is not a systematic theology or a book designed to tackle any certain issue at length but a manual on preaching the Gospel to yourself in the midst of spiritual warfare. At times I wish he would elaborate more on some topics and wish he would've written like twenty pages on the issues of work and local church involvement instead of two, but like I said, not the purpose of Note To Self.

Oh, and did I mention how well written it is? It isn't sloppy or indulgent. No word is wasted and the language is intentionally blunt, it comes off sharp and discerning. Joe Thorn also uses the word "legit" on Page 134, which in my book gives him 100% street cred [not a big accomplishment getting street cred from a white guy in central Illinois who listens to Steve Earle, but regardless...]

So whether you are a pastor or a non-Christian that is confused as to what the Christian life actually is or somewhere in between, Note To Self by Joe Thorn is a must read. You will finish the book with a new and more complete understanding of the discipline of preaching to yourself. The book is available now for Kindle at Amazon.com and will be available for purchase at the end of April. It's cheap so do yourself a favor and get this book.

Rating: 9/10

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We hear that we should be preaching the gospel to ourselves, but you don't find many resources on how to do it. In Note To Self, Joe Thorn, founding pastor of Redeemer Fellowship, serves us well by demonstrating in this small but powerful book how we should preach the gospel to ourselves. This discipline of preaching the gospel to yourself has become a popular phrase, but actually doing it hasn't caught on so quickly. Thankfully, Thorn demonstrates in his book what it actually means and what it looks like to preach the gospel to yourself, so that, through this discipline you may grow in intimacy with Christ and conformity to Christ.

In Note To Self, Thorn begins by introducing us to the idea that it is not just the gospel that we must preach to ourselves, but law and gospel. Thorn states that "just as the lost cannot come to know Christ apart from an understanding of law and gospel, neither will the believer grow in grace apart from the preaching of both law and gospel." Therefore, Thorn identifies and defines that "preaching to ourselves is the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God." This is where Thorn begins laying a foundation for us as the practical guide for thinking through the Christian life. He points us in a direction of gospel proclamation and application. And then what I love most is that Thorn doesn't allow the reader any time to assume what is law and gospel, but rather he goes straight into clearly and biblically defining what they mean. It is through the preaching of both the law and gospel to yourself that you begin to grow in truth.

After we understand what it means to preach to yourself, Thorn then begins to demonstrate for us in 48 real-life situations how the gospel is applicable to every aspect of our life. Thorn is no longer writing in a way that tells you how to preach to yourself, but he is actually showing you how he preaches to himself. I find this writing style to be refreshing and encouraging to read, because Thorn provides for us a model of what it looks like to preach to ourselves.

There are three sections to Thorn's book on preaching to himself: The Gospel and God, The Gospel and Others, The Gospel and You. And when reading through each entry it almost feels and reads like you have access to Thorn's journal. Thorn is allowing the reader to gain a bird's eye view of what it looks like to preach the gospel to oneself. It gives perspective to the war we are truly in and the weapon we've been given, and the discipline of preaching the Gospel to ourselves. Therefore, with every discipline the goal is godliness, and this discipline of preaching the gospel to ourselves is a crucial application to the development of personal holiness.

The significance of this book is not only that it is beautifully written, but it is a book for every believer. Therefore, churches should be passing this book out to every member. This small but powerful book is accessible, practical and biblical. Preaching the gospel to yourself is an important discipline that we should be passionate about learning and teaching others how to do. And Thorn has done the church a great service by modeling for us how to preach the gospel to ourselves. This is one of those books that if you practice what has been demonstrated, you will see an incredible change in your relationship with Christ.

During times where everyone is saying you must preach the gospel to yourself, but few are demonstrating how to do it, I find Joe Thorn's book, Note To Self, a vital resource for the church to learn how to preach to yourself. Through this book you will be encouraged and motivated by the power of the gospel. You will see the importance of this discipline is for the purpose of intimacy with Christ and conformity to Him. Therefore, we should all be writing a book titled, Note To Self, because if we want to live a gospel-centered life that seeks Christ as our treasure then we must be a people committed to the discipline of preaching to ourselves.

Joe Thorn's debut book, Note To Self, will be released on April 30th and is one of the new books from Re:Lit. I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book! It will bring great meaning to your devotional life and affections for Christ. This is a creative, practical, and rich book that I recommend everyone to read and allow it to enrich your love for the gospel.

