Free eBook — Bringing the Gospel Home

From Monergism Books: FREE eBook — especially to help you engage skeptics in your family during Christmas: “Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well”. in ePub, .mobi and .pdf formats. This is a book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf for several months and now in my […]

eBook Sales

There are a number of good sales on eBooks right now. For instance, Shepherd Press has all its ebooks on sale for 99¢ until the end of December (Kindle or ePub formats). You will find a number of helpful books there, including books like, Christ in You, Everyday Talk, Lost in the Middle, Red Like […]

2012 Bible Reading Plan

Every year many people make plans on reading through the Bible in a year. It’s a worthy goal. But too many get bogged down somewhere in the middle of Numbers or one of the prophets, and never make it through the Bible. What is more important than reading through the Bible in a year, is […]

God’s grace and genealogies

If you haven’t heard it already, probably within the next couple of weeks you will hear read (or read yourself) the genealogy of Jesus. What is one to do with such passages? We are to hear the grace of Christ, as Martyn Lloyd-Jones has noted: The Lord Jesus Christ has manifested his Father, and has […]

Just what is the Advent wreath?

On Sunday mornings during the Christmas season, as part of our worship service, we light Advent wreath candles in conjunction with a Scripture reading. You may be wondering about the origin of this practice, and just what an advent wreath is. As one writer notes, “For four weeks, it’s as if we’re re-enacting, remembering the […]

Memorizing and Reciting Scripture

For more illustrations of the power of Scripture memorized well, see Memorizing and Reciting Scripture (Justin Taylor). Several years ago, Pastor Andy Davis has written an article about how to memorize extended passages of Scripture. Recently I also came across the Fighter Verse app, which I have found to be very helpful in […]

I need Scripture

It is the work of the Spirit of God to use the Word of God to change the fleshly man into the man of God. I need Scripture for the transformation of my heart. So says Jonathan Edwards: Saturday, May 23. How it comes about I know not, but I have remarked it hitherto, that […]

Advent Devotionals

The next few weeks will produce many kinds of temptations to forget about Christ. Busy with Christmas, we might ignore the meaning of these days. Here are a few of resources to help keep you and your family focused on Christ during these days. The Village Church. has provided an Advent Guide (PDF) that provides […]

A Good Read: The Art of Divine Contentment

The Art of Divine Contentment is Watson’s exposition and explanation of the contented life from Philippians 4:11 — “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (KJV). While little is known of Thomas Watson’s biographical information (we do not even know in what years he was born and died), Watson is […]

Evangelism tips

Say the word “evangelism” and you are sure to instantly stir up guilt and apprehension in the lives of many Christians. We are convinced that we are to do it, but most of us struggle with how to do it. Someone who is writing and speaking well on this topic is Jesse Johnson, who posted […]

Hymn Story — Just As I Am

The backgrounds to many of our hymns and songs provide additional testimony of God’s goodness and grace, expanding the effect of the words we sing. The hymn, “Just As I Am,” is another work that grows in significance when we learn the story of its author, Charlotte Elliott: Just as I am, without one plea, […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week or two: Ten “Wives Speak Out” about their role in marriage and their practice of submission in their marriages. I find myself gravitating more to biographies these days — and here are two new ones on theologian Charles Hodge that appear interesting. Kevin DeYoung takes a closer look […]

Some good words about thankfulness

On this Thanksgiving Day, here are five encouragements to God-honoring gratitude: “A gracious soul is thankful and rejoices that he is drawn nearer to God, though it may be by the cords of affliction.…When God has a rod in his hand, a godly man will have a psalm in his mouth.” [Thomas Watson, A Godly […]

Looking for a truth to stimulate gratitude?

Here is a truth to encourage gratitude this Thanksgiving Day: “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” [Richard Sibbes] HT: Of First Importance.

Giving thanks for what?

Many years ago a seminary professor recounted the story of his first Thanksgiving sermon in his first pastorate. Thrilled and excited over God’s grace in his life, he structured his sermon around the theme of gratitude for wives, children, job, financial provision, and general happiness. As the congregation filed out, a woman whose husband had […]