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NEW RELEASE — Big Beliefs! edited by David R. Helm

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Big Beliefs!: Small Devotionals Introducing Your Family to Big Truths edited by David R. Helm

192 pages | List Price: $14.99 | Paperback

Summary

It is a wonderful privilege to watch children start to grasp the precious truths of Scripture. Parents may hope to see this in a family devotion time, only to become overwhelmed and exhausted by the daily difficulties involved. We need help!

Big Beliefs! is a devotional expressly intended to enable parents to succeed and children to grow in grace and knowledge. Three weekly readings accompanied by suggested Scripture passages introduce and simply explain thirty-three key theological concepts found in the Westminster Confession of Faith (included in its entirety, in modern English). Questions following each reading will help you to start a conversation about what you have learned each day. This nonthreatening, encouraging devotional will make a comprehensive beginning to your child’s understanding of Christianity’s big beliefs.

Endorsements

“Big Beliefs! is a great book: (1) it’s faithful, telling children the truth about God, his Word, and what his people must believe; (2) it’s substantive, not dumbing down doctrine to present it to children; and (3) it’s realistic, providing language, illustrations, and lesson length that will work for real families who have real children.”

—Starr Meade, Author, Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism

“A family devotional teaching the most important truths in the world in simple bite-size chunks with up-to-date illustrations and stimulating questions. Why didn’t someone think of this before? I commend this excellent resource to all Christian families.”

—David Murray, Pastor, Grand Rapids Free Reformed Church

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     7

Introduction     9

Part One: God’s Word

Lesson 1: The Holy Scripture     15

Part Two: God

Lesson 2: God and the Holy Trinity     21

Lesson 3: God’s Eternal Decree     24

Lesson 4: Creation     27

Lesson 5: Providence     30

Part Three: The Fall, Sin, and Mankind

Lesson 6: The Fall of Man, and Sin and Its Punishment     35

Lesson 7: God’s Covenant with Man     38

Lesson 8: Christ the Mediator     41

Part Four: Salvation

Lesson 9: Free Will     47

Lesson 10: Effectual Calling     50

Lesson 11: Justification     53

Lesson 12: Adoption     56

Lesson 13: Sanctification     59

Lesson 14: Saving Faith     62

Lesson 15: Repentance unto Life     65

Part Five: The Christian Life

Lesson 16: Good Works     71

Lesson 17: The Perseverance of the Saints    74

Lesson 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation     77

Lesson 19: The Law of God     80

Lesson 20: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience     83

Lesson 21: Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day     86

Lesson 22: Lawful Oaths and Vows     89

Lesson 23: The Civil Authorities      92

Lesson 24: Marriage and Divorce     95

Part Six: The Church

Lesson 25: The Church     101

Lesson 26: The Communion of Saints     104

Lesson 27: The Sacraments     107

Lesson 28: Baptism     110

Lesson 29: The Lord’s Supper     113

Lesson 30: Church Discipline     116

Lesson 31: Synods and Councils     119

Part Seven: The Last Things

Lesson 32: The State of Men after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead     125

Lesson 33: The Last Judgment     129

Appendix: The Westminster Confession of Faith     135

AUTHOR HIGHLIGHT — Kathleen Nielson

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A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Kathleen Nielson holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in literature from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. from Wheaton College (Illinois). She has taught in the English departments at Vanderbilt University, Bethel College (Minnesota), and Wheaton College. Kathleen has directed and taught women’s Bible studies at several churches and speaks extensively at conferences and retreats. She serves as director of women’s initiatives for The Gospel Coalition and on the board of directors of The Charles Simeon Trust. Kathleen and her husband Niel (president of Covenant College 2002–2012, now leading an enterprise in global Christian education) have three sons, two beautiful daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren!

    

1. Bible Study: Following the Ways of the Word

208 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback | Sample Chapter

Summary — What is Bible study? This book highlights not a rigid set of methods, but a clear approach to Bible study that acknowledges Scripture as the very Word of God.

thleen Nielson

Living Word Bible Studies Series

Living Word Bible Studies offer a guide into deeper study of God’s Word, one whole book at a time. Five days of questions in each lesson lead the way to careful textual study, with helpful context and commentary woven throughout. The aim is to read the Scriptures—and to learn to read the Scriptures—with ever increasing discernment, delight, and conviction.

