The Skeptical Student

The Skeptical Student

Introducing the first essay in the "Encounters with Jesus" e-book series from renowned pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, author of The Songs of Jesus. The Skeptical Student applies biblical wisdom to life’s biggest questions through the inspiring story of Nathanael’s life-changing encounter in the Gospel of John. The Gospels are full of encounters that made a profound impact on those who spoke with Jesus Christ. In the first essay of his new series, Timothy Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God, shows how those encounters can still have a deep effect on us today. Through a lively examination of the biblical passage where Nathanael, the skeptical student, meets with Jesus, Keller reveals how this interaction is about life’s deep questions: Who are we? Why are we here? Why be a good person? Why love instead of hate? This first essay in the ten-part series of Encounters with Jesus also includes an exclusive look at Timothy Keller’s new book on faith and work: Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work.

Saved by His Life

Saved by His Life

What does "Christ died for us" mean? Why does the Bible say that we were reconciled to God through the death of Jesus and that we shall be saved by his life? What is the meaning of God's incarnation in the first place? Why "God with us"? In this book we will try to answer these and other questions about salvation, first by reconstructing the origin of the various theories that have been proposed throughout history. We will discover that, to this day, there is no agreement among theologians on many fundamental points of the doctrine of redemption, and we will come up with our own hypothesis, which is exhaustive and does justice to God's mercy. To do so, we will rediscover some lost biblical concepts that will help us to recover the original idea of salvation. We will show that it is intrinsically linked to the nature of God, which was fully manifested in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and the gift of his life. We will also understand why we are called to identify ourselves in him and in his love, since it is the source, foundation, and ultimate goal of salvation.

La fidelidad de Dios

La fidelidad de Dios

Contenido La fidelidad de Dios - Arthur W. Pink Dios es fiel porque es inmutable - Edward Pearse La fidelidad de Dios en afligir a su pueblo - Charles Bridges El refugio del hombre justo - John Flavel El escondite de los santos en el día malo - Richard Sibbes La fidelidad de Dios de generación en generación - Thomas Manton Dios cumplirá su palabra - Charles Simeon

Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school of Chinese philosophy and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese religion, not only for Taoism but Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, aided by hundreds of translations into Western languages.

Write That They May Read

Write That They May Read

Write That They May Read is a collection of essays written in honor of our mentor, friend, and fellow scholar, Professor Alan R. Millard. Respectful of his contribution to our understanding of writing and literacy in the ancient biblical world, all the essays deal with some aspect of this issue, ranging in scope from archeological artifacts that need to be "read," to early evidence of writing in Israel's world, to the significance of reading and writing in the Bible, including God's own literacy, to the production of books in the ancient world, and the significance of metaphorical branding of God's people with his name. The contributors are distributed among Professor Millard's peers and colleagues in a variety of institutions, his own students, and students of his students. They represent a variety of disciplines including biblical archeology, Egyptology, Assyriology, Hebrew and other Northwest Semitic texts, and the literature of the Bible, and reside in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany. Write That They May Read contains contributions by: Section 1: Artifacts and Minimalist Literacy 1. "See That You May Understand": Artifact Literacy--The Twin-cup Libation Vessels from Khirbet Qeiyafa Gerald Klingbeil, Research Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Andrews University Martin Klingbeil, Professor of Biblical Studies and Archaeology, and Associate Director, Institute of Archaeology Southern Adventist University 2. Ketiv-Qere: The Writing and Reading of EA 256 and Its Place in Reflecting the Realia of Power and Polity in the LBA-IA Golan and Peripheries Timothy M. Crow, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Akron; Professional Fellow Old Testament, Ashland Theological Seminary 3. Another Inscribed Arrowhead in the British Museum Terrence C. Mitchell†. Former Keeper of Western Asiatic Antiquities, The British Museum, London, England 4. Earliest Literary Allusions to Homer and the Pentateuch from Ischia in Italy and Jerusalem Paul J. N. Lawrence, Translation Consultant, Summer Institute of Linguistics International 5. The Etymology of Hebrew lōg and the Identity of Shavsha the Scribe Yoshiyuki Muchiki, Professor of Biblical Theology, Japan Bible Seminary, Tokyo Section 2: Artifacts and Official Literacy 6. The Writing/Reading of the Stone Tablet Covenant in the Light of the Writing/Reading/Hearing of the Silver Tablet Treaty Gordon Johnston, Professor of Old Testament, Dallas Theological Seminary 7. For Whose Eyes? The Divine Origins and Function of the Two Tablets of the Israelite Covenant Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Wheaton College 8. Write That They May Judge? Applying Written Law in Biblical Israel Jonathan Burnside, Professor of Biblical Law, Law School, University of Bristol. 9. "And Samuel Wrote in the Book" (1 Samuel 10:25) and His Apology in First Samuel 1-15 Wolfgang Ertl, Dozent am Bibelseminar Bonn, Bornheim/Germany; Associate Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 10. "For the one who will read it aloud will be able to run with it" (Habakkuk 2:2c) David Toshio Tsumura, Professor of Old Testament, Japan Bible Seminar Section 3: The Rise of Literary Literacy 11. The History and Pre-History of the Hebrew Language in the West Semitic Literary Tradition Richard E. Averbeck, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 12. Divine Action in the Hebrew Bible: "Borrowing" from Ancient Near Eastern Cultures and "Inspiration" C. John Collins, Professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary 13. Encoding and Decoding Culture Jens Bruun Kofoed, Professor of Old Testament, Fjellhaug International University College, 14. No Books, No Authors: Literary Production in a Hearing-Dominant Culture John H. Walton, Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College 15. The Discovery of the Book of the Law in 2 Kings 22:8-10 in the Light of the Literary...

