The Happiness of Enjoying and Making a True and Speedy Use of Christ

The Happiness of Enjoying and Making a True and Speedy Use of Christ
Author: Alexander Grosse
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2015-09-13
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1601784066

Alexander Grosse (1596–1654) was an able Puritan minister of presbyterian persuasion who wrote eight influential books from 1632 to 1656, none of which have been reprinted until now. This book, with its intriguing title about making a speedy use of Christ in every situation, is based on Colossians 2:9–10, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Grosse first sets forth Christ’s fullness as above all created fullness and shows us the emptiness of everything compared to Christ. He contrasts the folly of not cleaving to and contenting ourselves with Christ to the wisdom of valuing Christ above all else. He then expounds how sinners come to Christ and obtain a saving interest in Him. Next, Grosse stresses how to make use of Christ and how to constantly submit to Him. He stresses the joy of those who are partakers of Christ and shows how believers mature spiritually by communion with Him. Their fullness flows out of apprehending the fullness of Christ. Finally, he expounds four marks that evidence the fullness of believers and provides four motives to labor for more mature fullness in personal spiritual life in and through Christ. Two appendices are added to this excellent, experiential Christ-exalting book—the first on the danger of neglecting Christ and the opportunity of grace and the second on the Lord Jesus as the soul’s sure and last refuge.

The Beauty and Glory of Christ's Bride

The Beauty and Glory of Christ's Bride
Author: Joel R. Beeke
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Total Pages: 167
Release: 2015-08-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1601784082

This collection of a dozen addresses given on the church as Christ’s bride at the 2014 Annual Conference of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary unpacks three overarching themes: looking at the loveliness of Christ’s bride, walking in the path with Christ’s bride, and sharing in the sorrow and hope of Christ’s bride. Specific topics addressed include the beauty of the church’s essence, communion, holiness, unity, diversity, membership, preaching, worship, sacraments, discipline, mission, persecution, and future glory. Together these chapters form an appreciative and practical book on the doctrine of the church, stirring up believers to have greater devotion to Christ’s bride. Two chapters are written by each author, including Michael Barrett, Joel R. Beeke, Gerald Bilkes, Conrad Mbewe, David Murray, and William VanDoodewaard. Table of Contents: Looking at the Loveliness of the Bride of Christ 1. Our Devotion to Christ’s Bride—Conrad Mbewe 2. The Bride’s Spiritual Essence and Communion in the Body of Christ—Gerald Bilkes 3. The Healthy Holiness of Christ’s Bride—Michael Barrett 4. The Unity and Diversity of Christ’s Beautiful Bride—David Murray Walking in the Path with the Bride of Christ 5. The Beauty of Church Membership—Joel R. Beeke 6. Preaching to and Shepherding Christ’s Bride—Michael Barrett 7. The Beautiful, Biblical Worship of Christ’s Bride: A Puritan View—Joel R. Beeke 8. The Beautiful Sacraments of Christ’s Bride—Gerald Bilkes 9. The Bride’s Beautiful Discipline—David Murray 10. The Mission of Christ’s Bride—William VanDoodewaard Sharing in the Sorrow and Hope of the Bride of Christ 11. The Persecution of Christ’s Bride—William VanDoodewaard 12. Christ’s Bride United with Her Bridegroom in Glory—Conrad Mbewe

Reformed Preaching

Reformed Preaching
Author: Joel Beeke
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 605
Release: 2018-10-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433559307

Preaching today all too often tragically misses the point. We've all heard sermons that sound more like a lecture, filling the head but not the heart. And we've all heard sermons tailored to produce an emotional experience, filling the heart but not the head. But biblical preaching both informs minds and engages hearts—giving it the power to transform lives. By the Spirit's grace, biblical preaching brings truth home from the heart of the preacher to the heart of the hearer. Joel Beeke—a pastor and professor of preaching with over four decades of experience—explores the fundamental principles of Reformed experiential preaching, examining sermons by preachers from the past and bridging the historical gap by showing pastors what the preaching of God's life-transforming truth looks like today.