Choice mp3s for Your Listening Pleasure in Christ, pt. 3: Audio Books

Finally, as if you wouldn’t have enough to listen to already, here are two more sites. The first, you can find quality audio books to help you understand the God of the Bible. The second, you can find the Bible itself. Notice too the tips from B.C. McWhite on how to utilize this tool for hiding God’s word in your heart.

Audio Books:

• Christianaudio.com: Christian audio offers all kinds of audio books for purchase. But, every month they too offer a free book. For free over the last or so I have downloaded books like Life and Dairy of David Brainerd, Pilgrim’s Progress, Augustine’s Confessions, Religious Affections, Paradise Lost, and just downloaded Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.

Scripture:

• ESV Bible: This is absolutely awesome and has taken a “I don’t memorize Scripture because I am not good at it” person to a “why have I not memorzied Scripture this much before” person. Read B.C. McWhite to see how you can use the ESV online to download audio files for specific passges (not just whole chapters). In short, I search on a passage here. Then with the right options set up (audio options–mp3, under “Options-beta” in the top right corner), I right click “Listen” (next to the Bible reference) and click “Save Link As” (Firefox) and bingo. I have an mp3 of the exact passage I want to memorize, like say Romans 3:21-26. Currently, I am memorizing Psalm 103. To help the process, I saved the psalm’s paragraphs (vv. 1-5, 6-14, 15-19, 20-22) in separate audio files. This gives me more manageable memorable sections. It has been awesome! I highly recommend this for Scripture memorization! Give it a whirl.

Shunning Worldliness

Thus far, I have been really enjoying Worldliness edited by C.J. Mahaney. I am only two chapters in, but I think the authors have struck helpful and clarifying truth in our battle against worldliness.

In short, what is worldliness? Mahaney rightly says, “Worldliness, then, is a love for this fallen world. It’s loving the values and pursuits of the world that stand opposed to God. More specifically, it is to gratify and exalt oneself to the exclusion of God” (p. 27). Worldliness is not an outward issue. As if godliness and worldliness were evaluated by the basis of adherence to certain standards, specially those like drinking, dancing, movie going, clothing, etc. Worldliness is loving the world system (cf. 1 John 2:15-17)  that hates Jesus Christ.

So how do I fight my affections that stray towards the world?

The antidote to worldliness is the cross of Jesus Christ. Only through the power of the cross of Christ can we successfully resist the seduction of the fallen world. The Savior’s death on the cross is what makes possible forgiveness of sin and provides power to overcome sin. And the cross is the attraction that draws our hearts away from the empty and deadly pleasures of worldliness (34).

As the first chapter concludes, CJ gives these last few concise, but biblically and theologically powerful statements.

First, “We must fight worldliness because it dulls our affections for Christ and distracts our attention from Christ” (35). Worldliness in our lives is so awful, because it takes away something so awesome, Jesus Christ.

Second, “Dwell where the crise of Calvary are louder than the clamor of the world” (35). This would perhaps sum up the cross-centered life.

Third and my favorite, “Worldliness is so serious because Christ is so glorious” (p. 35, emphasis mine).

Thank you, C.J., for being an instrument to rejuvenate my battle against the lures of the world to again cherish the Pearl of Greatest Price, my God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Book for Ministering to Teens for Great Price

My friend PJ found a great deal at Westminster Bookstore for Get Outta My Face. I’ll highlight below some commendations for the book that PJ noted.

I picked up a copy for $7.88 and that includes shipping. Judging from the recommendations, this looks like a book worth reading for those who minister to youth and youth themselves and their parents. By the way, the sale ends soon so check it out.

Thanks for tip PJ!

“Rick Horne knows from life experience how to do what seems impossible—how to connect with teens. If you care about teenagers, if you work with teens, if you live with a teen, this book will help you reach their hearts.”
– David Powlison, Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Rick Horne has invested in teens his whole life. He has learned that he is more like them than unlike them. From years of first hand experience, he knows how to talk with them and his is not afraid of the tough ones. What you will read here is the wisdom of a man who has experienced the courage and hope that transforming grace can give to you and that hard teenager God has chosen for you to be near. This book is a call to action with biblical perspectives and practical steps that God can use to change the teenager and you as well.”
– Paul David Tripp, Paul Tripp Ministries and author of Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens

“Rick Horne knows teens—the kind that won’t talk and those that won’t stop talking. If you have a teenager, you need this book. In fact, don’t wait for the teen years! Arm yourself now with the timeless truths from this book that counsels moms and dads with gospel-hope for teenage trials.”
– Dave Harvey, Sovereign Grace Ministries and author of When Sinners Say “I Do”

New Testament Theology

Today, I finally was able to pick up Thomas Schreiner’s recent (6/08) New Testament Theology. I became familiar with Schreiner’s work especially on Paul (see my recommended reading) while studying in seminary. Now, he takes his skillful hand to the entire New Testament.

Even still recently through reading his other works (and even some gracious personal emails), Dr. Schreiner has helped me understand more accurately the Spirit in the New Covenant, Romans 2, Romans 7, justification and good works, the final judgment, and Scripture’s warning passages.

I look forward to digging into this work…sometime. For  I have found Schreiner’s other work to be Christ-exalting and biblically faithful.  I anticipate discovering the same here.

To give you a flavor, here is the opening paragraph to his New Testament theology:

The thesis advanced in this book is that NT theology is God-focused, Christ-centered, and Spirit-saturated, but the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit must be understood along a salvation-historical timeline; that is, God’s promises are already fulfilled but not yet consummated in Christ Jesus (23).

Here are some recommendations by others for the book:

A magnificent achievement! Schreiner has combined the breadth and depth of his knowledge of the New Testament with extensive discussion of the scholarly literature. Best of all, it follows the New Testament in testifying to the majesty and glory of God.–Simon Gathercole (Cambridge)

Thomas Schreiner is know for being a skillful and careful New Testament scholar. In his New Testament Theology his abilities and his clear, concise style are on full display as he gives us a synthetic account of this complex subject, an account that reflects his high view of Scripture. This is probably the best New Testament theology written in the last several decades from a decidedly Reformed and evangelical point of view. While I disagree with the analysis at various points, it is still a fine piece of work, and I am happy to commend it.–Ben Witherington III (Asbury)

Reading Calvin’s Institutes

After talking with a friend last night, we both decided to take up the great task of reading John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion this next year. Reformation 21 has a blog going (or will) and a reading plan to get you through The Institutes in a year. Check it out and give it a try.

I have only read some in the Institutes, but even what I have read was helpful, exegetical, insightful, and worshipful, that is bringing me to worship Christ. And why not do it in 2009 in honor of Calvin’s birth in 1509?

Want to join us?

HT: Justin Taylor