OUTSIDE SOURCE BOOK REVIEW: "Raising Children God's Way" by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

BOOK REVIEWED: "Raising Children God's Way," by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
REVIEWER: Tyler Sultze at "Heart of Ezra" blog
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "With the Iowa caucuses being held today, it is easy to hear many messages which promote change to our society. Every presidential hopeful has an answer to what they would do in order to change society. While they say much about taxes, health care, the war on terror, international experience, and education, I have not heard one talk about parenting. What part do parents play in the fabric of society? Would things be different in the word if parents parented differently than they currently do?
Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more in Raising Children God’s Way. These five sermons from Ephesians 6:1-4 compiled by Banner of Truth Trust give great insight into how parents are to raise children for the kingdom of God. Even though these sermons were given decades ago, they still are accurate with the trends of parenting today. It goes to show that God’s Word is timeless. Dr. Lloyd-Jones has given biblical precision concerning what the Lord requires from parents. When one picks this book up they will immediately see the passion and concern he has for the family.
Only 85 pages, Raising Children God’s Way is a short read, but it must be thoroughly digested. It is packed with biblical truth applied accurately to the fallen conditions of man. Those parents who are seeking to raise children who glorify God will be challenged and convicted by this book. The church thirsts for books like this, which brings the light of the Word of God to shine on the family. God has designed the family, instituted the family, and been an example to the family. We can no longer ignore the problems of parenting or seek to remedy them with anything other than the Bible.
Read a few excerpts from the book:
I believe that Christian parents and children, Christian families, have a unique opportunity of witnessing to the world at this present time by just being different. We can be true evangelists by showing this discipline, this law and order, this true relationship between parents and children. We may be the means under God’s hand of bringing many to a knowledge of the truth. Let us therefore think of it in that way.
Whether we like it or not, a breakdown in home-life will eventually lead to a breakdown everywhere.
But the tragedy of today, with its superficial thinking, is to assume that the opposite of wrong discipline is no discipline at all.
There is no more important influence in the life of a child than the influence of the home. The home is the fundamental unit of society, and children are born into a home, into a family. There you have the circle that is to be the chief influence in their lives. There is no question about that. It is the biblical teaching everywhere; and it is always in so-called civilizations were ideas concerning the home begin to deteriorate that society ultimately disintegrates.
Raising Children God’s Way is a must read for any parent. It will help shape one’s thinking around the truth of God and convince him or her of the importance of the necessity of the family. God’s design must not be forsaken and those of God’s church must uphold it for the glory of God and the testimony of Christ. Raising Children God’s Way will make your family look different than the rest of the world, but think of the opportunity it opens for the proclamation of the gospel. May the church encourage fathers and mothers to faithfully uphold the biblical standards of child rearing."
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For more information or to purchase this book, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE BOOK REVIEW: Three New Children's Titles from Banner

BOOKS REVIEWED: "A Bible Alphabet," "A Bible Alphabet Activity Book," and "The Work of His Fingers" ... all authored by Alison Brown
REVIEWER: Fermanagh Herald
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "Primary school teacher publishes three Bible books for children ... Three new titles for children, written and illustrated by former Enniskillen primary school teacher, Alison Brown, have just become available in time for Christmas.
'A Bible Alphabet', which has been beautifully produced by The Banner of Truth Trust is a 32 page, full colour, large format paperback with a difference.
Rather than referring to adult concepts such as 'L is for Love' or 'F is for Forgiveness', it begins with those more tangible Bible objects (a basket, a donkey, a fish, a needle, a raven) to introduce small children to well known characters from Scripture.
With large eye-catching illustrations, it is designed to whet the appetite of young readers for finding out just who did what in God's Book! And, to make it even more enjoyable there's also A Bible Alphabet Activity Book. Letters and pictures which match the originals can be coloured to help enhance the learning process.
Alison is originally from Florencecourt, and is a past pupil of Enniskillen Collegiate School. She began her teaching career in Jones Memorial Primary School (1983-1986) and, following her marriage, spent several years in Gibson Primary School, Omagh. Her love for drawing combined with the 'unforgettable fun' derived from sharing books with her own children in their early years led naturally to the desire to teach through the medium of words and pictures.
She is indebted to The Banner of Truth Trust who, following a conversation at the Christian Resource Exhibition in Belfast in February 2005, expressed an interest in publishing her work.
The third new title, 'The Work of Her Fingers', uses rhyming text, along with black line drawings and full colour illustrations, to draw the older child's attention to the fact that Earth is the only planet perfectly created by God to sustain human life. The evidence of design in the provision of energy, atmosphere, daylight, oxygen, ozone, seasons, water and food could be nothing other than the handiwork of a loving and intelligent Creator!
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To access this review directly, CLICK HERE.
For information or to purchase these books at 25% off from Banner, CLICK HERE, but be sure to see the ORDERING DEADLINES on the right of this blog site.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Works of Andrew Fuller"

