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A guest post by Matt Maestas

Tim Challies’ freshman effort, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, is a helpful addition to the rather ambiguous void that exists in this area in Christian writing. With all of the self help, devotional and otherwise Christian literature available, it comes as a bit of a shock that more hasn’t been written on this vital topic.

Challies, of Challies.com fame is a much heralded blogger, Christian commentator and correspondent. It comes as a bit of a surprise that this is Challies’ first book, for it reads like a sage work. Filled with well rounded illustration and gripping analogy, Spiritual Discernment goes quickly, but prompts many instances of pause and reflection. Nestled at the back of the book is a study guide to help facilitate this venture.

In the introduction, Challies states he writes to the general reader who wishes to understand what the Bible teaches about discernment, showing that discernment is a discipline that Christians should seek to practice deliberately. In this stated goal, Challies succeeds by doing a fine job of highlighting examples of discernment in process and action in Scripture as well as providing a framework for this same discernment to take place in the life of the reader. Of especially good value in this regard are chapters 4 and 6 which focus on practical application concerning principles of discernment.

Another helpful chapter is 8, “Concerning the Dangers of Discernment.” This chapter serves as a helpful corrective against those who would label themselves the discernment or spiritual gifts police. In addition, Challies rightly warns of the dangers of both guilt and honor by association as well as going on unfounded witch hunts in the name of discernment.

With all that is notable about Spiritual Discernment, the book is not without its difficulties. First, an overly negative view of culture is taken, as God is seen to be at war with culture and not working within it in order to redeem. Secondly, at times it felt as if the communal aspects of discernment were overlooked in favor of the individual. Third, Challies seems to set up discernment as the ultimate spiritual gift, somehow exercising authority or preeminence over the others. Fourth, for an enterprise as complex as discernment, many of the solutions seemed overly simplistic, as when Challies writes, “Obeying God’s will is a relatively simple process of uncovering the truths of God so we might do the will of God.” Sounds real good on the exterior, yet in the Christian life, there are many difficult situations over which we must labor to make decisions. Finally, most troubling in Challies work is an overt infatuation with all things John MacArthur. While I have nothing against MacArthur and his ministry and teaching, overdependence on any one author is bound to color any perspective and this is evidently true in Challies work.

All in all, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is a good read in an otherwise lacking area of Christian writing. While I cannot award it a full 3 stars, it is however worthy of a solid 2 on the Vanderhorst scale, “well worth your time.” This work would be especially valuable for a college or new believer’s class, yet is worth the time of a seasoned Christian as well.

[Matt is married to Jessica, and currently lives in De Soto, Kansas, where he is planting De Soto Community Church. A Will Ferrell devotee, he has been known to insert entire monologues from Talladega Nights or Elf into sermons. Just kidding.]

Guest post by Robbie Phillips

There is one thing I need to mention before I actually get to the review. This has to do with my ties to the author. I’ve only met Mr. Keel once but we share some of the same friends and run in similar circles. In other words, I already knew some of the story and had preconceived notions about him and his ministry. That point is especially important because it has been my experience that when one knows an author one tends to be much more generous and less objective.

In any case, Intuitive Leadership is a glimpse into the personal experience of a man who finds himself called to ministry in a time of cultural transition. In this book, Mr. Keel takes the reader through his personal journey in ministry. Starting from his conversion up through the planting of the church he currently pastors (Jacob’s Well in Kansas City), he gives the reader insight into the challenges (and successes) that he has faced on his journey.

Overall, this book is a fine read. Probably the best aspect of the book is Mr. Keel’s use of local thinking. He constantly reminds the reader that much of what he’s done does not always translate into a global methodology. For Keel, and many other church planters, context is important. Yet for all that the book has going for it, it is not for everyone. If you are a person that has kept up with the emerging conversation or church planting then what you find in these pages will probably not blow you away. If you have already decided what you think about those who are involved in the emerging church this book won’t change your mind.

The ideal reader for Intuitive Leadership is someone who has an interest in gaining more knowledge about leadership, church planting, and theological issues in today’s postmodern context. Overall, I give this book a B (or 4 out of 5 stars or whatever the equivalent rating is in AJ’s system).