Grace Online Library

Best Bible Story Books for Toddlers & Young Children

GOL — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:14 +0000

Are you looking for Bible story books for your toddler? I’m often asked about good books to use for children’s Bible stories or Bible lessons for kids. Very young children enjoy read-aloud Bible stories that are short and have colorful illustrations. And the books below are perfect for your children!

It’s hard to exaggerate the importance of beginning at an early age teaching our children about the Bible. Introducing them to God’s word and the wonderful truths of the Bible at an early age is the greatest gift we can give our children.

The Godly Home on Pinterest: Check it out!

GOL — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:01:06 +0000

Well if you haven’t heard, Pinterest, the social networking site that allows users to “pin” images of their favorite things to their wall, is the hottest thing since Facebook and Twitter.

Here are a few stats that may surprise you:

80% of Pinterest’s users are female!
30% of Pinterest users are women 25-34 years old.
As of January 2012, American users spent an average of 97.8 minutes on Pinterest, that’s a lot of time that women are spending online.
The top interests on Pinterest in the U.S. include crafts, gifts, hobbies/leisure, interior design, and fashion designers/collections.

You can read more Pinterest statistics here.

But this brings me to my “why” we’ve started The Godly Home Pinterest page. This is where women are. And we want to be a resource to help women find their fulfillment and joy in their Christ-ordained calling of being wives, mothers and keepers at home. And that’s not to say that there’s nothing for the guys, either! We’ll have books, links, articles, inspirational content for guys, too. And you just might want to check out the new Grace Online Library Pinterest page!

One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters

GOL — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:39:21 +0000

One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters

Most Christian children today have never seen their dad open a Bible to lead their family in a time reading and prayer. The idea of “family worship” is completely foreign in most Christian homes today. And even when their is a desire, very often parents feel inadequate or awkward. That’s understandable. One Year Dinner Table Devotions is a great resource to help parents begin!

View Sample Pages

“Getting the kids to turn off the TV and video games is challenge enough—let alone gathering as a family to read and discuss the Bible! One Year of Dinner Table Devotions & Discussion Starters helps families start where they are already gathered together on a daily basis—around the dinner table. As the meal comes to a close, family members can take turns turning to the dinner-table devotion for that day, designed to be done together as a family in 10 to 15 minutes. The result is a meaningful daily discussion in which every family member can participate, drawing the whole family closer to God . . . and each other.”

Other Resources for Family Worship

The Best Bible Commentary Series

GOL — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:04:56 +0000

Bible Commentaries

For the last few years the majority of the books that I purchase have been Bible commentaries. Certainly Bible commentaries do not replace one’s personal study of God’s word, but gleaning the insight and wisdom of other men of God who have studied the scripture is always profitable.

These Bible commentaries are perfect for Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, pastors and your personal study of God’s word. Simply click on a link below to check out a selection of the very best Bible commentaries available today.

Popular Bible Commentary Series

Selecting the Best Bible Commentaries

There are several resources you can use to find the best Bible commentaries for any particular book of the Bible. If you’re looking for online Bible commentaries resources, be sure to check out:

BestCommentaries.com
Ligonier’s Best Commentaries List
Denver Seminary NT Exegesis Bibliography
Denver Seminary OT Bibliography
Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
NOTE: Some commentaries on the DBTS list are Dispensational.

12 Books that Influenced Dr. Wayne Grudem

GOL — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:00:10 +0000

Dr. Wayne Grudem

Dr. Grudem wrote, “After book (1) below, it is an impossible question for me to answer exactly. Many books have influenced me at different times. Here are eleven that influenced me quite early in my Christian life (all but #3 and #10 and #11 while I was still in college, before I went to seminary), plus #12, which influenced me many years later.”

Doctrine Matters: Resources for Theological Study

GOL — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:37:50 +0000

Doctrine & Theology Books

Doctrine matters. What you believe about God, the gospel, the nature of man, and every major truth addressed in Scripture filters down to every area of your life. You and I will never rise above our view of God and our understanding of His Word. With this in mind, the following resources on the doctrines of the Bible are highly recommended.

Explorations in Biblical Theology

John Harper – Hero of the Titanic

GOL — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:36:42 +0000

John Harper | Hero of the Titanic

It was April 15, 1912, when HMS Titanic sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, taking with it 1517 lives. The largest and most luxurious ship at the time was gone, reminding the world of our frailty as human beings. But there is more to the sinking of the Titanic than a historical tragedy. There is a story of courageous heroism and unshakable faith.

