Review of THE LORD’S PRAYER by R.T. Kendall

THE LORD'S PRAYER

By R.T. Kendall

ISBN 978-0-8007-9489-7

Published by Chosen Books

Reviewer Clint Walker

 

R.T. Kendall may be one of the most prominent pastors that you have never heard of. Raised in the South, he was educated at a Nazarene College and a Baptist Seminary. Eventually, he made his way to the United Kingdom. While there he was called to be the pastor of Westminster Chapel, which was previously pastored by the eminent preacher/teacher Martin Lloyd-Jones. His years there were full of activity and controversy. In particular, many of Kendall's efforts to make Westminster Chapel more accessible to the unchurched were spurned. Kendall served at Westminster Chapel 25 years. He is now back in the United States of America, affiliated with a non-denominational Charismatic ministry.

 

Kendall's current book The Lord's Prayer
comes with several endorsements. These endorsements include several Southern Baptists, as well as James Dobson and the President of Oral Roberts University.

 

The Lord's Prayer plays to Kendall's strengths. It very clearly, methodically, and simply walks the reader through the Lord's Prayer. It anticipates questions and answers them. Kendall communicates the flow of the prayer very well. He challenges the reader to make the prayer truly a cry of the heart, and not simply a recitation of a memorized incantation.

 

The author shares that he believes that the most important part of the prayer for our day and time is Jesus' word in the Lord's Prayer on forgiveness. He emphasizes that forgiveness is not easy, and is a perpetual challenge, but that as we learn to forgive we find unexpected blessings in the Christian life.

 

Kendall shares about his ministry career at several points in the book. At some points this feels entirely appropriate. At others it makes him sound a little impressed with himself.

 

While The Lord's Prayer is written so that everyone can understand, there are points where it reads like it is a little dated. This does not make the book harder to understand, though it does make the book hard to relate to at points.

 

I believe this book will be a valuable resource for a person wanting to get a basic understanding of the Lord's Prayer. It is simple, straightforward, plain-spoken, and insightful. It was not fun to read, but it was good to read.

 

 

*This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.