Living by God's Master Plan

The kingdom of God

Living by God's Master Plan
By Michael Lawson
Christian Focus. 271 pages
ISBN 1 85792 541 6

This work was originally published by Kingsway under the title The Unfolding Kingdom. Something of that original title is preserved in its present subtitle, 'The Reality of the Kingdom of God from Eden to Revelation'.

The book is a series of studies on the theme of the Kingdom of God. This theme is traced through creation and covenants in the Old Testament, showing how they point forward to Christ. Several chapters consider Jesus's teaching on the Kingdom of God, particularly through the parables. The closing chapters deal with what it means for Christians to live now as 'Kingdom people', while looking forward to Christ's return and the arrival of the Kingdom in all its fullness.

A number of useful questions for personal consideration or discussion are included at the end of each chapter. There is also an appendix on the Toronto blessing. Mr. Lawson assesses the Toronto phenomena in a sensitive and balanced fashion. While acknowledging that many were genuinely blessed by what they experienced, he expresses grave reservations concerning the lack of the Bible in the Toronto ministry.

This is a helpful introduction to the theme of the Kingdom of God. While the material sometimes lacks clear structure and can be repetitious, it is full of practical Scripture exposition enlivened with relevant illustrations from contemporary events and is full of practical exhortation and encouragement. I felt that there were a few weaknesses in the work, such as Mr. Lawson's treatment of heaven and hell when dealing with the rich man and Lazarus, but, on the whole, the book was thoroughly orthodox. I warmly recommend it.

Peter Misselbrook,
Bristol

© Evangelicals Now - January 2001
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Main Articles

• Progress for the poor
  Jubilee 2000 and debt relief
• Hyper-separatism - no way forward
  The third article of three by Jonathan Stephen, Brian Edwards and John Rosser looking at a serious hindrance to evangelical unity (Part III)
• Caring for ex-offenders
  What can we do to help Christian prisoners when they come out?
• Rwanda: where is God when bad things happen?
  Why does God not intervene to stop suffering and slaughter?
• Books and 'the Book'
  The Bible versus books on the Bible!
• My hiding place
  Khalda tells the story of how God became her 'hiding place'
• Musical discord
  An introduction to the history of church controversies over hymns
• God: born in the USA?
  Reflections on America and the 'open' view of God
• Monthly column on the arts: brushes with entertainment
  Watercolour painting programmes - and others
• Monthly column for youth leaders
  Young people - the church of today, not tomorrow
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  'Sing to the Lord', a hymn book supplement for St Paul's Cathedral
• 2001 - a Grace odyssey
  Joy Horn reminds us of the major Christian anniversaries this year

Other articles

• All that you can't leave behind - Album review
• Distinctives: daring to be different in an indifferent world
• WoW 2001 Various Artists - CD review
• The Power of Speaking God's Word: How to preach memorable sermons
• Wonder Boys - Film review
• The Quest for Celtic Christianity
• Jesus and His Relationships - The 1998 Easneye Lecture series delivered at All Nations Christian College
• Living by God's Master Plan
• The Legacy of Sovereign Joy
• Losing Faith in the BBC - An expanded version of a report presented to the General Synod of the Church of England in November 1999
• Lethal Harvest - A novel which helps to explain what stem cell and embryo research involve
• Exodus - A competent, readable and conservative explanation of the Book of Exodus
• Six Modern Myths - Science - or fiction?
• The Evangelism Handbook - Gaining the whole world without losing your soul
• A Panorama of the Bible Lands - The sequel to 'A Panorama of the Holy Land' - by Stephen Sizer & Jon Arnold
• Can God Use Me?
• Anger, Mercy and the Heart of God
• One Step at a Time - The sequel to 'Dancer Off Her Feet'