John Harper was aboard the Titanic when she set sail from Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage. An evangelist originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he was well known throughout the United Kingdom as a charismatic, passionate speaker who led many to Christ through his gift of preaching. In 1912, Reverend Harper received an invitation to speak at the Moody Church in Chicago, U.S.A. On April 11, 1912, John Harper boarded the Titanic.

Titanic: The Ship of Dreams

Titanic: The Ship of Dreams: John Harper

The ship that would never be sunk, a ship of dreams becomes a ship of nightmares as it is swallowed beneath the freezing Atlantic Ocean. Hit by a massive iceberg it was as much the arrogance of the ships owners and operators that caused the tragedy of the Titanic on 14th April 1912. 1,517 people perished that night but there was at least one man who was focused on saving souls amidst the horror. As the icy waters brought the life of John Harper to a close he still had the energy to call one final person to come to Christ. This is a story of tragedy but it is also a story of faith and courage and eternal hope. Check out the book now!

Some of the wealthiest people in the world were aboard. While many passengers spoke of business deals, acquisitions and material desires, John Harper was diligently sharing the love of Christ with others. In the days leading up to the tragedy, survivors reported seeing Harper living like a man of faith, speaking kind words and sharing the love of Christ.

On the evening of April 14, as passengers danced in the ballroom and tried their luck at the card tables, John Harper put his daughter to bed and read his devotions as he did every night. At 11:40pm, the Titanic struck an iceberg. The “unsinkable” ship was doomed. Either in disbelief or unaware at the time, passengers continued about their pleasures. It wasn’t until the ship’s crew sent up a series of distress flares that passengers realized the seriousness of their situation. Then chaos ensued.

It all happened so fast. But John Harper’s response left an historic example of courage and faith. Harper awakened his daughter, picked her up and wrapped her in a blanket before carrying her up to the deck. There he kissed her good-bye and handed her to a crewman who put her into lifeboat 11. Harper knew he would never see his daughter again, His daughter would be left an orphan at six years of age.

Harper then gave his life jacket to a fellow passenger, ending any chance of his own survival. From a survivor we learn that he was calling out, “Women and children and unsaved people into the lifeboats.” So he understood that there was a more important thing than surviving that terrible disaster. He understood that there were those who were unprepared to face eternity.

As the sounds of terror and mayhem continued, Harper focused on his God-given purpose. Survivors reported seeing him on the upper deck on his knees, surrounded by terrified passengers, praying for their salvation.

Titanic

At 2:40am, the Titanic disappeared beneath the North Atlantic, leaving a mushroom-like cloud of smoke and steam above her grave and, tragically, over 1000 people, including Harper, fighting for their lives in the icy water. He managed to find a piece of floating wreckage to hold onto. Quickly he swam to every person he could find, urging those about him to put their faith in Jesus Christ. While death forced others to face the folly of their life’s pursuits, John Harper’s goal of winning people to Jesus Christ became more vital.

In the water, John Harper was moving around as best he could, speaking to as many people as possible. His question was, “Are you saved?” And if they weren’t saved and if they didn’t understand that terminology, then as rapidly as he could he explained the Christian Gospel.

Soon John Harper succumbed to the icy sea. But even in his last moment, this tireless man of undying faith continued his life pursuit of winning lost souls.

One person remembered, “I am a survivor of the Titanic. I was one of only six people out of 1517 to be pulled from the icy waters on that dreadful night. Like hundreds around me, I found myself struggling in the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. The wail of the perishing was ringing in my ears when there floated by me a man who called to me, ‘Is your soul saved?’ Then I heard him call out to others as he and everyone around me sank beneath the waters. There, alone in the night with two miles of water under me, I cried to Christ to save me. I am John Harper’s last convert.”

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” - Acts 16:31

Source: The Mission of an Evangelist: Pg. 267-268 [2001]

Read More

Titanic: The Ship of Dreams: John Harper

The Basics of the Reformed Faith – Excellent Booklets on Christian Doctrine

GOL — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:47:34 +0000

Some of the most important questions Christians can ask are answered in these excellent booklets, the Basics of the Faith series! I’m getting this entire series to have in our church for both visitors and our members. These are excellent resources for anyone who wants a biblical summary of important Christian doctrines.

The Basics of Faith Series

New Commentaries & DVD Series!

GOL — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:51:33 +0000

Oh, I’m really excited about my latest order from WTSBooks!

