Heritage Booktalk » Reformation Trust

Welcome to a Reformed Church

Michael Dewalt — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 01:05:35 +0000

Publisher’s Description: “Who are these guys?” That was the question the teenage Daniel R. Hyde posed to his father when he first encountered “Reformed” believers. With their unique beliefs and practices, these Christians didn’t fit any of the categories in his mind. Not so many years later, Hyde is now Rev. Daniel R. Hyde, a pastor of a Reformed church. Recognizing that many are on the outside looking in, just as he once was, he wrote Welcome to a Reformed Church: A Guide for Pilgrims to explain what Reformed churches believe and why they structure their life and worship as they do. In layman’s terms, Rev. Hyde sketches the historical roots of the Reformed churches, their scriptural and confessional basis, their key beliefs, and the ways in which those beliefs are put into practice. The result is a roadmap for those encountering the Reformed world for the first time and a primer for those who want to know more about their Reformed heritage.

Daniel Hyde’s interview on Welcome to a Reformed Church

Other books by Rev. Daniel Hyde

Only $7.50 for the next week

By Grace Alone for Only $10

Michael Dewalt — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:49:45 +0000

Are you truly amazed by God’s grace? Or have you grown accustomed to it? Yes, we sing of God’s “Amazing Grace,” but do you truly understand what you as a Christian have experienced in receiving the grace of God? Or do you take divine grace for granted?

In By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me, Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson laments that “we have lost the joy and energy that is experienced when grace seems truly ‘amazing.’” In an effort to restore the wonder of divine grace, he reflects on it from seven angles, each built around a stanza from a rich but little-known hymn, “O How the Grace of God Amazes Me,” written by Emmanuel T. Sibomana, a pastor in the African nation of Burundi.

This book poses probing questions for today’s believer: “If I am not amazed by God’s grace, can I really be living in it? Can I really be tasting, and savoring, and delighting in it?” But those willing to delve into God’s Word with Dr. Ferguson will come away with a deeper astonishment at the depths of God’s grace.

Sinclair Ferguson (born 1948) is a Scottish theologian known in Reformed Christian circles for his teaching, writing, and editorial work. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen and was a minister in the Church of Scotland from 1971 to 2005, when he transferred to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, serving as the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina. He has served as an editor with the Banner of Truth Trust and worked as a minister at St George’s-Tron Church, Glasgow.

Ferguson is the Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also a Professor of Systematic Theology at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, prior to which he held the Charles Krahe Chair for Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is also a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

The Masculine Mandate

Michael Dewalt — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:15:00 +0000

There is a crying need in the church today for men to be men. But competing visions for what a man is to be —some growing out of popular culture and others arising from flawed teaching in the church—are exacerbating the problem. In his newest release from Reformation Trust, Rev. Richard D. Phillips believes the problem and the inadequate solutions being put forward demand sound exegesis of biblical passages relating to masculinity. The Bible alone has the answer to what men are to be in the eyes of their Creator. You can Purchase The Masculine Mandate at Reformation for only $10.00.

Who is Richard D. Phillips? With an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary he is the senior minister of the historic Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C., a member of the council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, which was founded by James Montgomery Boice. He is the author of numerous books, including Jesus the Evangelist, What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace?, and Hebrews in the Reformed Expository Commentary series. His preaching is heard weekly on the radio program God’s Living Word. Prior to his calling to the gospel ministry, Rev. Phillips served as a tank officer in the U.S. Army and was assistant professor of leadership at the United States Military Academy, West Point, resigning with the rank of major. He lives with his wife, Sharon, and their five children in the Upcountry of South Carolina.

Book Blurb: “In the face of the widespread confusion in our culture, Rick Phillips lays out the biblical mandate for men to work and keep the world around us. This book carefully avoids stereotypes and legalistic rules, while unfolding with clarity and practical simplicity the biblical vision of men as individuals and in relationships to other men, to our wives and children, and to the church of Jesus Christ. I learned much from this book and look forward to sharing it with my sons.”
- Iain M. Duguid, Professor of religion, Grove City College, Grove City, Pa.

New Reformation Trust Titles at RHB

Michael Dewalt — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:05:43 +0000

Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible

Sola Scriptura , the formal principle of the Protestant Reformation, is essential to genuine Christianity, for it declares that the Bible is the inspired word of God, the church’s only rule of faith and practice. Yet this doctrine is under assault today as never before, both from outside and and inside the church.

