Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Henry Scougal, the 17th Century Scottish theologian penned a book called The Life of God in the Soul of Man. That book was instrumental in George Whitefield’s conversion and influential on the Methodist revival in Great Britain and the First Great Awakening in America. Scougal took union with God seriously and urged his readers to pursue union with God and forsake false notions of religion; nevertheless Scougal’s vision of union with Christ in an explicitly Christ centered way (J.I. show more Packer’s critique) and his vision of union with Christ was individualistic.

In The Life of God in the Soul of the Church, Thabiti Anyabwile expands on Scougal’s theme by examining the corporate, public character of union with Christ through the lens of involvement with a local church. Anyabwile is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands). He is passionate about communicating both the nature of the church as a spiritual fellowship and what the practical implications of our shared union with Christ and one another. The book is a collection of sermons Anyabwile preached at First Baptist which explore this theme (expository sermons, mostly from Paul’s letters but two are based in texts from 1 John).

Anyabwile’s sermons are organized into two sections. In Part 1, Anyabwile describes our union with Christ and spiritual fellowship. Like Scougal he stresses the vital necessity of union with Christ in the Christian life, but he takes great care to make sure that the Christian life is not conceived in privatized, individualistic terms. Rather our growing up in the image of Christ necessarily takes place within the context of the Body of Christ, his church.

In part two, Anyabwile explores what this looks through sermons about how we ‘apply’ our union with one another. Loving one another forms an inclusio of all his material here. He also has sermons on fellowship and the nature of Spiritual gifts, what it means to partner in the gospel, the ministry of restoration and encouragement, suffering with one another and offering comfort, forgiving one another, singing to one another, giving and mutual acceptance.

I appreciate Anyabwile’s treatment of his theme and the careful exposition he offers. Anyabwile’s ecclesiology is biblically rooted and these sermons are meaty. There is a lot to chew on here. Anyabwile does not simply describe what your church should be (but probably isn’t), but gives sound, biblical advice to his readers/hearers on what it means to be the church. It is impossible to grasp the message that Anyabwile is saying here and be a passive observer. In Christ we have fellowship with God and with one another. In Christ we have been invited into a whole way of life which is characterized by mutual sharing, love and sacrificial care for the church and for the world. This book may enlarge your vision about what it means to be ‘in Christ’ and what it means to be in the church.

My biggest criticism of this book is that it should have been edited to reflect the print medium. Sermons are meant to be heard, and at times this book reads like a transcript of a Sunday sermon (I don’t know if these sermons come from Anyabwile’s manuscripts or are transcribed from his delivery). Occasionally a sermon refers to ‘this morning’ or describes what we do ‘here at First Baptist.’ I found these rhetoric devices a little distracting. But my critique is more for its style rather than it’s substance. I can appreciate that these sermons came out of a context, and do like that Anyabwile isn’t just spouting timeless truth but presenting the gospel with in a context.

I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to deepen their fellowship with other believers and to those who wonder why church matters. This is a short accessible treatment on the theme.

Thank you to Cross Focused Reviews and Christian Focus Publications for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for this review. show less

In the weeks before Easter, I usually try to find a good devotional book to contemplate afresh the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection. A new book from Thabiti Anyabwile is just what I was looking for this year.

"Captivated: Beholding the Mystery of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection" (Reformation Heritage, 2014) takes the reader on a look at the last few days of Christ’s passion. Anyabwile follows five different questions asked in Scripture’s teaching concerning Christ’s show more death and resurrection, and uses these questions as food for thought and contemplation.

•Is There No Other Way?
•Why Have You Forsaken Me?
•Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?
•Why Do You Seek the Living among the Dead?
•Do You Not Know These Things?

This book was born from a series of sermons, that its author preached. Anyabwile is an engaging speaker and his writing was just as warm and personal as his speaking. He displays a pastor’s heart as he applies lessons from Christ’s suffering to the problem and pain that so many of us face. He is a bold evangelist in this book too, calling the reader to repent and believe the gospel. Often Anyabwile quotes from Scripture and occasionally he draws on the lyrics from age-old hymns or even, a new Christian rap song. His analogies and illustrations always help drive the point of the chapter home.

Much of the material falls in the “helpful reminder” category. Christians know this, and have learned this — but do we live it? Some of Anyabwile’s insights are refreshingly new and quite helpful. I particularly enjoyed how he showed that in most of the post-Resurrection appearances, merely seeing the physical Jesus was not enough. The minds and eyes of the disciples had to be opened, again and again, in order for them to comprehend that this indeed was Jesus. His conclusion from this is worth repeating here:

"In order to recognize and accept Jesus for who He is, we must be born again. The Spirit of God must give us a new heart and new eyes of faith so that we can understand the things of God and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. The Father must open our eyes so we can see Jesus. Until God opens our eyes to who He really is in Christ, we remain blind to ultimate truth.

"Has God opened your eyes yet? Do you see with the sight that He alone can give? How would you know that you see and recognize Jesus for who He is?" (p. 87)

I included the second paragraph in the except above to illustrate why this book may not be for you. His direct appeals might unnerve some of us. Or they may prod us to where we need to be! Perhaps this Easter is a good time for you to explore anew the suffering and death, and the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. The questions for reflection after each of the five small chapters in this little book, will aid in personal examination or group study. The brevity of the book will prevent even the weakest of readers from the excuse that they don’t have time for this book. It is less than 100 pages, but well worth your time. May God use it to rekindle a love for Christ and the Bible in all of us!

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reformation Heritage Books via CrossFocusedReviews.com. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review. show less

Many Christians find themselves not very prepared to be able to have good discussions with their Muslim neighbors.

Thabiti Anyabwile sets forth his encouragement and insights in The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ With Confidence (galley received as part of early review program).

The author was raised Muslim and converted to Christianity; he also has himself spoken of Christ with many Muslims, as attested throughout the book.

In the first half of the book the author show more explored the dogmatic and doctrinal aspects of speaking with Muslims. He addressed the similarities and differences between the Christian and Muslim conceptions of God, Jesus, sin, faith, repentance, and the Bible, and the internal contradictions of the Muslim position in terms of each.

The second half of the book provides more guidance about method and framework, and would be as true in terms of witnessing regarding Jesus to anyone as to someone of the Muslim faith: heeding the promptings of the Spirit; affirming the Bible and its accuracy; the value of hospitality and how to be truly hospitable; involvement of the local congregation; why and how Christians might suffer for the Name of Jesus. The author concluded by addressing how to converse with Black Muslims in America and a final message to encourage all in their witness for Christ.

The author converted to a form of Calvinism and this becomes quite apparent in his emphasis on the matters of sin, justice, and penal substitutionary atonement. Yet there remain many good thoughts and forms of encouragement regarding effectively testifying about the Lord Jesus Christ among Muslims. show less

There are over three million Muslims living in the United States today. Soon, if not already, you will have Muslim neighbors and coworkers. Does the thought of reaching out to them with the gospel make you nervous? How can you effectively communicate the good news with such large theological differences? The Gospel for Muslims can help make sharing your faith easier than you think.
Thabiti Anyabwile, who is himself a convert from Islam to Christianity, instructs you in ways to discuss the show more good news of Christ with your neighbors and friends. The Gospel for Muslims allows you to focus on the people rather than the religious system. Meant for the average Christian, it is not an exhaustive apologetic or comparative study of Christianity and Islam. Rather, it compellingly stirs confidence in the gospel, equipping you with the basics necessary to communicate clearly, boldly, and winsomely. show less