Reviewed by Jonathan Holmes, Green Campus Pastor
Have you found yourself in a situation like this recently:
- A mom in your playgroup confides to you that she is thinking of leaving her husband because “it’s just not working out anymore.”
- A fellow co-worker is laid off at your job and comes to you desperate for help as he faces financial hardship.
- A close family member diagnosed with terminal illness is struggling to not be angry at God for their predicament.
- You discover your daughter has been dealing with an eating disorder for the past two years
- Or perhaps it’s your son who you realize is addicted to alcohol and drugs.
If you find yourself here, don’t worry….there is help and hope for you and them in the person and work of our wonderful Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
What do you say to these people? How do you point them to the glorious riches of the gospel? How do you incarnate the person of Jesus Christ to these people? How do you do all of this in a way that is meaningful and substantive without minimizing the issue or being superficial? Paul David Tripp seeks to equip the believer for times like these through his book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands.
Book Summary
Jesus Chris is at the forefront of this book as Tripp guides the believer through the intricacies of navigating the human heart. As humans here on earth, we all entered into life as fallen humanity. This fallenness or depravity pervades every part of who I am. Influencing at the deepest core of who I am, sin inexorably shapes my entire worldview. The beauty of the gospel therefore confronts my greatest need: forgiveness of sin.
Tripp sums up the crux of the book explaining, “The central work of God’s kingdom is change. God accomplishes this work as the Holy Spirit empowers people to bring his Word to others. We bring the greatest story ever told, the story of the Redeemer. This is the work of the kingdom of God: people in the hands of the Redeemer, daily functioning as his tools of lasting change.”
The book is divided into fourteen, readable chapters with the first six building a strong foundation for the remaining eight chapters. The final eight chapters develop the paradigm of Love, Know, Speak and Do. With each section of this model, Tripp seeks to equip the believer with sound theological principles coupled with an incarnational, practical, meaningful and robust methodology. This 4-part model of the change process helps people like you and me enter into fellow believer’s lives with the person and work of Jesus Christ. Tripp writes, “We don’t offer people a system; we point them to a Redeemer. He is hope.”
Book Evaluation
For the layperson in the church, this book will be indispensable. Read the book, grasp the truths and principles, and apply them to your daily relationships seeking the Holy Spirit’s enabling power through it all. Tripp has given the church a great resource in this book by showing how you can be involved in the care of God’s people. What a privilege!
IRH is one of those books which come along just once in a while. While I might be overstating its value, I do believe that in the coming years this book will indeed be one you will continue to turn to for help, encouragement and hope.
Going a Step Further
I’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider joining us for our Helping Others Change seminar which will be offered this September and October. Over four Saturdays (September 12, 26, October 17, 31) we’ll gather and discuss this book, work through the dynamics of biblical change, and watch earnestly as God uses people like you and I as instruments for His glory! Watch the Parkside website for more details throughout the summer.
