The Glory and Beauty of God’s Portion and Other Sermons


Book Description

This work is a collection of Gasper Hickes' surviving sermons, which are nothing less than biblical, Reformed, and fiery. His first sermon is on Isaiah 28:5-6, “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory…for his people….” It is a powerful sermon demonstrating the presence and the favor of God as the glorious ornament of a godly person. The second sermon is on the advantage of having afflictions ordained and given to us by God for the Christian’s good, and Christ’s glory. It is based on Hosea 5:15, “In their affliction they will seek me early.” God’s people seek him early and earnestly in affliction. The last sermon is on Acts 13:36, “For David after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption.” It is the integrity, the honor, the happiness of the godly, by the gracious disposing and working of God, to be made truly serviceable to those with whom they have communion. It is exceedingly comfortable to the godly man, that he is the most useful serviceable creature that lives on earth. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.




The Beauty of the Lord


Book Description

Why is God's beauty often absent from our theology? Rarely do theologians take up the theme of God's beauty—even more rarely do they consider how God's beauty should shape the task of theology itself. But the psalmist says that the heart of the believer's desire is to behold the beauty of the Lord. In The Beauty of the Lord, Jonathan King restores aesthetics as not merely a valid lens for theological reflection, but an essential one. Jesus, our incarnate Redeemer, displays the Triune God's beauty in his actions and person, from creation to final consummation. How can and should theology better reflect this unveiled beauty? The Beauty of the Lord is a renewal of a truly aesthetic theology and a properly theological aesthetics.




Weight of Glory


Book Description

Selected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses offer guidance and inspiration in a time of great doubt.These are ardent and lucid sermons that provide a compassionate vision of Christianity.




Save Yourself Some Pain


Book Description




Insurgence


Book Description

Why does the allegiance that radical terrorists give to their false cause exceed the allegiance that most Christians today give to Jesus Christ? In Insurgence, bestselling author Frank Viola presents a radical proposal for Christians. Namely, that we have lost the explosive, earthshaking gospel of the kingdom that Jesus, Paul, and the other apostles preached. Viola argues that we've lost this dynamic, titanic, living gospel and exchanged it for a gospel of religious duty or permissiveness and "easy believism." In today's politically charged era, Christians on the progressive left as well as the conservative right both equate their particular viewpoints with the kingdom of God. Viola challenges and dismantles these perspectives, offering a fresh and revolutionary look at the gospel of the kingdom. Viola writes with gripping power, challenging Christians to embrace an unparalleled allegiance to Jesus Christ and his kingdom. This high-octane message is being reclaimed today, launching a spiritual insurgence.




When I Don't Desire God


Book Description

Explaining how to become a Christian hedonist, a bestselling author offers guidance on how to find spiritual joy to readers who are unsure of where to seek it.




Sarah and Hagar


Book Description

In "Sarah and Hagar," Westminster Divine Josiah Shute presents an insightful exploration of faith, redemption, and divine promises through the biblical narrative found in Genesis 16. The work focuses on the complex relationship between Sarah and Hagar, two pivotal women in the life of Abraham whose lives demonstrate God's grace and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Shute skillfully navigates the text, highlighting themes of obedience, hope, and divine intervention that resonate deeply with the Christian faith. Shute explores the concept of redemption, drawing parallels between Hagar's journey of submission and faith, and the Christian experience of salvation through Jesus Christ. The encounter of Hagar with the Angel of the Lord in the wilderness is depicted as a turning point, symbolizing the reformation power of God's grace that extends hope and redemption to the marginalized and oppressed. It explores typology and foreshadowing, connecting the Old and New Testaments in a manner that reveals Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. Shute invites readers to reflect on the character of God, as revealed through His interactions with Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham. This theological contemplation sheds light on God's boundless faithfulness, grace, and willingness to intervene in the lives of sinful individuals, offering a message of hope and redemption. "Sarah and Hagar" also holds contemporary relevance, encouraging readers to find echoes of faith, grace, and redemption in their own lives. Shute challenges us to contemplate our personal spiritual journeys against the backdrop of these ancient narratives, recognizing the timeless scriptural foundations that continue to guide and inspire us as God’s word. Ultimately, the book calls readers to embrace hope, grace, and redemption through the intertwined events of Sarah and Hagar, enriched with divine promises and deep theological insights. It reminds us of God's unwavering fidelity to His redemptive promises and culminates in the ultimate promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.




