Reading Assignments

R.A. Torrey: "The Return of the Lord Jesus" The truth of our Lord’s return is the most precious truth the Bible contains. It fills the heart of the believer with joy, and girds him with strength for the battle. It lifts him above the sorrows and fears and necessities and trials and ambitions and creed … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 11

D.L. Moody: "The Dearest Institution on Earth" Let me say this especially to all young converts. I have heard that some say they can be Christians and not unite with the church; and I was told, last night, that one of them said I didn't belong to the church. That is a mistake. I tried, … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 10

Thomas Watson: "The Service of the Angels" To do God’s will sincerely is to do it with a pure eye to God’s glory. This is to do God’s will as the angels, when we not only advance God’s glory, but desire God’s glory. The angels are not afraid to cast their crowns before God’s throne … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 9

Jonathan Edwards: "God Glorified in Our Salvation" It was of mere grace that God gave us his only begotten Son. The grace is great in proportion to the dignity and excellency of what is given: the gift was infinitely precious, because it was a person infinitely worthy, a person of infinite glory; and also, because … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 8

John Owen: "When Sin Lets Us Alone, We May Let Sin Alone" The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. So the apostle says (Colossians 3:5) "Mortify therefore your members which are upon … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 7

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: "No Good Thing without the Spirit" Remember, brethren, and here is another thought which should make the Spirit very dear to you - without the Holy Spirit no good thing ever did or ever can come into any of your heart - no sigh of repentance - no cry of faith - … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 6

J.C. Ryle: "The Word Became Flesh" The main truth which this verse (John 1:14) teaches is the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ's incarnation, or being made man. John tells us that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."   The plain meaning of these words is that our divine Savior really took … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 5

Martin Luther: "Diligently Learn the Word of God" You should diligently learn the Word of God and by no means imagine that you know it. Let him who is able to read take a psalm in the morning, or some other chapter of Scripture, and study it for a while. This is what I do. … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 4

John Chrysostom: "Let Us Imitate and Glorify Him" Though He is so wise, yet He has not His Wisdom from any other, but is Himself the Fountain of good things. And though He has done so great things, and made us so great presents, yet it was not by borrowing from any other that He … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 3

John Calvin: “The Knowledge of God and the Knowledge of Man” Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 1

J.C. Ryle: "Train Your Children to a Knowledge of the Bible" You cannot make your children love the Bible, I allow. None but the Holy Ghost can give us a heart to delight in the Word. But you can make your children acquainted with the Bible; and be sure they cannot be acquainted with that … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 11

John Chrysostom: "On the Necessity of Reading Scripture Daily" I also always entreat you, and do not cease entreating you, not only to pay attention here to what I say, but also when you are at home, to persevere continually in reading the divine Scriptures.   When I have been with each of you in … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 10

The Unsuccessful Call of John Owen This letter was received by John Owen in 1663 from a congregation in Boston that wished him to come and be their pastor. In a day when churches are driven by public relationships methods, boasting of their many attractive qualities in their efforts to recruit both members and pastors, … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 7

Augustine: "Pick Up and Read" Now when deep reflection had drawn up out of the secret depths of my soul all my misery and had heaped it up before the sight of my heart, there arose a mighty storm, accompanied by a mighty rain of tears. That I might give way fully to my tears … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 9

Thomas Watson: "The Divine Inspiration of Scripture" If the Scripture be of divine inspiration, then be exhorted:   1) To study the Scripture. Be Scripture-men, Bible-Christians. ‘I adore the fullness of Scripture,’ says Tertullian. In the Book of God are scattered many truths as so many pearls. John 5:59: ‘Search the Scriptures.’ Search as for … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 8

John Calvin: "The Communion of the Saints" Calvin takes as his launching point here the Apostle’s Creed, and especially the phrases the Holy, Universal Church and the Communion of the Saints. While the Reformers were often characterized as anti-establishment, they indeed took the importance of the Church, both universal and local, very seriously.   We … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 6

Martin Luther: "The Marks of the Church" In On the Councils and the Church, Luther disputes (among other things) the claims that Protestant congregations cannot be true churches. While one could add to his seven marks which display a true congregation, one certainly would affirm these marks of the church as clear. I have left … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 5

John Bunyan: "The Word of God in John Bunyan’s Conversion" Bunyan’s conversion was preceded by overhearing several godly women speaking about God’s Word.   But upon a day, the good providence of God did cast me to Bedford, to work on my calling; and in one of the streets of that town, I came where … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 7

Martin Luther: "This is God's Word, even the Gospel" This is from Luther's commentary on 2 Peter 1:19-21.   And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 6

John Calvin: "The True Knowledge of God Comes Through His Word" Therefore, though the brightness which is presented to every eye, both in the heavens and on the earth, leaves the ingratitude of man without excuse — since God, in order to bring the whole human race under the same condemnation, holds forth to all … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 5

J.C. Ryle: "The Family of God" J.C. Ryle had a love for God's Word and a sense of practical application which has kept his writings in print. His straightforward style remains refreshing. His works include Holiness, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, and a 54 page "tract" called The Duties of Parents. True Christians are called … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 4

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: "Delighting and Meditating" “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.” Psalm 119:14   Delight in the word of God is a sure proof that it has taken effect upon the heart, and so is cleansing the life. The Psalmist not only says that he does … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 4

J.C. Ryle: "Advice on Bible Reading" Begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing is to do it, and the way to read the Bible is actually to read it. It is not meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it, which will advance you one step. … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 3

C.H. Spurgeon: "The Soul Winner" Spurgeon, in this sermon preached in 1869, talks about the excuses used by many to avoid joining a local church. Though the illustrations are part of the 19th century, the excuses are many of the same ones that we hear today. Now, I know there are some who say, “Well, … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 3

R.A. Torrey: "Eight Fundamental Conditions of the Most Profitable Bible Study" The student must be born again Unregenerate men should not be forbidden from studying the Bible, for the Word of God is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses in the new birth (I Peter 1:23); but it should be distinctly understood that, while there are … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 2

R.A. Torrey: "Church Membership" While How to Succeed in the Christian Life may sound too much like Your Best Life Now for comfort, it's really just a short book to help new believers. Torrey's words are quite basic, but they reinforce for us a truth which is often disregarded in today's church (and clearly was a problem … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 2

D.L. Moody: "Love for the Word of God" A quickening that will last must come through the Word of God. A man stood up in one of our meetings and said he hoped for enough out of the series of meetings to last him all his life. I told him he might as well try to … [Read More...] Grasping God’s Word: Week 1

D.L. Moody: "Some Join Church at Once" Below we see Moody's thoughts, expressed in his inimitable fashion, on the church's importance, in asides to young converts found in two sermons. He had little patience for those who wouldn't join. He also references the fact that when he was first converted, the church was skeptical and … [Read More...] The Church & Our Place in It: Week 1

Augustine: "Who Is the Lord, but the Lord?" Since, then, You fill heaven and earth, do they contain You? Or, as they contain You not, do You fill them, and yet there remains something over? And where do You pour forth that which remains of You when the heaven and earth are filled? Or, indeed, … [Read More...] What We Believe: Week 2