"Phillips points out that it is possible to be solidly Reformed and also committed to getting the message of the gospel out into the highways and byways of our various communities....The panel also discussed the rightful place of mercy ministry and cultural engagement. It is important that the church take care of its own, but there is also a place for demonstrating mercy to those outside the church. However, there is always the danger that demonstrating God's love in deeds of mercy will eclipse the clear, forthright declaration of the gospel."

• Active and present at creation, hovering over the unordered conditions (Gen. 1:2)

• The origin of supernatural abilities (Gen. 41:38)
• The giver of artistic skill (Ex. 31:2-5)
• The source of power and strength (Judg. 3:9, 10)
• The inspiration of prophecy (1 Sam. 19:20, 23)
• The equipper of God's messenger (Mic. 3:8)

• The cleansing of the heart for holy living (Ezek. 36:25-29)

• Regenerates the believer (Titus 3:5)
• Indwells the believer (Rom. 8:9-11)
• Sanctifies the believer (2 Thess. 2:13)

• Declares the truth about Christ (John 16:13, 14)
• Endows with power for gospel proclamation (Acts 1:8)
• Pours out God's love in the heart (Rom. 5:5)
• Makes intercession (Rom. 8:26)
• Imparts gifts of ministry (1 Cor. 12:4-11)
• Enables the fruit of holy living (Gal. 5:22, 23)
• Strengthens the inner being (Eph. 3:16)

• Inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21)

"We will leave the Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, and Jedi Knights to respond for themselves, although we note in passing that it is another fundamental belief of the atheist creed that all religions are essentially the same -- hence the oft repeated statement or accusation that 'atheists do not fly planes into skyscrapers.' It may have escaped the new atheists, but neither do Presbyterians, Catholics, or Southern Baptists!"

When Jesus "speaks of future disaster, he always teaches its close relation with the [joy] of redemption, so that when disasters suddenly come they...may be borne by hearts that have premeditated them."

Here at Reformation Trust Publishing, a spring and summer of intense labor is passing, and now the fields are white unto harvest. In other words, a bumper crop of good books is just beginning to arrive in our warehouse--and becoming available to you.

We have just released a new edition of R.C. Sproul's little gem Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow. First published in 2002, it explores five means of grace that are crucial for a healthy walk with Christ: Scripture reading and study, prayer, worship, service, and stewardship. The new edition features additional material on each topic, a new final chapter consisting of Dr. Sproul's answers to pertinent questions, and an attractive new design and cover. You can learn more about this title here.

We're especially delighted to be publishing two books in commemoration of next year's five-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great Reformer John Calvin. Coming in September is Living for God's Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism by Dr. Joel Beeke, with contributions from Sinclair Ferguson, Michael Haykin, Derek Thomas, Ray Pennings and others. This book explores Calvinism in history, in the mind, in the heart, in the church, in society, and more. Above all, it displays the biblical, God-centered, winsome, comprehensive, and practical nature of Calvinism.

Later in the fall, we'll be releasing John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology, a collection of essays edited by Burk Parsons. The contributors include some of the most respected Reformed pastors and scholars in ministry today, including Jerry Bridges, Michael Horton, Steven Lawson, John MacArthur, Richard Phillips, Harry Reeder, Philip Graham Ryken, and others. In all, nineteen writers consider aspects of Calvin's life and work, confirming the relevance of his teachings for every generation.

In October, we're excited to be re-publishing one of the best books on preaching ever produced, Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching, edited by Don Kistler and originally released in 2002. Yet another stellar lineup of godly men, including R. Albert Mohler Jr., James Montgomery Boice, John Piper, and Dr. Sproul, contributed pieces that demonstrate the necessity of preaching in the worship of the church and how it ought to be done.

Two new children's books will be coming your way this fall, too. Look first for Dr. Sproul's The Prince's Poison Cup, an allegorical retelling of the biblical account of the atonement of Christ. Dr. Sproul is hopeful that this book, his fourth for children, will help young minds understand and appreciate the awful price Jesus had to pay to redeem His people from their sins. Justin Gerard, illustrator for Dr. Sproul's previous children's book, The Lightlings, is back with more beautiful paintings that will captivate young readers.

Next up is Sammy and His Shepherd, written by veteran children's book author Susan Hunt. Unfolding Psalm 23 as a picture of the believer's relationship with the Good Shepherd, Mrs. Hunt beautifully illustrates Jesus' gracious care for His sheep. This delightful book will help children know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, that they are saved and kept by grace, and that there are privileges and responsibilities that go with living as a part of God's flock.