Commentaries on Acts

A couple weeks ago I began preparation to begin a series through the book of Acts. Since then, I’ve been reading the amazing book by Alan Thompson, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus. I can honestly say that if I had not read this book (and I’m not done), I would no doubt have made some pretty serious blunders in my approach to the book as a whole. And although I have quite a few commentaries on Acts already, I’ve ordered several more including the “must read” book, The Message of Acts.

Small Group / Bible Study DVDs

These DVD series will give us some wonderful resources for our church library and small group studies. There are 3-4 more I’m going to try to order next month!

Commentaries on Daniel

Who doesn’t want a few good commentaries on Daniel! Actually, when I was looking at my collection of OT commentaries, I realized that I only had a couple on that book – and they weren’t all that great (unless you consider Walvoord’s Dispensational approach a good commentary!).

Commentary on Proverbs

Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15-31 (NICOT)

J.C. Ryle on the Lord’s Supper

GOL — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:48:32 +0000

The Lord's Supper

Read More on the Lord’s Supper

“The benefit of the Lord’s Supper depends entirely on the spirit and frame of mind in which we receive it. The bread which we there eat, and the wine which we there drink, have no power to do good to our souls, as medicine does good to our bodies, without the co-operation of our hearts and wills. They will not convey any blessing to us, by virtue of the minister’s consecration, if we do not receive them rightly, worthily, and with faith. To assert, as some do, that the Lord’s supper must do good to all communicants, whatever be the state of mind in which they receive it, is a monstrous and unscriptural figment of imagination, and has given rise to gross and wicked superstition. The state of mind which we should look for in ourselves, before going to the Lord’s table, is well described in the Catechism of the Church of England. We ought to “examine ourselves whether we repent truly of our former sins–whether we steadfastly purpose to lead a new life–whether we have a lively faith in God’s mercy through Christ–and a thankful remembrance of His death–and whether we are in charity with all men.” If our conscience can answer these questions satisfactorily, we may receive the Lord’s supper without fear. More than this God does not require of any communicant. Less than this ought never to content us.

Let us take heed to ourselves in the matter of the Lord’s supper. It is easy to err about it on either side. On the one hand, we are not to be content with staying away from the Lord’s table under the vague plea of unfitness. As long as we so stay away, we are disobeying a plain command of Christ, and are living in sin. But, on the other hand, we are not to go to the Lord’s table as a mere form, and without thought. As long as we receive the sacrament in that state of mind, we derive no good from it, and are guilty of a great transgression. It is a dreadful thing to be unfit for the sacrament, for this is to be unfit to die. It is a no less dreadful thing to receive it unworthily, for this is most provoking to God. The only safe course is to be a decided servant of Christ, and to live the life of faith in Him. Then we may draw near with boldness, and take the sacrament to our comfort.

When a true Christian sins, what happens?

GOL — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:42:13 +0000

His Fellowship with God is severed. David, when backslidden, mourned, “Day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer” (Psalm 32:4). As clouds hide the sun for days, so sin comes between the soul and God.
Sin & The Believer
The Joy of salvation is lost. One loses all relish for spiritual things: the heart is empty. David, in this condition, confessed, “My sin is ever before me” and “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit” (Psalm 51:3, 12).
Power for service is lost. The Holy Spirit’s power is essential for any real witness for Christ. It cannot be faked. David prayed, “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts” and “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:6, 10).
The Christian invites divine chastisement. Hebrews 12:6-7 – “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth…What son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Psalm 89:32-33 – “I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”
There is loss of reward. (Read 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.) Out of Fellowship means out of Service – out of service means that one is failing to lay up treasures in heaven. He is building of “wood, hay, and stubble” which cannot endure the test of the rewarding day (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Many will be chagrined in that day by suffering Loss of Reward. Take the Way Back Now. Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9.

More on Personal Holiness

David Brainerd’s Heart for Souls

GOL — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:08:21 +0000

Missionary David Brainerd

“I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts…no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls.” ~ David Brainerd

Books on Evangelism

Why on Earth Did Jesus Come? by John Blanchard
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
Why I Am a Christian by John Stott
Why I Believe in God by Cornelius Van Til
Loving God With All Your Mind by Gene Edward Veith

HELP WANTED: Looking for Volunteers to Join the Grace Online Library Team!

GOL — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:47:08 +0000

Help Wanted

I’m currently looking for several motivated individuals who would like use their gifts to help manage and update the Grace Online Library website with relevant theological articles as well as manage the GOL Facebook Page.