Feelings are like rollercoasters. We feel up, down, upside down, or all twisted up. Within the span of a few moments, depending on our circumstances, our feelings can span nearly the entire range of human emotion. And for some, feelings can be very strong. Indeed so strong that we have the tendency, at times, to embrace a self-constructed view of reality based on what we feel at a given moment. This can be especially true within the Christian life. As Christians, we often fall into the deceitful trap of our own feelings; coming to the false conclusion that our standing before God, or God's perception of us, is based on how we feel at a particular point in time.

Thankfully, every so often a voice is raised calling us away from the instability of our feelings and emotions to the solid and stable ground of God's written Word. Deitrich Bonheoffer was one such voice. In his classic, Life Together, published in 1954, Bonhoeffer wrote:

the Christian is the man who no longer seeks his salvation, his deliverance, his justification in himself, but in Jesus Christ alone. He knows that God's Word in Jesus Christ pronounces him guilty, even when he does not feel his guilt, and God's Word in Jesus Christ pronounces him not guilty and righteous, even when he does not feel that he is righteous at all. The Christian no longer lives of himself, by his own claims and his own justification, but by God's claims and God's justification. He lives wholly by God's Word pronounced upon him, whether that Word declares him guilty or innocent. (p. 22)

In the next decade, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones followed with his classic, Spiritual Depression, writing:

Feelings must be engaged. They are meant to be involved. [Yet] our danger is to submit ourselves to our feelings and to allow them to dictate to us, to govern and to master us and to control the whole of our lives...[However] I must never ask myself in the first instance: What do I feel about this? The first question is, Do I believe it? Do I accept it, has it gripped me?...We must not concentrate overmuch upon our feelings. Do not spend too much time feeling your own pulse taking your own spiritual temperature, do not spend too much time analyzing your feelings. That is the high road to morbidity. (pp. 110, 112, 115)

Truthfully, the Christian is first and foremost the person God has declared him to be based on the finished, substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ. Because we have a bad habit of either thinking the glorious truth of the gospel is only for unbelievers or, as believers, forgetting what God has done for us in Christ, we must grow in our discipline of preaching God's Word to ourselves on a daily basis.

Joe Thorn, pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles, IL, in his recent book, Note To Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself (Crossway, 2011), has taken what Bonhoeffer and Lloyd-Jones have articulated, and practically addresses how the truth of God's Word in the gospel applies to the believer's relationship with God, others, and himself.

Introducing the reader to the importance of preaching both the God's law (convicting us of our sin) and God's gospel (convicting us of our righteousness in Christ alone) daily, Thorn creatively accomplishes the development of the discipline of preaching daily to one's self through a series of short, journal-like entries addressed "Dear Self..." Defining the discipline of preaching to yourself as, "the personal act of applying the law and gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God leading to ongoing faith, repentance, and greater godliness" (p. 24), Thorn helps the reader see how the gospel truly and deeply applies to every area of life from personal theology to relationships to one's work ethic and more.

Note To Self is theologically rich, gospel saturated, Christ exalting and thoroughly practical. Thorn does an exemplary job of articulating the riches and realities of the gospel in powerfully gracious and pastorally sensitive punches. As well, the brevity of each devotional-like entry allows the book to be read quickly, while inviting the reader back to work through it repeatedly. Moreover, the format and flow of the book would make it an excellent resource for family or community group discussion/study.

I can say, without hesitation, that Note To Self will be a book that I both read and recommend regularly! It is a book that is well written and readily applicable for both the new believer and those who have been following Christ for years. Furthermore, Note To Self is a book that can even help those skeptical of the gospel effectively encounter the message of God's saving power in a clear and compelling way.

I highly recommend Note To Self, by Joe Thorn!

*The publisher, at no charge, for the purpose of review, provided a copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review.

The concept of preaching the gospel to yourself is an important one, and one I've been hearing articulated a lot more recently. Christians talk a lot about sermons, evangelism, and other important topics relating to communicating the gospel to others, but we also need to remind ourselves of the truths we say we believe regularly. I'm big on saying we shouldn't "assume the gospel." We shouldn't assume people understand the gospel and move onto "more important doctrines," and I think that concept applies to ourselves as well. Our daily actions and thought-lives shouldn't assume the truths of the gospel; we need to consciously remind ourselves.