We'll cap our 2008 releases with The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, Dr. Steven J. Lawson's next entry in the Long Line of Godly Men Profiles series, which he kicked off with The Expository Genius of John Calvin (2007). In this book, Dr. Lawson explores Edwards' walk with Christ through the lens of the seventy resolutions he made as a young man in the early eighteenth century. Edwards' example of passionate living for God provides encouragement and insight for all believers in their pursuit of their Lord.

There you have it. We hope these books will bless you and help you grow in your understanding of the truths of the historic Christian faith.

Looking ahead, the seeds of even more excellent titles are already taking root for 2009. You can learn more about this year's releases and a few of those 2009 books on our Forthcoming Titles page.

Tolle Lege: Take Up and Read
by Keith A. Mathison

One of the first Reformed authors I ever read was Sinclair Ferguson. I was a dispensationalist in transition at the time, and I ran across a little book titled The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction by Dr. Ferguson. I started reading it in the bookstore, and I finished it in my apartment the same evening. This wonderful little book was instrumental in my transition from dispensationalism to the Reformed tradition. Since that time, I have continued to read everything I can from the pen of Dr. Ferguson. Like the great theologians of old, he writes with the heart and experience of a pastor. No dry and dusty tomes from the ivory tower here. For these reasons, I was excited to hear of the release of his new book In Christ Alone (Reformation Trust, 2007).

As with Ferguson's previous books, readers will not be disappointed in this one. I would say that this book needs to be on the shelf of every Christian, but that cliché is sometimes taken a bit too literally. Far too many Christians buy great books, put them on their shelves, and then leave them there. This book does not need to be on the shelf of every Christian. It is a book that needs to be read by every Christian. The content is too important to remain on a shelf gathering dust.

This is a book about living the life of faith in Christ. Its chapters were written over a period of years as articles for Tabletalk and Eternity magazines. They have been gathered together in this volume and arranged thematically. Their origin as magazine articles means that each of the fifty chapters is brief, accessible, and to the point. Each chapter can be read in only a few minutes time. Are there any drawbacks to such a format? One might think that having been written over a period of years that the chapters would lack a certain flow and unity. One would be mistaken.

The chapters have been organized under six major headings. The first section of the book contains several chapters dealing with the person of Christ. Here Ferguson outlines the basic biblical teaching concerning our Savior, who is truly God and truly man. The primary focus of these chapters is on the mystery and miracle of the incarnation. The second major section of the book contains chapters dealing with the work of Christ. Here Ferguson discusses the atonement, the resurrection, and Jesus' work as our prophet, priest, and king. The third section of the book, then, contains chapters on the Holy Spirit, the one sent by Christ as another comforter. The focus of these chapters is upon the Spirit's transforming work in the lives of believers.

In the fourth major section of the book, Ferguson begins to turn to the Christian life. This section, entitled "The Privileges of Grace," covers subjects such as our union with Christ, regeneration, and assurance of salvation. Section five, "A Life of Wisdom," deals with subjects such as discernment, the law of God, and Christian contentment. In the final section, Ferguson explores the biblical teaching on subjects such as spiritual warfare, temptation, apostasy, and the perseverance of the saints. The conclusion of the book contains Dr. Ferguson's heartfelt dedication to his longtime friend and former colleague Al Groves, who recently went to be with Christ.

One of the many things that is so refreshing about this book is its thoroughly Christ-centered message. From beginning to end, Christ is exalted. With so many authors writing about Jesus in a detached and abstract manner, it is a blessing to read a book in which the author's love for Christ shines through on every page. This is theology for the heart and the mind. The author's love for Christ, however, does not result in a sentimental or watered-down theology. Ferguson is not hesitant to touch upon the deep truths of Scripture, marveling at the Lord's amazing work of redemption for His people.

Sections four through six of the book are deeply practical and reflect the wisdom of one who has shepherded Christ's sheep for many years. There are numerous chapters here that will repay careful meditation and application. None of us have "arrived" yet. We all battle the world, the flesh, and the Devil every day, and we are foolish if we ignore the wisdom of our elders.

Jesus Christ is faithful. He knows those who are His sheep. Let us all take heed to hear the message of this book, to trust and obey our Lord, to live a Christ-centered, Gospel-centered life, that we might not be ashamed at His coming. Let us fight the good fight and run the race to the finish, knowing that our only hope in life and in death is in Christ alone.