Ethics

Ethics

From one of the most important theologians of the twentieth century, Ethics is the seminal reinterpretation of the role of Christianity in the modern, secularized world.The Christian does not live in a vacuum, says the author, but in a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage. Hence, Christian ethics cannot exist in a vacuum; what the Christian needs, claims Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is concrete instruction in a concrete situation. Although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to Christian ethics. The root and ground of Christian ethics, the author says, is the reality of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This reality is not manifest in the Church as distinct from the secular world; such a juxtaposition of two separate spheres, Bonhoeffer insists, is a denial of God’s having reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ. On the contrary, God’s commandment is to be found and known in the Church, the family, labor, and government. His commandment permits man to live as man before God, in a world God made, with responsibility for the institutions of that world.

Cosa c'è di là

Cosa c'è di là

Che senso può avere nel nostro tempo la domanda sull'aldilà? Nell'epoca della morte rimossa o spettacolarizzata in un flusso di immagini che la esibiscono e la dissacrano, quale significato possiamo attribuirle? "Su questa terra che tanto amo, ho sempre cercato l'eternità". Con queste parole Enzo Bianchi, instancabile cercatore di senso, apre una meditazione poetica e non dogmatica sulla più ineludibile delle domande – su quel limite capace di dare senso alla vita di ciascuno – per approdare a una risposta centrata sull'amore, sulla sua forza come trama del mondo e delle relazioni con gli altri, e quindi come ragione di speranza anche dopo la vita terrena. Un libro appassionato, carico di fiducia, in cui la morte si apre alla vita.

Coeur de cristal

Coeur de cristal

Il était une fois... Dans un royaume lointain, un jeune prince est victime d'un terrible sort : son cœur, enveloppé d'une gangue de cristal, ne peut ni vibrer ni aimer. Seul un feu d'amour brûlant permettrait de faire fondre le cristal et de libérer son cœur.Alors qu'il est en âge de se marier, et malgré tous ses efforts, aucune femme ne lui inspire cet amour. C'est ainsi qu'il décide de partir sur les routes du monde, à la recherche de celle qui le délivrerait du maléfice. Semée de bien des obstacles, sa quête l'amène à méditer sur le sens de la vie, mais aussi à découvrir le redoutable secret qui pèse sur sa naissance. En conteur autant qu'en philosophe, Frédéric Lenoir se penche sur le cœur des hommes : siège de l'amour, siège aussi de la peine et du deuil. Un conte universel à destination des enfants, de leurs parents et de leurs grands-parents.

Heaven's Glory

Heaven's Glory

Christopher Love (1618-1651) was a fiery and practical Puritan preacher. His works consist of some of the best written and preached biblical expositions in print. Love's text is, “When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory,” (Col. 3:4). Why should the Christian have a hope of heaven? What may be expected there? What is Christ’s role there right now and how will the Christian interact with Him before the throne of God? What does it mean that Christ is glorious, and how will his appearing usher in with great glory the heavenly state for all those who trust in him? Nothing has greater influence into a Christian’s practice here in this world than the serious consideration of our everlasting estate in the world to come; the glory and happiness which is prepared for the elect in Christ. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

