Books of the Bi-Month – at Gateshead Presbyterian Church
Hallmarks of Design: Evidence of purposeful design and beauty in nature
Stuart Burgess – Day One Publications; 2nd edition (2008) - 240 pages - ISBN: 1846251397
God has spoken to us primarily through His Word; however, he has also revealed Himself, in the limited sense, through nature. This book
will help us gain or regain a sense of what nature says about God through its wonderful design. It also helps us to see the folly of bringing
bits of man-centered, evolutionist thinking into the ways we see nature.
On Being Presbyterian: Our beliefs, practices, and stories
Sean Michael Lucas - EVANGELICAL PRESS (2005) - 271 pages – ISBN: 1596380195
There is a reason why the word "Presbyterian" is in the name of our church, and it is not just a label. It describes, under the Word of God,
how and why we do things. This book is divided into three parts (as you might have guessed by the subtitle) 1. Presbyterian Beliefs, 2.
Presbyterian Practices, and 3. Presbyterian History. Whether you are new to Presbyterianism or have gone to Presbyterian Churches for
years, this book will help us to appreciate what we do, why we do it, and who we are.
Westminster Confession of Faith (with Scripture proofs, incl. Shorter & Larger Catechisms)
Free Presbyterian Publications (2004) - 438 pages – ISBN: 0902506080
The best known of all the Reformed Confessions, it has permanent worth and abiding relevance. This volume contains the other
documents produced by the Westminster Assembly; including the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as well as: The Sum of Saving Knowledge,
The Directory for Public Worship, The Directory for Family Worship & The Form of Presbyterial Church Government .
'The richest and most precise and best guarded statement of all that enters into evangelical religion' B.B. Warfield
The Thought of God
Maurice Roberts – The Banner of Truth Trust (1993) - 242 pages - ISBN: 0851516580
This is a collection of articles which have already been widely read and appreciated as editorials in The Banner of Truth magazine, of which
Maurice Roberts [was] the editor. Pointedly biblical, they are thoughtful and searching, humbling and exalting, challenging and
encouraging. Like editorials in other journals Maurice Robert's articles have spoken to the needs of the times. But while many editorials
appear to have only historical or sociological interest at a later day, in contrast these are of lasting value. They have God and his Word as
their starting place, and their horizon stretches beyond time to eternity. Thos who have already read them will rejoice to have these
pieces conveniently and permanently in book form, while those who come to them for the first time will appreciate their freshness,
relevance and power, and will find in them a seriousness which has a sanctifying effect on the heart and a clarifying influence on the
spiritual vision.
The Christian's High Calling
Maurice Roberts – The Banner of Truth Trust (2000) - 231 pages - ISBN: 0851517927
The theme is the Christian life as a high and glorious calling, with present enjoyment, duties and conflicts, leading to the unutterable glory
and holiness of the world to come. Readers will glimpse afresh the beauty and majesty of God and the priceless privilege of being called to
an unending fellowship with him.
Great God of Wonders - The Life of Grace and the Hope of Glory
Maurice Roberts – The Banner of Truth Trust; New edition (2003) - 240 pages - ISBN: 0851518370
We all become like the objects we worship. How important then that Christians should be focused on the 'Great God of Wonders' revealed
in Scripture. To think about God aright is the most exciting occupation possible for any created being', says Maurice Roberts. In every
aspect of the Christian life dealt with in these articles, Roberts' emphasis is always on 'the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus'. These writings, originally published in the Banner of Truth magazine, provide thought-provoking, spiritually
invigorating, practical and warmly biblical reading.
The Happiness of Heaven
Maurice Roberts - EVANGELICAL PRESS (2010) - 129 pages - ISBN: 1601780818
While belief in heaven is essential to the Christian faith, the fact that pilgrim believers have not yet experienced heaven leaves us with
many questions about what it will be like. In The Happiness of Heaven, Maurice Roberts surveys Holy Scripture to tell us what heaven is all
about. In his characteristic style, Roberts discusses the biblical data clearly and relevantly, making soul-searching application at every turn.
This is not just a book of interesting facts about what heaven is like; it is an appeal to men and women to find their happiness in the
eternal comfort of God in Christ.
The Sovereignty of God
A.W. Pink – Banner of Truth Trust (2010) – 154 pages - ISBN: 1848710496
'Present day conditions', writes the author, 'call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God's omnipotence, God's
sufficiency, God's sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that
God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible; it is being tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the heart and
mind but in the throne of God. What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God.'
Christianity and Liberalism
J Gresham Machen - Eerdmans Publishing Company; new edition (2009) - 158 pages - ISBN: 0802864996
This book, written in response to the liberalism which arose in the early 1900s, is a classic defence of orthodox Christianity. To expose the
fallacies of liberalism and strengthen the orthodox position, Dr Machen establishes the importance of the scriptural doctrine and contrasts
the teachings of liberalism and orthodoxy on God and man, the Bible, Christ, salvation, and the church. These issues remain in conflict
today, testifying to the continuing relevance of this important work.
