A Christmas feast – in bite-sized chunks

Major Mal Davies reviews Sacred Risk by General Shaw Clifton (Retired).

As Advent and Christmas approach, you may be looking for something to read that will not only put you in the right spirit for the season but also offer some spiritual food for thought.

The writing of General Shaw Clifton (Retired) never fails to provide such nourishment, and this has been particularly true of his Twenty Talks series, in which Sacred Risk: Twenty Talks for Advent and Christmas sits comfortably alongside his collections of talks on Holy Week, the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the epistle to the Romans.

Bravely, perhaps, his opening talk in Sacred Risk is based on the genealogy of Jesus recorded in Matthew 1:1–17 – a passage he admits might be ‘the least read in public worship settings’. And yet the talk is a good example of his writing throughout the book.

It is complex truth revealed in an accessible form.

We are given good insights into Scripture. We see evidence of good research. There is solid doctrinal teaching – in this instance, about the nature of salvation and the role of the Saviour. There are touches of humour and, importantly, it is written in a light, almost conversational style. In short, it is complex truth revealed in an accessible form.

As the book explores the many characters, events, and themes around that first Christmas and the coming of Christ, we gain – bit by bit, talk by talk – a complete picture of the significance of the Incarnation.

Each talk concludes with questions that can be used to initiate group discussion or for personal reflection, making the book not just a good read but also a helpful and highly recommended seasonal resource.