Primarily, How Long, O Lord? is a book of preventative medicine. One of the major causes of devastating grief and confusion among Christians is that our expectations are false. We do not give the subject of evil and suffering the thought it deserves until we ourselves are confronted with tragedy. If by that point our beliefs—not well thought out but deeply ingrained—are largely out of step with the God who has disclosed himself in the Bible and supremely in Jesus, then the pain from the personal...

Richard Sibbes is widely considered to be one of the fathers of Puritanism in the seventeenth century. His passionate sermons and devotional works have persisted throughout the centuries and continue to influence modern-day scholars and people all over the world. Taken from Matthew 12:20, Sibbes explains what it means to be a “bruised reed.” It is a metaphor which exemplifies the way in which God humbles sinners by allowing them to see sin in the way that he sees it—the lesson being that God so...

All Things for Good by Thomas Watson provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: Why do bad things happen to good people? Thomas Watson, the seventeenth-century minister of St. Stephen’s Walbrook, believed he faced two great difficulties in his pastoral ministry. The first was making the unbeliever sad, in the recognition of his need of God’s grace. The second was making the believer joyful in response to God’s grace. He believed the answer to the second difficulty could be found...

Thomas Watson was one of the most famous Puritan preachers in history, and his seventeenth-century writings are still read across the world today. A highly influential example of Puritan writing, The Great Gain of Godliness is Watson’s study of Malachi 3:16–18. British Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t find a copy of The Great Gain of Godliness. Spurgeon told his scholars, “This volume would be a great find if we could come at it, for Watson is one of the clea...

“As a writer, Brooks scatters stars with both his hands: he hath dust of gold; in his storehouse are all manner of precious stones.” So wrote C. H. Spurgeon, who counted Thomas Brooks among his favorite Puritan authors. Brooks’ popularity lies both in his subjects—practical truths central to the Christian life—and in the manner of his presentation. He is direct, urgent, fervent, full of scripture, and able to choose words which make his sentences stick in one’s mind. Smooth Stones Taken from A...

“The present generation has, for the most part, been reared not only in an atmosphere of negative unbelief but of hostile unbelief. They live in a world where materialism and skepticism are rampant and dominant. In the great majority of homes the Sunday newspaper is the only thing read on the Lord’s Day. “Doubt as to moral and spiritual truth is distilled through a score of channels. Our seats of learning are hotbeds of agnosticism. Our literature, with rare exceptions, makes light of God and j...

In this revised edition of a formerly four-volume work, James Boice provides a readable overview of all the major doctrines of Christian theology in one volume. Boice carefully opens the topics like the nature of God, the character of his natural and special revelation, the fall, and the person and work of Christ with scholarly rigor and a pastor’s heart. The text then covers the work of the holy spirit in justification and sanctification, and closes with careful discussion of ecclesiology and...

J. Gresham Machen once said, “False ideas are the greatest obstacles to the reception of the gospel”­­—which makes apologetics that much more important. Wanting to engage not just academics and pastors but Christian laypeople and seekers, William Lane Craig has revised and updated key sections in this third edition of his classic text to reflect the latest work in astrophysics, philosophy, probability calculus, arguments for the existence of God, and Reformed epistemology. His approach—that of ...

In The Coming Tsunami, pastor and cultural scholar Dr. Jim Denison addresses the gravest threat Christians in America have ever faced—four cultural tidal waves threatening to submerge Christians in America and the biblical morality they proclaim. Through proactive, biblical steps, he helps us redeem these challenges so that we can live the way Jesus calls us to live. This book is a warning sign. The coming cultural tsunami is the gravest threat Christians in America have ever faced. Caused by...

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and “a fountain of life”—the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle so vastly important, all the subtle malignity of Satan has been directed, if possible to mislead the very elect; while the ungodly and impenitent fall under his devices. To the mind enlightened by divine truth, the difference between a filial fear of offending God and the dread of punishment is very plain. Still, by ...