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Works of Andrew Fuller
REVIEWER: Allen R. Mickle, Jr., The Andrew Fuller Center For Baptist Studies
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine!): "Attention friends of Andrew Fuller! The Banner of Truth Trust has just released a new one volume edition of the Works of Andrew Fuller (1841 edition). This wonderful, hefty, volume is filled with over 1000 pages of the works of Andrew Fuller, the great Baptist pastor-theologian. In the United States you can order this book directly from The Banner here. If you are in Canada you can order it from the Canadian distributor, Sola Scriptura Ministries International. Don't pass this up! It makes a wonderful Christmas gift for the bibliophile in your home! Open up peoples eyes to the writings of this great but much neglected servant of Christ!"
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To access this review directly, CLICK HERE.
For more information, or to purchase this book at 25% off with free shipping from Banner of Truth, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "Christ For Us," By Hugh Martin

BOOK REVIEWED: "Christ For Us: Sermons of Hugh Martin"
REVIEWER: Nick Batzig, Pastoral Intern at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA (Just a note: I met Nick earlier this year during my visit to Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary - "Great seeing this, Nick; thank you, sir."
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "Hugh Martin, Nineteenth Century Scottish theologian, authored many worthwhile books, among which are: Jonah: A Commentary, The Life of Simon Peter, The Abiding Presence, and Christ For Us. The strength of Christ For Us is its short series of sermons and devotional writings. There are two sermons I would particularly like to recommend. The first is titled "The Plague of the Heart" and is taken from 1 Kings 8: 38. It is an exposition of one particular verse in Solomon's prayer of dedication at the completion of the Temple. The verse comes in the context of Solomon praying for the people of God. He asks the LORD to remove the plagues that He has sent on Israel when they realize the plagues in their hearts and pray to the LORD confessing their sins. The other sermon is titled "Heart Plagues Cured" and is the Gospel centered solution to the plague in the heart. These two sermons form a masterful pair of expositions on the Law and the Gospel. They are true gems of experimental religion and Christological Old Testament preaching. I think you will find that they reflect something of the value of Rev. Martin's work. Banner of Truth Magazine has included a great article on the life and work of Hugh Martin online. This can be found here."
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OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Work of His Fingers," by Alison Brown

BOOK REVIEWED: The Work of His Fingers, by Alison Brown (A new children's literature title from Banner)
REVIEWER: Lorna at the Christian Bookshop Ossett
THE REVIEW (her words, not mine): "Wow, Banner of Truth have really gone for something different this time! 'The Work of His Fingers' is essentially a children's picture book with a rhyme 'in praise of creation'. The artwork is fascinating and the rhyme is surprisingly informative, even scientific. This is certainly not another vaguely inane children's poetry book with stupidly unrealistic pictures. I used it for the boys' bedtime story this evening and discovered that it led to all sorts of topics of conversation - the rotation of the earth, the ozone layer, the planets and universe. This did make me wonder what age group the book is really aimed at. Obviously at 4 and 2 yrs (and of course our 11 month old was listening in too) our boys found the science a bit mind-boggling, although rhyming books always go down well. The large booklet format (A4ish) would be good if this book was used to read to a group of children, but I think A5 would perhaps have been a better size for more personal reading. All in all though, I think it's a lovely book and will no doubt be reading it many more times yet.
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To access this review directly, CLICK HERE.
For more information, or to purchase this book from Banner, at 25% discount in the US & Canada, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: The Puritan Paperback, "The Glory of Christ," by John Owen

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Glory of Christ," by John Owen - The Puritan Paperback Series version, made easier to read by Richard Rushing
THE REVIEWER: Pastor Scott Head at his blog
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "Today I had the great privilege to preach about the glory of God, specifically, the glory of God in Jesus Christ as our motivation for our affection and worship. I spent some time showing that God's attributes are, in a sense, the key for believers to behold His glory. His attributes, his characteristics, are the key to knowing God, and knowing Him is knowing Jesus. Jesus said if you have seen me you have seen the Father. As John Owen so eloquently shows in his book "The Glory of Christ", the glory of God, totally and utterly unknowable to mere men in our earthly state, is manifest in the person and deity of Jesus Christ and thus made knowable. (2 Cor 4:4, 2 Cor 3:12-18, etc.)Owens shows from scripture that we behold the glory of Christ, and thus that of the Father, by faith. So if we do not know Jesus, we do not know God (John 14:7). It takes spending time in the Word of God to KNOW this Jesus, and the true believer has that desire! If he claims to love the Lord, he will desire to KNOW the Lord and learn more and more about Jesus. It is the reasonable thing to expect of one who says they love God. This is done by hard work, study, scripture and the counsel of the Holy Spirit. The one who truly loves the Lord and desires to behold His glory mines the Word of God for every last bit of the knowledge of God that He can. He desires to do so with intent and passion. He digs out of genuine desire, not duty. He digs deep and works hard to know this Jesus not so that he can present His works to the Lord as if to say "Lord, Lord, look what I have done in your name", but because it is just what he does out of appreciation for what the Lord has done for him. To bring our works to the Lord as righteousness is to deny Him glory, and is idolatry. Instead, a true believer is motivated BY the glory of God, and in response pours himself into further knowing God. He is fully aware that he has no righteousness of his own with which to plead his case, because he has been the undeserved recipient of that glory by faith in Christ, for God's glory, motivated and instigated by God alone.I can heartily recommend Owen's book on this topic, it is an inexpensive price to pay for such clear and scripturally sound teaching. The Puritan Paperback version available from Banner of Truth publishing is abridged and features 'modernized' English, both of which would generally send me looking for a more true-to-the-author version. However, this edition is easy to read, only 184 pages, and exceptionally to the point. Owens' "The Glory of Christ" showed me from scripture truths I had never heard preached, and rarely read in modern Christian work. We've lost so much!
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6)
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To access this review directly, CLICK HERE.
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OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "A Vision For Missions," by Tom Wells

