Why I wrote Devotional Doctrine

So the other day, I finally got to hold a copy of my new book, Devotional Doctrine. I can’t fully explain how excited I am about this project, which is probably one of my favorite books to have written so far. You’ve read the platitudes before about writing, and how it’s something you have to live, and all that kind of stuff, so I’m going to spare you some of that. But even so, I want to explain why I wrote this book.

See, I discovered a love for theology very naturally—through reading my Bible, and then discovering really great books. But not long after becoming a Christian, and discovering my own love for theology, I began to realize that there were many folks who didn’t feel the same way. Fellow church members, coworkers, and friends who saw it as unnecessary, or divisive. Something that took away from a joyful and fruitful Christian life. And then I saw others who felt the same way I did about theology, but from an almost theoretical standpoint. They loved to wax eloquently and use many big words, but didn’t seem to be experiencing the joy and fruit they could write papers and blog posts on.

Maybe you’re familiar with both of these types of believers. Maybe you’ve been both. And this book is written for both of them. It’s a reminder to those of us who can live in our heads too much that our theology expresses itself in our lives, as we live as gospel witnesses. And it’s an encouragement for those who are skeptical about theology’s value to challenge their own assumptions and see how doctrine leads to delight; or to say it another way, how doctrine shapes our devotion.

That’s why I wrote this book. And if you’re at T4G in Louisville and MLK50 in Memphis, I’m looking forward to putting a copy in your hand personally. I hope you like it.