by | January 23, 2012

Beeke on Parenting

Parenting by God’s Promises

Dr. Joel R. Beeke

In Parenting by God’s Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace, Dr. Joel R. Beeke explores what this nurture and admonition looks like and offers gems of practical wisdom for parents on topics such as instituting and leading family worship, teaching children, modeling faithful Christian living, and exercising discipline. However, he carefully puts parental responsibilities in their proper perspective and guides mothers and fathers to lean not on their own abilities but to trust more fully in the God who knits children together in the first place. Above all, he affirms, parents must look to the one true God, who promises to provide everything His people need and to bless them and their families.

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by | January 20, 2012

New Titles

New From P & R Publications

Prayers of the Bible: Equipping Women to Call on God in Truth 

Susan Hunt

Retail Price $12.99

RHB Price $9.00

“There is nothing more freeing than bowing before the Throne of Grace to present prayers that have been carefully sifted through Scripture. Why? Prayers laced with Scripture and founded on God’s Word enjoy a warm reception from our Father in heaven – such prayers have power and importance. Would you like to be skilled in offering up praises and intercessions that have a welcomed audience with your Maker? Susan Hunt in this remarkable book gives a practical guide to the Christian who desires to bow lower and draw nearer to God in prayer. I happily endorse and heartily recommend Prayers of the Bible.” — Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

Gospel Powered Humility

William P. Farley

Retail Price $12.99

RHB Price $9.00

Humility is not a popular concept in our world today. It is seen as weakness in a culture that prizes self-esteem and validation. Unfortunately, these worldly attitudes about humility have leaked into and influenced the church, as well. Far from being weakness, humility is the crucial virtue. Not only is it necessary for conversion and sanctification, but from its soil sprout the fruit of the Spirit. Yet many Christians are unaware of this crucial connection, and do not see the implications of humility in witnessing, counseling, and preaching. Gospel-Powered Humility argues that God has designed the gospel to provoke humility. In this vital book William Farley proves that humility, often the least emphasized virtue, is in reality the chief and most necessary virtue. If humility truly matters, our Christian ministry should aim to not only encourage faith, but to encourage a faith that humbles sinners. Read and learn how much humility does matter . . . and what we can begin to do about it.

See Also:

Prayers of the Bible: Equipping Women to Call on God in Truth (Leader’s Guide) by Susan Hunt

How Jesus Runs the Church by Guy Prentiss Waters (get 5 for $40)

Songs in the Night by Michael A. Milton

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by | January 19, 2012

Washer on Brokenhearted Evangelist

Paul Washer tweeted on January 17th “I heartily recommend Reformation Heritage Books and the new work ‘The Broken-Hearted Evangelist’ it helped me greatly.”

Table of Contents:

Preface

1. Am I Willing? Our Undeniable Obligation

2. Am I Effective? Our Necessary Equipment

3. Am I Committed? Our Appointed Means

4. Am I Focused? Our Declared Aim

5. Am I Fruitful? Our Great Expectation

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by | January 18, 2012

Now Available!

Living Blessedly Forever: The Sermon on the Mount and the Puritan Piety of William Perkins

J. Stephen Yuille

Paperback, 180 pages

Retail Price: $18.00

RHB Price: $14.00

William Perkins described God’s all-sufficiency as His blessedness. This view of God shaped his understanding of Christian piety, leading him to define theology as the science of living blessedly forever. For Perkins, godliness flows from the enjoyment of God.

In Living Blessedly Forever, J. Stephen Yuille demonstrates how Perkins practically taught about God, joy, and the Christian life through his preaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Yuille begins with a brief account of Perkins’s life and ministry, considering several factors that shaped Perkins’s interpretation and application of the Sermon on the Mount. He then examines Perkins’s exposition of Matthew 5–7, identifying six marks of godliness (blessedness, repentance, righteousness, sincerity, contentment, and faithfulness) and concluding with a challenge to join practice with knowledge of the word of Christ.

Yuille’s work is more than a simple look at a sermon series given by a Puritan. While you will learn much about Perkins’s approach to the Sermon on the Mount, you will also be challenged to live blessedly forever.

