Doctrine for Life
Today I got to meet our new and first Puerto Rico student, Joel (2nd from right), who arrived with his brother, Jonathan Edward (I’m not lying about the name—and I must confess that I’ve wanted to meet Jonathan Edwards ever since I was a teenager!), and his parents, Roberto and Irma. Robert is an OPC pastor in Puerto Rico. What a joy it was to visit with this dear family! Pray for Joel that he will flourish here in his studies.
As our PRTS librarian, Laura Ladwig, writes: Today we are thrilled to receive our custom-designed Torah scroll cabinet from Michigan craftsman Alan Young. It is designed to be fully functional as a teaching resource and also a beautiful piece for permanent display. The design gives an appropriate nod to the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament.
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary looks forward to using the Torah scroll for teaching purposes in Hebrew language courses in addition to being on permanent display in the William Perkins Library. The scroll’s provenance is mid-19th century Romania.
This scroll has been deemed pasul or disqualified for use in a synagogue. Factors may include small blemishes, tears, loosening seams, textual errors, letters touching, incorrect shapes of letters and most often fading or flaking ink. These rules carefully protect the reading of the text against any corruption.
Good news! Yesterday morning Crossway sent volume 3 of “Reformed Systematic Theology” (by Paul Smalley and me) on the Holy Spirit and salvation (it came to 1,170 pages—the “slimmest” volume so far) to the printer. It should be available by early November, D.V. For an author, this is almost as important a day as receiving the book, since now we cannot make any changes anymore. Presently, we are about 40% of the way into the last volume (vol. 4 on the church and the last things). Pray for God’s continued blessing on this major task
After this wonderful news, we enjoyed lunch at our home with Preston and Breanna Kelso and their precious daughters. Preston is one of our relatively new ThM students whom I have not had a chance yet to get to know. The visit was delightful—especially hearing about their conversions.
On the Lord’s Day, I had the privilege of preaching for Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo (see picture #1), due to the pastor having Covid—happily, he is steadily improving. After church in the evening, we had a great visit with our good friends, Pastor Robert Briggs and his wife Elaine (see picture #2). I’ve done a few conferences over the years for brother Robert in his home church in California. He also serves as president of a Reformed Baptist seminary that now has more than a hundred students.
In this episode of Theology Applied, Pastor Joel Webbon interviews me about the Puritans and the rebuke they would give to the American Church today if they were still here
Friday night date… we went on our traditional 4.5 mile bike ride down Leonard street last night. Puritan Village (seminary student housing) in the background.
Reformation Heritage Books just released our daughter’s first major book, “Transformed: How God Renews Your Mind to Make You More Like Jesus” by Esther Engelsma. May I humbly and objectively state that if you truly desire to be more conformed to Jesus Christ, this is a really good book that God can use to help you walk in that way? As David Murray writes, “This fascinating book is the Christian answer to the cultural craving for a holistic spirituality. Avoiding the pitfalls of intellectualism, emotionalism, and legalism, Esther guides us to a Christ-patterned and gospel-fueled renewal of our minds, feelings, and lives.” Please pray that God will bless this book to thousands.
https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/transformed-how-god-renews-your-mind-to-make-you-more-like-jesus-engelsma.html
The Lord Jesus taught that the key to a fruitful, God-glorifying life is abiding in His Word (John 8:31–32; 15:7–8). If this is true for disciples of Christ in general, how much more is it necessary for pastors and preachers! In this hour-long video, I explore the benefits of a life of meditating on the Word day and night (Ps. 1:2), with insights from the Puritans on how to most effectively feed ourselves and our flocks with the Holy Scriptures.
I am excited to announce that RHB is publishing a second, improved 2-volume edition of Jim Beeke’s popular series of books on Bible Doctrine.
I received the first volume today, “Bible Doctrine for Younger Children” (300 pages in hard cover). This volume, geared for grades 4 and 5, replaces the former 2-volume paperback series by the same title. It contains numerous improvements in content, in editing, in artwork, and in typesetting. You can order this first volume here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/bible-doctrine-for-younger-children-second-edition-beeke.html
Presently, our typesetter is working on the second volume, “Bible Doctrine for Older Children” (which my brother Jim has already edited and which is designed for grades 6 and 7 in one hard cover volume rather than the present 2-volume paperback). We hope to have this available by early next year.
Meanwhile, Jim Beeke is now working on reducing the 3-volume set of “Bible Doctrine for Teens and Young Adults” (for grades 8 through 12 and for young adults) which contains about 1500 pages down to about 800-900 pages. That too will be published in one volume. Publication date for this substantively revised edition will be 2023, D.V. I am grateful to have the privilege to serve as one of the editors of my dear brother’s fine books again.
This set of books has already sold tens of thousands of volumes, especially to churches, Christian schools, and home-schooling families throughout North America and beyond. There is nothing quite like it on the market. Please pray for God’s benediction upon this large undertaking so that these improved volumes would sell hundreds of thousands, and also be translated into a number of languages. Pray that children and young people will profit from them for their own conversion and spiritual maturation all around the world.
Just home safely with the Queen from Pella, Iowa—an 8-hour trek by car. Before leaving, we visited with some of Mary’s relatives—Nick and Lynn—who own a flower shop/greenhouse (picture #1). We took a break for an enjoyable dinner this evening at Clementine’s in St. Joseph, situated by a peaceful marina (picture #2), for perch and walleye (we always split our meals—try it—it’s fun). Thanks for your prayers!