BOOK REVIEWED: "A Vision For Missions," by Tom Wells
REVIEWER: Ben Wright, at his paleoevangelical blog
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine):
"The Best Little Book You've Probably Never Heard Of --
Thanksgiving provided a little extra time for reading, and I finished A Vision for Missions, a Banner of Truth paperback by Tom Wells.What's so great about it? Well, a friend of mine, who's spent some time doing missions work in Central Asia, described it as a combination of Packer's Knowing God and Piper's Let the Nations Be Glad, both of which are just stellar books.So here's Wells' thesis: "God is worthy to be known and proclaimed for who He is, and that fact is an important part of the missionary motive and message" (9). And here's why that thesis needs to be advanced: "Our danger, it seems to me, lies in . . . forgetting God in our zeal for men" (110).But the kicker about Wells' book is that you can get it here for under $5, and it's only 157 pages long. If I recall correctly, that's about 25% of the price and 30% of the size of Packer and Piper's books. By all means, buy a few extra and give them away if you can afford it."
And here's a comment added to Ben's post by Greg: "Yes! My high school teacher gave me this book as a graduation present: definitely a great read. My fave chapter was the one probably entitled The Only Wise God. It's lucid, it reads easy, it's cheap - what more could you ask for?"
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To access this review on Ben's blog, CLICK HERE.
For more information or to purchase this book, 25% off, from Banner, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ," by John Owen

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ," by John Owen

REVIEWER: "letterman" at The Library Thing

THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "A Christian classic. The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is a polemical work, designed to show, among other things, that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. . . . Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance. Some may find the very sound of Owen's thesis so shocking that they will refuse to read his book at all. . . . But . . . there are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen's treatise is now offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing evangelical Christendom today - the recovery of the gospel.
It is safe to say that no comparable exposition of the work of redemption as planned and executed by the Triune Jehovah has ever been done since Owen published his in 1684. None has been needed.
Owen's interpretation of the texts . . . is sure; his power of theological construction is superb; nothing that needs discussing is omitted, and . . . no arguments for or against his position have been used since his day which he has not himself noted and dealt with. . . . Owen's work is a constructive, broad-based biblical analysis of the heart of the gospel, and must be taken seriously as such. . . Nobody has a right to dismiss the doctrine of the limitedness . . . of the atonement as a monstrosity of Calvinistic logic until he has refuted Owen's proof that it is part of the uniform biblical presentation of redemption, clearly taught in plain text after plain text. And nobody has done that yet." -- J.I. Packer, from the Introduction"
Packer's well balanced definition of Calvinism in the introduction to that volume [John Owen's THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST] is by far the best we have seen in 42 years of intensive reading." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. A Christian classic.
John Owen is an example of a great theologian who prescribed to independency, and was unable to attain to covenanted reformation.

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To access this review directly, CLICK HERE.

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OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays"

BOOK REVIEWED: "John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays", by Edward Morgan
REVIEWER: Ben Ramsbottom, Gospel Standard magazine, but posted on the Banner of Truth web articles page and also on the blog of Gary Brady
THE REVIEW (his words, not mine): "John Elias (1774-1841) was one of the eminent preachers of Wales, greatly used by God. Amazing are some of the accounts of his ministry. This fine biography of Edward Morgan first appeared in 1844 and was first reprinted by the Banner of Truth Trust in 1973, and has recently been reprinted. Nothing but good can come of the reappearance of these excellent books; we hope there are more to come. On first reading the biography of John Elias over twenty-five years ago we jotted down the following thoughts. We believe they are just as relevant today.

