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Sep 07

Free book: Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper

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Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce
by John Piper
Download book | Wilberforce wikipedia bio

A short book on the spiritual life of William Wilberforce

Note: The display and/or download of this book is for personal use only and may not be distributed, duplicated, or used for any commercial purpose.

William Wilberforce is best known for his successful and hard-working effort in abolishing the slave trade in Great Britain. At seventy pages this book does not attempt to provide a complete biography of William Wilberforce, rather it focuses on his spiritual and Christian life. As with most of John Piper’s books it is very well written and it helps put the Christian driving force to William Wilberforce’s life to the fore, which many biographies fail to do.

To get the free pdf download simply go to the Desiring God website at this link and then select the ‘Read this book online (PDF)’ link. You can also read or listen to John Piper’s biographical message on Wilberforce, or watch John Piper talk about the new book.

The Desiring God website says:

In this concise volume, John Piper tells the story of Wilberforce’s transformation from an unbelieving young politician into a radically God-centered Christian and how his deep spirituality helped to change the moral outlook of a nation.

Have you read this book? What do you think about it? Why not vote or leave a comment?

Sep 05

Free Charles Sheldon audiobook - In His Steps

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This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio is Charles Sheldon’s In His Steps. After this month the link on this post will change to a new audiobook so be quick if you want this one.

Charles Sheldon (1857-1946) was an American minister who is best known for his work with the Social Gospel movement. In His Steps is a novel, and is more focused on the moral choices we make, rather than personal salvation.

WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) tied in with In His Steps back in the 90s, based on the fact this was the thrust of the novel In His Steps

Christian Audio provides the following comment:

The real challenge of the question, “What would Jesus do?” is not the initial fervor it evokes but the sustained devotion it can produce.

You can also get a free text and mp3 of In His Stpes at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Aug 28

Mark Driscoll’s Study on Genesis

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Dave Bish at The Blue Fish recently recommended a free pdf that Mark Driscoll had made available on his study of Genesis. I’ve not read all of the book but based on everything I’ve read or heard of Mark Driscoll it will be theologically strong and personally challenging. Some people dislike Mark’s style as he can sometimes go further than most with his language, which makes another post by Dave Bish about the upcoming Desiring God conference interesting too. Mark Driscoll has been asked to talk about harsh and cutting language and whether it is biblical. The two YouTube clips below show both his and John Piper’s (who invited Mark to speak) views. If you are put off by Mark’s sometimes strong language listen to the John Piper clip.

The book on Genesis is very well produced and you can print it off at home. You can also listen to the sermons that were preached at Mars Hill alongside the book at the Mars Hill Church website.

Download the book by clicking here.

Aug 26

free bibles and books from Rhema

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Rhema Literature Distributors
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Free hard copies of Christian books to help your walk with God

Rhema Literature Distributors are a superb group of Christians with the aim of distributing high quality Christian literature. All of the books are distributed free, and they are available in over forty countries and ten languages.

There is not a long list of titles available, but a selection of great quality books that clearly set out key parts of Christian theology. The writing is so rich that you will probably want to spend time thinking over and praying into what you have read. Even as a long term Christian these books can remind you of how amazing God is and how fortunate we are. But I feel these books really come into their own for new Christians or those looking in to Christianity.

To receive the books you sign up at the Rhema website and then confirm via email you still want them. I received the copies I ordered just a couple of days after requesting them. The books are sent in three batches (you order each after you finish the other) with the first set including The Gospel of John (not in all languages/countries) and Volume One of the Basic Elements of the Christian Life by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee. If you don’t know who they are, read Watchman Nee’s autobiography. This is a man of God that has lived an amazing life that brings Glory to Jesus. The Gospel of John is often a book non-Christians are told to read first in the bible, and this version comes with comprehensive notes to help anyone new to bible reading understand the contexts and so on.