Joe Thorn's new book, Note to Self, contains a lot of great examples of how to do just that. Written from a first-person perspective to himself, Thorn tackles all kinds of extremely practical topics and situations as he reminds himself of how the gospel applies to everything in life. Each "chapter" includes some scripture that triggers the thoughts discussed over the next 2 pages. The end result is a collection of 48 "notes" that are great nuggets of truth to meditate on themselves, but also help readers to see how to take God's Word and work through the practical applications on their own.

I appreciated this book for 2 main reasons. First, it places a significant importance on Scripture. Every note is based thoroughly in scripture. Things get very practical, but every thought finds its foundation in what God has said about himself, us, and the world in which we live. Second, Thorn has a laser-focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fact that we're saved by faith alone. He discusses the importance of the law and aspects of God's justice, but he never lets up on reminding himself that salvation isn't dependent on works. He exhorts himself to good works; the motivation is never condemnation. This is an important balance to get right, and it's an important distinction for believers to understand as they "preach" to themselves.

My only real criticism of the book (and I don't really consider it a criticism), is that the chapters are so short and self-contained, that reading the book in one sitting like I did isn't nearly as helpful. I plan to come back to this book for use as a devotional because there is too much to think upon in each note to fly through like I did. Unfortunately, the only chance I had to read the book was on a flight during a business trip, so I feel like I probably missed a lot of wisdom that requires more thought than I could give it.

Here's my takeaway: Read this book. Read it slowly. Learn how to take God's Word, internalize it, clarify it to yourself, swim in it, wrestle with it, and come out drenched with the gospel of Jesus. Don't "assume the gospel" in your daily life and live on auto-pilot. Force the truth of the Bible into your heart. This book is a great example of how to do that.

I will never forget the first time I read the maxim, "Preach the gospel to yourself" in a Jerry Bridges book. What originally appeared counter-intuitive turned out to be an important exercise in humility and a constant reminder of the grace that saved me and enables me to live the Christian life each day - all to the glory of God.

Pastor Joe Thorn writes forty-eight short notes to himself, all designed as a reminder of the ongoing influence and efficacy of the gospel in his life in his new book, Note to Self. What may appear self-serving at first glance, is in the final analysis a gracious gift the church. For Thorn's "notes" are meant to serve all Christ-followers and point them to supremacy and sufficiency of the Savior which culminate in the cross-work of Jesus.

The author draws the boundaries at the outset: "Preaching to ourselves is the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God leading to ongoing faith, repentance, and greater godliness" (p. 23). Well stated and superbly executed throughout the book.

This short work is divided into three parts:

Part One: The Gospel and God

Part Two: The Gospel and Others

Part Three: The Gospel and You

Thorn has left no stone unturned. He relentlessly reminds sinners of their desperate need for grace, forgiveness, and mercy. This work is practical, devotional, thought-provoking, and soul-searching. But most important, this work is cross-centered, Christ-centered, and gospel-centered. While readers are privileged to get an inside look at the author's heart in this biographical devotional, they are at the same time confronted with their need for the gospel in every arena of life. And students of Reformed theology will appreciate the "backdoor emphasis" on the doctrines of grace throughout. New comers to Reformed thought will receive a breathtaking introduction to the doctrinal framework that is finally getting the attention it deserves in our day!

Three cheers for Joe Thorn's, Note to Self. He has delivered the goods in a fresh, creative, and biblically authentic way. This good idea that likely found its genesis on the back of a napkin may well become a best seller in a matter of weeks!

5 stars

These days a lot of folks are talking about the need to preach the gospel to yourself. This is a good and important thing indeed. We do need to be preaching the gospel to ourselves on a regular basis. But something that I've noticed is there aren't a lot of folks talking about what that actually looks like. Joe Thorn's noticed this, too. So he decided to do something about it by writing Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Over the course of 48 chapters (don't worry, they're all 2-3 pages long), Thorn offers readers practical insights that challenge them to grow in grace, confront sin and serve others.

Why do we need to preach to ourselves--why is it beneficial? Because, Thorn writes:

"Preaching to yourself demands asking a lot of questions, both of God's Word and especially of yourself. You will have to ask and be honest about your motives, struggles, and needs. You will need to clarify to yourself what God's law means in principle, but also what it requires specifically of you. You will need to ask how the gospel meets your needs and heals your brokenness. To preach to yourself is to challenge yourself, push yourself, and point yourself to the truth. It is not so much uncovering new truth as much as it is reminding yourself of the truth you tend to forget." (p. 32)

There is a great deal of wisdom here. Too often it's easy to see the wonders of the gospel and of what God has done in history and it become kind of... ordinary. We can begin to take things for granted that we might otherwise not. But I found that as I read through each chapter, I was being called out on a few of the things I've been overlooking of late.