Endorsement  “One of the great puzzles of church history is the church’s failure to keep in print the works of William Perkins. Why, when so many of the Puritan writers were reprinted in the nineteenth century, was Perkins, the prince of the Puritans, passed by? In his own day he topped the best seller list of English theological/practical writers. In our day, this problem is slowly (very slowly) being remedied. For this reason, I am thankful for Stephen Yuille’s exposition of Perkins’s commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. Yuille’s work is a clear presentation of Perkins and written with the same goal as Perkins, that men and women may live blessedly forever. I enthusiastically commend this book to one who wants to get better insight into Perkins, as well to all who desire a practical exposition of Christ’s most famous sermon.” — Joseph A. Pipa Jr., President of Greenville Presbyterian Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina

Christ and the Condition: The Covenant Theology of Samuel Petto (1624–1711)

Michael Brown

Paperback, 160 pages

Retail Price: $18.00

RHB Price: $14.00

Covenant theology is the “warp and woof” of Reformed theology, and its development was most seriously worked out during the seventeenth century. In Christ and the Condition, Michael Brown introduces us to an influential Puritan pastor who, though now largely forgotten, was a significant contributor to the covenantal debates of his day. Brown analyzes the covenantal thought of Samuel Petto and reveals a diversity of thought among the Puritans, especially concerning the Mosaic covenant. Brown’s assessment places Petto in the context of the covenantal debates and also demonstrated the implications of covenantal thought on the doctrine of justification.

Endorsement  “It’s always a pleasure to meet another great exponent of classic Reformed theology. Petto is someone I should have known, but didn’t until Michael Brown introduced him to me. The issues Petto raises—and the context that Brown provides—greatly enrich our own conversations about the twin dangers of antinomianism and neo-nomianism in our own day.” – Michael Horton

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by | January 17, 2012

Interview of Jeremy Walker

Interview of Jeremy Walker Author of the Forthcoming Book The Brokenhearted Evangelist

1. In three paragraphs or less, please tell me about your conversion to Christ

I was brought up in a godly home but kicked hard against the goads before and during my teenage years. I did not want simply to accept or assume that a thing was true (such as what I was taught concerning true religion), but to know it as true. I therefore largely turned my back on the things that I was taught. At the same time, I do not recall ever doubting that there is a God, nor did any but the God of Scripture appear credible to me.

I wrestled with the twin realities of a holy Almighty and my own sinful heart. I could not comprehend how the God of heaven and earth could ever love or be reconciled with a creature with a heart and life so full of actual and potential wickedness. I was persuaded on the one hand that there must be something necessary for me to do in order to make myself acceptable to him, and on the other it was increasingly plain that there was in me no good thing: I could not make myself acceptable, and yet I could not see any other way of salvation. Trapped in this vortex, I went into a downward spiral of spiritual aggression and nihilism in which – despite the gracious efforts of my parents and others – I sank to great depths.

However, as I plunged into darkness, the Lord was pleased to deal graciously with me, and – while I cannot recall a particular sermon or conversation that turned things around – I came slowly to grasp that the fact that I cannot save myself nor make myself saveable is, in fact, the very glory of God’s redemption. I had been looking to myself for salvation, but salvation is something that the Lord has done entirely in Christ, outside of the sinner. I cannot merit this, I can only humbly and gratefully receive it by faith. I suppose you could say that I had my own personal mini-Reformation! Over time, and in the face of my rebellion, my God was pleased to make me willing, and drew me to Christ my Ransom. I was baptised and joined the church shortly before my seventeenth birthday, but deeply ingrained patterns of self-reliance meant that it was still some time before I came to any settled assurance of salvation.

Keep Reading…

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by | January 16, 2012

Puritan of the Week

Richard Sibbes

(1577-1635)

Richard Sibbes was born in 1577 at Tostock, Suffolk, in the Puritan county of old England. As a child, he loved books. His father, Paul Sibbes, a hardworking wheelwright and, according to Zachary Catlin, a contemporary biographer of Sibbes, was “a good, sound-hearted Christian,” but became irritated with his son’s interest in books. He tried to cure his son of book-buying by offering him wheelwright tools, but the boy was not dissuaded. In 1603, he was converted under the preaching of Paul Baynes, whom Sibbes called his “father in the gospel.”

From 1611 to 1616, he served as lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. His preaching awakened Cambridge from the spiritual indifference into which it had fallen after the death of Perkins. A gallery had to be built to accommodate visitors in the church. John Cotton and Hugh Peters were converted under Sibbes’s preaching. During his years at Holy Trinity, Sibbes helped turn Thomas Goodwin away from Arminianism and moved John Preston from “witty preaching” to plain, spiritual preaching.