The following books are sent if you order more:

Set 2 of books

Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume 2 by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee
The All-Inclusive Christ by Witness Lee
The Economy of God by Witness Lee

Set 3 of books

Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume 3 by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee
The Knowledge of Life by Witness Lee
The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee

If you are interested in ordering visit the Rhema website to see if they deliver to your country. Even if your country is not on the list go to the Other option at the bottom as they will potentially deliver to any country by reviewing each application on a case by case basis. If they are unable they try where possible to provide resources through affiliate distributors or online copies.

It is great to see the gospel being spread this way. If you don’t want the books (or even you do!) then prayer or donations are gratefully received by them. I’ve just preached on storing treasures in heaven and this a perfect way to do it!

Here is the blurb from the back cover of Volume 1 of the Basic Elements of Christian Life:

“The Christian life is full of significance and meaning, yet many people do not understand the basic elements of this life as presented in God’s Word, the Bible. In Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume One, by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, the Christian life is introduced and described. God’s plan of salvation is presented in the first chapter on the mystery of human life. The following chapters detail several basic experiences for a Christian. The final chapter presents the ultimate key to a believer’s Christian life - the experience of Christ in the human spirit. For those seeking God and for believers who desire to grow in Christ, these messages will establish a firm foundation for a rich and meaningful Christian life.”

Aug 21

free Tertullian book ‘On Prayer’

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Another Classic book recommended by Christian Classics Ethereal Library is Tertullian’s book called ‘On Prayer’. This follows on from Origen’s book on prayer for a series of classic prayer books.

As with Origen, Tertullian was an early Church leader (155 - 222). Tertullian’s life was full of claims of heresy within the Church and counter claims of heresy in life. He is perhaps best known as being the author that first used the term Trinity to explain the Godhead.

Tertullian believed that prayer replaces temple sacrifices. He argued that individual petitions should be added to the Lord’s prayer - not that Jesus intended us to continually recite it word for word. Tertulian’s model for prayer also invariable focused on spoken prayer, and prayer together. This is linked to his view that prayer was basically worship.

Here is an extract from the beginning of the book”

The Spirit of God, and the Word of God, and the Reason of God—Word of Reason, and Reason and Spirit of Word—Jesus Christ our Lord, namely, who is both the one and the other, -has determined for us, the disciples of the New Testament, a new form of prayer; for in this particular also it was needful that new wine should be laid up in new skins, and a new breadth be sewn to a new garment. Besides, whatever had been in bygone days, has either been quite changed, as circumcision; or else supplemented, as the rest of the Law; or else fulfilled, as Prophecy; or else perfected, as faith itself. For the new grace of God has renewed all things from carnal unto spiritual, by superinducing the Gospel, the obliterator of the whole ancient bygone system; in which our Lord Jesus Christ has been approved as the Spirit of God, and the Word of God, and the Reason of God: the Spirit, by which He was mighty; the Word, by which He taught; the Reason, by which He came. So the prayer composed by Christ has been composed of three parts. In speech, by which prayer is enunciated, in spirit, by which alone it prevails, even John had taught his disciples to pray, but all John’s doings were laid as groundwork for Christ, until, when “He had increased”—just as the same John used to fore-announce “that it was needful” that “He should increase and himself decrease— the whole work of the forerunner passed over, together with his spirit itself, unto the Lord. Therefore, after what form of words John taught to pray is not extant, because earthly things have given place to heavenly. “He who is from the earth,” says John, “speaketh earthly things; and He who is here from the heavens speaketh those things which He hath seen.

Aug 15

free Origen on Prayer book

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The latest Classic book recommended by Christian Classics Ethereal Library is Origen on Prayer.

Origen was an early church father (185-254), and s you may suspect this book is mostly about prayer! In it he highlights four types of prayer from Timothy 1:

requests
prayer
intercession
thanksgiving

Origen led an amazing life culminating in his death after being tortured during persecution. He was a prolific writer, and wrote commentaries on all books in the bible. Not only that but he even wrote a corrected version of the Septuagint bible.

