Book Reviews

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Written by: Mike Phillips

Created: 01 September 2026

God’s Homecoming
Tom Wright
SPCK Publishing 2026
Reviewed By Michael Phillips

Is Christian faith about our souls going to heaven when we die? No, says Tom Wright in God’s Homecoming, a sustained presentation of the Biblical narrative for thoughtful readers keen to deepen their theological understanding of the Scriptures. Wright’s thesis is that the Christian hope is not a platonic, disembodied existence with God in heaven, but God’s personal homecoming to the earth in new creation. The emphasis on resurrection and new creation will be well known to those familiar with Wright’s earlier work, especially Surprised by Hope. By challenging what he presents as the dominant paradigm of western Christianity, he sets out to offer fresh answers to important questions. While his fundamental thesis seems robust, it’s not clear that his fresh answers to controversial issues are as satisfactory as might be hoped.

The first third of the book outlines the biblical narrative to build the case that God’s promises are focused on him coming to renew the whole creation and dwell with his people, not on disembodied souls escaping to be with him. Wright’s biblical-theological reading, treating the whole Bible as one narrative, is a strength of the book. He shows how promises in the Old Testament about the land of Israel and the city of Zion are not forgotten or ‘spiritualised’, but underpin the hope that Jesus offers in the gospel, and that the early Christians proclaimed.

Overall, this is a convincing argument. Old Testament promises are not translated to heaven in the new covenant, but are caught up and included in Jesus’ promise to renew all things. One frustration throughout the book is Wright’s reliance on his own translation of the New Testament. It left me wondering how idiosyncratic his interpretation and translation were, compared to more widely-accepted translations.

The dominant passages in Wright’s paradigm are Isaiah 40-55 (especially chapter 40), Romans 8, and the promise that the Lord (or his glory, or knowledge of his glory) will fill the earth (eg. Habakuk 2:14, Psalm 72:19). In this light, he views the presence and then absence of God’s glory in the tabernacle and temple as vital context for the coming of the Messiah. He thus emphasises a present-and-future, double fulfilment of God’s promise to come home to his people. It is a double fulfilment in that it is fulfilled both in the incarnation of the Son, ‘tabernacling’ amongst us (John 1:14) and by the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, the presence of God coming to dwell in his people individually and corporately, the new temple. It is present-and-future, because Wright sees a fulfilment now, through Son and Spirit, and an ultimate fulfilment in the return of the Lord Jesus. This approach illuminates the incarnation and Pentecost in their biblical context, but somewhat diminishes the attention paid to the cross.

Wright fundamentally presents the cross as the victory of the homecoming Son over the powers and principalities. Undoubtedly this is a New Testament theme, but leaves too much unsaid about the nature of the atonement and substitution.

In the middle chapters of the book, Wright seeks to explain how western theology turned from offering the hope of a restored creation when the Lord returns, to a platonic hope of our souls getting to heaven after we die, and the beatific vision. He traces the influences of platonic thought in the early church fathers and medieval period. He identifies his position against Roman Catholics, on one hand, and 16th century reformers, on the other.

He favours the reformers in the matter of salvation by grace and his rejection of purgatory. However, he primarily wants to say that by focussing on justification by faith, they were not challenging the platonic assumptions of the medieval church deeply enough – a critique he would level at many contemporary evangelicals!

Finally, Wright turns to the ethical and practical implications of this re-orienting of theology around God’s homecoming. He examines topics that have caused significant controversy, including worship, evangelism, the sacraments and the intermediate state. I found this section less persuasive than the earlier part of the book. In parts, it provided a more robust theological foundation for some areas of practice, without significantly challenging practice - for example, on prayer. At other times his conclusions seemed at odds with his theological positions. For example, after insisting that the departed have ‘no purgatory to worry about’, he then deemed it appropriate to pray for them, for ‘their continuing life of refreshment’ (p297). This seems pastorally confusing, given his desire to challenge the popular understanding of souls being purified for heaven. That said, Wright’s core conviction about the intermediate state is that those who are united with the Spirit of God in their life remain united with him after their death. This is both convincing and pastorally powerful. He shifts language from ‘souls’ being with God, to our ‘spirit’ being united with the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our preservation and sanctification as we await the resurrection of our bodies in the new creation. This is a wonderful hope to encourage ourselves and our churches! Thoughtful readers keen to grow in their understanding of the overall narrative of the Bible will be encouraged by this book, though some of the practical applications warrant further consideration.

