Doctrine of God
Daily Devotional by
Louis Berkhof
Different systems have different approaches to understanding things. Some begin from top to bottom, some from bottom to top. Some had the big picture first before breaking it down into pieces, while others started with the parts first and then proceeded to the big picture. Some begin with the end in mind, but some move in a random manner. So when it comes to knowing God, what could be the best approach or method to do so? This book is written from an evangelical and Reformed perspective. It has been proven ideal for Bible study because it was organized and subdivided methodically. If you are looking for a work to deepen your understanding of God and His Revelation systematically, you should read this book.
The Varieties of Religious Experience
Daily Devotional by
William James
A philosophical and psychological account of religious tolerance and social cohesion, written for years, The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James is a lifelong pursuit of the examination of a study in human nature. This book is a collection of 20 lectures. These lectures focused on the essence of religion and, in James’ opinion, the academic study of religion’s neglect of science. When it was first published in June 1902, The Varieties of Religious Experience became an instant bestseller. It claims that individual religious experiences, rather than the beliefs of organized religions, form the backbone of religious life, reflecting the pluralistic views of a psychologist turned philosopher William James. Conversion, repentance, mysticism, and the hope of reward versus the fear of punishment in the afterlife are all discussed by James.
Night Scenes in the Bible
Daily Devotional by
Daniel March
“Jacob wrestling with the angel, the passage of Israelites on the sea, the Magi tracking down the Messiah through the brightest star in the sky, Peter walked on waters, the last supper, Jesus weeping at the garden of Gethsemane, Paul’s escape from prison—aside from being dramatic scenes in the Bible filled with miracles, what do these scenes have in common?
In this book, we can see that most of the dramatic scenes in the Bible happened at night. The writing style of Daniel March is exquisite that reading his work is like visiting the Holy Land, being transported to the scenes in the Bible, and meeting its characters.
Jesus is the light of the world, and we are His adopted siblings. Just as the stars in the sky are brightest during the deepest night, so is our faith magnified during the darkest hours. So as children of light, we should not fear the darkness but shine even brightly as miracles unfold.
Josiahs Reformation
History by
Richard Sibbes
For Richard Sibbes, it is more to the world than what is visible. He has always been inclined towards seeking out all that is hidden in the heart of his listener’s behaviors. He was convinced that sin stems from inner desires residing and growing in the heart, and without reaching and pulling these desires from the roots, altering the person’s behavior will result in hypocrisy and can manifest the cold and self-righteous cloak for a heart that is dark deep within. Published first in 1629, this book is as relevant today because Sibbes believed in turning the hearts of people. A narrative that needs to be reintroduced today as our busy lives degenerate into hypocrisy where we keep the outward routine and appearance of holiness without having the heart for it. Sibbes believed in a world where Christians enjoyed Christ first, before using him as a package to pass on.
Attributes of God
Doctrine by
Don Fortner
How do you view God? Do you see Him as a tyrant who wants to rule your life but never respects your feelings, or do you see Him as a loving Parent who may be disciplinary at times but wants what’s good for you? Do you want the power to control everything in your life even if you end up destroying yourself, or do you find comfort knowing that there is God who can turn your bad situation upside down? In this book, Don Fortner enumerated the characteristics of God. He explained that if we fail to understand his attributes and think of him as a fallible being like us, it will lead to the twisted perception of His Holiness that can make us turn away from Him. But if we trust that He wants everything for our good, we can see the beautiful things He is making in His time.
The Sovereignty of God
Doctrine by
A.W. Pink
In his book The Sovereignty of God, A.W. Pink outlines the sovereignty of God from a Calvinist standpoint. He defines God’s sovereignty, and then explains how God’s sovereignty is characterized in creation and salvation. Then Pink discusses the relationship between God’s sovereignty and the human will. The issues Pink raises in this book have previously been addressed by many prominent figures such as St. Augustine, St. Aquinas, Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards. Pink studied these wise men and draws from their conclusions in his own writing, but ultimately, the author places his perspective in light of God’s Word. Pink strongly believed that true faith rests “not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Pink wants his readers to gain a firm grasp on the biblical text rather than the secondary literature, and he aims to highlight Scripture in his book.
Divine Healing
Doctrine by
Andrew C Murray
Jesus became human to redeem us. But what does His redemption mean in a pragmatic sense? Will our soul be saved only in the afterlife but suffers while on Earth? Or is He also concerned with our body while we are still on Earth?
God’s redemptive gifts are forgiveness and healing. Forgiveness is for the soul, as healing is for the body. This is what Murray realized during one of his meditations. After being unable to serve in the ministry for two years, he was healed. He attributes it to the prayer of those who see God as a healer. In this book, Murray taught the church to appreciate the invaluable treasure it possesses. Faith can heal, for God is our Divine Healer. As His people, let’s not get destroyed for lack of knowledge. Let’s live life to its fullest by knowing who we are in Christ.
Grace and Free Will
Doctrine by
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine, a Latin church father, is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. He “established anew the ancient faith” according to his contemporary, Jerome.[4] In his early years he was heavily influenced by Manichaeism and afterwards by the Neo-Platonism of Plotinus,[5] but after his conversion and baptism, he developed his own approach to philosophy and theology accommodating a variety of methods and different perspectives.[6] He believed that the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom and framed the concepts of original sin and just war.