Deus não é grande: como a religião envenena tudo

Deus não é grande: como a religião envenena tudo

Christopher Hitchens, um dos intelectuais mais polêmicos e influentes dos últimos 30 anos, coloca em xeque o papel da religião em livro que é best-seller mundial “Deus não criou o homem à sua própria imagem, foi o contrário”. Essa afirmação norteia o escritor e jornalista britânico Christopher Hitchens no livro Deus não é grande – como a religião envenena tudo. Como todo e qualquer ser supremo, na verdade, Deus não passaria de uma criação humana, e as consequências disso são a profusão de deuses e de religiões e as guerras entre e no interior dos credos e que retardaram o desenvolvimento da civilização. A religião organizada, por ser imoral, irracional, intolerante e racista, segundo o autor, degrada as crianças ao doutriná-las e provoca a repressão sexual; controla a alimentação e aumenta a culpa ao multiplicar as proibições mais arbitrárias possíveis; distorce as origens do ser humano e do cosmos; incentiva o fanatismo, sendo cúmplice da ignorância e do obscurantismo. Mesclando erudição e humor, Hitchens chega a essas conclusões se apoiando em experiências pessoais, fatos históricos e análises críticas de textos religiosos. As análises se concentram no cristianismo, judaísmo e islamismo, mas também há menções ao budismo e ao hinduísmo. Sua perspicácia o levou a travar célebres embates contra ícones incontestáveis da religiosidade e do bem, como madre Teresa de Calcutá, que será canonizada pelo Vaticano em setembro 2016. Hitchens relata como o jornalista Malcolm Muggeridge lançou a marca “Madre Teresa” em todo o mundo ao contar o episódio em que ela teria emitido um brilho, um halo luminoso. A verdade, esclarece Hitchens, é que o suposto “milagre” devia-se à filmagem em condições de pouca luz e com um novo tipo de filme da Kodak. Suas objeções à fé religiosa também englobam casos de pedofilia na Igreja Católica dos Estados Unidos, episódios de intolerância religiosa entre católicos e protestantes na Europa e conflitos motivados pelo radicalismo de judeus e muçulmanos no Oriente Médio. Hitchens defende que nenhuma religião oferece uma resposta satisfatória às questões fundamentais da existência humana, cujos dilemas morais e éticos, segundo ele, estariam mais bem representados em autores clássicos, como Shakespeare, Dostoiévski e Tólstoi, do que em qualquer escritura sagrada. Em sua visão, o ideal seria que a ética e a investigação científica substituíssem a religião. “Se você dedicar um pouco de tempo a estudar as impressionantes fotografias tiradas pelo telescópio Hubble, estará examinando coisas que são muito mais assombrosas e belas – e mais caóticas e atordoantes e ameaçadoras – que qualquer história da criação”, assegura o autor. Herdeiro intelectual de George Orwell e de Thomas Paine, Christopher Hitchens foi um autêntico livre pensador e manteve sua coragem e seus princípios até o fim da vida. Morreu em 2011, um ano e meio depois de descobrir que tinha câncer no esôfago, e não se curvou nem nesse momento diante de divindades ou de religiões.

Le livre des cinq roues

Le livre des cinq roues

Ce texte lumineux - connu aussi sous le titre Livre des cinq anneaux - donne l'essence des arts martiaux qui transcende la violence et devient art de vivre et d'agir. Une attitude qui explique les raisons des succès japonais dans de nombreux domaines.Pour le Bushi ou Samouraï, perdre c'est mourir... Mais la question est de savoir comment gagner par une action juste du point de vue de la tactique et de l'attitude. Le guerrier doit, par exemple, "faire perdre à l'adversaire son équilibre mental" ou encore "faire naître une certaine tension nerveuse en empêchant l'adversaire d'être sûr de lui". Musashi souligne l'importance "de neutraliser l'adversaire directement, sans le laisser souffler, en évitant de croiser son regard".

Arrepentimiento

Arrepentimiento

Contenido ¿Qué es el arrepentimiento? - William S. Plumer (1802-1880) La necesidad de arrepentimiento - J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) Seis ingredientes del arrepentimiento - Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) Arrepentimiento o fe: ¿Cuál viene primero? - John Murray (1898-1975) Cristo mandó que haya arrepentimiento - Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) Pecado, pecadores y arrepentimiento - John Gill (1697-1771) Los frutos del arrepentimiento - Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952) Examen de nuestro arrepentimiento - Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) El motivo principal para el arrepentimiento - Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) El arrepentimiento y el juicio universal - Samuel Davies (1723-1761) El gozo del cielo y el arrepentimiento - Edward Payson (1783-1827)

Evening Thoughts

Evening Thoughts

Octavius Winslow was one of the leading evangelical preachers in England during the 19th century.  Winslow was a contemporary of other great Christian preachers including Charles Spurgeon and J.C. Ryle and he was also a well-respected author. Evening Thoughts, published in 1858, provides nightly devotions for every day of the year.  The book should be used in supplement to Winslow's Morning Thoughts.

What is Reformed Theology?

What is Reformed Theology?