Candidates should:

be Reformed in his theology (1689 LBC / WCF)
have a solid knowledge of Reformed authors, books, etc.
have a working knowedge of WordPress or other blog platforms
have basic skills working in Microsoft Word or similar programs
have a working knowledge of Facebook and other social media sites

These individuals will work with me collaboratively to determine which articles need to be added to the site, will create and populate new sections on the site, select related books for furthur study and update site categories with descriptions and related books.

If anyone is interested, please leave a comment below, and I will follow up with an email and schedule an interview by phone. If selected, I will schedule a review of the site administration, etc. via GoToMeeting and create a unique user account for selected individuals. After 30 days, I will add individuals to a “Contributors” page as part of the GOL online staff.

NOTE: This is a volunteer position. Ideal candidates include seminary students, pastors and the well read arm-chair theologian.

If you’re interested, please complete the form below!

Questions:

How much time does this require?

As much as you’re able to put to in. It’s actually pretty simple to copy / paste articles and do some basic formatting. If we can get a few people to work on the site consistently – just an hour or two per week – we can add hundreds of new articles very quickly.

[contact-form-7]

Preparing to Teach through Acts

GOL — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:16:24 +0000

The Book of Acts

Well, in the last couple of years I’ve had the privilege of teaching through 1-3 John, Ephesians, Esther, Ruth…and now Acts! I am really excited about this new series. I’m thinking it will take 6-9 months to finish the book in our morning Bible study time. But preparing for a study like this will take some time.

In preparation, I’m currently reading the “must read” book, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan. It has come highly recommended, and I must say that I’ve not been disappointed! Additionally, I’ve ordered a couple of books that I’ll read before we start: Message of Acts in the History of Redemption and Teaching Acts: Unlocking the Book of Acts for the Bible Teacher.

Bible Commentaries on Acts

I have about 15 commentaries on Acts, but these have been particularly useful.

March Book Order – From Proverbs to Bonhoeffer to the Joy of Calvinism!

GOL — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:32:10 +0000

Bonhoeffer at WTSBooks

Ok, it’s that time of the month, and I just placed my March book order for WTSBooks! For the last several months I’ve been focusing primarily on Bible commentaries. Last month I ordered several great new sets. And this month, I thought I’d mix it up a bit. There are several books that looked interesting; now I just have to find the time to read them all. You know what they say, too many books – not enough time!

Have you read any of these? I’d love your thoughts and reviews. Which book(s) would you read first?

Bible Commentaries

Every month I try to buy at least a few new Bible commentaries. I’ve pretty finished up my New Testament commentaries (at least for now!) and I’ve started working on the Old Testament. This is going to take a while. However, slowly but surely I’ll get there.

Misc. Books

The Joy of Calvinism

This group of books is pretty eclectic. I’ve really been looking forward to Voddie’s new book – had to get that. And after watching a few debates recently with atheists, the books about God in the OT looked very interesting. The Joy of Calvinism is a brand new book; the title sucked me in. And now that I’ve gotten to know Dr. Richard Barcellos on Facebook, I thought I’d get his book, The Family Tree of Reformed Biblical Theology for a little “light reading” (or not!).

And for my Daughter

Since Haley is learning Spanish and wants to serve the Lord as a missionary in a Spanish speaking country, I thought she could use a Spanish / English Bible (plus she put a guilt trip on me about how many books I buy myself, so I’d feel like a heel if I didn’t order her one!).

ESV, Spanish/English Parallel Bible (La Santa Biblia / The Holy Bible: RVR / ESV)

Church History in Plain English

GOL — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:37:56 +0000

Church History in Plain English

This volume, Church History in Plain English, is the most engaging and readable single-volume history of the Church by bringing the story into the twenty-first century. Faced with some astonishing changes in the Islamic world, a global resurgence of Roman Catholicism, the decline of Christianity in the West coupled with the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern and eastern hemispheres, readers need a current explanation with intellectual substance that will provide historical context and update readers on all these new developments. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language does that in a stimulating manner, and it promises to be the new standard for readable Church History.

About the Author: Dr. Bruce Shelley is Senior Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Denver Theological Seminary. He holds the M.Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Among his previous publications are The Church: God’s People; Evangelicalism in America; and The Cross and the Flame.