Rev Michael Phillips currently serves as Vicar of Ormond Anglican Church, Melbourne. He ministered previously as Campus Minister at St Jude’s, Parkville after completing theological study at Ridley College, Melbourne.

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Written by: Joy Sandefur

Created: 01 September 2026

I Speak for Black People
WEI-HAN KUAN
Broad Continent Publishing
Reviewed by Joy Sandefur

This informative book tells the story of pioneer Aboriginal missionaries Rev James and Angelina Noble. Three times they were sent as missionaries to remote Aboriginal people by the missionary-minded Aboriginal church at Yarrabah in Queensland.

Wei-Han Kuan’s book makes a valuable contribution to Australian missionary literature as he introduces us to the Nobles as mature and faithful missionaries. He describes them as faithfully living and communicating the gospel, resulting in many becoming Christians. They were ahead of the norm of the time as they taught people new skills and then trusted them to use them responsibly.

Kuan notes the Nobles were part of the 1904 missionary expedition to start a mission at Mitchell River, today known as Kowanyama. Missionary Gribble led the expedition that also included three white and six Aboriginal missionaries from Yarrabah. The inclusion of Angelina revealed the need for a ministry by women to women.

In 1908 this remarkable couple were part of the missionary team founding the mission at Roper River, now known as Ngukurr in the NT. We learn that the Yarrabah church had a say in deciding who was included in this expedition. The white missionaries were hesitant to include Angelina as they were planning to create a safe haven for Aborigines who were being cleared from the land to make way for a large cattle station. The Aboriginal Church at Yarrabah voted unanimously that Angelina should go with James.

James had leadership skills in taking church services and leading other activities. Angelina was a gifted linguist and communicator. When I went to live at Ngukurr in 1976 people told me that it was James Noble who had brought them the gospel. James and Angelina returned to Yarrabah after two years due to health issues.

They never lost their commitment to serving as missionaries. Again, they answered the call in 1914 to go to Forrest River Mission in the Kimberley region of North Australia. They faithfully served there until 1932.

Within a year of the arrival of James and Angelina a school was established. As a black woman with children Angelina was trusted. Within a year large numbers were attending the weekly church service led by James. Angelina translated for James, Gribble and for visiting local government officials. For a period of 6 years at Forrest River, Angelina was the only female missionary and was in charge of the school dormitory, health care, baking, and teaching laundry and cooking skills.

In 1925 Gribble and James Noble did a nine month missionary deputation which started in Perth and travelled all the way to Brisbane. James was very well received. The tour culminated in Geraldton where James Noble was the first Aboriginal person ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church. Many Aboriginal Christians have followed in his steps in the 100 years after his ordination.

After ordination life was difficult at Forrest River. Land was being cleared of Aboriginal people to make room for cattle stations. Massacres occurred and James found evidence that the bodies had been burned. The missionaries painstakingly documented who had died. The Royal Commission into the massacres rejected their evidence. After that, the entire white population of Wyndham shunned Gribble and the mission. Gribble left in 1928 with the Aboriginal people weeping as he left. James and Angelina served faithfully until 1932.

I commend this book to you. It introduces us to Aboriginal people in remote places faithfully sharing the gospel with other tribes.

Rev Dr Joy Sandefur spent 25 years working in the north of Australia with Wycliffe Bible translators and The Bush Church Aid Society. Joy was a member of the Kriol Bible Translation Project, worked at Nungalinya College and supported the Anglican Indigenous churches in Arnhem Land.

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Written by: Paul Barker

Created: 01 September 2026

Leviticus on the Butcher’s Block: Making Head or Tail of the Bible’s Toughest Book
Phil Bray
Resource Publications, 2025
REVIEWED BY PAUL BARKER

I recall conversations years ago with my PhD supervisor, who wrote a substantial commentary on Leviticus, about being sympathetic to Leviticus when reading it and letting all your senses be engaged. I have taken the same approach when teaching Leviticus over the years. Bray’s little gem of a book has evoked all my senses.