We solemnly feel that the vital thing lacking in our churches today is POWER, the power of God. We have been much struck by some of the sayings of that remarkable Welsh preacher, John Elias (1774-1841). One would almost think he was alive today, viewing some of our solemn scenes. John Elias was a man who had seen wonderful days of spiritual prosperity in his youth. Thousands had gathered to hear his preaching, and there had been a marked outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The lives of the people had been eminent in godliness and grace. But at the end of his life he saw a decline. One striking thing that he said just before he died was to this effect: Ministers today say exactly the same things as they did fifty years ago, they use the identical words, but there are not the same effects. The very same things are requested at the prayer meetings as fifty years ago, but the same answers are not received, and so the asking goes on without any solemn concern that the answers are not being received. How true of us! He felt that the godly men of old (naming Daniel Rowland, Howell Harris and Thomas Charles) would not have recognised them as belonging to their family. We might take up the strain and wonder what Gadsby, Warburton and Kershaw would have thought of us. We speak the same language; but where is the power?

John Elias adds: “We stand in need of those fresh, powerful manifestations from heaven. We are, alas! accustomed to go on with the service of God in human strength; praying, hearing and preaching in that way! We are so lukewarm, without the light and the power of the Spirit! We neither feel nor see others experiencing His powerful operations! It is not often that unbelievers may, when they come to our congregations, cry out, ‘God is of a truth among you.’ And, alas! there is hut little lamentation on that account!”

We would pray earnestly for more power in our preaching. To quote John Elias again:

“Ministers seem often satisfied with having freedom to speak, and seeing many hearing them with attention and delight; but alas! without experiencing the effects of the power promised to attend the ministry of the gospel, the power necessary to produce a saving change in the sinner1 The ministry neither alarms, terrifies nor disturbs ungodly persons who sit under it.... No experimental, thoughtful Christian can deny that God has withdrawn Himself from us, as to the particular operations of His Spirit and the especial manifestation of His grace.”

To quote John Elias once more:

“There is but little thirst for the gracious and powerful visitations of God, and also, the prayers for these blessings are weak and cold.... Is there not reason to fear that the prayers of many of us are merely customary and formal, asking many things without feeling the need of them? We seldom inquire whether our prayers are answered; and if not, what hinders them? Do we avoid indulging in those thoughts or practices that hinder and mar our prayers? Are we indifferent as to the aid of the Spirit in prayer? 0 seek His face - His face; seek Him with all your heart! There are many in the church, I believe, who have seen better days, but they sleep heavily now.”

To quote John Elias for the last time:

“It is difficult to judge by the fruits of hundreds of professors that they are godly! There are signs of worldly-mindedness in many of the aged. In others there is a lack of principle in doing righteousness. The young people conform to the world, following its ways and foolish fashion. Others delight in wrangling disputes, and foolish and unprofitable questions. There is a multitude of mixed people lusting after the things of Egypt - hankering after the expressions and the baser things of other denominations and religious parties. They delight in swimming in the stream of the spirit of the age in things political and religious.”

The book, ‘John Elias: Life, Letters and Essays,’ was written by Edward Morgan; (hardback; 417 pages; price $26.00; published by the Banner of Truth Trust. The Apostle John wrote much concerning “love to the brethren,” and surely one aspect of this love is to delight in reading the lives of those who have gone before. “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee,” wrote the psalmist.
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For more information or to purchase this book at 25% discount, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: Reformed Pastor, by Richard Baxter

BOOK REVIEWED: "Reformed Pastor," by Richard Baxter ... Note the new cover!
REVIEWER: Derek Brown (from his blog)
THE REVIEW: "I’ve always been a dead-guy fan. Jonathan Edwards is probably my favorite, simply because his range of writings covers so much academic ground that it mirrors my interests (all over the place). Really, who writes an account on spiders? What a weirdo. Lately, at the behest of an Acts29 pastor in Florida (Chan Kilgore of Crosspointe Orlando), I’ve been reading Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor (get it at Banner of Truth). Incredible stuff. Here’s an excerpt:

Who is able to talk of controversies, or of nice unnecessary points, or even of truths of a lower degree of necessity, how excellent soever, while he seeth a company of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before his eyes, who must be changed or damned?

Baxter is unapologetically blatant with his audience, and I appreciate his brutal honesty greatly. He talks about caring for one’s own salvation, caring for the flock, preaching, governing the church, and many more ‘pastoral’ duties. But he brings the steak, not the oatmeal, as we say ’round here at Harmony. He doesn’t add any fluff, that’s for sure. More difficult to read simply because of the style (17th century English), it is definitely well worth it.
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For more information, or to purchase this book, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Christian Life," by Sinclair Ferguson

Thanks, Chris (at Chris' Considerations blog) for sharing another gem from Banner! I actually first read this book by Sinclair Ferguson years ago; it is one that I think I have read around three times, it is THAT good and that valuable of a read. Without a doubt, a personal favorite!
Grace & peace to you today. Steve.
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TITLE: "The Christian Life"
AUTHOR: Sinclair Ferguson
REVIEWER: Chris, at "Chris' Considerations" blog
THE REVIEW:
"Just finished Ferguson’s, The Christian Life - another little gem. At only 218 pages long this smallish book contains a lot of big truths. The author, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, a Scotsman, is now Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia (SC, USA), and amongst other things is a Council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. On to the book and as J.I. Packer says in the preface:

‘Christian beginners will get the benefit and the Lord’s older sheep, grown tough and stringy maybe, will find themselves edified and perhaps tenderised too.’ (p. x).

