Archives for July 2022

P&R has released one of the greatest festschrifts (a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar) I’ve ever read. Fittingly it is in honor of Sinclair Ferguson. Edited by William Edwards, John Ferguson, and Chad VanDixhoorn, Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice, has 26 contributors such as Bob Letham, Doug Kelly, Ian Hamilton, David McWilliams, Phil Ryken, Ligon Duncan, Cornel Venema, David Strain, Bob Godfrey, Chad VanDixhoorn, Michael Horton, etc. I was privileged to write chapter 17: “Assurance of Faith: Pastoral Wisdom for Struggling Christians.” I pay my tribute to Sinclair in my first footnote as follows:

“I am honored to write in this volume for Sinclair Ferguson, who has been one of my best friends and mentors for the last four decades. From the days I sat under his superlative teaching and moving prayers as a PhD student at Westminster Seminary, to the numerous talks we’ve had in sharing each other’s conversion and spiritual experiences as well as on a variety of theological subjects, to the many favors he has done for me until today in writing sterling forewords and endorsements for my books, I owe him an incalculable debt. Sinclair, thanks so much for your multifaceted friendship: it is one of my most treasured gifts on earth, and I pray that it will be an eternal friendship around the Lamb’s throne!”

Learn more here.

We would love to have you accompany us on this life-changing trip. Of all the tours I’ve done over the years, Israel is always the #1 on my list, and this time we have assembled, by God’s grace, the best team ever.

God helping us, this should be an absolutely outstanding and unforgettable trip.

Click here for details.

Simonetta Carr has done it again. Reformation Heritage Books is grateful to release her 20th title in her “Christian Biographies for Young Readers” (ages 7-12), this one being on Byang Kato, who was born and converted in Nigeria, and later became the father of the evangelical movement in Africa through his preaching, teaching, and writing.

This is a great evangelism/missions title, showing how God can use one individual in a mighty way to move thousands in a right and balanced direction despite encountering heavy criticism and intense pressure. Simonetta deftly shows how Rev. Kato avoided both identifying Western culture with Christianity and mixing the gospel with African traditional religions. This book is beautifully illustrated for children, but can be enjoyed by teenagers and adults as well.

Learn more here.

“O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless free: Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me. Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above!”

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” by Samuel Trevor Francis

Though we do not see Jesus in the flesh today, we can, by faith, rejoice in Him and His compassionate heart.

Learn more about “The Beauty and Glory of Christ” here.

Derek Thomas just sent this picture of him and Sinclair Ferguson in Scotland to me with the title, “Two old guys.” I thanked him and shot back this note: “I would say: Two special friends!”

Isn’t it true that often we don’t thank our long-standing friends enough for just being our faithful friends in Christ over the many years gone by? I love these two brothers in Christ and am so grateful for their loyal friendships—Derek for 30 years and Sinclair for 40! What a blessing they have both been to me!

Every true, faithful friend of many years is a special gift of God as we traverse the way to the Celestial City. Isn’t it time that you send a note of thanks to those who have befriended you faithfully for decades? Do it today!

Under the rubric of “A New Testament Biblical Theology,” P&R has just released a very important book by the esteemed biblical theologian, O. Palmer Robertson, “Christ of the Consummation: The Testimony of the Four Gospels, Volume 1.” This is an excellent companion to expository preachers and teachers of the Gospels, as well as every other student of the Bible who desires to grow in both knowledge and devotion to Christ.

Learn more here.

Without the Spirit’s sovereign, saving work, all our efforts to train our children covenantally will do no more than produce Pharisees on the one hand or rebels on the other. Grace is not automatically conveyed from one generation to another through baptism and faithful covenantal child-rearing. Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish divine who stressed the value of the covenant of grace, wrote, “Grace always runs in the covenant of God, but it does not always run in the blood of the veins.” Only the Holy Spirit can bless our efforts and grant our children a broken heart and a contrite spirit (Ps. 51:17).

Learn more about “Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children” here.

I am excited to announce that Reformation Heritage Books has just released the 17th title in The Reformed Historical-Theological Studies series that Jay Collier and I are privileged to edit: “Arminius and the Reformed Tradition: Grace and the Doctrine of Salvation,” by our friend, J. V. Fesko. As Dr. Herman Selderhuis writes, “Dr. Fesko paints a clear and honest picture of the theology of Arminius,” showing how he differed from the mainstream Reformed view on issues of grace and salvation. Insightful and eminently readable for both the scholar and laypeople. Highly recommended!

Learn more here.

My father-in-law (who hopes to turn 90 in several weeks) and his name’s sake (our grandchild, who is 1) quietly enjoying each other! God’s covenant mercies are great, so full of promise: “Thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel” (Ps. 128:6) in Christ Jesus.

I am very excited to share the details for our forthcoming trip to Israel and Jordan, D.V., on May 8-20, 2023.

We would love to have you accompany us on this life-changing trip. Of all the tours I’ve done over the years, Israel is always the #1 on my list, and this time we have assembled, by God’s grace, the best team ever. God helping us, this should be an absolutely outstanding and unforgettable trip.

Learn more here.