Phil Bray is a butcher, in his daily work, and throughout this book I have smelled a butcher shop, seen the blood spattered butcher’s apron and the display case of cuts, felt again the sawdust underfoot from my childhood butcher, salivated at the taste and smell of barbecued lamb, held the fatty chops in my fingers and felt the dripping fat on my chin. And Leviticus is meant to do that for us too, with all the senses engaged imagining the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Bray handles the text carefully and creatively. He argues that a sacrifice is not a simple transaction but is highly relational. He reminds us of the parts that are burned up, and the parts that are cooked and eaten as communal meals in the presence of God. He rightly sees that Leviticus is not some mechanical ritual but is to be an expression of the heart in relationship with God. In our health conscious environment, the idea of fat portions is not attractive. I recall on early visits to Myanmar, a very poor country, realising that as eating meat was not an everyday occurrence, the fat portions were prized. Bray the butcher would toss aside the fat portions, cutting them away from the kidneys, for example. While he could have discussed fat portions more, perhaps, and why ancient people prized them, his discussion about kidneys and liver being at the centre of the animal and being heavy was enlightening, seeing a link between glory (kavod meaning heavy) and the liver (kaved). The liver and kidneys are at the centre of a being, so are used in scripture for emotions, an idea foreign to us.

These parts are burnt up as God’s portion of a sacrifice. Bray discusses atonement, Tyndale’s word to translate kipper. In this context, I found his discussion about the significance of laying a hand on the head of the animal highly stimulating and helpful, arguing against the book reviews

common view that it simply is a transfer of sin onto the animal. He argues that it is hard to see that an animal would then be a sweet aroma acceptable to God. Instead he sees the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement as bearing sin, with two hands transferring sin to that animal.

This book is not a commentary, so in one sense the title may be misleading. Much in Leviticus is not dealt with at all. The focus is sacrifice, the first five chapters of Leviticus especially, plus the clean and unclean laws and Day of Atonement. I would have liked a bit more discussion about lifeblood and why (or not) Christians cannot eat blood today and what that means with regards to meat. This issue is maybe less important in Australia but is a topic of interest in many parts of Asia. I am also not sure that I think Leviticus is the toughest book of the Bible, but that is no doubt contested.

Bray helpfully, and gently, leads us through Leviticus to Jesus, the lamb who takes away our sins, the one who brings us atonement.

This book is easy to read, accessible, with humour and anecdote. It is brief, at not much over 100 pages. Behind lies significant reading and scholarship, displayed with a light touch. As I write, I am not surprised this book is shortlisted for the Australian Christian Book of the Year. I am eager to commend it for thoughtful reading and discussion.

Bishop Paul Barker (Diocese of Melbourne) is also an Old Testament Lecturer and one who enjoys roast lamb.

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Written by: Andrew Katay

Created: 01 June 2026

Timothy Keller: His spiritual and intellectual formation
Colin Hansen
Zondervan Reflective, Feb 2023
Reviewed by Andrew Katay

One of the things that Tim Keller used to say was that, in order to be evangelistically fruitful, Christians needed at the same time to be reassuringly familiar and intriguingly different.

I wonder whether biographies might have the same applied to them.

There’s little point in writing a biography of someone who is wholly and completely different, a full and genuine singularity, to whom it is impossible to relate. And at the same time, there’s equally little point in writing a biography of someone who is simply the same as you, wholly recognisable as the person you might have been. What we need in biographies is someone who is reassuringly familiar - sufficiently familiar that I can see myself in them, or perhaps a better version of myself; and at the same time, someone who is different in intriguing, even challenging ways, ways that call me to be better or deeper or fuller than I currently am.

Colin Hansen’s Timothy Keller: His spiritual and intellectual formation is that sort of biography, although at the outset, Hansen is at pains to make sure that his readers understand this is no ordinary biography. Working from Tim Keller’s own self-effacing convictions as his starting point, Hansen says in the preface that “The story of Tim Keller is the story of his spiritual and intellectual influences”, and so this is a biography of those influences.

Structured in four parts, of between 4 and 6 chapters each, the book is a well-researched, lively narrative of the forces that shaped the remarkable ministry of Tim Keller. Keller was, of course, mostly unknown on a broad scale prior to planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City in 1989, and even then, it was only his leadership in the aftermath of the Twin Towers terror event in 2001, and even more, the publishing of The Reason for God in 2008, that brought Keller to a wider audience. It is perhaps for this reason that I found the earlier, less well-known parts of Tim’s journey among the most absorbing - his childhood and teenage days, his time at Bucknell college and involvement with the InterVarsity group there, and the profound influence that Kathy Kristy - who would become Kathy Keller - had on him.