In this book, several leading Reformed pastors and scholars, including Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Godfrey, Ray Lanning, John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Derek W. H. Thomas, and James White, unpack the meaning of the doctrine of sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”). They also explain where the attacks on the Bible are coming from and show how those who accept the Bible as God’s inspired Word should respond. Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible is a treasure trove of information and a comfort to those who grieve to see the twenty-first-century church wandering away from the safe harbor of the Bible.

John

In his latest book, John, Dr. R. C. Sproul offers his readers the fruits of his lifetime of biblical study as expressed in his most recent calling.

Dr. Sproul, a respected seminary teacher, conference speaker, and author, long saw his role in full-time Christian ministry as centered on the task of teaching. But in 1997, God placed him in the position of preaching weekly at St. Andrew’s in Sanford, Florida. There, he adopted the ancient Christian practice of lectio continua, or continuous expositions, the method of preaching verse-by-verse through books of the Bible (rather than choosing a new topic each week). Since taking up this task at St. Andrew’s, Dr. Sproul has preached through several books of the Bible, including the Gospel of John.

Encouraged by his congregation at St. Andrew’s, Dr. Sproul has now begun to adapt these sermon series for a wider audience. The result is the St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary, which is being jointly published by Reformation Trust Publishing and Crossway Books.

In John, Dr. Sproul confesses that he attained a new depth of understanding of the Gospel when he preached through the book. Nevertheless, he came to the Gospel after much study of it, and that familiarity is readily apparent from the first chapter on the Prologue of John’s Gospel to the final chapter on Peter’s restoration.

John includes fifty-seven chapters, each of which began as a St. Andrew’s sermon. Dr. Sproul deals with major themes as he moves through the book passage by passage. Though the book is an “expositional commentary” that is, it does not deal with each and every verse, it unpacks major themes in Dr. Sproul’s easily understandable style. Readers will find invaluable insights into the goals John had in writing his Gospel, the background for Jesus’ time, and the meanings of some of John’s most difficult passages.

John is an easily readable introduction to this unique record of Jesus’ life, packed with insights and exhortations that will draw the reader closer to the Savior and encourage him or her to a greater depth of love and devotion to Him.

The Prayer of the Lord

Michael Dewalt — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:33:01 +0000

What is the Lord’s Prayer? In The Prayer of the Lord, Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Jesus’ intent was to give His disciples a model prayer, an example to follow, one that would teach them transferrable principles for conversation with God.” In short, Christ gave the Lord’s Prayer to teach His disciples about prayer, and Dr. Sproul, in his trademark fashion, brings out many of the truths Christ intended for His followers to learn. Readers will learn how not to pray, then will be led into a deeper understanding of such topics as the fatherhood of God, the kingdom of God, the will of God, the nature of sin and forgiveness, the dangers of temptation, and the cunning of Satan. The final chapter includes questions and answers on various aspects of prayer not covered elsewhere in the book, and the appendix addresses the difficult question of the relationship of God’s sovereignty and prayer. The Prayer of the Lord is an eye-opening journey, one that reveals new vistas in familiar terrain.

Just In

Michael Dewalt — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:12:06 +0000

John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology

John Calvin is often reviled as a humorless doctrinarian who preached an austere theology that twisted Scripture. In John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology, Burk Parsons and a cadre of godly pastors and scholars seek to set the record straight in honor of the 500th observance of John Calvin’s birth in 1509. The book’s nineteen succinct chapters explore aspects of Calvin’s life, ministry, and teachings, and establish his importance even for the twenty-first-century church.

Contributors, in addition to Parsons, include some of the most gifted and godly Reformed leaders alive today: Derek W. H. Thomas, Sinclair B. Ferguson, D. G. Hart, Harry L. Reeder, Steven J. Lawson, W. Robert Godfrey, Phillip R. Johnson, Eric J. Alexander, Thabiti Anyabwile, John MacArthur, Richard D. Phillips, Thomas K. Ascol, Keith A. Mathison, Jay E. Adams, Philip Graham Ryken, Michael Horton, Jerry Bridges, and Joel R. Beeke. The foreword is by Iain H. Murray.

Indexes of Scripture passages, subjects and names, and theological terms make the book helpful for those who want to delve into specific topics. John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology is a winsome portrait that dashes stereotypes about Calvin and the theological system that bears his name.

