This book is a collection of interviews with Carl Trueman, Joel Beeke, Geoff Thomas, Derek Thomas, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Michael Horton, Greg Beale and several others.

I need to make a confession. When I bought this book I wasn’t expecting much. You see, I never really like reading interviews, and the thought of reading twenty interviews on heresy wasn’t the most exciting thing in the world. But by the middle of the first interview I was hooked. I could not put the book down. What I loved was the author asked the questions that I ask. Questions I would love to sit down and ask seasoned church leaders. Questions like:

• How should a minster keep his heart, mind and will from theological error?
• How have you dealt with church members or students who have been attracted to, or taken in by false teaching?
• How can a minister keep himself from bitterness, pride and cynicism as he faces controversy?
• How should a pastor protect the flock and help them to value sound doctrine?

Some questions were asked multiple times, and that led to some great depth of insight. I was interested to see how many of the answers were similar but with very distinct aspects. However, what was true of all the interviews was that you came out wanting to preach the Bible more. One of my favorite interviews was with Michael Horton who said, ‘We are often known more for what we’re against than by what we’re for’. A very true comment, but not true about these interviews. They were Christ-centred and gospel focused.

Although some questions are repeated, the rest are specific to each individual. The author pushes them on certain issues, develops thoughts, and increases insights. A few of the interviews looked closely at specific doctrinal issues facing the church today. These included Tom Schreiner on penal substitution, Greg Beale on inerrancy, and Robert Peterson on eternal punishment. I found some of these interviews rather complex, and will need to look at them again.

However, some of the summary questions helped me get a handle on the issues.
This book is not a nit-picking, heresy hunting, liberal burning, negative book. It is a generous, encouraging, challenging and strengthening book. It really does make you want to concentrate on the truth.
Ultimately, if you are a pastor, or going into the pastorate, read this book. It is, as Sinclair Ferguson in the foreword suggests, a good book to sit down by a fire with, making sure that you have some lovely coffee, a few biscuits and a decent highlighter pen. You will be encouraged, and if you have drifted into being more concerned about refuting error than loving the truth, you will be corrected. You will be humbled by men like Geoff Thomas and Iain D. Campbell, stretched by Gary Johnson, and moved by Robert Peterson.

Jonathan Thomas