What Do the Five Points of Calvinism Really Mean? Many have heard of Reformed theology, but may not be certain what it is. Some references to it have been positive, some negative. It appears to be important, and they'd like to know more about it. But they want a full, understandable explanation, not a simplistic one. What Is Reformed Theology? is an accessible introduction to beliefs that have been immensely influential in the evangelical church. In this insightful book, R. C. Sproul walks readers through the foundations of the Reformed doctrine and explains how the Reformed belief is centered on God, based on God's Word, and committed to faith in Jesus Christ. Sproul explains the five points of Reformed theology and makes plain the reality of God's amazing grace.

The Art of Illustration

The Art of Illustration

The Art of Illustration is an insightful work that explains how storytelling is a highly effective tool while sharing a message. Illustrations are an integral part of preaching as they tend to brighten up an audience and grab their attention. With that in mind, C. H. Spurgeon made an incredible attempt to teach preachers the right way to use illustrations and anecdotes within their sermons. This volume contains five lectures that were initially delivered to the students of the Pastors' College, displaying Spurgeon's method of artfully incorporating illustrations and stories into his sermons and other innovative ways to make them come alive. The success of this method is evident from the fact that thousands of people returned every week to listen to Spurgeon preach.

La differenza cristiana

La differenza cristiana

È ancora possibile una chiesa che sia presidio di autentico umanesimo, spazio di dialogo e di recupero di principî condivisi, luogo di confronto tra etiche e atteggiamenti individuali e sociali diversi? E la laicità dello stato sa essere l'ambito in cui tutti, anche gli stranieri, si possono sentire accolti, capiti e rispettati nella loro diversità di cultura e religione? Una grande sfida attende oggi la nostra società complessa: la quotidiana lotta contro il ritorno della barbarie e la scomparsa di principî condivisi e fecondi di senso. Queste riflessioni accolgono gli stimoli che vengono da eventi ordinari, ma vorrebbero aiutare a «pensare in grande», a cogliere nel frammento qualcosa del tutto, a ridare dignità e ampiezza di visione a prospettive troppo spesso tentate di ripiegarsi su un angusto cortile.

The Evidences of the Christian Religion

The Evidences of the Christian Religion

<b>Lucid</b> and <b>logical</b>,<i> The Evidences of the Christian Religion</i> by A. Alexander is <b>thought</b> <b>provoking</b>. Astutely appealing to the <b>reason</b> of men to <b>ascertain</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> of his arguments as he presents <b>evidences</b> for Christianity, he truly believes that this noble faculty was definitely given to man to assist him in choosing everything, including which belief system to follow! Alexander helps one to <b>judge correctly</b> and assent to the truth. Helps to show <b>why Christianity</b> is <b>true</b> and<b> reasonable</b>! <b>Convincing</b>!

What Is the Gospel?

What Is the Gospel?

Many people think that since God is good, He will accept us as long as we lead good lives. But this isn’t good news, because none of us is as good as God. If left to ourselves, we will receive what our lives actually deserve: His judgment. In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explains the gospel, God’s good news for sinful people like us. While we could never save ourselves from His just condemnation, God calls us to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, who alone can redeem us through His righteous life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection. The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

A Community Called Atonement

A Community Called Atonement

Over the centuries the church developed a number of metaphors, such as penal substitution or the ransom theory, to speak about Christ's death on the cross and the theological concept of the atonement. Yet too often, says Scot McKnight, Christians have held to the supremacy of one metaphor over against the others, to their detriment. He argues instead that to plumb the rich theological depths of the atonement, we must consider all the metaphors of atonement and ask whether they each serve a larger purpose.A Community Called Atonement is a constructive theology that not only values the church's atonement metaphors but also asserts that the atonement fundamentally shapes the life of the Christian and of the church. That is, Christ identifies with humans to call us into a community that reflects God's love (the church)--but that community then has the responsibility to offer God's love to others through missional practices of justice and fellowship, living out its life together as the story of God's reconciliation. Scot McKnight thus offers an accessible, thought-provoking theology of atonement that engages the concerns of those in the emerging church conversation and will be of interest to all those in the church and academy who are listening in.

The Christian's Combat Against the Devil

The Christian's Combat Against the Devil

Christopher Love (1618-1651) was a fiery and practical Puritan preacher. How does the Christian overcome sinful temptations, and fight successfully against the kingdom of darkness lead by the Devil himself? In this work on Ephesians 6:13-17, Christopher Love explains how the armor of God gives the reader a stratagem to wage war against the Devil and his darkness. Love shows the nature, power, and cunning deceit of Satan, the great enemy of our salvation, and subsequently demonstrates the means by which every good Christian may withstand his dreadful assaults. One cannot engage in spiritual warfare unless they know the weapons of their warfare, which are not earthly, but spiritual. Love will show Christians what those weapons are, and how to use them effectively against the assaults of the Devil. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.