As someone myself whose life course was deeply impacted by my university years and the ministry of InterVarsity (called the Evangelical Union at Sydney University), I found these sections particularly relatable. I was reminded of the enormous changes that uni students are going through, and the wonderful opportunity for mission and discipleship that campus ministry represents. Hansen concludes:

“Even when Keller left InterVarsity for the local church, he brought InterVarsity’s instincts with him. He learned that Christians must never compromise on their core values, which he identified as the infallibility of the Bible, the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, the necessity of the new birth, and the full deity of Jesus ... At the same time InterVarsity taught him to value what Christians hold in common over the doctrines that divide them. That doesn’t mean that what separates Presbyterians from Baptists or Pentecostals is unimportant. “But the core is the core,” he said. “You ought to be collegial and open-minded to other Christians who differ on the secondary issues. I learned that from InterVarsity.”

Of course, for anyone who knows of Keller’s ministry, these values sound very familiar. Helpfully, Hansen is clear that the influences on Keller’s ministry were not merely intellectual. The description of Tim’s engagement with RC Sproul and the Ligonier Center (sic) gives insight into Keller’s deeply experiential focus, right alongside his intellectual rigour. Hansen writes: “When Keller looks back on Ligonier Valley Study Center, however, he doesn’t primarily recall ideas or debates. Rather, he remembers most fondly many dinners shared with the Sprouls in their Stahlstown home.”

Similarly, the depiction of Tim’s time in small-town USA - Hopewell Virginia to be precise - was moving, summarising them in Tim’s words as “the most formative ministry years” of his life.

The second half of the book moved into more familiar territory, for those who have listened to or read much Keller material.

The time at Westminster, and in particular the influence of Ed Clowney (in relation to Biblical Theology) and Harvey Conn (in relation to contextualisation) is recounted well - and the description of some intra-faculty tensions at Westminster adds colour to the story. Similarly, the impact of Jack Miller on Keller is also described, specifically in relation to the way that Tim embedded what we would later call ‘grace renewal dynamics’ at every level of church life, especially preaching. And then the story of Redeemer, reluctantly planted by Tim, and yet which was the bringing together of all of Tim’s experience in both pastoral ministry and seminary. Of course it grew, and fairly quickly gave birth to a worldwide ‘extension arm’ called City to City (I often say that I praise God it was not called ‘Tim Keller International Ministries’, which of course he would never do). And yet, in this section, it is the account of the deathbed conversion of Tim’s younger brother Billy that is the most moving.

I think there are two ways that this spiritual and intellectual biography could be improved. First, and the smaller of the two points, Hansen doesn’t really address what was one of the most powerfully animating themes for Tim, which is the idea of a movement of the gospel. After all, as Tim said repeatedly, it takes a movement to reach a city, and part of the deep structure of Tim’s motivation was not just to build a great church, but to see a gospel movement emerge that would build a great city.

Second, it seems to me that Hansen hasn’t been able to present an integrated vision of how these many influences on Tim worked together to produce what Tim called a ‘theological vision’. It may be that Hansen regarded this as beyond the remit of his project; however, I would suggest that providing this synthesis would have made for a more compelling biography. Indeed, Hansen concludes his survey by noting that “Keller’s originality comes in his synthesis, how he pulls the sources together for unexpected insights. Having one hero would be derivative; having one hundred heroes means you’ve drunk deeply by scouring the world for the purest wells”.

This is a great insight, and explains much of Tim’s appeal to so many.

Rev Dr Andrew Katay is Senior Minister at Christ Church Inner West.

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Written by: Mike Phillips

Created: 01 June 2026

The Golden Thread

GWEN ASTEN
The Golden Thread can be purchased at underthesun.net.au
Reviewed by Mike Phillips

From a bleak childhood in the north of England, to a near death experience on mission in Nigeria, The Golden Thread is a moving testimony to the faithfulness and goodness of God.

