Archive for ‘Devotional’

December 3, 2017

Martin Luther’s Christmas Book

Martin Luthers Christmas Book CoverBook Description

This inspiring collection contains thirty excerpts from Martin Luther’s Christmas sermons. In his unique and powerful voice, Luther portrays the human reality of God’s birth on earth—Mary’s distress at giving birth with no midwife or water, Joseph’s misgivings, the Wise Men’s perplexity, Herod’s cunning. And throughout these sermon-meditations, Martin Luther reminds us that keeping Christmas is a year-round mission of caring for those in need.

Nine elegant illustrations by Luther’s contemporaries—including four by noted engraver Albrecht Durer—capture timeless scenes from the Christmas story. And two of Luther’s beautiful Christmas carols are included on the final pages of the book.

roland-h-bainton

Roland H. Bainton

About the Editor

Renowned Reformation scholar Roland H. Bainton wrote the introduction, as well as translating and arranging this collection of Luther’s sermons. Bainton was a professor of church history at Yale Divinity School and the author of numerous books, including Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther.

72 Pages
Publisher: W.L. Jenkins. Reproduced by permission of The Westminster Press
Publication Date: 1948
ISBN: 978-0-8066-3577-4

December 1, 2015

The Incarnation in the Gospels (Reformed Expository Commentary)

Incarnation in the GospelsStatus: Available

Book Description

This seasonal addition to the Reformed Expository Commentary series presents twelve biblically and theologically grounded Christmas messages, as the authors explore the canonical teaching on the birth of Jesus Christ in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John.

As a sample of the exposition found in the series, this volume is accessible to both pastors and lay readers. Each commentary gives careful attention to the biblical text, is doctrinally Reformed, focuses on Christ through the lens of redemptive history, and applies the Bible to our contemporary setting.

In addition, this volume includes four special appendices of Advent material and worship aids useful in the planning of a Christ-centered Christmas service. With five new carols, essays and reflections on the Advent season, and a program of lessons and carols, this material is valuable to any pastor or worship leader seeking meaningful ways to celebrate the coming of Christ during the season commemorating his birth.

All Christians seeking a deep, worshipful, and gospel-centered Advent season will benefit from the insight and worship material in this helpful commentary.

Table of Contents

Series Introduction
Preface

Part 1: The Incarnation in Matthew: The Hope of Israel
DANIEL M. DORIANI
1. The Identity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1-17)
2. The Origin of Jesus, Our Immanuel (Matt. 1:18-25)
3. The Adoration of Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12)
4. The Protection of Jesus (Matt. 2:13-23)

Part 2: The Incarnation in Luke: Songs for the Savior
PHILIP GRAHAM RYKEN
5. MAgnificat (Luke 1:39-55)
6. Benedictus (Luke 1:56-80)
7. Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Luke 2:1-20)
8. Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:21-38)

Part 3: The Incarnation in John: The Coming of the Light
RICHARD D. PHILLIPS
9. The Divine Word (John 1:1-3)
10. The Light of Men (John 1:4-5)
11. Light for Everyone (John 1:6-13)
12. The Word Became Flesh (John 1:14-18)

Appendix 1: Gospel-Centered Worship Connected to Christ’s Nativity
MARK L. DALBEY

Appendix 2: A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols
RICHARD D. PHILLIPS

Appendix 3: Five Recent Advent Carols
PAUL S. JONES, JAMES MONTGOMERY BOICE, ERIC J. ALEXANDER, DEREK W.H. THOMAS, PHILIP GRAHAM RYKEN

Appendix 4: Meditations on Christmas Customs
DANIEL M. DORIANI

Index of Scripture

Source: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing

About the Editors

Daniel M Doriani

Dr. Daniel M. Doriani

Daniel M. Doriani (M.Div., Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary; S.T.M., Yale Divinity School) is vice president of strategic academic projects and professor of theology at Covenant Theological Seminary. Previously he was senior pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Clayton, Missouri.

Richard Phillips

Dr. Richard D. Phillips

Richard D. Phillips (M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary) is the senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina. He is a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and coeditor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series.

Philip Graham Ryken

Dr. Philip Graham Ryken

Philip Graham Ryken (D.Phil., Oxford University) is president of Wheaton College. He is Bible teacher for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, speaking nationally on the radio program Every Last Word. He is the author and editor of more than fifteen books and coeditor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series.

Source: Dust jacket

Hardcover, 227 pages

Publisher: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing

Publication Date(s): 2008

ISBN: 978-1-59638-140-7

Library patrons who have read this book are invited to share their comments, reviews, questions or criticisms for discussion in the comments below this post.

April 28, 2015

On Christian Liberty

On Christian Liberty CoverStatus: Available

Publisher’s Description

The subject of freedom is both timely and poignantly relevant today. For the Christian, this freedom is liberty from sin and death, and the opportunity to serve one’s neighbor. Written in a simple style, “Christian Liberty” conveys significant spiritual insight into the grace of God and liberating faith in Christ Jesus.

