Just finished reading this book. Really enjoyed it. It’s like a ‘Rough Guide’ to American Calvinism. Made me want to go to the places it describes and savour the ministry on offer there.

As a result of the interweb thingy I’m greatly indebted to a number of the men mentioned in this book. The sermons of Driscoll, Keller and Sproul have been used by God to feed my soul at times when I’ve felt spiritually dry or discouraged in ministry. The writing of Piper, Ware and Carson has kept me on the straight and narrow, as well as providing useful fodder for college essays! I’m a card carrying five pointer and so these are my guys. God is growing their ministries and so I found it immensely encouraging. As with all these biographically shaped books it’s worth keeping 1 Corinthians 3:7 in mind, ‘neither he who plants nor he who wanters is anything, but only God who gives the growth’.

Collin Hansen’s book grew out of an article first published in Christianity Today. His book reads like an extended article and it’s no less enjoyable for that. It’s like reading a Sunday Times colour supplement piece on American Reformed Evangelicalism. It’s only 150 pages; you’ll get through it in a few hours.

I can’t comment on the American scene and profess anything but the slightest familiarity. But this book maps out some of the terrain, charts the growth of Calvinism in the Evangelical scene and interviews not only the key church leaders but also those who are attracted to their ministry. It highlights some of the fault lines within the Reformed movement and yet also explains how key leaders on both sides of the Charismatic debate are working together and co-operating for the gospel. Two key groups are Together for the Gospel and the Gospel Coalition.

Two reviews I found interesting can be found here, which is positive and here which sounds a few sobering and cautionary notes. He’s probably right but I’m not going to panic. We’ll work hard, we’ll pray but ultimately we’ll sleep at night because we’re Calvinists!