In 18 chapters Ferguson Biblically expounds key doctrines of the Christian life. He takes the Reformed position and lavishly draws from theologians of the past, for instance Calvin, Owen, Bunyan, Spurgeon, Ryle and C.S. Lewis, to help explain the teaching of the Bible. This book contains old truths, practical truths, relevant truths. Firstly in chapter one, Knowing is for Living, the author explains how practical and life shaping doctrine is - an important lesson for the Church needs to keep hearing.

What follows is, broadly speaking, an outline of the doctrines of the Christian’s experience of life. Beginning with mankind in a state of rebellion towards God, His image marred and broken Ferguson moves on to God’s great plan of grace (Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:12-13), His plan and order of of salvation. God’s calling, our conviction of sin and being born again are then clearly explained. Ferguson notes that once we have been born again, or regenerated, we’ve been given new desires by God to worship Him and:

… however far short we confess ourselves to have fallen from what we ought to be, we are not what we once were. (p. 59)

The subsequent chapters discuss faith (which proceeds regeneration) - knowledge, assent and trust in Christ - and repentance, which the author explains:

… remain inseparable throughout the whole of life. Just as we continue to trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord, we continue in the life of repentance. (p. 70)

The grand doctrines of justification, adoption and union with Christ are unpacked and applied. How often do we remember as Christians that:

The power by which [Christ] was raised from the dead is the power by which [God] works in us (Eph. 1:18-21). (p. 112)

Indeed, being united with Christ should motivate us to live the Christian life:

‘I am united to the Lord Jesus Christ, how can I, of all people, commit this sin?’ (c.f. Genesis 39:9-10), (p. 113)

Ferguson then teaches us about election:

For Paul election was the best word of the gospel, because it was the first word of the gospel! (p. 124) (c.f. 1 Cor 1:26-31, Eph 2:10, Col 1:27, 3:12, 2 Thess 2:13, 2 Tim 1:9)

Next, he identifies that for Christians, the dominion of sin is ended, yet the struggle against the World, the Devil and our sin remains. The book concludes with chapters on the Christian’s perseverance, dying and glorification. In a thought provoking sentence Ferguson explained:

We know that time is not, however, the measure of eternity. (p. 192)

This book, although not perfect, provides a refreshing and nourishing look at the Christian Life, from an important angle that is not often studied. We’re provided with an:

… exposition of Scripture … some solid ground on which to plant [our] own feet and to build [our] own experience. (p.136)

I’ll conclude with a verse from a hymn, this one by Charles Wesley, which are generously quoted throughout the book:

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise. (p. 200)
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For more information, or to purchase this book, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "Discovering God's Will," by Sinclair Ferguson

BOOK REVIEWED: "Discovering God's Will," by Sinclair Ferguson
REVIEWER: Slaves of Rightousness blog
REVIEW: "I don’t normally take a lot of notes when reading a book, but with this one I took a lot. The topic is an important one for believers. How can we know God’s will? Sinclair Ferguson puts forth the idea that God’s will is shaped by the big picture-God’s ultimate purposes for us and creation.
"Early on he advises us, “In the first place, we need to recognise that we do not find God’s guidance for our lives by reading a book on guidance!” What he is trying to say is, there is no easy answer. He warns us, “There is no avoiding and no substitute for, the sometimes long, arduous experience of discovering the will of God in our own lives.” This does not deny absolutes, but is stated for any who may be looking for simple formulas to apply. “We learn about guidance primarily by learning about the Guide.” (italics in original.)
"Once he introduces the topic, Ferguson starts to look at God’s ultimate purpose. He advises us that the idea God guides us implies God has laid down a path for us, our lives have purpose now, and destiny for the future. He then breaks these points down and looks at them biblically. In speaking of God’s purpose, Sinclair tells us, “There is, in fact, no more basic question for us to ask than this: Will this course of action tend to further the glory of God?” (italics in original) From here he digs into what it really means to imitate Jesus.
"Then the book looks at guidelines. He warns us against the illusion that God’s will can be learned overnight. I have come across many believers who want just that—to know exactly and to know now. But it doesn’t work that way. So Ferguson looks to the Bible and tells us how three ways scripture provides us with what we need to know about God’s character and wisdom. He looks into scripture himself and gives examples. He also outlines how scripture helps us
"After that come warnings about the heart, and our need to guard ours. Our motives may be suspect for starters. Ferguson addresses the conditions in the heart, particularly what we need to have.
"The book continues in this vein through our lifestyles, conduct, calling marriage, and waiting. He addresses the reader who may have been hoping this book would tell would provide all the answers and do it now. What can that reader do now that it is apparent this is not a self-help book or a simple list of “what to do.”
"I always seem to enjoy and profit from reading Sinclair Ferguson. He communicates clearly, and biblically. This is a breath of fresh air given a lot of what is written by contemporary authors. It is tempting to merely post a multi-part series summarizing this book, but instead I will recommend you get yourself a copy and devour it for yourself. I think you’ll learn more that way."
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For more information, or to purchase this book, CLICK HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review - "David: Man of Prayer, Man of War"