Martin Luther

Image by ReformationArt.com

About the Author

Martin Luther was the founder of the Protestant Reformation. He remains a pivotal figure in Western history.

Book Details

96 Pages
Publisher: Augsburg/Fortress Publishers
Publication Date: April 2003

Source: WTS Books

April 17, 2015

A Heart for God

Heart for God CoverStatus: Available

Publisher’s Description

Sinclair Ferguson’s book A Heart For God is written out of the conviction that the world’s greatest need, and the contemporary church’s greatest lack is the knowledge of God. In a popular, readable style it draws us to an awareness of the character of God and the nature of his relationship to his people.

In these pages, Sinclair B. Ferguson guides us, step-by-step, to see the greatness of God in his majesty and creating power; to sense the tenderness of his care and the marvel of his love. A Heart For God is ‘practical, pastoral and profound’. It unfolds the grace of God with a simple clarity which should lead each reader to pray (with John Calvin, the reformer): ‘I offer my heart to you, Lord, eagerly and earnestly’.

Sinclair FergusonAbout the Author

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson retired in 2013 as Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and returned to his native Scotland. Prior to this he held the Charles Krahe chair for Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary and served Church of Scotland congregations in Unst (Shetland) and Glasgow (St George’s Tron). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen (1971).

Dr. Ferguson has authored several books published by the Trust, of which he is a trustee, and a former editor. He retains his position as Professor of Systematic Theology at Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, Texas, and continues to preach God’s Word in churches and at conferences.

Sinclair and his wife Dorothy have three sons, a daughter, three grandsons, and three granddaughters.

Book Details

144 Pages
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Publication Date: February 1987

Source: WTS Books

April 13, 2015

Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life

Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life CoverStatus: Available

Publisher’s Description

Now in paper, this classic devotional will guide you on how to apply biblical principles to everyday life. Originally part of John Calvin’s Institutes, the devotional covers themes such as obedience, self-denial, the significance of the cross, and how believers should live their lives today.

Rather than focusing on contemplative other-worldliness, the Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life stresses the importance of a devotedly active Christian life. In style and spirit, it is much like Augustine’s Confessions, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, or Thomas à Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. Its intense practicality, however, sets it apart, making it easily accessible for anyone seeking to carry out Christian values in everyday life.

The translator, Henry J. Van Andel, competently preserved the colorful language and direct style of which John Calvin was a recognized master.

Book Details

95 Pages
Publisher: Baker Book House
Publication Date: 2004

Source: WTS Books

March 23, 2015

Grief Undone: A Journey with God and Cancer

Grief Undone Cover

Status: Available

Publisher’s Description

Grief Undone is the breathtakingly honest, yet hopeful account of how Elizabeth (Libbie) and Al Groves walked with God through Al’s terminal cancer. Their true story—saturated with in-the-moment Scriptural reflections, blogs, and fervent prayers—paints a stunning picture of how faith transforms the human experience of suffering. But Grief Undone is more than the chronicle of one family’s courage in the face of cancer. At its core, Grief Undone tells a story about the God who is with his people through each and every circumstance in life. Grief Undone will inevitably display the beauty of Christ’s sustaining love for his people through trials that seemed too hard to bear. Though grief threatens to undo us, we find that we are not destroyed, but sustained by God’s presence.

Story-driven and real, Grief Undone avoids the usual traps of being preachy, gratuitous, or dismissive in the face of suffering and grief. Modeling rather than teaching about healthy and God-honoring grief, Grief Undone is uniquely practical for those who are grieving as well as the pastors, counselors, and friends who seek to help them.

Elizabeth Groves About the Author

Elizabeth W. D. Groves, MAR, teaches Hebrew at Westminster Theological Seminary and is the author of the minibook Becoming a Widow: The Ache of Missing Your Other Half. She has four children, who were ages thirteen and up when her husband Al died in 2007, and two granddaughters born after his death.

Book Details

224 Pages

Publisher: New Growth Press

Publication Date: March 2015

ISBN 10: 1939946522

ISBN 13: 9781939946522

(HT: WTS Books)

March 10, 2015

Big Book of Questions and Answers: A Family Devotional Guide to the Christian Faith

Big Book of QnA Cover

Status: Available

Questions! Questions! Questions!
Children are full of them. Where did I come from? What is God like? Is there only one God?

The Big Book of Questions and Answers is a family guide to the Christian Faith. It has so many uses! You can use it as a daily devotional for the family, as a weekly spot at Sunday School or as a Christian basics course at home school. However you use it your kids (and you!) will have a great grounding in the Christian faith.

About the Author

Sinclair B. Ferguson is Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia. He is also Distinguished Visiting professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He was formerly minster of St. George’s-Tron in Glasgow.

Book Details

100 Pages
Publisher: Christian Focus
Publication Date: September 2005
ISBN 10: 1857922956
ISBN 13: 9781857922950

(HT: WTSBooks)

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