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Devotional Books

Here's the last set of books recommended by Luke Jenner. These encourage a closer walk with God and have been written to help Christians to follow the King of Books.

Now that I've listed the whole set, I must get round to reading them!

Pilgrim’s Progress	John Bunyan	Various
Living the Christian Life	A N Martin	Banner of Truth
Holiness	Joel Beeke	Banner of Truth
Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices	Thomas Brooks	Banner of Truth
The Bruised Reed	Richard Sibbes	Banner of Truth
The Pursuit of Holiness	Jerry Bridges	Authentic Lifestyle
Holiness	J C Ryle	Sovereign Grace
On Knowing Christ (sermons)	Jonathan Edwards	Banner of Truth
Romans (sermons - several volumes)	D M Lloyd-Jones	Banner of Truth
Ephesians (sermons – several volumes)	D M Lloyd-Jones	Banner of Truth
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount	D M Lloyd-Jones	IVP
Sermons of Robert Murray M'Cheyne	Robert Murray M'Cheyne	Banner of Truth
The Valley Of Vision (a collection of Puritan prayers)	Arthur Bennett	Banner of Truth
Praying Always	Frans Bakker	Banner of Truth
The Thought of God,	Maurice Roberts	Banner of Truth
The Christian’s High Calling	Maurice Roberts	Banner of Truth
The Shadow of the Cross	Walter J Chantry	Banner of Truth
Personal Declension and Revival of Religion in the Soul	Octavius Winslow	Banner of Truth
The Mystery of Providence	John Flavel	Banner of Truth
The Holy Spirit; His Person and Ministry	Edwin H Palmer	P & R Publishing

See also: Bible Introduction and Overview, Bible Commentaries, Systematic Theologies, Contemporary Issues, Biography and History

Daily Intelligence

Some thoughts about reading newspapers ...

God is sovereign. He is in control. Rulers are chosen and appointed by him (The authorities that exist have been established by God, Romans 13:1). All things are working for the good of his church (In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, Romans 8:28). Even mundane matters are in God’s hand (I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me, Psalm 3:5; The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore, Psalm 121:8). So what happens is not aimless, a random sequence of events. There is no need to be afraid.

Nevertheless we live in a fallen world. Man does not acknowledge God’s rule or his goodness. Don’t be surprised at the evil things that happen.

Pray for those in authority, that we may live in a peaceful and just society … so that the gospel will have every opportunity to do its good work. (See 1 Timothy 2:2.)

Give thanks in all circumstances, 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

... Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:25

Be discerning. Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (see Matthew 10:16). Many organisations have an agenda over and above reporting the basic facts. This may be explicit. More likely it is implicit, because of their owner or editor, or the people they employ. Separate fact from opinion. Test everything; hold on to the good, 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Don’t be idle or a busybody. Avoid gossip. Some “news” is useless. Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down, Proverbs 26:20. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends, Proverbs 16:28

Unity Without Uniformity

Paul Brown in the May edition of Grace Magazine draws attention to the Act of Union 300 years ago, commenting that the Union is probably under more strain now than it has ever been since its inception.

He points out that it was the gospel that united the nation, while also allowing for cultural divergences. He quotes Linda Colley: "It was their common investment in Protestantism that first allowed the English, Welsh and the Scots to become fused together, and to remain so, despite their many cultural divergences."

He concludes:

Ironically, the cultural divergence is much less today - by and large it is the same shops, the same music, the same TV programmes, the same secularism and consumerism, the same preoccupation with sex, money and pleasure.

Worldliness brings dissatisfaction and division.

Christ brings unity without uniformity