Review: "5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow"

We recently used Dr. R. C. Sproul’s book, 5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow, in our evening study.

Sproul argues, first, a healthy and growing Christian must be studying the Bible, because it is through God’s Word that we are brought to faith and begin to gain the mind of Christ. Sproul notes that if we disagree with a passage of Scripture, we have either not understood it or we are just sinning, and we ought to wrestle with such a passage until we submit to God. He ends this chapter with some resources for understanding the text, and he also recommends places to begin reading in the Bible.

Second, prayer. Here, Sproul argues prayer is a duty – God said to, a privilege – we can come before God, and a means of grace – we are matured and strengthen through prayer. The chapter concludes looking at the Lord’s Prayer and other patterns of prayer.

Third, worship. Sproul begins with the history of Nadab and Abihu to argue that worship is serious business and that God has set what is appropriate for and in worship. He then explains what it means to worship “in spirit and in truth,” and he argues for preparation before the worship service.

Fourth, service. Sproul explains that all five disciplines are means of grace. Then he explains that God did not save us out of slavery to sin and Satan to go and do whatever we want. Our salvation is form slavery to sin and Satan to slavery to God. Sproul explains that all calls are valid and may be done to the Glory of God, yet he warns that the best we can do is only what is required of us, so we ought not to become prideful in our service.

Fifth, stewardship. Sproul explains that we are stewards fo everything – nothing we have or use is our own, but belongs to God, and God has set us as stewards of all He blesses us with, beginning with the stewardship of the Creation given to humanity in the Garden. He then discusses the tithe, arguing that the tithe is the basic giving unit, and that it is still binding on the New Testament Christian. However, he argues that the tithe doesn’t need to go just to the church on worships in, but may be divided with parachurch ministries. This, I believe, is a mistake. The tithe was always intended to be the amount that adds up for the maintaining of the building and the pastor (priest). It does not seem biblical to my understanding, to give less than the full tithe to the church, and then give more to the church and other organizations.

The books ends with a Q & A section in which Sproul addresses whether or not God hears the prayers of unbelievers, whether worship ought to be “seeker-sensitive,” and the frequency of the Lord’s Supper. With regards to frequency, Sproul admits that the argument of Calvin was for reception of the elements every time the church gathers, which one sees in Corinthians and in the documents of the early church fathers. However, Sproul gives in to the “but it won’t seem special” argument, which surprised me, and states that they receive the elements once a month. If the Sacrament is a means of grace, and the biblical and historical example is for frequent reception, I cannot but disagree with Sproul. Even without the evidence, would one really argue to see one’s spouse once a month, so the visit would remain “special”? This is a spurious argument, and I regret he includes it.

Overall, this is an excellent book – one well worth going through with our fellow Christians. However, be prepared for discussion, and even to disagree with Sproul on a few points, and be ready to explain why and what the Scripture says.

May God continue to us Dr. Sproul to His Glory.