Yes, I know this is a bit late for a “2012″ list. Cut me some slack, I’m trying to be organized here! Here are some books I hope to read this year. Probably one a month (I am not Thad Bergmeier, who read 50-70 books a year!).

Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo (for a class I’m teaching)

A Book on Small Groups (TBD)

Humility by CJ Mahaney

Let the Nations be Glad by John Piper

Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley

The Shepherd Leader by Timothy Witmer

Toward an Exegetical Theology by Walt Kaiser

The Passion Driven Sermon by Jim Shaddix

Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

The Jesus Crisis by Robert Thomas and David Farnell

In my experience as a pastor, I have met few people who do not struggle with prayer. This is true for me as well. Whenever I am called upon to teach on prayer or even in the mornings when I try to practice the discipline of prayer, I struggle because I know this is a discipline I can always be improving upon. I’m just being honest. The hard thing for me is that I know as an elder it is one of my main responsibilities (If we understand the apostolic duties to be what should be done by elders of today’s church, Acts 6:4). I also know that prayer is not something that is only for a certain time of day. It is something I should be in the practice of throughout the day. One of the practices I try to follow is, when someone asks me to pray or I recognize that I should pray for someone (in that they have come to me to tell me of a situation in their life, etc.), I should pray with them right there and then. Just a few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head this morning.

Damon Horton, the author of G.O.S.P.E.L ¹, is a pastor, Bible college professor, author (obviously) and Christian Hip-Hop artist . Yes, you read correctly, I said Christian Hip-Hop artist, (his stage name is Azriel. And for those of you out of touch, this means he raps, if you still don’t get it, then never mind.). If you are familiar with the likes of Lecrae or shai linne, then Damon’s solidly biblical content will be no surprise to you. It is also no surprise that his book is just the same.

In G.O.S.P.E.L. Horton attempts to take the street lingo he was used to in his days before Christ when he was a pusher, to communicate the gospel to those who come from a similar background. This book is written mainly for the urban dweller, the inner-city folk, who Horton identifies as having cultural roots in the church, but very little knowledge of the true hope that is in Christ. However, don’t expect this to be a watered down contextualized message. Though this book is small, it is meaty with a strong Biblically substantiated gospel message, that does not leave the reader wondering where Horton stands on issues like repentance and lordship.

The reason the title is spelled the way it is, is that Horton uses it as an acrostic: G–God’s Image, O–Open Fellowship, S–Sin Introduced, P–Penalty and Price, E–Enter Jesus  and L–Life Everlasting. In each chapter the author addresses these issues from Scripture interspersing it with what he calls Thebonics (Theological Ebonics) to flavor the truth with street language. Again, Horton never allows this to detract from the beauty of Scripture and the clear message of man’s sin and his need of repentance and faith. Each chapter also includes a rap that Horton wrote to coincide with the topic he is addressing. He also recorded an album which features each of these songs.

Not only does Horton tell the reader how they can be made right with God through Christ’s death and resurrection, but in a chapter called “What Now?” he also communicates how the reality of one’s conversion can only be known through a lifestyle that reflects what they’ve said they believed.

The most encouraging part about the book is every time I thought the author was going to concede a strong point, to aid in “not being offensive” to the urban dweller in presenting the gospel, he shocked me with solidly Biblical responses. For instance, Horton encourages the reader that skin color or style has nothing to do with the effectiveness of gospel communication in certain contexts, but reminds us that “the Holy Spirit is responsible for bringing regeneration to the sinner, not the church or our methods. Minorities in the inner city are in need of the same gospel that is preached to the white-collar CEO in the suburbs.”

It is because of this kind of balanced approach that I can highly recommend Damon Horton’s book to you, both as an encouragement to your heart, as well as an extended gospel tract.