He influenced Anglicanism, Presbyterianism, and Independency, the three dominant parties of the church in England at that time. He was a pastor of pastors, and lived a life of moderation. “Where most holiness is, there is most moderation, where it may be without prejudice of piety to God and the good of others,” he wrote.

Both learned and unlearned in upper and lower classes profited greatly from Sibbes’s alluring preaching. Sibbes wrote, “To preach is to woo…. The main scope of all [preaching] is, to allure us to the entertainment of Christ’s mild, safe, wise, victorious government.” He brought truth home, as Robert Burns would say, “to men’s business and bosoms.”

Sibbes became known as “the heavenly Doctor,” due to his godly preaching and heavenly manner of life. He never married, but he established an astonishing network of friendships that included godly ministers, noted lawyers, and parliamentary leaders of the early Stuart era. “Godly friends are walking sermons,” he said.

Sibbes was a gentle man who avoided the controversies of his day as much as possible. “Fractions breed fractions,” he insisted. His battles with Archbishop Laud, Roman Catholics, and Arminians were exceptions. He also remained closefriends with many pastors and leaders who wanted more radical reform than he did for the Church of England.

Sibbes’s last sermons, preached a week before his death, were on John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions….I go to prepare a place for you.” When asked in his final days how his soul was faring, Sibbes replied, “I should do God much wrong if I should not say, very well.” Sibbes began his will and testament, dictated on July 4, 1635, the day before his death, with “I commend and bequeath my soul into the hands of my gracious Savior, who hath redeemed it with his most precious blood, and appears now in heaven to receive it.”

Modern Impressions of Sibbes 

The historian Daniel Neal described Sibbes as a celebrated preacher, an educated divine, and a charitable and humble man who repeatedly underestimated his gifts.

In our day, Maurice Roberts says of Sibbes, “His theology is thoroughly orthodox, of course, but it is like the fuel of some great combustion engine, always passing into flame and so being converted into energy thereby to serve God and, even more, to enjoy and relish God with the soul.”

David Masson, biographer of John Milton, wrote, “No writings in practical theology seem to have been so much read in the mid-seventeenth century among the pious English middle classes as those of Sibbes.”

The twentieth-century historian William Haller said Sibbes’s sermons were “the most brilliant and popular of all the utterances of the Puritan church militant.”

Books By Richard Sibbes

The Bruised Reed

Josiah’s Reformation

The Love of Christ

The Tender Heart

The Works of Richard Sibbes, 7 volumes

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by | January 14, 2012

Devotional by Dr. David Murray

I will allure her. – Hosea 2:14

Our “therefore” are so different from God’s “therefores.” In the previous verse, Israel’s sins are listed and then climaxed with “she went after her lovers, and forget me, saith the Lord.” After such a litany of iniquity, we expect the Lord to say, “Therefore I will forget you.” That’s what we would say in a similar situation However, God’s “therefores” are different from our ”therefores.” Instead of using the greatness of Israel’s sins to demonstrate the greatness of His justice, He uses them to display the greatness of His mercy. “Where sin abounded, there did grace much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). So, in response to “she forgat me,” the Lord says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her.”

O straying sheep, forget human ”therefores,” take this divine “therefore” to God, and plead this sublime heavenly logic as you seek to return to His warm embrace. Take the greatness of your sins to God and plead the greatness of your sins as a powerful argument for His mercy. “For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great” (Ps. 25:11). And, if you are conscious of the Lord’s alluring, then believe His romantic overtures are sincere and be happily seduced by His love. Or, perhaps you should examine your heart to see if God is wooing you more subtly. Let us trace all to this great and all-conquering “I will allure her.” – From Milk and Honey

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by | January 13, 2012

50% Off the Top 10 Bestsellers Of 2011

#10 How Sermons Work

David Murray

How do sermons work? How does a preacher get from the basic nuts and bolts of a few Bible verses to the delivery of a full sermon? That’s the question David Murray answers in this instructive and immensely practical book. He demonstrates that behind the thirty to forty-five minutes we see and hear on a Sunday morning are many hours of mental, spiritual and practical labour. Like all pastoral labour, it involves head, heart and hand.