Divine Judgment and Mercy in the Second Plague


Book Description

Josiah Shute’s meticulous exploration of God’s intricate dance between divine justice and benevolence in the second plague of frogs upon the Egyptians is masterful. As a prominent Reformed theologian and preacher, Shute’s insights into Exodus 8:1-10 span nine compelling sermons, presenting a riveting examination of God’s interactions with his people, and their enemies. In this work, Shute reaffirms God’s righteousness, emphasizing that His judgments, while sometimes perceived as severe, always have a greater purpose. Exploring the very nature of afflictions, Shute unveils them not only as divine punishments, but instruments of God’s will, designed to address inherent pride, even within the righteous. But Shute’s discourse doesn’t end at self-reflection. He drives home the rewards of facing afflictions with a God-centered heart, echoing sentiments of biblical figures like David, emphasizing that true reconciliation and a deeper walk with God arise from rightly received trials. Josiah Shute’s “Judgment and Mercy" on Exodus 8:1-10 invites readers to a deeper understanding of God’s sovereign intentions, challenging them to see beyond the immediate pain of afflictions and embrace the divine wisdom embedded within. A theological masterpiece that promises to enrich the soul and sharpen the believer’s perspective on God’s unerring ways.




The Pleasures of God


Book Description

The author of Desiring God reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Includes a study guide for individual and small-group use. Isn’t it true—we really don’t know someone until we understand what makes that person happy? And so it is with God! What does bring delight to the happiest Being in the universe? John Piper writes, that it’s only when we know what makes God glad that we’ll know the greatness of His glory. Therefore, we must comprehend “the pleasures of God.” Unlike so much of what is written today, this is not a book about us. It is about the One we were made for—God Himself. In this theological masterpiece—chosen by World Magazine as one of the 20th Century’s top 100 books, John Piper reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Then we will be able to drink deeply—and satisfyingly—from the only well that offers living water. What followers of Jesus need now, more than anything else, is to know and love—behold and embrace—the great, glorious, sovereign, happy God of the Bible. “This is a unique and precious book that everybody should read more than once.” —J.I. PACKER, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia




Biblical Sincerity Discovered


Book Description

In "Biblical Sincerity Discovered," Nicholas Lockyer offers a timeless exploration of the weighty significance of Christian sincerity in the life of a believer. It masterfully unveils the enduring principles that underpin an authentic Christian faith. Lockyer's treatise revolves around four essential propositions: Proposition 1: Sincerity in faith is not optional but fundamental. It is the cornerstone upon which a true Christian life is built. Proposition 2: Sincere faith is marked by genuine love and devotion to God, reflecting one's inner convictions through outward actions. Proposition 3: Christian sincerity brings tangible benefits, fostering trust, credibility, and deepening the relationship with God. Proposition 4: The absence of sincerity in one's faith can have dire consequences, hindering spiritual growth and accountability. His work shows the eternal ramifications of Christian sincerity in a world (and church) filled with skepticism and hypocrisy. By exploring the core principles of sincere faith, Lockyer encourages readers to embody their beliefs authentically, becoming credible witnesses to the Gospel. This book is a masterful exploration of Christian integrity, offering insights that remain exceedingly relevant for believers today who are seeking to live out their faith genuinely and impact their home, church and community for King Jesus. Lockyer's wisdom is a light in an age where sincerity is often overshadowed by pretense, reminding us that the authenticity of our faith is a powerful testimony to God's regenerating power of the Spirit in the covenant of Christ's grace.