Let us often think of our nature in him now exalted in heaven, and that we shall follow him ere long. Our head is gone before, and he will not suffer his body always to rot in the earth. Let us think of his natures, and his offices, and all the blessed prerogatives that we have by him, and all the enemies that are conquered by him, that in him we have God reconciled, and the devil vanquished, we have heaven opened, and hell shut; we have our sins pardoned, and our imperfections by little and little cured; in him we have all in all. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1
Tolle Lege: What is a Healthy Church Member?
Readability: 1
Length: 120 pp
Author: Thabiti Anyabwile
I still think every person in the pew should read 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, but I am so very glad that Thabiti has taken those marks, plus one, and made them directly applicable and more accessible to the church member in What is a Healthy Church Member?.
Too often we take more time to think through what it means to be a member of some club, or a citizen of a nation, this should not be so. Buy this little book and think through what it means to be a healthy church member.
The 9Marks series of books is premised on two basic ideas. First, the local church is far more important to the Christian life than many Christians today perhaps realize. A book called What Is a Healthy Church Member? might also be called What Is a Healthy Christian? We at 9Marks believe that a healthy Christian is a healthy church member.
Second, local churches grow in life and vitality as they organize their lives around God’s Word. God speaks. Churches should listen and follow. It’s that simple. When a church listens and follows, it begins to look like the One it is following. It reflects his love and holiness. It displays his glory. A church will look like him as it listens to him.
The Sweet Dropper: There Is Nothing More Terrible Than God…
There is nothing more terrible than God without Christ; but now in Christ we can think of the most terrible thing in God with comfort. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1
Tolle Lege: Surprised by Suffering
Readability: 1
Length: 145 pp
Author: R.C. Sproul
In my opinion this is not the best book on suffering that I have read; neither is this the most thorough book on suffering that I have read, nor is this the most moving or powerful book on suffering that I have read. Why then read Surprised by Suffering? Well it’s Sproul for one; that almost always makes a book worth reading. His fluid conversational style, superb ability to tell a story, and masterful teaching ability ensure you to profit.
The great contribution I think this book makes is its emphasis on death as suffering and then seeing all suffering in light of heaven. Also Sproul does a good job of working out suffering as a vocation.
We are followers of Christ. We follow Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. We follow Him into the Hall of Judgment. We follow Him along the Via Dolorosa. We follow Him unto death. But the gospel declares, we follow Him through the gates of Heaven. Because we suffer with Him, we shall also be raised with Him. If we are humiliated with Him we shall also be exalted with Him. It is because of Christ that our suffering is not useless. It is part of the total plan of God who has chosen to redeem the world through the pathway of suffering.
The Sweet Dropper: Jesus – All in All in Our Preaching and Your Hearing
Indeed, Jesus Christ is all in all in our preaching, and he should be so in your hearing. Of all things you should desire to hear most of Christ. The apprehension of your sinfulness should drive you to Christ. The hearing of duties should be to make you adorn your Christian religion you have taken on you. Naturally men love to hear flashes, witty conceits, and moral points wittily unfolded; but all these in the largest extent do but civilize men. It must be Christ unfolded, and God’s love, and mercy, and wisdom in him reconciling mercy and justice together: the wondrous love of God in Christ, and his justice, and mercy; and the love of Christ in undertaking to work our redemption; and the benefits by Christ, his offices, estates, and conditions. These things work faith and love. These things do us good.
All other things, take them at the best, they do but fashion our carriage a little; but that which enlivens and quickens the soul is Jesus Christ.
Use. Therefore we should of all other things be desirous to hear of Jesus Christ. It is a point that the very angels are students in. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1
Worship and Pronouns
Paul used the expression “our Lord” 53 times in his letters. He wrote “my Lord” only once. It’s all in the pronouns! And pronouns are a powerful teaching vehicle where worship is concerned.
God’s intention is not to become the feel-good Father of a myriad of isolated individuals who appropriate the Christian faith as yet another avenue toward personal enlightenment. –Joseph Hellerman
Tolle Lege: The Gospel for Real Life
Readability: 1
Length: 172 pp
Author: Jerry Bridges
Jerry Bridges constantly tells us to “preach the gospel to ourselves every day,” in his books. Although he works this out in all of his books, this is the entire focus in The Gospel for Real Life. Jerry looks at the major facets of the cross such as propitiation, ransom, and imputation, and then shows you their significance for everyday life. We never mature beyond the gospel, but only in the gospel; Bridges will simply and powerfully remind you of this.
I once read a story about two men who happened to be kneeling side by side at the communion rail of an English church. One was a former convict who had served time and was now out of prison. The other was the judge who had sentenced him to prison years before.
After the service the minister asked the judge, “Did you recognize the man kneeling beside you?”
“Yes I did,” replied the judge. “That was a miracle of grace.”
“You mean that a man you sentenced to prison should be kneeling beside you?”
“No, not at all,” said the judge. “The miracle is that I should be kneeling beside him. You see, that man knew clearly he was a sinner in need of a Savior. But I was brought up in a religious home, have lived a decent, moral life, and have served my community. It is much more difficult for someone such as I to recognize his need for a Savior. I am the miracle of grace.”
The Sweet Dropper: Jesus’ Sonship vs. Ours
For how wondrously doth this stablish our faith when we believe in a Saviour that is God; the Son of God, Jesus Christ by eternal generation. In a word, here are these prerogatives of Christ’s generation from all other sons whatsoever. Other fathers are before their sons, this Son of God was eternal with his Father. Other fathers have a distinct essence from their sons, the father is one, and the son another; they have distinct existences; but here there is one common essence to the Father and the Son. Other fathers beget a son without them, but this Father begets his Son within him. It was an inward work. So it is a mystical divine generation, which indeed is a subject of admiration rather than of explication, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of man. – Richard Sibbes, An Exposition of 2 Corinthians 1
The American Nightmare
A favorite excerpt from the first sermon (also one of my favorite sermons) I ever heard John Piper preach.
Tolle Lege: If You Could Ask God One Question
Readability: 1
Length: 121
Author: Paul Williams and Barry Cooper
This book has some good questions. But that alone isn’t a reason to buy it, it also has good answers with British wit and sarcasm to boot.
If You Could Ask God One Question
- If you’re really there, God, why on earth don’t you prove it?
- Isn’t the Bible just a bunch of made up stories?
- All good people go to heaven, right?
- If you’re a God of love, why send anyone to Hell?
- If Jesus really was your Son, how come He got killed?
- If I can be forgiven everything, doesn’t that mean I can do whatever I like?
- How can anyone be sure there’s life after death?
- What about followers of other religions?
- Isn’t faith just a psychological crutch?
- Why do you allow suffering?
- Why do you hate sex?
- Why don’t you just do a miracle?
No Other Boast 