#9 The Quest For Comfort 

William Boekestein

The Heidelberg Catechism has been taught to children for hundreds of years, encouraging them to seek Christ as their true source of comfort. But how did this catechism get written? In The Quest for Comfort, William Boekestein and Evan Hughes combine history and art to retell the events that led to making the catechism. By sharing the stories of Caspar Olevianus, Zacharias Ursinus, and Frederick III and how they came to Heidelberg, children will gain a greater appreciation of the Christian faith as it is expressed in the Heidelberg Catechism.

#8 Preaching In the Holy Spirit

Albert N. Martin

Good pastors pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in preparing biblical sermons that will adequately feed God’s sheep. They also hope for the Spirit’s work in the hearts of the hearers so that they effectively receive the preached Word. But are these the only ways that preachers must depend on the Spirit in their preaching? In this book, Albert N. Martin reminds gospel ministers of their need to rely on the Holy Spirit as they proclaim God’s Word. He explains the necessity of the agency and operations of the Holy Spirit, describes its specific manifestations, and discusses ways it is restrained or diminished. Here is a prophetic call to reliance on God in the very act of proclaiming His Word.

#7 Stop Loving the World

William Greenhill

The Puritans were greatly concerned with suppressing worldliness in the church. Today, worldliness is an even greater problem, exacerbated by the fact that so few dare to speak out against it. In this book, William Greenhill provides modern readers with a healthy antidote to our love affair with the world. He explains what it means to love the world, exposes the dangers of cherishing it, shares how we ought to relate to it, and gives encouraging directions for removing our hearts from it. This is a book with a timeless message, demonstrating the relevance of the Puritans for today. By God’s grace, it will help persuade you that the world and all its charms are not what you should live for.

#6 The Law of Kindness

Mary Beeke

In The Law of Kindness, Mary Beeke examines the idea of kindness, shows how it is developed, and gives helpful advice for putting it into action, with specific chapters addressed to wives, husbands, parents, teachers, and children. Readers will be struck by their own lack of kindness, captivated by God’s kindness toward us in Jesus Christ, and motivated to cultivate more of this precious virtue.

#5 Christians Get Depressed

David Murray

Many Christians mistakenly believe that true Christians don’t get depressed, and this misconception heaps additional pain and guilt onto Christians who are suffering from mental and emotional distress. Author David P. Murray comes to the defense of depressed Christians, asserting that Christians do get depressed! He explains why and how Christians should study depression, what depression is, and the approaches caregivers, pastors, and churches can take to help those who are suffering from it. With clarity and wise biblical insight, Dr. Murray offers help and hope to those suffering from depression, the family members and friends who care for them, and pastors ministering to these wounded members of their flock.

#4 Taking Hold of God

Joel R. Beeke and Brian G. Najapfour

In Taking Hold of God, you will enter the treasury of the church of Jesus Christ and discover some of its most valuable gems on the subject of Christian prayer. The writings of the Reformers and Puritans shine with the glory of God in Christ, offering us much wisdom and insight today that can make our own prayer lives more informed, more extensive, more fervent, and more effectual. Six contemporary scholars explore the writings and prayer lives of several Reformers and Puritans—among them Martin Luther, John Calvin, William Perkins, Matthew Henry, and Jonathan Edwards—guiding us to growth in prayer and a more grateful communion with God.

#3 Developing a Healthy Prayer Life

James and Joel Beeke

Is your prayer life characterized by such things as sincerity, urgency, and delight? Engagement in prayer is a vital part of our communion with God, making a profound impact on our growth in grace. In this book, you will find thoughtful meditations on prayer in the life of the believer, as well as ample encouragement to cultivate this spiritual discipline in your own life. If you want to be more devoted to prayer, or simply want to assess the health of your prayer life, read this book. It provides both a helpful examination and a needed tonic for those concerned about growing in godliness.

#2 Family Worship

Joel R. Beeke

Dr. Beeke offers a heartfelt and solemn plea for families to return to Biblical, consistent and passionate family worship. With pastoral insight and care the author provides practical and valuable answers to the practice of family worship and at the same time addresses objections raised against it. In a world of impossible standards and idealism, this book is a helpful and motivating guide to implement or increase the depth of your family devotions.

#1 Gospel-Powered Parenting

William P. Farley

A parent’s capacity to internalize the gospel, with all its implications, has an enormous effect on their marriage, their integrity, and their love for their children. This book will help parents see the importance of this principle. Internalizing the gospel helps parents fear God, sensitizes them to sin, motivates them to enter their children’s world, and causes them to preach the beauty of the gospel to their children through their marriage.

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