So Many Books; So little Time

Lessons From The Carpenter

Lessons From the Carpenter: An Apprentice Learns From Jesus

By H. Michael Brewer

c. 2006 published by WaterBrook Press

This is a pocket sized hardcover book.

I was a bit leary of this book when I bought it–I’ll admit that straight off. H. Michael Brewer is a Presbyterian minister and has been in ministry for 25 years and I didn’t recognize the publishing house, so I was somewhat concerned about the politics and/or theology in the book.

I’m glad I bought this book. I’m really glad I bought this book.

H. Michael Brewer is the son of a carpenter and apprenticed under his father before going into the ministry. He has friends who are carpenters. He understands carpentry.

As a consequence of him understanding carpentry, he understands subtilties of the parables of Jesus that most of the rest of us will miss simply because we are not carpenters.

If you want a fresh look at those parables without a deep theological discussion, you want to read this book. He will tell you about knot-holes and rejected lumber and using every single piece of wood. He will tell you more about that Chief Cornerstone than you can even imagine in language I wouldn’t be afraid to turn a teenager loose with.

He uses the original Greek and history of carpentry and takes you back to Joseph’s carpentry business in such a way that you can nearly smell the sawdust and feel the rock chippings under your feet.

Did Jesus have a claw hammer? (Maybe)

Did Jesus mean more than one thing by claiming that the rock the builders rejected became the Chief Cornerstone? (Oh, definitely.)

Are we rejected wood? (Hmmmmmmmm?????????????)

Are knot-holes good or bad? (Another hmmmmmmmm????)

In thirteen easy chapters that can be used daily for personal devotion, read straight through, or used for a teen or adult Bible study, H. Michael Brewer brings the King of Heaven to earth and explains why it wasn’t chance that Joseph was a carpenter.

And those dry parables that we’ve all heard sooooooo many times?

They won’t be dry any more.