Additional Resources on Church History

12 New Commentaries for February

GOL — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:23:54 +0000

For years I’ve purchased and read Bible commentaries both for enjoyment and as part of my preparation for teaching and preaching. But for the last year or so I’ve been on a personal mission to purchase the very best commentaries on every book of the Bible. At last count I have about 300 individual volumes on the New Testament from a broad range of theological traditions and perspectives. Some of my favorite Bible commentaries are from the Baker Exegetical Series, the Pillar New Testament Series, the New International Commentary on the NT, the New American Commentary series, a good number of Word Biblical Commentaries (the list could go on!). In the last couple of months, however, I’ve been working on my Old Testament commentaries, starting with Genesis and working my way through the OT filling in the gaps where I was missing any. I have about 90 volumes already, but that’s just barely scratching the surface when you consider how many books there are in the OT – and the vast number of excellent OT commentaries available. I typically order about 15 commentaries every month – and read through 4-6 cover-to-cover as I preach or teach through a book. At this rate, it will take me about a year to really flesh out my OT Bible commentaries – but what a resource to have! The only drawback is that I have to rearrange bookshelves every month to fit the new volumes in!

Sexual Immorality & Church Leaders

GOL — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:33:44 +0000

Sexual Purity

Recently Leadership Magazine commissioned a poll of a thousand pastors. The pastors indicated that 12 percent of them had committed adultery while in ministry – one out of eight pastors! – and 23 percent had done something they considered sexually inappropriate. Christianity Today surveyed a thousand of its subscribers who were not pastors and found the figure to be nearly double, with 23 percent saying they had had extramarital intercourse and 45 percent indicating they had done something they themselves deemed sexually inappropriate. One in four Christian men are unfaithful, and nearly one half have behaved unbecomingly! Shocking statistics! Especially when we remember that Christianity Todayreaders tend to be college-educated church leaders, elders, deacons, Sunday school superintendents, and teachers. If this is so for the Church’s leadership, how much more for the average member of the congregation? Only God knows! ~ R. Kent Hughes

Resources on Purity

The 9 Marks Set – 13 Books Every Christian Should Read

GOL — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:08:23 +0000

9Marks exists to equip church leaders with a biblical vision and practical resources for displaying God’s glory to the nations through healthy churches. To that end, we want to see churches characterized by these nine marks of health. This 13-volume set explores and expounds the nine marks of a healthy church that Mark Dever outlined in his widely recognized work The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.

Check Out All 13 Volumes

A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training

GOL — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:35:27 +0000

For Instruction in Righteousness

This book, For Instruction in Righteousness, will help you use the Bible every time you discipline your children! For Instruction in Righteousness is a topical Bible for parents. It includes hundreds of verses on over 50 areas of sin. But it is more than just a topical Bible! Each chapter includes the following listings:

What the Bible says will, or should, happen to a person who sins in this way.
Ideas for discipline that parallel these Biblical consequences.
What the Bible likens a person to when he indulges in this sin, and ideas for practical objects lessons using these examples.
How God blesses the person who resists temptations to this sort of sin.
Parallel ideas for “rewards” and encouragement for children who show progress towards overcoming this sin.
Stories and people in the Bible that illustrate obedience and disobedience in this area.
Fully quoted memory verses.

The introduction discusses the responsibilities of parents, Scripture as our authority in discipline, and Scripture’s example of teaching through stories, object lessons, songs, and memorials. Explains examples of discipline situations, and how to use the topical information when disciplining your children. We want our children to understand that “right” and “wrong” are absolutes, based on God’s standards, not ours. If we train our children to submit to the authority of God’s standards, those standards will not change when the children grow up and leave the authority of our homes. We don’t want to discipline in anger; we want to show grief over the child’s sin, and we want to lead him to true repentance. When we discipline, we want to picture for our children our heavenly Father’s holiness and His mercy. That is why we went to the Bible and started studying. A wealth of material for parents’ personal Bible study, family worship, character training, unit studies, and Bible study projects for older children.

More on Biblical Children Training

Earning an Online Degree in Bible or Other Studies

GOL — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:56:04 +0000

Recently I started doing research for a new project and was shocked to find out how many online Bible degree programs there were. There are dozens of Bible colleges and universities, conservative and liberal, that advertise online. In fact, one of the largest, Liberty University, must spend a fortune advertising their online college degrees because I see them on nearly every site I look at. Getting an online bible degree is actually a perfect solution for pastors who area already working in the ministry, who have church and family obligations that would keep them from pursuing a degree full time in a traditional setting. Additionally, the cost of line degrees is often less than a traditional college, especially when you consider the cost of commuting back and forth.

Is an Online Bible Degree Right for You?