Here is an extract from Origen on Prayer:

Again I believe the words of the prayer of the saints to be full of power above all when praying ‘with the spirit,’ they pray ‘also with the understanding,’ which is like a light rising from the suppliant’s mind and proceeding from his lips to gradually weaken by the power of God the mental venom injected by the adverse powers into the intellect of such as neglect prayer and fail to keep that saying of Paul’s in accordance with the exhortations of Jesus, ‘Pray without ceasing.’ … For the saying ‘pray without ceasing’ can only be accepted by us as a possibility if we may speak of the whole life of a saint as one great continuous prayer.

Aug 09

free Saint Augustine audiobook - The Confessions

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This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio is Saint Augustine’s Confessions. After this month the link on this post will change to a new audiobook so be quick if you want this one.

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is undoubtable on of the most important figures in the history of Christian philosophy and theology. Some claim the confession is the first Western autobiography, and it is perhaps his best known book out of the hundreds that he wrote.

The Confessions is an early account of Augustine’s life and is actually a collection of 13 books. It is not a complete account of his life and covers his experiences up to his forties. It includes his regret for his sinful past, and his conversion to Christianity as well as many other events in his life.

Christian Audio provides the following summary:

The Confessions is at once the autobiographical account of Augustine’s life of Christian faith and at the same time a compelling theology of Christian spirituality for everyone. Among the most important classics in Western literature, it continues to engage modern readers through Augustine’s timeless illustrations and beautiful prose. Augustine’s Confessions is a book to relish the first time through and then profoundly enjoy over a lifetime of revisiting.

Jul 02

free Brother Lawrence audiobook - The Practice of the Presence of God

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This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio is superb ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’ by Brother Lawrence. After this month the link on this post will change to a new audiobook so be quick if you want this one.

The Practice of the Presence of God is a superb Christian book and one of my favorites. In fact I had decided to reread it just two days ago (before it was provided free) and so popped it in my bag! The basic premise is to approach our life and activities with a devotion to God. No matter what we do we should do it with the aim of staying in God’s presence. It matters not the magnitude of the task either spiritually or in the world’s eyes, but the importance is what motivates us t do the task. The Practice of the Presence of God is an exciting book and one I fall far short of, but I figure we may as well aim high and fall short that limit what God may achieve in our lives.

You can also get a pdf or online copy from Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL), the links are shown at the end of this post.

Here is a quote from Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God:

As often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before him, fixing my mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering from him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I persisted through all difficulties.

Links

free audiobook: http://christianaudio.com/free_download.php
free online text from CCEL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice.titlepage.html
free pdf from CCEL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/formats/practice1.1.pdf

Jun 11

Free Catechetical Lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem

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The latest Classic book recommended by Christian Classics Ethereal Library is Catechetical Lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem (c.313–386).

Christian Classics Ethereal Library linked their reccommendation to a review from Lester Ruth from the Asbury Theological Seminary at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship website, an extract of which is below:

Can a theologian be a good pastor or evangelist? Can an effective, church-growing evangelist be theological? Can a caring pastor preach doctrine in a relevant way? Is it possible for one person to be a dynamic evangelist, pastor, and theologian all at once? Many today would answer “no.”
Lester Ruth

Jun 09

Free John Bunyon audiobook - Pilgrim’s progress

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This month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio is the classic Pilgrim’s Progress from John Bunyon.

Pilgrim’s Progress was first published in 1678 and amazingly has never yet been out of print. John Bunyon was a man of conviction who was imprisoned for preaching at non-official venues at a time when it was illegal to hold a service outside the control of the Church of England.

Christian Audio provides the following description

Embark on a perilous journey with Christian, the lead character, from the City of Destruction to the luminous safe haven of the Celestial City. The journey will encourage you to “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you” amidst the obstacles of life.