By Paul David Tripp, published by P&R Publishing, 360 pp.

Have you ever wanted to really help someone grow? Have you felt the desire to be the one to actually help someone in a hard place verse always having to say, “Well, let’s ask my pastor”? Leading the list in most crucial needs of a church is how to help people grow. That’s why Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands is such a welcome book. The subtitle says it all: “People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change.”

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands is a manual on “personal ministry”—training the reader to help others grow in Christlikeness. Paul Tripp accurately unpacks the doctrines of indwelling sin, progressive sanctification and the priesthood of all believers, effectively bringing them into the living rooms and mini-vans of everyday life.

He begins by explaining what the “good news” is of the “big picture” in six helpful chapters: The King has come and is restoring His people. And we, as His ambassadors, have the high calling of representing Him in each other’s lives.

In the last eight chapters, Tripp unfolds his model of helping people move toward heart and life transformation with four key words: love, know, speak, and do. Tripp teaches that we need to follow the “Wonderful Counselor” by living out His love and entering into the worlds of the people around us. Merely casual relationships will not do in the body of Christ. Tripp’s chapter on how to ask good questions is must reading for anyone who interacts with people on a regular basis. Lasting change will not happen, however, until the truth is spoken in love and people are led in authentic repentance.

As most books, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands does have a few minor "weaknesses." Readers can get lost pretty easily in its 350 pages. Though the book is very engaging, it sometimes feels a bit like a textbook and you might find yourself wanting to take a break from the “I have to put this to use now” information. Many of the colorful illustrations are drawn from the author’s personal counseling ministry, which may leave some readers overwhelmed with the severity of the problems being addressed. I can't help but think that if more of the illustrations were taken from kitchens and mini-vans, his arguments would be that much stronger.

However, with that being said, I can't recommend this book strongly enough to church leaders and laymen alike. Every page is saturated with Scripture and Biblical principles that can be immediately put to redeeming work. For deeper study, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands has been adapted into a church-based discipleship curriculum: “Helping Others Change,” and is available with an array of similarly excellent materials from CCEF Ministries.

Be prepared to be more adequately equipped to help others once you’ve read this book.

-Pastor Dan