A notable example is found in chapter 13, "Wait for Jesus." Thorn opens with the question, "What is your greatest hope? Your deepest longing? Is it for Christ to return? Be honest" (p. 60).

I didn't like the answer to this question. While there are many days where I can confidently answer, "Yes!" there are others where I don't really give it much thought. My greatest hope for the day is more along the lines of getting out of a meeting early or finding a solution to a nagging problem (or even going for a walk with my family). These are not bad things, but they're not the ultimate thing, nor are they the point of why we're here. Then I read:

"In this life, as you work for the glory of Jesus and the good of others, you should do so with an eye to his return. It will lead to earnestness and create an urgency in your life to make the most of all your days." (p. 61)

Reading this, I was reminded of Phil. 3:20 where Paul writes that, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," as well as Col. 3:1-2, "Since then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." This eye to the return of Christ saturated Paul's ministry and his epistles evidence that he truly made the most of the days he was given.

I'm not sure I can always say the same, but I'd like it to be the case.

Perhaps what is most unique (and effective) about Note to Self is its format. Because each chapter is written quite literally as a "note to self," it allows the reader to engage with the text on a more meaningful level than one might otherwise. I found that there were more than a few times when it was reading my proverbial mail simply because it felt like I was reading my own journal. Along with the example above, chapter 34, "You are Proud," really hit home in an uncomfortable way, particularly as the comparison game is called out. When it comes to pride, it doesn't matter if I'm not as bad as anyone else, it's still a dreadfully serious sin.

Although small, Note to Self is a slow burn. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. If you enjoy using devotional readings to accompany your regular Bible study, take 48 days to go through the book. Although my initial read through for this review was over the course of a few days, I'm now going through it day-by-day to really let it all sink in. I'd highly encourage any reader to get a copy of Note to Self today and do likewise.

Preaching to oneself is about personal application of scripture. It is, according to the author, "the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God leading to ongoing faith, repentance, and greater godliness." Thorn points out the importance of sitting under the preaching of one's local church and listening to others who teach, but in the end we must each take the word preached and continue to preach it to ourselves and apply it to our lives.

Note to Self is a devotional-style book of 48 topical chapters that start with scripture then follow with an application in a "dear self" letter format. I liked the letter-to-self idea and it encourages me to continue journaling in this way as I study scripture and apply it to my life. The book is divided into three sections: The Gospel and God, The Gospel and Others, and The Gospel and You. Chapters within these sections touch on the topics of suffering, taking risks, know your idols, forgiveness, fear, giving thanks, seeking God, endurance, and listening to others, to name just a few.

This book encourages the discipline of being a doer of the Word and not a hearer only, and I appreciated the attention given to how the law or commands of God and the gospel are equally important. As Thorn says, "The commands of God reveal his will to us and serve as a rule for godly living. This is in itself, grace. It means that God has not left us alone in ignorance concerning what is truly right or wrong."

Note to Self: The Disciple of Preaching to Yourself is written by Joe Thorn, the founding and lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, Illinois. There is much good conversation in in the blogosphere today about "preaching the Gospel to oneself". Joe Thorn noticed this conversation but then went beyond just thinking about "preaching the Gospel to himself" but started to ask, "What does preaching the Gospel to oneself mean? and, "How do the people of God preach the Gospel to oneself?"

Note to Self is a very well-written easy-to-read book. Each chapter explores a different topic but the focus of each chapter is personal, biblical, theological and practical as Joe preaches the gospel to himself and the reader gets to see how he practices what he preaches. A good writer engages his reader and draws them into the topic he/she is discussing. Joe Thorn does this in a way that points to the truths of Scripture and draws the reader to discover what it means to implement preaching the Gospel to oneself. Dr. Ray Ortlund rightly describes this book as a "gospel-guided smart bomb scoring a direct hit on our strongholds of emptiness."

The book is divided into three parts: the first part explores the Gospel and God. Part two describes the Gospel and others, and the final part is the Gospel and you. Reading a book like Note to Self is always challenging and convicting. This book in particular will challenge you to implement what you believe into your everyday life. This book will challenge your apathy and confront your stubbornness and pride with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is not often that I read a book that is so well-written but so concise, focused, but yet biblical, deeply theological, and saturated in and by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for the example Joe has given in Note to Self on how to preach the Gospel to myself. I plan on keeping this book on my desk to turn to often.