2. Joshua: All God’s Good Promises

168 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — Good Old Testament study guides are hard to come by, but Nielson delivers a fascinating study about God’s unfailing promises to his people. Each lesson has five days of questions.

3. Nehemiah: Rebuilt and Rebuilding

160 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback | Sample Chapter

Summary — Nehemiah shows us God working through his people for his redemptive purposes in Jesus. Kathleen immerses us in this dramatic story of God’s people following a godly leader at a crucial point in salvation history.

4. Psalms, Volume 1: Songs Along the Way

128 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — Introduces the entire book of Psalms and guides a detailed study of selected psalms. A diverse selection illumines the Psalter’s beauty and breadth and encourages further use of psalms.

5. Psalms, Volume 2: Finding the Way to Prayer and Praise

176 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback | Sample Chapter

Summary — Kathleen Nielson takes us on a second tour of well-chosen individual psalms, helping us take in their poetry deeply. She further shows us how to keep teaching the Psalms to ourselves through individual study.

6. Proverbs: The Ways of Wisdom

200 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — This study leads readers to search God’s inspired word in the book of Proverbs. The bulk of the study covers issues such as words, work, relationships, family, sex, and marriage.

7. Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs: Wisdom’s Searching and Finding

200 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — A study of two beautiful Old Testament poetic books dealing with the meaning of life (Ecclesiastes) and the joy of love (Song of Songs).

8. Isaiah: The Lord Saves

384 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback | Sample Chapter

Summary — Isaiah contains some of the most beautiful poetry in the Bible and is a theological masterpiece, presenting God’s redemptive plan. Offers depth and a clear overview.

9. John: That You May Believe

336 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — Guides you through what many consider to be the most artful and poetic of the gospels. Its vivid and compelling portrait of the Word made flesh rewards careful study.

10. Colossians and Philemon: Continue to Live in Him

144 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — These studies offer a guide into deeper study of God’s Word, one book at a time. The aim is to learn to read the Scriptures with discernment, delight, and conviction.

11. 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living the Gospel to the End

160 pages | List Price: $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — A personal or group study that reveals that the New Testament church had similar issues to our own. A gracious God gives us inspired words and wise exposition.

     

BOOK HIGHLIGHT — Far as the Curse is Found by Michael D. Williams

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Far as the Curse is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption by Michael D. Williams

336 pages | List Price: $17.99 | Paperback | Released 2005

About

The Christian religion is the historical unfolding of God’s covenantal involvement in this world, the culmination of which is God’s coming into this world in the person of Jesus Christ.

Far as the Curse is Found is a retelling of the biblical story of God’s unfolding covenant from creation to new creation. Readers are led to wonder anew at the redemptive work of God in our own history, in our own human flesh. Pastors, students, and those interested in biblical theology are among the many who will gain fresh insight into the biblical story of redemption.

Endorsements

“Will help readers understand the Bible’s covenantal structure and character, glory in God’s covenant faithfulness, and see in Jesus the fullness of God’s covenant now and forever. Drawing from a wide range of Reformed and evangelical scholarship, and rooted firmly in the Scriptures, Williams’s account is unique in its approach, thorough in its development, compelling in its argument, and timely in its arrival.”

—T. M. Moore

“Combines four emphases in a remarkably fresh way: exegetical faithfulness, biblical-theological wisdom, awareness of contributions already made, and evangelistic and pastoral fire. I am not aware of anything quite like it. What a wonderful book!”

—William Edgar

“When I used a prepublication copy to teach seminary students, they found the book to be reader-friendly and the story of the intimate connection between creation and redemption easy to follow. They were deeply moved by the power of the Bible’s own covenant narrative. Some were surprised to be opened to new ways of looking at God, his world, salvation, and themselves. The book is clear, thoughtful, and faithful to Scripture.”

—Robert A. Peterson

“Must reading for pastors and lay people alike. If you want to get the big picture of the whole Bible, take a look at this work.”

—Richard L. Pratt Jr.

