This week we feature two more books by Chris Hill, a respected preacher and Bible teacher who has led over 100 tours to Israel. He also contributes to Sword magazine and it is a collection of his Sword articles that makes up the contents of these books, both of which are available directly from the author (email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01865 922177).

‘Baker’s Dozen’ (2016, 112pp)

This slim volume consists of 13 essays, or ‘tasty morsels to chew over’, as the subtitle puts it. Each piece aims to nourish the true follower of Jesus, drawing you closer to the Lord, but also to provide a particular challenge to strengthen your commitment in these difficult days.

We start in Daniel, recognising that being a Christian today is like living in exile where we face a choice between obedience and compromise. Our culture can capture us, or we can live according to what we truly believe.

Hill wants to help us find our calling and stand firm in it. He is also concerned that we run the race effectively by throwing off every weight that hold us back (Heb 12:1). “Live light to be light” is a memorable phrase he uses.

Biblical, Balanced

Hill is very much aware of the dangers of an apostate Church and discusses whether true believers can stay in certain churches, in good conscience. Summarising his position, he declares “We should remain in the churches we attend for as long as we can, engaging in the activities with a true sense of commitment, but the time may come when we are left with no choice but to leave a particular congregation…However, that should be the choice of last resort rather than the first” (p86). This is typical of the author’s sensible and balanced comments on many issues.

Hill is always biblical in his approach and shares many anecdotes from his own life, as well as books that have influenced him. These include The Doctor (by Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones) and a book by Stan Firth called Custom and Command which we have reviewed in the past.

Baker’s Dozen is well written and a delight to read. You can sense that Hill is always challenging himself as well as his readers. Above all, he evidently writes with a smile on his face, rather than a frown, though with deep concern in his heart.

‘Built for Battle’ (2019, 180pp)

Here is another set of hard-hitting essays to provoke and encourage. Its theme is spiritual warfare but the principle field of conflict upon which it focuses is each one of us. To gain victory over our personal weaknesses and iniquity we must do battle within ourselves.

The title is based upon Jesus’ statement that he will build his Church (ekklesia) and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matt 16:18). Hill unpacks this verse well, leaving us in no doubt that as individual members of the Body of Christ we are not only ‘built for battle’ but expected to take up the fight. It is not an option. The decision to go to war is never left to the individual soldier. Our King and Head has made that decision. He has declared war on Satan and so we are pitched straight into that battle, like it or not!

Nevertheless, our Commander-in-Chief has ensured we are well trained and equipped, if only we will take advantage of all he provides. In fact, he has led from the front and in the early part of the book we learn how to fight ‘the Jesus way’. He has provided us with spiritual gifts and we also have the ‘sword of the Spirit’, the word of God, which we are to devour daily. Hill explains how true meditation is a process akin to chewing the cud. As we ruminate upon the truth of God’s word we feed ourselves thoroughly and build ourselves up.

Army in Training

Hill reassures us that we do not fight alone. We are not isolated soldiers but part of a family that is ‘called together’ to fight as one. Here we find support but also the responsibility to support others.

Our faults should not be excused, but seen as ‘fault lines’. They may be invisible, hidden beneath the surface, but their effects are visible. You cannot see pride in someone (for instance), but you can see the results of it in their life. Jesus highlighted how our worst sins are often in the heart rather than our actions.

Hill challenges us to think whether we are all so busily engaged in church affairs that we have little time for training ourselves (or each other) for the fight. We continue to be busy but in reality we are unfit for purpose.

Many today doubt if the devil exists but, as Hill points out, someone is certainly still carrying out his business! He asserts that the devil is still hard at work and fighting for dear life – YOUR dear life! Spiritual warfare is not his occasional activity but his constant activity and should be ours too. This book will certainly help us understand the nature and urgency of this task.