Pre-order John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology

Michael Dewalt — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:10:41 +0000

Indexes of Scripture passages, subjects and names, and theological terms make the book helpful for those who want to delve into specific topics.

John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology is a winsome portrait that dashes stereotypes about Calvin and the theological system that bears his name.

PRE-ORDER HERE

In Today, Living for God’s Glory

Michael Dewalt — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:43:05 +0000

(Post from Ligonier’s Website)

The theological system known as Calvinism is often caricatured as harsh, dour, and illogical. But as Dr. Joel R. Beeke argues in this important new book, this image could not be further from the truth. Beeke, a pastor, educator, editor, and prolific author, shows instead that Calvinism is a theology that is firmly rooted in Scripture and works its way out into every area of the believer’s life. He aims to “cover the intellectual and spiritual emphases of Calvinism, the way it nfluences the church and everyday living, and its ethical and cultural implications.”

In this comprehensive survey of Reformed Christianity, Dr. Beeke and eight fellow contributors offer twentyeight chapters that trace the history of Calvinism; explore its key doctrinal tenets, such as the so-called five points of Calvinism and the solas of the Protestant Reformation; reveal how Calvinists have sought to live in devotion to God; and survey Calvinism’s influence in the church and in the world at large. In the end, the book asserts that the overriding goal of Calvinism is the glory of God. Saturated with Scripture citations and sprinkled with quotations from wise giants of church history, this book presents Calvinism in a winsome and wondrous fashion.

Retail $24.00 | RHB: $18.00
Hardcover 6 x 9 | 416 Pages
ISBN 1-56769-105-6 | Releases September 2008

“It was a joy to read this excellent and useful book. In this volume, Joel Beeke—one of our best ambassadors for warm, winsome, experiential, solid, orthodox, passionate, evangelistic Calvinism—introduces us to a healthy, well-rounded view of the Reformed tradition—Calvinism as it really is. It presents us with the basics of the history of Calvinism and confessionalism, as well as the mainstream Calvinistic teaching on salvation, piety, growth, the church, preaching, evangelism, marriage, family, work, politics, ethics, doxology (the idea of living all of life for God’s honor—from which this book gets its title), and more. The total picture presented here will help strengthen in our time confessional, experiential Calvinism—the great, central, Reformed tradition flowing out of the best of British (Puritan and Scottish) and Dutch (Further Reformation) Calvinism.”
—J. Ligon Duncan III, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss., President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

“There seems to be a popular misconception afoot that Calvinism is an impressive intellectual structure, but that Reformed people must find resources elsewhere for practical piety. At the heart of Joel Beeke’s ministry has been a burden to show the opposite conclusion, and this book has the same goal. Covering many important aspects of Calvinism, its practice as well as its faith, the book is written in a warm, pastoral, and engaging way.”
—Michael Horton, Professor of systematic theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

“Finally—a book about Calvinism that covers the broad scope of the Calvinistic or Reformed movement. Calvinism affects the whole man: his head, his heart, and his hands. It has an intellectual or doctrinal dimension, as well as spiritual and practical dimensions. It influences not just the church but the culture. It is not confined to the Lord’s Day, but impacts daily life. Calvinism is not a dead historic phenomenon, but a living view of God, man and Christ, sin and grace, time and eternity, and church and society. I hope this book will contribute to a revival of biblical, God-centered, and practical theology—that is, of Calvinism.”
—Pieter Rouwendal, Writer and editor, Kampen, The Netherlands

“Living for God’s Glory is a very helpful and insightful introduction to Reformed Christianity. It demonstrates that Calvinism is not narrowly doctrinal, but broad and profound, speaking to every aspect of Christian life. It will inform and inspire Christians in biblical faithfulness.”
—W. Robert Godfrey, President, Westminster Seminary California

“Dr. Joel Beeke has once again performed a great service for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This book will profit every class of reader, from the new convert to the most mature believer. Dr. Beeke’s style embodies the characteristics of
experiential Calvinism on which he writes: every chapter is clear and addressed to the heart. I particularly found the chapter ‘Applying the Word’ to be a needed word for Calvinistic preachers in our day. Buy a copy for yourself and a number to give away.”
—Joseph A. Pipa Jr., President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Greenville, S.C.