Gwen (Gwyneth) Asten traces the story of her life, with many memorable vignettes, to encourage her grandchildren, godchildren and other readers about the reality of God. And God’s hand is indeed evident in many ways throughout her life. Dealing with themes of conflicted family relationships, forgiveness, the leading of the Holy Spirit, the study of Scripture, vocation and service to others, the autobiography is interwoven with the thread of God’s faithful love and sovereignty, from which the book takes its title.

Asten’s life begins in northern England in a controlling and emotionally barren family. She has limited exposure to Christian faith, or kindness of any form. What kindness she does experience seems to leave an indelible mark on her, whereas her experiences of Christian faith have little impact. After migrating to Australia, she comes to faith through high school friends, marries against her family’s will after a providential court order, and trains as a doctor.

Her adult life includes significant reflection on cross cultural relationships and lay ministry, serving God in healthcare, forgiveness, parenting and seeking to follow the will of God. Her gift for gratitude and generous service of others shines through, and all the more brightly given the hardships she endures. Indeed, it is a testament to God’s grace that these hardships haven’t led to bitterness or cynicism.

Many Christians have found inspiration in reading accounts of the lives of missionaries, spurring us on trust God more fully. In some ways, Asten’s account of her life fits into this category. Her faith in the Lord, and that of her husband, is powerfully evident in their decision to move to Nigeria in the late 1970s while she was 6 months pregnant. And the powerful mercy of God is evident in his protection of her through childbirth, a near-fatal illness, and coercive intimidation by airport officials. Such faith, that is willing to take risks to serve God, even at personal cost, is comparatively rare today, and yet inspiring.

But God’s power is also evident in how he has transformed the other, more familiar, decisions of her life. This is not fundamentally the story of an otherworldly missionary, but simply a Melbourne grandmother committed to following Jesus. Her deep love for God expresses itself in many more mundane aspects of her life. She marries and sets up a practice as a GP, has kids and grandkids, and is involved in a local church. But in each of these areas, Asten’s life is made remarkable by God’s work in her, moving her to love others. She resists her father’s will and marries a man who shares her commitment to Christ. She establishes her medical practice, and makes a point of employing doctors returning from overseas mission hospitals, to assist them as they upskill and update their practice. While learning to raise her own kids in a manner very different from her own upbringing, she begins to write and share her insights with other new parents. And in her local church, she and her husband initiate a ministry to welcome migrants and international students to Australia. The ministry helps them to adjust to Australian culture, enables them to read and understand the Bible, and has led to around thirty baptisms. In all these ways and more, her story reveals how God’s grace has transformed an emotionally starved child into a grown woman profoundly devoted to serving Him and others.

Written in 62 short chapters of a few pages each, the story is fast-moving and engaging, with frequent references to apt Bible passages. Some chapters are particularly moving, including those that deal with forgiving her father, reconciling with her mother, and abusive doctors. Other chapters may raise questions and challenge assumptions, including those on hypnosis (including reflection on Acts 10:10 and 22:17) and the Shroud of Turin. Along the way, she grapples with genuine questions and doubts, personal suffering and disability, the reality of evil and conflict, and the consolation of strong friendships and personal prayer with God. In all these ways, she invites curiosity into the reality of God and his imminent presence working for good in the lives of those who trust him.

Her ultimate hope is that readers will see how God has revealed himself, and ‘come to know Him and love Him and follow Him for yourselves’. It’s a commendable aim and a wonderful example of a Christian grandparent seeking to share their faith as a gift – not only for her own descendants, but for many others. While I am neither her grandchild nor godchild, I do know members of the family personally, and I found it a profoundly encouraging and engrossing read, and would recommend it as a wonderful testimony to how God might use our otherwise mundane lives for his glory. It’s also a wonderful example for others who might wish to record their own experience of God to pass on to the next generation.

Mike Phillips is the Vicar of Ormond Anglican Church, and a friend of the Asten family. The Golden Thread can be purchased at underthesun.net.au

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Written by: Peter Stone

Created: 01 June 2026

“It’s Complicated” 
Tim Davey
Green Hill Publishing, April 2025
Reviewed by Peter Stone

This work introduces us to a new acronym: FICDO. Faith-Inspired, Cause-Driven Organisation. Almost all of us are connected to one (or more) of these and some of us are deeply committed to its aims and their achievement. Many will probably be involved in some way with the organisation’s operations and governance. This book is especially focused on those folk.