Redemption: Accomplished & Applied
John Murray – Banner of Truth Trust – 200 pages – ISBN: 9781848710467
Murray deals with the nature and meaning of the death of Christ, and the way in which the Christian inherits the blessings which flow
from it, through regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification and glorification.
‘When it comes to issues regarding the death of Christ and its effect and extent, perhaps no one sheds more helpful light than Prof. John
Murray in his classic little paperback... Redemption Accomplished and Applied is not only a good read, it is a very usable and important
reference for any who would reflect deeply on the plan of redemption.’
Our perfect God: A summary of the attributes of God
Tim Shenton – Day One Publications (2005) – 80 pages – ISBN: 1903087775
Many Christians go through life without ever seriously considering what the Bible actually teaches about God. They believe that such a
study is far too 'deep' for the ordinary believer and therefore only useful for theologians and committed Bible students. Our Perfect God
breaks down that preconceived idea and revives an interest in the being of God among ordinary people.
On the first day of the week: God, the Christian and the Sabbath
Iain D Campbell - Day One Publications (2005) – 224 pages – ISBN: 1903087953
In an increasingly secular world, the personal and social benefits of Sabbath-keeping are being lost to us more and more. But the church
and not just the world is finding it increasingly difficult to defend the traditional view that the fourth commandment is still binding on us,
and that God wants us to honour the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, as a Christian Sabbath. This book examines some of the issues
raised in this debate, and argues that for the Christian believer, the Sabbath principle is one which is still binding, relevant, necessary and
beneficial.
Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Rewrote the Hymnal
T David Gordon – P & R Publishing / Evangelical Press (2010) – 192 pages – ISBN: 1596381957
Dr. Gordon looks at changes in worship from the fresh viewpoint of a Media Ecology perspective. Changes in music have changed the way
we think, and the way we worship - or are even able to worship. The musical culture we are immersed in has altered our ability to
understand other genres of music - so much so that we find them strangely unhelpful. This means that worship has become a conflict
area, rather than a source of unity. Dr. Gordon not only shows the problems, he also provides solutions - it's important, because how we
sing affects how we live.
Developing a Healthy Prayer Life: 31 Meditations on Communing with God
Joel & James Beeke - Reformation Heritage Books (2010) – 99 pages - ISBN: 1601781121
It has long been noted that a good thermometer of Christian's spiritual life is his prayer life. This little book is comprised of thirty-one short
chapters each of which covers a different aspect of Prayer. Is your prayer life characterized by such things as sincerity, urgency, and
delight? Engagement in prayer is a vital part of our communion with God, making a profound impact on our growth in grace. In this book,
you will find thoughtful meditations on prayer in the life of the believer, as well as ample encouragement to cultivate this spiritual
discipline in your own life. If you want to be more devoted to prayer, or simply want to assess the health of your prayer life, read this
book. It provides both a helpful examination and a needed tonic for those concerned about growing in godliness.
The Ten Commandments for Today
Brian Edwards - Day One Publications, revised edition (2002) – 288 pages – ISBN: 1903087333
This book is a superbly written modern commentary on God's changeless laws in today's changing and godless society. It unpacks the
crammed meaning of these terse commands, and applies them pointedly to life in a deregulated age.
Sadly the law and the Ten Commandments seem to be devalued and ridiculed amongst many evangelicals today, but we know that "the
law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good." (Rom. 7:12) This book will help us to value the law so that we may treat it as
God would have us, not as contemporary trends dictate.
Jonathan Edwards – A New Biography
Iain H Murray – Banner of Truth (1987) - 503 pages - ISBN: 0851514944
Writing with the easy style, spiritual insight and sympathy with his subject which marks his other biographical works, Murray builds on the
older lives of Edwards, but also harvests material from more recent studies. Iain Murray believes that Edwards cannot be understood
apart from his faith. Only when seen first and foremost as a Christian do his life and writings make sense. The integrity of this
interpretation is confirmed in this study as Edwards is allowed on point after point to speak for himself. The result is a biography which is
both factually and theologically reliable. Edwards' theology is set in the context of his everyday life in public and private. His family
relationships punctuate the narrative, adding both interest and pathos. This outstanding study is not only an exceptional biography; it also
serves as a classic illustration of how the church today can and should learn from its past history.
Five English Reformers
JC Ryle – Banner of Truth Trust, revised edition (1960) - 160 pages – ISBN: 0851511384
Few martyr's words can be more stirring than those of Bishop Hugh Latimer's to Dr. Nicholas Ridley: Be of good comfort, Master Ridley,
and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out. But, why were such
men burned at the stake? What were the great convictions in which they lived and for which they were prepared to sacrifice life itself?