BOOK REVIEWED: "David: Man of Prayer, Man of War," by Walter Chantry
REVIEWER: Randall J. Pederson, Bookstore Staff and Westminster PhD student in church history; http://www.wtsbooks.com/
THE REVIEW: "By far, the best spiritual biography of David that I have read, Walter J. Chantry’s David: Man of Prayer, Man of War is an exemplar of biblical depth, pastoral insight, and contemporary relevance. It will no doubt find a welcome home in the hands of busy pastors looking for fresh material on the life of David (and how properly to draw parallels for modern living), for teachers weary of hollowed encyclopedic treatments too prevalent today (Chantry makes David’s life come to life, as it were), and for lay readers who want to be challenged and instructed, who want to move from prayer to praise and back again.

In thirty-five short chapters, which first appeared in The Banner of Truth magazine, Chantry unveils David’s life—from God’s description of ‘a man after his own heart’ to his anointing by Samuel to rule over Israel to his tragic affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent crimes of passion to his fleeting moments with Solomon on the edge of eternity—and instructs us in their significance for our own time. It is more than just a life of David—it is an instructive use of David’s life, one worthy of the great Puritan tradition in which Chantry firmly stands.

Chantry shows us David’s zeal for the house of the Lord; he shows us David’s frailty and sinfulness. He unravels what it means to be ‘a man after God’s own heart’ and shows how David strived to live with God’s favor. With keen pastoral insight, Chantry finds in David’s life an example of what it means to live coram Deo (‘in the presence of God’) at every juncture in life—in times of crises, in times of prayer and praise, in times of need and plentitude. He does not hide David’s faults, nor does he exalt him beyond portion; rather, he shows us the heart of a man who lived in two worlds: a man of the earth, a man of the kingdom of heaven.

David’s life illustrates the immense importance of prayer and utter reliance on God in every circumstance; it also shows the clinging fear of mortality and all its woes, the brokenness that sin brings into the world, into relationships, into our very communion with God himself. Those who know the ups and downs of Christian living will find a kindred heart in David. Those who think that Christians can do no wrong will find no place for this book on their shelves as it is a lasting testimony to the greatness of God’s work in the life of the humble, the broken, the repentant, the restored.

Few biblical characters exceed David in artistic depictions throughout the centuries. The best known and perhaps most astounding is Michelangelo’s David, unveiled outside the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence on September 8, 1504. Majestic in stature, Michelangelo’s David is a tribute to David’s greatness and lasting influence. Chantry’s remarkable book is a tribute of a different sort: it is a tribute to David’s God and to the profundity of divine grace.

INSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Forgotten Spurgeon," by Iain H. Murray

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Forgotton Spurgeon," by Iain H. Murray
REVIEWER: Thomas Chantry
EXCERPT FROM THE REVIEW (click link below to read review in its entirety): "The Forgotten Spurgeon is not a standard biography; rather, Murray concentrates on three important controversies which spanned Spurgeon's career - the confllicts with Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism in the opening years of his London ministry, the dispute with Anglicans over Baptismal Regeneration in the mid 1860s, and the struggle for theological faithfulness and integrity that so marked the closing years of Spurgeon's life, the 'Downgrade Controversy' ....
The Forgotten Spurgeon also serves as an excellent example of the strengths of Iain Murray's historical writings - strengths which continue to be seen in the books he has penned since this one first appeared in the 1960s....
The author's style is easy and will be attractive to most Christian readers. Those who love the history of the church will find his books particularly helpful and enjoyable. If you have not read Iain Murray before, then The Forgotten Spurgeon is a good place to start. You will not be disappointed!"
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To read this review in its entirety, click HERE.
For more information, or to purchase this book, click HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "Authority," by D.M. Lloyd-Jones