About the Author

Michael D. Williams (MTS, Harvard Divinity School; MDiv, Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary; PhD, University of Toronto) is professor of systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary. He was professor of theology at Dordt College for six years before joining the Covenant faculty. Dr. Williams is author of This World Is Not My Home and coauthor, with Robert A. Peterson, of Why I Am Not an Arminian. He is also highly regarded for his insightful articles on the nature of theology, theological method, history, and homosexuality.

 

Excerpt taken from Gospel-Powered Humility by William P. Farley

Posted on by Kim

Here is an excerpt taken from Gospel-Powered Humility by William P. Farley.

Humility and Pride defined

Humility is one of the least understood spiritual fruits. It is not self-hatred or lack of self-confidence. Humility and low self-image are not the same thing. Indeed, they are polar opposites. Increasing humility brings rest with self, with God, and with life’s circumstances. It produces real lasting joy and healthy self-image. Humility is the ability to see spiritual reality, to see things as they really are. It is the capacity to see myself in God’s light, in the context of his holiness and my sinfulness. In other words, it is the ability to see self, and this world, through God’s eyes. God empowers the humble person to increasingly see himself as he really is: “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). The person growing in humility sees his gifts and faults, his strengths and weaknesses, with increasing clarity. Ironically, as we will see, this humility lays the sure foundation for real contentment and healthy self-image because the humble Christian also increasingly sees and feels God’s great personal love. The truly humble believer has a low view of himself, but an increasingly high view of God and his fellow man.

Pride is the opposite. It is spiritual blindness. It is a delusional, inflated view of self. It is unreality on steroids. And the scary part is this: The thing to which we are most blind is our pride. A demonic Catch-22, pride causes us to chase our spiritual tails. We cannot see pride—even though it is our most grievous, disabling sin—because its very nature is blindness, and the first thing to which it is blind is its own existence. Even though God was speaking to me about my arrogance through Isaiah 66:2 and 1 Corinthians 13:12, because pride blinded me I could not see it. dazzled by my own self-respect, I could not see my failings. Pride is a spiritual veil blinding us to the truth about ourselves and God. The proud person has a high view of self but a low view of God and his brother.

“There is no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves,” wrote C. S. Lewis. “If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”*4

Here is the great paradox: the proud man thinks he is humble, but the humble man thinks he is proud. The humble man sees his arrogance. He sees it clearly, and as a result he aggressively pursues a life of humility, but he doesn’t think of himself as humble. The proud man is completely unaware of his pride. Of all men he is most convinced that he is humble.

Where Pride and humility take uS

Notice that Isaiah 66:2 reads, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” There is an important progression in this text. Humility always blossoms into something more beautiful. It is the root that feeds the other spiritual fruits. In this verse it leads to real contrition, which then deepens into trembling at God’s Word. In other words, humility sensitizes us to God’s Word, motivating and equipping us to hear God’s voice. (See below.) Humility provoked Paul to write: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). It motivated David to “rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). Humility enhances our love for God’s Word and our dependence on God’s Word. The humble joyfully tremble at God’s Word, eager to obey, seeking God’s encouragement and correction.

Humility ➞ Contrition ➞ Trembling

Pride, on the other hand, metamorphoses into something more dreadful. It is the fountainhead of evil. Instead of contrition, pride morphs into self-righteousness, and instead of trembling at God’s Word, self-righteousness terminates in despising God’s Word, or at best apathy.*5 (See below.) This can happen to well-intentioned Christians—even men like David. When Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet accused david of “despis[ing] the word of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:9). To God, the conviction that we are above his threats is the sin of despising him. David must have thought, I can commit adultery and get away with it. After all, I’m the man after God’s own heart. But no one “trembles” at God’s Word and disobeys God, as David did. In other words, we sin because we are proud, and God sees our pride as the sin of despising him. A proud man cannot tremble at God’s Word.

Pride ➞ Self Righteousness ➞ Despising God’s Word

Not so the humble man, the one who trembles at God’s Word. He takes God’s Word seriously. He believes its promises and threats, and he trembles. He fears God. He loves God. He needs God. He abides in the love of God. God’s Word is a heart-piercing arrow, and he loves its convicting, piercing work. He knows what he deserves, and every day he revels in the amazing grace of God that has sheltered him from the terrors of God’s justice.