What made their lives and testimony to Christ's gospel so powerful? Do Christians today share either their convictions or their
faithfulness? It was the increasing conviction that martyrs, though dead, can still speak to the church, which led Bishop J.C. Ryle to pen
these pungent biographies of Five English Reformers last century. Along with an analysis of the reasons for their martyrdom he pointed
out the salient characteristics of their Christian lives. Such men still prove to be examples, warnings and challenges all in one, to Christians
today. Readers will rise from the company of their life stories praying for a similar faith in Christ's power.
Letters of John Newton
John Newton – Banner of Truth Trust (2007) - 432 pages - ISBN: 0851519512
John Newton converted slave-trader, preacher, and hymn-writer, was one of the most colourful figures in the Evangelical Awakening of
the eighteenth century. 'Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa,' he wrote for this epitaph, 'by rich mercy of Jesus Christ,
preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.' It was through his prolific
correspondence that Newton fulfilled his distinctive word as 'the letter-writer par excellence of the Evangelical Revival'. His grasp of
Scripture and deep personal experience of the 'amazing grace' of God, his many friends (among them, Whitefield, Cowper and
Wilberforce), his manifold trials, his country pastorate, his strong, clear, idiomatic style- all these factors combined to prepare the author
of 'How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds', for the exercise of his special gift. These letters, selected by his biographer, Josiah Bull, bear the
practical imprint of all of Newton's writings; they cover a wide variety of subjects and aim 'to conform the believer to Christ'. Among them
are several that were not previously published in earlier collections of his correspondence. Of particular value and interest are the
biographical sketches and historical notes supplied by the editor.
Truth for All Time: A Brief Outline of the Christian Faith
John Calvin – Banner of Truth Trust (1999) – 92pages – ISBN: 0851517498
John Calvin knew that if the biblical truths rediscovered at the Reformation were to spread throughout the world, they would have to be
presented in a form which ordinary people could understand. So, during the winter of 1536-1537, the 29 year old Calvin wrote, in French,
his Brief Outline of the Christian Faith..[This] is Calvin's striking but concise attempt to define the Christian faith for ordinary people!...Here
you have the very core of Protestant belief and feel the warmth of its ardent love for God and men
Heaven: a World of Love
Jonathan Edwards – Banner of Truth Trust, Pocket Puritan Series (2008) – 117 pages - ISBN: 0851519784
According to Jonathan Edwards, heaven will be a world of holy love. God himself is the source of this love, and in heaven he will impart it
perfectly to all his people. Edwards unfolds the nature, expression, effects, and enjoyment of this best of all the gifts God ever bestows on
those who believe.
The Family Worship Book: A Resource Book for Family Devotions
Terry Johnson – Christian Focus Publications (2009) – 208 pages – ISBN: 1857924010
Do you struggle to provide enjoyable, meaningful and spiritual times of family devotions? Do you avoid the whole subject but have the
nagging thought that you should be doing something? Let Terry Johnson equip you for leading your family in worship with the help of
some key questions: What is family worship? What have other people done? Why Should I do it? How can I start? A valuable resource
which you will not exhaust in years. “In a day and age when family worship is a rarity, and in which parents who are called to lead in it are
not likely to have had personal experience of it in their own upbringing, Johnson's book will prove to be an invaluable aid. May the Lord
use this book to bring about a revival of family worship in our land.” Ligon Duncan
What the Bible teaches about ... the Trinity
Stuart Olyott - Evangelical Press (2011) – 100 pages – ISBN: 0852347464
Do you have problems understanding what the Bible teaches about the Trinity, or have you had to try to answer people who do not
believe that Jesus Christ is God and who deny that the one God is three, and that there are three who are God? Could they possibly be
right? How can we answer them?
In this brief book Stuart Olyott shows that what we call ‘the doctrine of the Trinity’ is plainly taught in the Bible, and that it is the
foundation for a true understanding of the Christian gospel. The book is written in straightforward language and is intended for the
ordinary reader. Although it certainly shows up the error of the modern cults, its main purpose is to lead people to a better understanding
of what God has revealed about himself.
The Mighty Weakness of John Knox
Douglas Bond - Reformation Heritage Books (2011) – 175 pages - ISBN: 1567692559
John Knox, the great Reformer of Scotland, is often remembered as something akin to a biblical prophet born out of time—strong and
brash, thundering in righteous might. In truth, he was “low in stature, and of a weakly constitution,” a small man who was often sickly and
afflicted with doubts and fears. In The Mighty Weakness of John Knox, a new Long Line Profile from Reformation Trust Publishing, author
Douglas Bond shows that Knox did indeed accomplish herculean tasks, but not because he was strong and resolute in himself. Rather, he
was greatly used because he was submissive to God; therefore, God strengthened him. That strength was displayed as Knox endured
persecution and exile, faced down the wrath of mighty monarchs, and prayed, preached, and wrote with no fear of man, but only a desire
to manifest the glory of God and to please Him.
For those who see themselves as too weak, too small, too timid, or simply too ordinary for service in God’s kingdom, Knox’s life offers a
powerful message of hope—the biblical truth that God often delights to work most powerfully through people who are most weak in
themselves but most strong in Him.