BOOK REVIEWED: "Authority," by D.M. Lloyd-Jones
REVIEWER: Brian Lievens on the Edifying Deaf Christians blog
REVIEW: "I was reading an used book I bought online written by D.M. Lloyd-Jones. Lloyd-Jones was an excellent expository preacher at Westminister Chapel in the 40s to 60s in England. He is a rare Evangelical pastor in England. Anyway, I have enjoyed several of his books that contained his sermons like Romans and Ephesians.
Anyway this book is titled, “Authority.” The book was about knowing our authority from the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The book was published in 1958. Lloyd-Jones to me was really ahead of his time because in 1958 he already see the philosophy that we are battling today since maybe 1970s. That is post-modernism philosophy. I am quoting him here now.
“Now I suggest that, as Evangelicals, that is the major position which we have to meet at this present time [Post-Modernism]. There was a time when we were confronted by absolute denials [Modernism, Liberalism]. The position today is not that. Instead we are told that the truth is so marvelous that you cannot define it. One man may say this and another may say that. We are asked to believe that they both are probably right. Everybody is right. There are many ways of getting to this summit. We must therefore welcome all approaches, and we must not say that a man has not the truth because he has not come to it our way. Such a school of thought claims that these are matters which, because of the very nature of truth itself, cannot be defined. Therefore we cannot confidently speak of right and wrong” (D.M. Lloyd-Jones 10,11).
That is how people think today. All truth is relative rather than absolute. That means that we must accept other person’s perspective that what he thinks is truth is truth to him. And we have to accept that as truth. And others have to accept our truth. That’s arrogance and prideful. God Himself is the only Person that has the full truth. We only can depend on God to give us understanding of what is right and wrong rather than let the people themselves decide what is right or wrong.
To me, Lloyd-Jones sees the problem of post-modernism already in 1958 and he wrote the book to encourage us to depend on the absolute authority of God!
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To read this review in its original location, click HERE.
For more information, or to purchase this book, click HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Life and Times of George Whitefield," by Robert Philip

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Life and Times of George Whitefield," by Robert Philip
REVIEWER: Randall J. Pederson, Westminster Seminary Bookstore Staff & PhD student-church history
THE REVIEW: "Robert Philip’s The Life and Times of George Whitefield was the first sympathetic biography, published in 1837, of the great transatlantic itinerant preacher. Comprised largely from Whitefield’s journals, letters, and sermons, this early biography presents Whitefield in all his evangelical glory—from his early years in Gloucester, England, his struggles at Oxford and the rise of the English Methodists, to his untimely death in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and the legacy of his felicitous preaching.
Overall, Philip’s biography is a decent and faithful depiction of Whitefield’s life and message. It is, as Iain H. Murray notes in his introduction, a work that reaches heart and soul and inflames devotion to Christ. It is not, as Murray equally notes, a work of ‘quiet scholarship’, which should be of no surprise as the work predates the so-called renaissance of ‘sociological enlightenment’.
Whitefield was, as readers will soon discover, a complex personality. He loathed himself but had boundless expectations of God’s grace. He forged relationships with prominent leaders, both political and religious, including Benjamin Franklin and the Countess of Huntingdon. Whitefield was not inerrant, nor did he pretend to be. He was called to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit during a time of intense complacency and was used alongside many other American luminaries, such as Jonathan Edwards, to breathe new life into the American religious scene of the eighteenth century. His influence spreads even to today, as new monographs and reprints of Whitefield’s sermons continue to issue from the press.
The Life and Times of George Whitefield is well-suited for pastors, seminary students, and lay readers who want to grasp Whitefield’s life and work but are weary of plowing through Arnold Dallimore’s two-volume George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival (Banner of Truth, 1970, 1980).
Regardless of one’s personal interest in Whitefield, Philip’s work still remains the most complete, sympathetic, single-volume biography available today. More definitive biographies of Whitefield have been written. Luke Tyerman’s The Life of the Reverend George Whitefield (1876-77) was the standard reference until supplanted by Dallimore’s.
Critical scholars will find the work less useful, at times hagiographic, more an evangelical footnote to the ‘divine dramatist’ than an accurate description of what happened. This de-spiritualizing of Whitefield’s influence runs through Harry S. Stout’s The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Rise of Modern Evangelicalism (Eerdmans, 1991) and Frank Lambert’s ‘Pedlar in Divinity’: George Whitefield and the Transatlantic Revivals, 1737-1770 (Princeton, 1993)."
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To read this review on its original site, click HERE.
For more information, or to buy this book, click HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Life of John Murray," by Iain H. Murray

BOOK REVIEWED: "The Life of John Murray," by Iain H. Murray
REVIEWER: Pastor Erik Raymond, Irish Calvinist blog
EXCERPTS FROM THE REVIEW: "John Murray’s commentary on the book of Romans has long been considered the answer book for biblical expositors when they come to study the grand epistle. So when I see a biography come along that introduces me to the man behind the works like his Romans commentary and Redemption, Accomplished and Applied, I am helplessly drawn in.
The Life of John Murray is what we have come to expect from Ian Murray (no relation to John). It is a well-written enjoyable chronicle of the life of a significant evangelical player. Ian Murray is able to give us many details without drowning us in peripherals....[see entire review for detail of the book].
This was an enjoyable, informative and encouraging read. I am truly thankful for Ian Murray’s careful and diligent work in producing this literary documentary of one of the church’s hard working and faithful laborers.
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To read the entire review, click HERE:
For more information, or to buy this book, click HERE:

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "The Christian Ministry"

This reviewer's sentence doesn't surprise me at all when he writes, "This is by far one of the best books ever written on the subject of the Christian Ministry." It is the book on Christian ministry used at multiple seminary campuses. But don't let that scare you away; it should encourage you to make sure you have a copy for yourself!
Steve
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THE BOOK REVIEWED: "The Christian Ministry," by Charles Bridges
THE REVIEWER: JKB of Pol'-e-Blog
THE REVIEW: "This is by far one of the best books ever written on the subject of the Christian Ministry. The revival of the church seems to be closely connected with the condition of its ministry. In this book Charles Bridges considers the general and personal causes of ministerial ineffectiveness, and goes on to examine preaching and pastoral work. Charles Bridges (1794-1869) was one of the leaders of the Evangelical party in the Church of England in the last century. He was vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk. As usual, Banner of Truth is faithful to the original in its rendering of this classic. 390 pages."
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For more information about this book, or to buy it, click HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: "Truth's Victory Over Error"

BOOK REVIEWED: "Truth's Victory Over Error," by David Dickson
REVIEWER: A Baptist preacher who blogs at Free St. George's blog
THE REVIEW: The Westminster Confession of Faith is one of the most important documents of the English-speaking Reformed Churches. The Presbyterian Churches use it (or used to use it) as their primary Confession, the Baptists and the Congregationalists have adopted lightly edited versions of it. It is a standard that must be taken notice of.
This volume, with its characteristic Puritan title, is the first commentary on the Westminster Confession, originally delivered as a series of lectures to theological students. It is constructed in the formal academic style of the 17th century, in the form of a series of questions and answers on the chapters of the Confession. We give Question 2 of Chapter 1 as an example of how the book is constructed:
"Are the Holy Scriptures most necessary to the Church? Yes (2 Tim. 3.15; 2 Peter 1.19).
Well then, doth not the popish church err that affirms the 'true church to be infallible in teaching and propounding articles of faith, both without and against Scripture: and that their unwritten traditions are of divine and equal authority with the canon of Scripture'? Yes.
Do not likewise the Libertines and Quakers err in affirming that God doth teach and guide the elect into all truth by the alone instinct and light of the Spirit, without any written word whatever? Yes.
By what reasons are they confuted?
1. Because the Scriptures are the foundation upon which the church is built (Eph. 2.20).
2. Because all things are to be examined by the rule of the Word, as the noble Bereans did (Acts 17.11-12).
3. Because unwritten traditions are subject and liable to many corruptions and are soon and quickly forgotten.
4. Because we have life eternal in the Scriptures; therefore they must be most necessary to the Church (John 5.39).
5.Because the Scriptures are given, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works (2 Tim. 3.16-17. And the Scriptures are written that men may believe (John 20.31),"
It will be seen that Dickson uses the Bible to prove heretics wrong. Some of these are heresies we know, others less known. But since old heresies are often recycled, it is good to know why they are wrong! Dickson writes in a style that is not popular today - he is concerned to contend for the truth! This is no book for the postmodern!
This edition also has a biographical introduction introducing Dickson to the modern reader. The layout is excellent, and it is everything we have come to expect from a Banner of Truth hardcover volume.
This is a straightforward book, although fiercely polemical in tone. We do not agree with all of it, but it is well worth the wait that was needed to buy it in England!!!
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For more information about this book, or to purchase it, click HERE.

OUTSIDE SOURCE Book Review: Banner of Truth Magazine

BOOK REVIEWED: The Banner of Truth Magazine, Special John Newton edition
REVIEWER: Guy Davies, "living in the southwest of England," and blogging at the Exiled Preacher blog
THE REVIEW: "To mark the 200th anniversary of his death, the August/September double issue of the Banner of Truth magazine has been devoted to John Newton. It carries an excellent biographical sketch by Iain Murray. Michael Haykin considers Newton's contribution to the Olney Hymns. William Jay's personal memories of the old preacher are reprinted. The magazine has some valuable excerpts from Newton's writings. As this year also marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, William Wilberforce's recollections of his friend and counselor are detailed.

On reading these articles and excerpts, I was astounded afresh by God's amazing grace in the life of John Newton. How the Lord transformed this man! He was once a blasphemous, almost inhuman wretch. But God made him into a wise, gracious and talented preacher of the gospel. This is his fitting, self-penned epitaph,

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk
Once an Infidel and Libertine,
A Servant of Slaves in Africa, Was
By the Rich Mercy of our Lords and Saviour,
JESUS CHRIST,
Preserved, Restored, Pardoned,
And Appointed to Preach the Faith
He Had Long Tried to Destroy.

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If you'd like a complimentary 3-month trial electronic subscription to the magazine, simply email me at: steve@banneroftruth.org