Note to Self is one of the most important books published this year and perhaps in the last several years in my opinion. I say this because it addresses a topic that is currently undergoing much discussion, and this book will lead that conversation on preaching the Gospel forward in significant ways by causing the discussion to not just be theoretical but now to be aimed primarily on application. Joe Thorn has written the definitive book on "preaching the Gospel to oneself."

Note to Self is a book I encourage every Christian to read. It would be a great gift for any Bible college or seminary student or even one of the elders, deacons or Pastor(s) at your local church. I encourage you to pick up Note to Self and learn how to preach the Gospel to yourself so that you may grow in depth of insight in the glorious truths of the Gospel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Crossway as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I like to read. Lately, I've found myself developing bad habit. I'll find myself looking at the price of a book and the at the amount of pages. In my mind a calculation takes place where I compare the amount of pages to price. As a result of this mental calculation, I almost skipped this book. I was intrigued by the title and the reviews but at 144 pages it seemed short. However, after spending some time with this book, I'm glad that I purchased it.

I often hear or read the statement "preach the gospel to yourself". In many cases this statement is never unpacked or explained. It's just thrown out there and everyone nods as if they get it. One of the great things about Note to Self is the fact that "preach the gospel to yourself" is explained and demonstrated.

The first part of the book is devoted to explaining the idea of "preaching to yourself". If you are the type of reader who normally skips introductions and forwards, I would encourage you read both the forward and introduction to this book. The forward and the introduction comprise 27% of this book and are both extremely helpful. (Thanks to my kindle for doing the math for me)

The remainder of the book is devoted to demonstrating how to preach the gospel to ourselves. The chapters take the form of short letters beginning with a passage of scripture and the greeting "Dear Self". While it only took me a few minutes to read through the forward and introduction, I found that I needed a lot more time to think and meditate on the letters to self.

Overall, I found this book to be helpful both in understanding what it means to "preach to myself" and also putting that into practice. If you would like to apply scripture to your life in a practical manner, this is a great place to start. .

Note to Self is a quietly important book. Joe Thorn has written a small volume here that might go unnoticed amidst the clamor of the latest theological fad, or the weighty volumes of systematics. By quiet, I mean it is unassuming. One hundred and thirty-six small format pages of unassuming to be precise. Stand that up to Michael Horton's 1,056 page The Christian Faith and you may be wondering how I can describe it as "important". But just as with hobbits, sometimes the most faithful advice comes from small frames. This is a book that the enemy of your soul will not want you to read. For that reason, I heartily recommend you pick it up and embrace its message.

"The impact of preaching to ourselves is not found in dramatic moments of crisis, or in our ability to use words creatively, but in the ongoing, regular and virtually plain preaching of the law and the gospel" (p. 32)

After a brief introduction on the need to preach both the law and the gospel to ourselves, showing that we need to see our failings, God's righteousness and the solution to profitably preach to ourselves, Joe then breaks things down into a practicum of sorts. Three sections on the gospel and God, others and self are presented, each made of between 13 and 20 brief chapters. These all begin with a scripture and then a note to self - the working out of understanding and applying that passage to your own life based on the law and the gospel.

After reading straight through the book, I thought that this is a book with many uses. Firstly, it is worthy of a complete read to really understand the simplicity and power of preaching to yourself. I am confident that within these pages you will find words that cut through to your own struggles, and quicken you to the wonderful truth that in Christ you have overcome.

This book could also be employed devotionally, to read aloud in preaching to yourself. A chapter from each section would not take a vast time from your day, but I daresay would be rewarding in and of itself, and would be training you for the ongoing work of heading to Scripture in prayer for the earnest work of bringing the gospel to bear on yourself.

Finally, aside from a more normal reading experience, and a daily reading, this is a great book for training new believers in the work of reflective reading. Sometimes, we just need someone to show us how it is done. I appreciate that Joe has shown strong and crafted theological reflection but has retained a common-man voice in his writing. This is not a book that is liable to leave unstudied men and women floundering, but will serve to encourage and equip them.

Thanks to Crossway/Re:Lit for allowing me to review the book. I was provided a copy at no charge for my fair and unbiased review. Thanks also to Joe, lead pastor at Redeemer Fellowship, for taking the time to pen this work and help equip the saints for the work of ministry.