Since humility ends in trembling at God’s Word, it brings us into real communion with God. It sensitizes us to God’s voice. It opens our ears to his instructions. It amplifies gratitude. It intensifies dependence. In other words, the humble see their need for God. That is why the Bible tells us:

  • God esteems the humble (Isa. 66:2).
  • He dwells with the “contrite and lowly” (Isa. 57:15).
  • He blesses the poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3).
  • He graces the humble (James 4:6).
  • He guides and teaches the humble (Ps. 25:9).
  • He regards the lowly (Ps. 138:6).

Because we are blind to our pride, it is always a problem. But there is a sense in which it is especially pernicious today. Humility has almost disappeared from our spiritual lexicon. “What has changed,” notes Cornelius Plantinga, “is that, in much of contemporary American culture, aggressive self-regard is no longer viewed with alarm. Instead people praise and promote it.”*6

Self-esteem, self-promotion, self-congratulation, and self-admiration are now celebrated as virtues. Western culture has evangelized the church. But God calls his people to be different, to separate themselves from the values of this fallen world.

So far, we have noted that humility is necessary for both intimacy with God and spiritual fruitfulness. We have defined humility. We have noted where both pride and humility take us. The remainder of this chapter will make four observations to attempt to convince you that humility matters:

  • First, humility is necessary for conversion.
  • Second, humility is necessary for sanctification.
  • Third, we need humility to see what God is doing.
  • Fourth, the gospel demonstrates humility and produces a faith that culminates in growing humility.

Excerpt taken from pages 24-28, Gospel-Powered Humility by William P. Farley, copyright 2011 by P&R Publishing.

*4. C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1960), 109, 114.

*5. For further light on this statement, see 1 Sam. 2:30; 2 Chron. 36:15–16; Prov. 1:7; 13:13; 14:2; Matt. 6:24.

*6. Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 82.

AUTHOR HIGHLIGHT — Robert A. Peterson

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Robert A. Peterson (MDiv, Biblical Theological Seminary; PhD, Drew University) was professor of systematic theology at Covenant Seminary for more than twenty-five years. He has served seven churches as an interim pastor and is the author of five P&R titles and a coauthor of two.

    

1. Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment

272 pages | $17.99 | Paperback

Summary — With extreme care and faithfulness to Scripture, Peterson sets forth the case for eternal punishment and refutes four alternative views. A timely response to current denials of the historic position.

2. Election and Free Will: God’s Gracious Choice and Our Responsibility

224 pages | $17.99 | Paperback | Explorations in Biblical Theology series

Summary — Traces Scripture’s teaching on election through the Bible and explains biblically the doctrine of free will. It tackles objections to predestination and concludes with applications of this neglected biblical teaching.

3. Our Secure Salvation: Preservation and Apostasy

256 pages | $14.99 | Paperback | Explorations in Biblical Theology series

Summary — This is a fresh restatement of the case for the preservation of the saints, especially valuable in light of the insecurity of much of postmodern life.

4. Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children

208 pages | $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — Although we live in an age of family breakdown, family imagery is never far away in the Bible. Using exegesis and personal stories, Peterson tells the wonder of biblical adoption.

5. Getting to Know John’s Gospel: A Fresh Look at Its Main Ideas

162 pages | $12.99 | Paperback

Summary — This book will enrich your understanding of John’s Gospel and invigorate your faith. Ideal for Bible classes, study groups, and individuals.

 

6. Life Everlasting: The Unfolding Story of Heaven coauthored with Dan C. Barber

256 pages | $14.99 | Paperback | Explorations in Biblical Theology series | SAMPLE CHAPTER

Summary — Life Everlasting is about heaven—our final salvation. In looking forward to our participation in the new heavens and new earth, we often seek information in the wrong places, so what does the Bible actually say?

7. What is Hell? coauthored with Christopher W. Morgan

40 pages | $4.99 | Booklet | Basics of the Faith series

Summary — Morgan and Peterson set forth a clear biblical theology of hell, addressing the major questions people have and applying what the Bible has to say about it to Christian living.