*****

Dr. Keith A. Mathison is an associate editor of Tabletalk magazine.

The vast number of books published each year makes it difficult for readers to separate the wheat from the chaff. Dr. Mathison helps us sort out the good books from the bad each month in his book review column Tolle Lege.

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Pastor's Perspective
by Philip G. Ryken

Make no mistake: there is an aggressive new atheism in America. The new unbelievers are eager to win people to their cause. Not content simply to disbelieve in God for themselves, they want to persuade other people not to believe in Him either.

Some of these evangelists for atheism are famous authors with a high public profile. Others are professors on college or university campuses. Still others are ordinary people we meet at work or in the neighborhood. They may even be the members of our own families. But in each case, their opposition to the God of the Bible poses a challenge to our faith. In fact, some Christians may find aggressive atheism more than a little intimidating. Any time our faith is under attack, we face the real temptation to keep quiet about our firm confidence in biblical truth or our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The apostle Peter wrote his first epistle to believers who were facing similar challenges in the days of the early church. Their faith was under attack and there was real danger that standing firm for the Gospel would cause them to suffer for the cause of Christ. Thus Peter told them to be ready to witness with courage -- an exhortation that still applies to us today: "Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience" (1 Peter 3:14-16).

Peter's words of comfort are reassuring: "Have no fear of them." Even more reassuring is the reason why: Because Jesus is with us to help us. If we know Christ, then we regard Him as the Lord of our hearts. Now Jesus is with us -- in all the power of His grace -- in every difficult situation we face. This includes every opportunity we have to bear witness to His sufferings on the cross and His triumph over the tomb. There is no need for us to be intimidated by people who deny the Gospel, or who even deny the very existence of God. The true and living Lord is with us to help us speak the truth about His crucifixion and resurrection, giving people the hope of eternal life.

We must be ready to witness, however. The helping presence of our Lord does not eliminate our own obligation to be well-prepared to tell people about His saving grace. Peter's exhortation about how to do this is comprehensive. We should always be ready to explain the hope that is within us. We should be ready to do this in a logical way, giving reasons for our faith in Christ and answers to the legitimate questions people have about the Bible. We should be ready to do this for anyone and everyone who asks, regardless of their religious commitments.

Are you ready to give people an answer when they ask about your hope in Christ, especially people who claim to be atheists? Reading this issue of Tabletalk is one practical way to get ready to give people an answer. Another good way to get better prepared to share our faith is to read good Christian books like R.C. Sproul's Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. It is also important for us to develop growing friendships with people outside the church. The better we know people, the more they will share their spiritual questions, and the better we will understand all the ways they need the Gospel. Peter's words remind us to do this with gentleness and respect, loving people who still need to know Christ.

Yet the most important thing for us to do is point people to the Scriptures. The best reasons we can give people for our hope in Christ are biblical reasons; the clearest answers we can give to their question about God are biblical answers. The Holy Spirit will use the true words of God to do His spiritual work in people's lives. God has not promised to use our personal testimonies to bring people to Christ. No matter how eloquently or persuasively we speak, our words in themselves do not have the power to give people spiritual life. What God has promised to use in a saving and sanctifying way are His own words -- the words we read in the Bible and understand by the help of the Spirit. God's Word always does God's work (see Isa. 55:10-11).

The Word of God even has the power to save atheists, changing the minds and hearts of people who say they do not believe in God. The real truth, of course, is that even the most hardened atheist actually does believe in God, he just works very hard to deny it. In order to maintain a consistently atheistic point of view, unbelievers must actively suppress what they know to be true about the existence of God. Deep down, everyone knows there is a God (see Rom. 1:21).

The inescapable reality of God's power should give us tremendous confidence for personal evangelism. Although we may not have very much confidence in ourselves, or in our ability to respond to every objection an unbeliever may raise against the Gospel, we ought to have every confidence in the goodness of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible confronts every person's conscience, testifying that the God who is really there speaks to people today. Whether we are fully prepared to give an answer or not, God is always ready and able to save people by His mighty Word.

*****

Dr. Philip G. Ryken is senior minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is author of What is the Christian Worldview?

Pastor's Perspective is an opportunity each month for a different seasoned pastor to apply the themes discussed in Tabletalk more directly to the life of the layperson and equip the saints for service in the local congregation.