“Living for God’s Glory is solid Christian truth in all its fullness, beauty, and strength. To study what is given so pleasantly here in these pages is to take a firm step toward becoming a clear-sighted and well-equipped student of theology. It will satisfy the appetite of believers, young and old. I wish I had had such a book in my hands when I was a young believer starting out on the journey to learn theology.”
—Maurice Roberts, Minister, Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), Inverness, Scotland

“This book is rooted in the conviction that Calvinism is a gospel-centered, biblical theology for all of life. Drawing from his wide knowledge of Reformation and Puritan thought, and using his gift for illustrating biblical truth, Joel Beeke shows how God’s grace is glorified in the believer’s mind and heart, not only in the church, but also in the world.”
—Philip Graham Ryken, Senior minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia

About the Author Dr. Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, all in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has written, coauthored, or edited fifty books (most recently, Meet the Puritans, Reformation Heroes, Walking as He Walked, and Striving Against Satan) and contributed fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. His Ph.D. is in Reformation and post-Reformation theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is frequently called on to lecture at seminaries and to speak at Reformed conferences around the world. He and his wife, Mary, have been blessed with three children: Calvin, Esther, and Lydia.

About the Contributors
Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson is senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., and distinguished visiting professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Dr. James M. Grier is the distinguished professor of philosophical theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, where he served for sixteen years as academic dean and vice president. Previously he served as associate professor of philosophy at Cedarville University. He is an adjunct professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Asia Baptist Theological Seminary, and London Reformed Baptist Seminary.

Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin is professor of church history and biblical spirituality at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., as well as the director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, based at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Nelson D. Kloosterman is a minister of the gospel among the United Reformed Churches in North America, professor of ethics and New Testament studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Ind., coeditor of the Mid-America Journal of Theology, and secretary of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society.

Rev. Ray B. Lanning is minister of First Reformed Presbyterian Church, Grand Rapids, Mich., and an instructor in homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

Dr. Robert W. Oliver is a Reformed Baptist pastor who served the Old Baptist Chapel, Bradford on Avon, U.K., for thirty-five years. He is currently a lecturer in church history and historical theology at the London Theological Seminary and at the John Owen Centre for Theological Studies.

Ray Pennings is the vice president of research for the Work Research Foundation (www.wrf.ca), a Canadian think tank dedicated to cultural renewal. He serves as a teaching elder in the Free Reformed congregation of Calgary, Alberta, and is chairman of the board of governors of Redeemer University College. He is a regular public affairs commentator in the Canadian media and has authored numerous monographs and articles in both the public and church press.

Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas is a professor of systematic and practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Miss., an adjunct professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, the minister of teaching at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, and the editorial director of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

Order Now, Living For God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism

Michael Dewalt — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:50:08 +0000

We at RHB are now taking pre-orders onDr. Beeke’s new book being released and published by Reformation Trust next month.

In this introduction to the doctrinal system known as Calvinism, Joel Beeke—with contributions from Sinclair Ferguson, Michael Haykin, Derek Thomas, Ray Pennings, and others—displays the biblical, God-centered, winsome, comprehensive, and practical nature of Calvinism. Topics explored include Calvinism in history, in the mind, in the heart, in the church, in society, and more.

Endorsements:

“It was a joy to read this excellent and useful book. It presents us with the basics of the history of Calvinism and confessionalism, as well as the mainstream Calvinistic teaching on salvation, piety, growth, the church, preaching, evangelism, marriage, family, work, politics, ethics, doxology…and more.”
—J. Ligon Duncan III

“Living for God’s Glory is solid Christian truth in its all its fullness, beauty, and strength. I wish I had had such a book in my hands when I was a young believer starting out on the journey to learn theology.”
—Maurice Roberts

“This book is rooted in the conviction that Calvinism is a gospel-centered, biblical theology for all of life. Joel Beeke shows how God’s grace is glorified in the believer’s mind and heart, not only in the church, but also in the world.”
—Philip Graham Ryken

“Dr. Joel Beeke has once again performed a great service for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Buy a copy for yourself and a number to give away.”
—Joseph A. Pipa Jr.

Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism

Michael Dewalt — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:39:56 +0000

Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism
by Joel Beeke
September 2008
In this introduction to the doctrinal system known as Calvinism, Joel Beeke—with contributions from Sinclair Ferguson, Michael Haykin, Derek Thomas, Ray Pennings and others—displays the biblical, God-centered, winsome, comprehensive, and practical nature of Calvinism. Topics explored include Calvinism in history, in the mind, in the heart, in the church, in society, and more. You can check out the rest of Reformation Trust’s New Titles coming soon here.