The author helpfully maps the genetic makeup of these organisations:

• They are almost always complex. So few things are simple or straightforward.
• They have a social contract with supporters, stakeholders and paid staff related to faith and purpose. Often this is not clearly articulated or actively managed.
• They have a business model that is not widely understood. Assumptions are often based on limited knowledge or data. Measurement of impact is challenging at best.
• The interface with faith can be volatile and sometimes affects goal formation, strategy and management. Areas like risk management and the relationship with regulators can be challenging. It is this faith dimension that delineates FICDO’s from other not-for-profit organisations.

I have worked with the executive and boards of dozens of these organisations in the last twenty-five years and found myself nodding in agreement with Tim’s experience and observations as I read the book. These organisations are both wonderful and infuriating at the same time. Their purpose is almost always laudable but usually struggles to translate into operations, policy, strategy and culture. Sometimes this leads to catastrophic failure. Usually it results in constant low-level frustration and systemic conflict between (legitimate) stakeholders who bring expectations that are often irreconcilable.

One of the drivers of this syndrome is the challenge of finding, training and developing leaders in both management and governance who can rise to the task at hand. That task is evolving rapidly as ever more intrusive legislation and regulation demand attention and resources.

Child protection, risk management, financial probity, mandated reporting, privacy, data integrity, industrial relations (to name a few) have grown hungrier and grumpier over the last two decades. Then add social media and artificial intelligence to the mix. They demand more time, expertise and headspace than most of our inherited practices and policies envisaged or imagined. There are no easy or quick answers to this challenge.

However, there is wisdom gleaned from experience and reflection that can be helpful to guide thinking and practice. This book is a valuable contribution to that worthy goal.

It does this by confronting and wrestling with the overarching issue: complexity. Few people are comfortable with complexity and even fewer enjoy working with it. Most of us either want to run from engagement with it, deny its significance or seek simple answers to short-term manifestations. (Just reflect on how the media engages with complex issues for illustrations of these responses). The author Peter Senge helpfully observed that “there is no such place as away for problems to go to.” Henry Cloud defines integrity as “the courage to confront reality.” The beginning of wisdom is squaring up to the reality and impact of complexity. Tim Davey does that comprehensively in the first half of the book.

The second half looks at practical responses to the challenge.

It looks at the centrality of leadership as the foundation. This not just about knowledge or technique. Issues about character, accountability and calling are explored as well as more secular insights into effective leadership.

Importantly leadership is understood as the impact and influence of leaders at all levels, including governance.

He identities five unique capabilities requisite for leadership of FICDO’s.

• Light the way forward
• Hear and harness diverse voices
• Strive for excellence
• Eliminate fear
• Make space for wisdom

Each of these is explored with helpful guidance of how they play out in practice.

He then goes on to describe four unique attributes for FICDO leaders.

• A clear sense of personal identity
• Humility
• Courage
• Faithfulness

Again each is supplemented by practical suggestion and illustrations. Scripture is cited thoughtfully and helpfully.

The place of prayer is highlighted. The next major focus area is governance where Tim explores the specific role of the board in FICDO’s. He cites secular authorities and accepted standards. He goes on to thoughtfully explore how difficult it is to assemble, lead and make best use of a board amid this complexity. Staffing is then examined. Bringing in the right people, moving on the ones who don’t fit, enabling appropriate commitment managing performance and setting expectations are helpfully illustrated.

The outcome of all this will be an organisation’s culture. Tim ranges across how culture is formed, what a great

culture looks like, and specific traps that often ensnare

faith-based organisations. He then gives helpful clues on how to shape an effective culture.

The book closes with some helpful guidance:

• Do not lose sight of why you exist
• Recognise that you cannot eliminate risk
• Don’t mistake efficiency for effectiveness
• Strive to be faithful to the faith
• Be realistic about what can and should be achieved.
• Do not mistake ego for vision
• Accept that this may be messy
• Recognise that this is a different sector
• Support the people who work in the sector
• Do not give up

Amen to all that!

Peter Stone is a member of Merri Creek Anglican Church in Melbourne. He is a graduate of Regent College in Vancouver and has recently retired from twenty years as a consultant in strategy formation and implementation.