Ask yourself a few questions. First, if you’re not currently in the ministry, but you have a heart to serve the Lord, getting your Bible degree online can help prepare you, theologically, for the work of the ministry. And we all know that academics is only a small part of pastoral or ministry work and qualifications, but it’s an important part and you should want to be well prepared. Secondly, as mentioned above, if you’re already in the ministry, but would like to continue your education and cannot move to go back to school full time, an online degree may be a perfect solution. You can work at your own pace, have interaction with professors and other students online and give yourself more ministry opportunities when you graduate.

What are your thoughts about online or virtual campus degrees? For more information about online degree programs check out: www.youronlinecollegedegree.com.

Are you a Shorter Catechism Man?

GOL — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:17:05 +0000

Shorter Catechism

I read this today on my daughter’s Facebook page. I have no idea where it came from, but it’s excellent:

“…in a city of intense excitement of violent rioting and the streets were overran daily by a dangerous crowd, then one day he observed approaching him a man of a singular combined firmness of character; whose very demeanor inspired in him a measure of confidence. And so impressed was he with his baring amid thee surrounding up-roar all around him, but when he had passed, he turned to look back at him only to find that the stranger had done the same. On observing his turning, the stranger at once came back to him; and touching his chest with his forefinger, demanded without preface, “What is the chief end of man?” And one, receiving then immediately the countersign, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him for ever!” “Ah,” he said, “I knew you were a shorter catechism man by your very looks!” “Why,” said the man, “that is just what I thought about you!”

Are you a Shorter Catechism Man?

Dealing with Discrepancies in the Bible

GOL — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:12:18 +0000

J.I. Packer

Fifty Difficult Passages Explained by Jay Adams

Many of us would agree with Peter when he says that parts of Paul’s letters are hard to understand! And there are difficulties and apparent discrepancies in other parts of the Bible too. On this matter of discrepancies, I remember reading something written by an old seventeenth-century Puritan named William Bridge. He said that harping on discrepancies shows a very bad heart, adding: “For a godly man, it should be as it was with Moses. When a godly man sees the Bible and secular data apparently at odds, well, he does as Moses did when he saw an Egyptian fighting an Israelite: he kills the Egyptian. He discounts the secular testimony, knowing God’s Word to be true. But when he sees an apparent inconsistency between two passages of Scripture, he does as Moses did when he found two Israelites quarreling: he tries to reconcile them. He says, ‘Aha, these are brethren, I must make peace between them.’ And that’s what the godly man does.” ~ James Packer

Also check out:

Fifty Difficult Passages Explained by Jay Adams ~ Some passages in the Bible are hard to understand. The goal of this book is that the Bible will be better understood, so that the great truths about the Lord Jesus Christ may be comprehended more fully and, as a consequence, the blessings of those truths my be extended to many.

The Abuse of “Gospel Light” from The Evil of Evils by Jeremiah Burroughs

GOL — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:02:23 +0000

View at WTSBooks

“I am persuaded that more men drop down to hell in our day under the abuse of gospel light than ever did in the gross darkness of popery…O how heavily does the wrath of God lie upon the professors of our age for the abuse of gospel light and they do not fee it, God’s administration in this latter age of the world being more subtle and spiritual and, therefore, more undiscernible than in former ages! O how many have we nowadays who think they walk clearly in the midst of gospel light, magnifying and exalting free grace, triumphing in their Christian liberty, looking upon others as kept in bondage who do not come up to their pitch and practice, and yet are no better than Solomon’s fools who make a mockery of sin, being conceitedly set at liberty, but really are slaves to sin and Satan.” ~ John Yates (Introduction to The Evil of Evils: The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin by Jeremiah Burroughs)

More by Jeremiah Burroughs

Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs

Life of Gospel Peace: A Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs by Phillip Simpson

5 Things to Remember when Buying Christian Books

GOL — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:43:13 +0000

Today I placed my January order for new theology books and commentaries. I typically order new books at the beginning of every month. I have lots of books, but I have always tried to purchase only the very best books on any given subject. There are simply “too many books and too little time” to buy junk. (I only wish someone told me that very early on when I was reading Hal Lindsay!)

Here are 5 great tips to remember when buying books from Why Read a Good Book? by Jim Elliff:

Buy only the best books since you will only read a few hundred in your lifetime. When possible seek a recommendation first.
Don’t excessively fret over the price, since the cost of a book is always small if it impacts your life for good.
Buy to preserve the truth for your family or some deserving friends or institution in the future, for they will inherit your library when you die.
Never let the reading of books replace the reading of the Bible. Instead of one or the other, do both.
Let a good book humble you and not make you proud, by seeking God in what you read.

And if you’re interested, here’s what I ordered tonight:

Theological Works

Commentaries