Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

WHEN GOD COMES TO CHURCH
by Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

WHEN GOD COMES TO CHURCH by Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI; 9 Chapters, 252 Pages; $16.99, Paper

While the title of this book fits the theme, probably you’d never guess the theme by the title. So, to clear it up, here is the subtitle which does identify the theme: A Biblical Model for Revival Today. His material is divided into two parts, “Part One: What God Can Do” (6 chapters), and “Part Two: What We Must Do” (3 chapters).

The idea of revival and how to get it has always been a controversial topic. On the very first page of this volume, in his Preface, Ortland says of revival: “God causes it; we do not.” But when he gets to the second section, the same writer offers a 3-point human formula for obtaining revival: return to God, seek God, humble ourselves. Contradiction? Not really; at least not as he explains it. And we certainly appreciate his plea: “Let’s not neglect the revival dimension in our churches. It is biblical. It is right. It is of God. Let’s stop being so timid. Let’s trust God so much that we follow his Word without qualifying it to death.”

Ortland is a good writer and this volume is certainly Scripture-sated, as a brief look at the Scripture Index gives ample evidence. There is also an Appendix with a chapter from Francis Schaeffer’s book Death in the City, “The Persistence of Compassion.”

This is a good book. Good thoughts. Good arguments. Good appeal to Scripture. We are glad to recommend it to our readers.