Craftsmen: Christ-Centered Proverbs for Men

by John Crotts

Book Overview

The craftsman can take a stack of wood and produce a beautiful piece of furniture. He not only possesses intellectual abilities to follow a blueprint or step-by-step instructions, but he is also an artist. His hands manipulate the wood into beautiful shapes. His eyes anticipate the right cuts and movements. His workmanship causes others to wonder at his skill. Such craftsmanship has an application for all men. While not every men may be able to create...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976758237
• ISBN13: 9780976758235
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Shepherd Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Very helpful and easy to read

I picked up this book after someone at church recommended I read it. I have to be honest that my initial reaction was something like this, "Oh, a book on Proverbs. Now there's something that's never been done before." After reading it I am very glad that I did. The author does a really splendid job of taking a topic that would seem to have been done before and formatting it in a way that is both extremely helpful and readable. Providentially, during the week I read the book several circumstances came up where I was able to quote either directly from the book or from the principles it promotes because it is laid out in such a functional and practical way. If you are familiar with Jerry Bridges "Respectable Sins", this book is laid out in a similar manner. The first section of the book outlines the basic Biblical understanding of wisdom and its opposite, foolishness. Since the book is about how Proverbs applies to the lives of men, the author spends most of that time quoting from and explaining Proverbs view on wisdom. This could have been a very boring section of the book if it simply repeated the same things other people have written but thnkfully while there is some of that it is basically fresh and new. I especially like the simple but effective chart on page 26 that shows what looks like a number line with "Scoffing Fool" at one end, Wise Man at the other and Naive in the middle. He very compellingly makes the point that we are all somewhere on the continuum and moving in some direction at all times. Being wise is not a destination, it is a goal and the wise man who gives up on pursuing Godly wisdom ends up a fool (consider Solomon who ended up with 1000 wives and concubines after God made him the wisest man who ever lived). The second part of the book is immeasurably practical and takes specific topics important to guys and breaks them down discussing what the Proverbs have to say about topics you'd expect to hear about. One of the pleasant surprises to me was that while things I expected to see were in there (speech, sex, etc.) there were also lots of things it never occurred to me that Proverbs talked about so strongly like accepting correction and taming our temper. The format of the book elevates the teaching of these topics to our minds far better than simply reading through Proverbs would do alone or even reading a chapter organized commentary on Proverbs. The book also provides discussion questions after each chapter making very useful in men's Bible studies or discipleship groups. The questions are generally well thought out and include what he calls "gut check" questions that might be better for personal introspection but are very convicting if considered prayerfully. My final thought is how well the totality of the content is packaged in the idea of being a skilled craftsman in the roles God has designed for us. Again it's a very useful twist on "another Proverbs book" that makes the book easy to read and practical for most of

Excellent Book on Family Leadership

Pastor and author, John Crotts, demonstrated in his first book "Mighty Men" that he understands male leadership in the family. Crotts appoaches his writing/teaching on the family from a commitment to the inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture. Many books written on family life begin, continue and end using secular psychological principles. Crotts successfully avoids this and holds up a high view of God and His Word. "Craftsmen" promises to help one skilfully lead their family in a godly manner. Crotts delivers on his promise-- for the book begins with three chapters specifically dealing with the foundation of wisdom. Wisdom has been defined as "the skill to apply knowledge." Family wisdom is sorely needed in a day when family life is being undermined on a variety of fronts. This book comes recommended by Jerry Bridges, Michael Haykin, and Tedd Tripp (author of "Shepherding a Child's Heart). Tripp says, "Many young men tell me they desire to lead their families but they do not know how; they have no solid examples of male leadership to follow. "Craftsmen" meets that need. Crotts writes with clarity and insight about how to find and exhibit wisdom in skillfully leading the family." The greatest commendation for this book comes by example. Pastor Crotts is a devoted husband and father and is living out the principles that he teaches. I can't recommend this book too highly. Get it. Read it. Learn it. Read it. Ray Rhodes President of Nourished in the Word Ministries. You can reach Ray at www.nourishedintheword.org