UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES
Living in the light of the arrival of the King
By William Taylor. Christian Focus. 138 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978-1-84550-438-0
Originally given as a series of sermons on Sunday mornings at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, London, these are insightful expositions of parts of Matthew’s Gospel.
Taking as his theme ‘The arrival of the King’, and then explaining how that shapes ‘Understanding the times’, William Taylor works his way masterfully through Matthew 8-10. Happily he always ‘lets the passages speak for themselves’ so that we are confronted with what Matthew, and more significantly, what God wants us to take to heart. This includes the great news that a true Saviour King has come to rescue us from sin and God’s judgment, but also what that demands in terms of our discipleship as we await Jesus’s return.
The chapters are pithy and very clear. The big themes Matthew is developing are underscored, and one doesn’t get lost in detail. Helpful ‘Preacher’s notes’ at the end of each chapter explain why certain decisions were made to ‘read’ the text in the ways he has. The illustrations ‘connect’ even if many are developed from the London context in which they were preached.
A super little book. An example to preachers on ‘how it should be done’. Great for younger believers, but also helpful to the more experienced who haven’t had a ‘diet’ of Matthew in their home church for a while.. Good holiday reading. Warmly recommended.