With the recent wave of books on atheism becoming New York Times bestsellers, the God debate is heating up. Because of the implications, it’s the most significant question of all time: Is there a God, or isn’t there? In this compelling book, Ray Comfort argues the case with simple logic and common sense. If there is a God, surely he has made his presence known so that anyone, young or old, scholar or school child, can find him. By applying basic logic to three clear evidences for the existence of God, Comfort will help you to examine the case for evolution and see what top scientists are really saying about the theory, explore the facts that led the world’s most notorious atheist to acknowledge a creator, and investigate the evidence to discover who God is, through 100 percent scientific proof. You can know God exists.

This Puritan classic, first published in the late seventeenth century, sets forth the biblical teaching of God and his interaction in our lives. No detail is too small or insignificant for God; he is there, working out “all things for good.” And in that promise, every believer can take comfort that God truly has a purpose for every single person and will unfold his plan, which includes every detail in our daily lives. Chapter topics include proofs of a special providence;the operations of prov...

Originally published in 1737, The Crook in the Lot continues to bring comfort and inspire countless souls, and it remains one of the most beloved of all Puritan classics. Its depth of explanation regarding God’s role in our afflictions and sufferings is without equal. Thomas Boston—a well-known, influential, and beloved Puritan—was famous for his ability to communicate sound biblical truths in a way that conveyed clarity and insight. In this Puritan classic, he not only reveals a theological un...

Richard Baxter’s A Call to the Unconverted was the gospel tract of his day. Widely circulated, the book provided the saving knowledge of Christ to a large number of readers. A Call to the Unconverted shares the gospel with clarity, accuracy, and depth. With unmatched thoroughness, Baxter gives listeners much to learn, especially in view of today’s “gospel light” and “easy-believism” approach.

Are you getting the spiritual nourishment you need? We have all experienced times when we have not eaten a balanced diet or have eaten too many sweets. We feel sick, light-headed, and occasionally depressed, or we become irritable and edgy. It’s the body’s way of letting us know that it’s lacking sufficient nourishment. Optimal health requires optimal nutrition. The same is true spiritually speaking. Without sufficient and regular biblical nutrition, our inner life begins to suffer the conseque...

Old Paths is a collection of nineteen of J. C. Ryle’s most effective tracts on the leading truths of Christianity, which are, as he says, “necessary to salvation.” In including in such a series Inspiration, Election, and Perseverance, he allows that good Christians have disagreed and will still disagree about them, but he inserts them nevertheless on account of the immense importance of the first and the extraordinary neglect into which the last two have fallen. Ryle’s racy style, plainspokennes...

King Solomon had all the fame and fortune that any man could want. He was the world’s wisest and wealthiest king. And yet, tragically, he threw it all away for the love of money, the pleasures of sex, and the powers of an earthly kingdom. In studying the life of Solomon, we see both the true greatness and the tragic failure of our own humanity―from godly devotion to self-serving excess. Even in the midst of our best intentions, we are all prone to succumb to the same temptations of money, sex, ...

A Heavenly Conference is Richard Sibbes’ exposition of the memorable meeting that took place on the first Easter Sunday when the risen Christ met Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Though only a few words were exchanged between the Lord and Mary, Sibbes saw in them the gospel in a nutshell. A Heavenly Conference is a wonderfully original treatment of the doctrine of the believer’s union with Christ. It is written by a loving and tender-hearted pastor whose main aim is to help believers enjoy the...

It can seem like all you ever hear these days is bad news. Yet in the midst of contentious political posturing and stories of communities in trouble are stories of love, reconciliation, and restoration. Through a variety of innovative programs and initiatives, and flying mostly under the national news radar, Christian business leaders are bringing hope to blighted urban communities in our greatest cities. A Disruptive Generosity shares their inspiring stories. From Dallas to New York City, from London to Singapore, lives and communities are being changed through strategic stewardship. These stories will challenge marketplace Christians to find innovative ways to use their resources as God's hands and feet in a hurting world.