"The Excellency of Christ" was preached in Northampton, Massachusetts by Jonathan Edwards and printed in 1738. This sermon explains Christ's excellency in terms of almost contradictory conjunctions such as Christ being a lion and also a lamb at the same time. In the APPLICATION the reader is exhorted to love and embrace Christ as friend, portion and Savior because of His many excellencies.
Explaining how to become a Christian hedonist, a bestselling author offers guidance on how to find spiritual joy to readers who are unsure of where to seek it.
Radiating with joy—this is how we’re meant to live. I know I should read my Bible and pray every day, but I’m just not consistent. For many Christians, “daily devotions” and “spiritual disciplines” strike guilt and shame in our hearts. But what if we got it all wrong? What if our Christian experience hinges not on perfect spiritual disciplines, but on the perfect love of a Father who delights in us? In Delighting in Jesus, Bible teacher Asheritah Ciuciu invites you to lift your gaze from your to-do list and get to know the One who spun the stars and knows you by name. Discover the theological foundation for how we were Created for Delight. You’ll see that throughout Scripture, joy originates from God, pulses at the heart of the gospel, and is promised to us as fruit from God’s Spirit. By considering three Robbers of Delight, you’ll trade those things that steal your joy to receive Jesus’ personal invitation to a life of joy with Him—not just someday in heaven, but starting here and now on earth! Finally, you’ll learn five practical Rhythms of Delight: joyful practices found in Jesus’ own life that increase our awareness of God’s presence with us, His delight in us, and our continual communion with Him. Forget about rigid formulas—these creative ideas will fit the rhythm of your modern life and lead to freedom to connect with God right where you are. If you’re weary or disheartened, this book is for you. Come and drink from God’s river of delights and find in Him the desires of your heart.
In this brief and winsome book, Michael Reeves presents an introduction to the Christian faith that is rooted in the triune God. He takes cues from preachers and teachers down through the ages, setting key doctrines of creation, the person and work of Christ, and life in the Spirit into a simple framework of the Christian life.
Wisdom. We need it. We want it - but often look for it in all the wrong places.Every day our life circumstances dictate the need for wisdom. From the simple, everyday choices to the more complex and life changing - we need wisdom for successful decision-making. Challenging situations and relationships regularly come in life, often leaving us confused and needing guidance. We read self-help books and ask people for advice. We get educated in different ways or look online for help, yet often come up empty-handed. We need wisdom that isn't subjective or unproven. We need wisdom that leaves us hopeful and confident; alleviating fears and giving us peace. And yet, as we search for it in the world, we often find it lacking and confusing.Where do we find solid wisdom for navigating life's paths?Solomon will tell us in the book of Proverbs that wisdom begins with the fear of God. Setting our heart on God and trusting in Him is where wisdom begins. Out of that relationship comes a commitment to seek God, obey Him, and trust Him with all of life's choices. In God is found wisdom because He, alone, knows the beginning from the end. His wisdom goes beyond the seen to the unseen. He alone speaks wisdom into all of life's circumstances. The search is over for finding wisdom! Proverbs is the "how to" for life and it will lead you to the heart of God and His wisdom. It isn't a book of formulas. It is a life-giving book of Godly principles and priorities written by a king, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who was the wisest man in the world. Solomon shares what he learned when he followed wisdom's path, and also what happened when he wandered off of it.As King Solomon will say in Proverbs 2:4-6, "If you seek her [wisdom] as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."Join us for this thirteen week study from the book of Proverbs as we gain God's wisdom to navigate all of life's challenges and honor Him with our decision-making. Throughout the study we will also be highlighting women of the Bible so that we may learn from both their wise and unwise decisions.
Whether the issue of the day on Twitter, Facebook, or cable news is our sexuality, political divides, or the perceived conflict between faith and science, today’s media pushes each one of us into a frustrating clash between two opposing sides. Polarizing, us-against-them discussions divide us and distract us from thinking clearly and communicating lovingly with others. Scott Sauls, like many of us, is weary of the bickering and is seeking a way of truth and beauty through the conflicts. Jesus Outside the Lines presents Jesus as this way. Scott shows us how the words and actions of Jesus reveal a response that does not perpetuate the destructive fray. Jesus offers us a way forward—away from harshness, caricatures, and stereotypes. In Jesus Outside the Lines, you will experience a fresh perspective of Jesus, who will not (and should not) fit into the sides.
The Christian life is built on three seemingly unremarkable practices: reading the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. However, according to David Mathis, such “habits of grace” are the God-designed channels through which his glorious grace flows—making them life-giving practices for all Christians. Whether it’s hearing God’s voice (the Word), having his ear (prayer), or participating in his body (fellowship), such spiritual rhythms of the Christian life have the power to awaken our souls to God’s glory and stir our hearts for lifelong service in his name. What’s more, these seemingly simple practices grant us access to a host of spiritual blessings that we can only begin to imagine this side of eternity—and the incredible joy that such blessings bring to God’s children today.
In the last few years, 9/11, a tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and many other tragedies have shown us that the vision of God in today's churches in relation to evil and suffering is often frivolous. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, many Christians are choosing to become more shallow, more entertainment-oriented, and therefore irrelevant in the face of massive suffering. In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, contributors John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot explore the many categories of God's sovereignty as evidenced in his Word. They urge readers to look to Christ, even in suffering, to find the greatest confidence, deepest comfort, and sweetest fellowship they have ever known.
This 10-week study of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon mines the Wisdom Literature not only for wise principles for living, but also for the wise person these books point to through their drama, poetry, proverb, and song. In her accessible and authentic style, Nancy Guthrie focuses on seeing Jesus in the Old Testament instead of emphasizing works-based moralism. She presents clear commentary and contemporary application of gospel truths, speaking directly to issues such as repentance, submission, happiness, and sexuality. Each weekly lesson includes questions for personal study, a contemporary teaching chapter that emphasizes how the passage fits into the bigger story of redemptive history, a brief section on how the passage uniquely points to what is yet to come at the consummation of Christ's kingdom, and a leader's guide for group discussion.
