Grandfather tells Darby and Campbell the parable of the priest who is not allowed to preach until he changes the dirty clothes he is wearing for clean ones.

In order to persuade a child to take her bitter-tasting medicine when she is sick, her grandfather tells her a story in which a prince saves the people from sin by drinking from a poisoned fountain.

This collection of important writings fills the need for an anthology that adequately represents recent work on the problem of evil. This is perhaps one of the most discussed topics in the philosophy of religion, and is of perennial interest to philosophers and theologians.

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,

Holiness : the Christian's joint venture with God. God's command is, "Be holy, for I am holy." But as victims of sin's "guerilla warfare," Christians are often prone to give up the fight, or at least to compromise with sin in its more difficult forms. Why do we so rarely experience holy living? The central issue confronting us, says Jerry Bridges in The Pursuit of Holiness, is that Christians fail to understand their own responsibility for holiness. "If we sin," he writes, "it is because we choose to sin -- not because we lack the ability to say no to temptation. We are not defeated; we are simply disobedient." Bridges, longtime Navigator staff member in both field ministries and administration, looks in this book at such topics as: What God has provided to help us live holy lives; What is meant by the scriptural statement that we have "died to sin"; Practical guidelines for determining right from wrong; The struggles we have with physical overindulgence and unloving attitudes; How our reason and emotions influence our will; How habits and personal discipline play a part in holy living. Whether you're continuing a long and serious quest in the practice of holiness, or have never really thought about it, the principles given here will serve as an impelling challenge to obey God's call. - Back cover.

The End of Faith. The God Delusion. God Is Not Great. Letter to a Christian Nation. Bestseller lists are filled with doubters. But what happens when you actually doubt your doubts?Although a vocal minority continues to attack the Christian faith, for most Americans, faith is a large part of their lives: 86 percent of Americans refer to themselves as religious, and 75 percent of all Americans consider themselves Christians. So how should they respond to these passionate, learned, and persuasive books that promote science and secularism over religion and faith? For years, Tim Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced "doubts" skeptics bring to his Manhattan church. And in The Reason for God, he single-handedly dismantles each of them. Written with atheists, agnostics, and skeptics in mind, Keller also provides an intelligent platform on which true believers can stand their ground when bombarded by the backlash. The Reason for God challenges such ideology at its core and points to the true path and purpose of Christianity.Why is there suffering in the world? How could a loving God send people to Hell? Why isn't Christianity more inclusive? Shouldn't the Christian God be a god of love? How can one religion be "right" and the rest "wrong"? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God? These are just a few of the questions even ardent believers wrestle with today. In this book, Tim Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations and reasoning, and even pop culture to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

"Mention history and some might struggle to stifle a yawn. But when presented as a narrative it can often be compelling reading. Stephen J. Nichols takes a key period in time, the Reformation, and presents its major players in a fresh way. From Martin Luther, a simple monk who wielded the mallet, to kings and queens, this book goes behind the scenes to uncover the human side of these larger-than-life Reformers. Along the way readers meet Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Kings Henry VIII and Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Anne Bradstreet, and many others. For those wanting to see history in its context, Nichols also provides a sampling of primary source materials. It is an engaging read that will remind readers of the foundational truths that can never be taken for granted by the church in any age. Includes numerous illustrations" -- Amazon.com.

"This Dover edition, first published in 2013, is an unabridged republication of The Religious Affections, first published in 1746. The material here is a reprint of the Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 2004 edition."

A chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on a long spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to discover the place within where God has chosen to dwell. In seizing the inspiration that came to him through Rembrandt's depiction of the powerful Gospel story, Henri Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son's return, the father's restoration of sonship, the elder son's vengefulness, and the father's compassion. In his reflection on Rembrandt in light of his own life journey, the author evokes the powerful drama of the parable in a rich, captivating way that is sure to reverberate in the hearts of readers. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as the father and be loved as the son will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times"--Back cover.

Noted New Testament scholar Poythress provides an understandable and practical look into Revelation in this insightful commentary. Poythress focuses on Revelation's core message and ensures that its details do not cloud the big picture. He shows Revelation to be a "picture book, not a puzzle book," relevant and applicable to the daily lives of Christians.

Discusses the relationship between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics covering the social and moral issues on which they agree and their differences on theological issues.

In today's frenetic society, people rarely develop intimate friendships. Instead, they spend their lives essentially disconnected from others, rushing through life content with brief visits and casual conversations. But what if one were to develop a community, a spiritual community, of people who walked with and supported each other through life's journey? A community of real friends who listened to each other's personal tragedies without merely trying to fix the problems, who encouraged and nurtured each other's strengths, and who accepted people for who they really are, instead of the image they try to portray. In The Safest Place on Earth, Larry Crabb explores such a place, where God can heal disconnected people and allow them to reconnect with each other and, ultimately, with Him.

Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Jude, Simon, Judas, and Matthias--what happened to the men who answered Jesus call to follow him? What impact did they have on the world? Where did they go and what did they do after Jesus resurrection and ascension? In these fascinating profiles, Dr. McBirnie offers readers a snapshot of the lives of each apostle. His information was compiled by traveling to places where the apostles lived and visited, by studying the Scriptures and biblical history, by listening to local traditions, and by engaging in his own original research. Picking up where the book of Acts leaves off, McBirnie brings these men to life as he explores the legends, traditions, and real lives of the Twelve as they built the foundation of Christianity.

Since its appearance nearly 35 years ago, Black's New Testament Commentary Series has been hailed by both scholars and pastors for its insightful interpretations and reliable commentary. Each book in the series includes: an insightful introduction to the important historical, literary, and theological issues; key terms and phrases from the translation highlighted in the commentary where they are discussed; explanations of special Greek or foreign terms; references to important primary and secondary literature; and a Scripture index.Second Corinthans is one of the most difficult writings in the New Testament to interpret. Yet, this commentary, which follows Barrett's works on Romans and I Corinthians in the same series, is superb in every respect. The author's command of the Greek language, his skillful use of the Old Testament and background writings, and his sensitive handling of complex exegetical problems provide a panorama of a mature scholar's work which is at times almost breathtaking. Moreover, the restrained use of Greek and technical terms makes this commentary as useful for the layman or pastor as it is for the scholar. Review and Expositor

This may seem self-explanatory, but it's helpful to work through this question thoughtfully. Is self-control really that important, or is it better to enjoy the moment and not concern oneself with future outcomes? Besides risking the ability to achieve long-term goals, there are other problematic issues with a lack of self-control. People who lack self-control often give in to impulsive behavior and emotions as well. This means that they may make poor choices that harm themselves or others and react poorly when they don't get what they want. Imagine a toddler who wants something but the parent says no. Often, the initial reaction is to behave impulsively. They may throw a tantrum and hit and scream. Toddlers are still learning to regulate their emotions and respond appropriately when things don't go their way.A person who lacks self-control may be an unstable person, prone to fits of anger and unethical decisions. There's more at stake to a lack of self-control than a forgotten New Year's Resolution--it may mean the difference between a person who is successful in personal relationships and careers, and one who is not.

John Calvin is the most notable figure from the Reformed tradition. Unfortunately, he is often characterized as a stern and cerebral individual who had little concern for practical matters. However, Calvin was actually influential in promoting a profound sense of piety among early Protestantism. In The Soul of Life , Joel R. Beeke presents the life and ministry of Calvin with a special emphasis on Calvin's efforts for cultivating healthy spirituality among the churches. The selections from Calvin's own work will give readers a firsthand look at Calvin's emphasis on godliness, and by God's grace, will be a means for spurring on greater godliness in our day. Table of Contents: The Life of John Calvin The Piety of John Calvin Section One: The Definition and Importance of Piety Section Two: Piety's Supreme Goal, Soli Deo Gloria Section Three: Theological Dimensions Piety's Profound Root: Mystical Union Piety's Double Bond: The Spirit and Faith Piety's Double Cleansing: Justification and Sanctification Section Four: Ecclesiological Dimensions Piety Through the Church Piety of the Word Piety in the Sacraments Piety in the Psalter Section Five: Practical Dimensions Prayer Repentance Self-Denial Cross-Bearing The Present and Future Life Obedience Recommended Books by or about Calvin Series Description Seeking, then, both to honor the past and yet not idolize it, we are issuing these books in the series Profiles in Reformed Spirituality . The design is to introduce the spirituality and piety of the Reformed Profiles in Reformed Spirituality tradition by presenting descriptions of the lives of notable Christians with select passages from their works. This combination of biographical sketches and collected portions from primary sources gives a taste of the subjects' contributions to our spiritual heritage and some direction as to how the reader can find further edification through their works. It is the hope of the publishers that this series will provide riches for those areas where we are poor and light of day where we are stumbling in the deepening twilight.