Prayer meetings are a vital aspect to the life and ministry of the church. But experience shows that taking prayer requests and conducting Bible study often crowd out time for actual prayer. In this booklet, Ryan McGraw highlights common pitfalls experienced in prayer meetings and offers practical remedies. By giving careful attention to the relationship between participants and the best manner of using our time, our prayer meetings can be better suited to glorify God, advance the gospel, and edify the saints.

Today, the church seems to have forgotten about the spiritual discipline of fasting. Most of us have never heard a sermon about it, and few of us have ever practiced it. We think of fasting as an antiquated relic of the past. So why should we fast in an age of fast food? Pastor Daniel R. Hyde argues that “fasting is actually a basic biblical teaching and practice, one that is vital to cultivating godly living in an ungodly generation.” Fasting is a means to the end of abiding, deep, and personal communion with the triune God through prayer. The author explains what fasting is, provides biblical examples of it, reminds us of what Jesus taught regarding it, and tells us how to go about it. What Is Fasting? What are the Biblical Examples of Fasting? Did Jesus Address Fasting? How Should I Fast? Daniel R. Hyde is the pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Carlsbad/Oceanside, California. An author of several books, he serves as an adjunct instructor of systematic theology and missions at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. “If you like a lazy and complacent Christian life, this book is dangerous because it shows in a convincing way that fasting belongs to Christianity. Danny Hyde shows from the Bible, the words of Jesus, the early church, the Reformers, and the Puritans how and why Christians should fast. This message is an appeal to Christians that while our old nature would prefer feasting to fasting, our new nature will experience spiritual feasting by fasting.” — Dr. Willem van Vlastuin, professor of theology and spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

In How Can I Overcome Lust?, Ryan M. McGraw highlights the seriousness of sexual lust and gives readers hope for overcoming it. He considers the foundational principles of overcoming lust in general, identifies the nature of sexual lust in particular, and applies biblical principles for finding a path through it. As McGraw shows, overcoming sexual lust is made possible by union with Christ as the Spirit makes us like Him through God-given means. He also encourages us to meditate on appropriate truths of Scripture so that our affections can be reordered in a God-honoring way.

“Self-denial is one of the fundamental principles of the Christian life. It is Christianity 101,” writes author Ryan McGraw. Christians, regardless of personal cost, must believe and do whatever Christ teaches them and reject and flee from whatever He forbids them. McGraw helps readers develop an understanding of this essential principle of Christian living by providing an in-depth explanation of what self-denial is and why it is important, and then giving examples of what it looks like in practice. Author RYAN M. MCGRAW is pastor of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, California; research associate, University of the Free State; and adjunct professor of systematic theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Endorsement "‘Deny yourself.’ This is one of the hardest biblical commands for Christians to implement practically. Our selfish sinful nature wants and wants even more. Ryan McGraw’s pamphlet is a powerful call to the twenty-first-century church to be more like Jesus and less like the world; to be transformed by the Spirit rather than conformed to the world. We need this exhortation today, and I’m glad to commend this pamphlet for issuing that call.” — Daniel R. Hyde, pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church, Carlsbad, California Cultivating Biblical Godliness Series D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “The world today is looking for, and desperately needs, true Christians. I am never tired of saying that what the Church needs to do is not to organize evangelistic campaigns and attract outside people, but to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’” Many people who are new to the church need instruction in the most basic aspects of godly living. Even where churches are engaged heavily in discipleship, visitors and members often have gaps in their understanding and practice. One of the greatest needs of our time is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the glory of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of God the Father. For these reasons, Joel Beeke and Ryan McGraw are coediting a series of booklets titled Cultivating Biblical Godliness. These booklets treat matters that are vital to Christian experience, and each contribution aims to address a wide variety of people and circumstances at a fundamental and introductory level. This includes teaching people what to believe in order to practice personal holiness as well as specific directions on how to cultivate biblical godliness in relation to issues that are common to God’s people. The distinctive feature of this series is its experiential tone. While some booklet series aim to enlighten the mind, these booklets aim to warm the affections as well. The goal is to promote communion with the triune God and to transform the entire person in thought, speech, and behavior. To this end, we intend to include a wide range of authors whom the Spirit has blessed to skillfully stir up the church to personal holiness and affection to Christ through their preaching and writing ministries. We need a Christianity that puts the transformative power of God in the gospel on display through developing a communion with God that is visible to the world. Our prayer is that through this series, the Lord would revive His church by producing Christians who are full of love for Christ, who deny themselves in order to follow Him at great personal cost, and who know the joys of walking with the triune God. This is the kind of Christianity that we need.

Although the Old Testament can appear irrelevant, outdated, and difficult to read, there are precious nuggets of truth in it which are vital for Christians to understand. That is why Michael Barrett provides this practical approach to reading the books of law, history, prophecy, and poetry through the lens of Jesus. As Barrett explains, “Seeing Christ and the gospel in the Old Testament gives life to what otherwise seems to be dry and outdated.” Grow in personal holiness today as you learn to read and apply the Old Testament properly. Presuppositions About the Bible Misunderstandings of the Old Testament Procedures for Bible Reading Purpose of the Bible Practical Reading of the Old Testament Conclusion Michael P.V. Barrett is vice president for academic affairs/academic dean and professor of Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Which believer doesn’t want to be holy? Which believer doesn’t want to understand the Old Testament better? Well, here’s a short booklet that will do both for you. While Dr. Barrett concedes that parts of the Old Testament are frustrating and difficult to understand, he also outlines simple, practical steps that will not only give you greater understanding of the Bible but also produce greater likeness to Christ.” – David Murray, professor of Old Testament and practical theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Inundated as we are with secular distortions regarding how to think about our work lives, we need to remind ourselves of basic scriptural truths in order to think clearly about the subject. In How Can I Serve God at Work?, Ray Pennings unpacks ten biblical principles that will help believers cultivate everyday godliness in a twenty-first-century North American context. Pennings also discusses how a biblical view of vocation contrasts with a secular one and how this might make a difference as we head to work in the morning. Armed with a proper theology of work, readers will be better equipped to serve and glorify God in things that are sometimes considered less spiritual.

The spirit of our age encourages us not to feel bad about ourselves and to build up our self-esteem. Yet to become a Christian and then to maintain a healthy Christian life, we must practice repentanceacknowledging with sorrow our sin and yearning for holiness and increased obedience to God's will. In this pamphlet, Jeremy Walker explains from the Scriptures what it means to repent by turning from our sin and turning to God. He provides biblical portraits of repentance and practical steps toward developing this important characteristic in our lives.

Hebrews 3:1 and 12:3 tell us that the most effective means for enduring affliction is to consider Christ, the fountainhead of all vital Christianity. But how, you ask, and in what ways must I consider Him? In this booklet, Joel R. Beeke shows how our consideration of the passion, power, presence, patience and perseverance, prayers, plenitude, preciousness, promises, purposes, and plan of Christ provide strength for living through and profiting from the deepest sorrows of this world. Seek grace to live Christianly today in and through your afflictions, and you will soon discover with the apostle, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

Almost everyone diagnosed with cancer will endeavor to fight it. As a cancer survivor, Earl Blackburn encourages everyone diagnosed with cancer to fight it. Although he thinks medical treatment is important, the fight he is primarily interested in is spiritual. In How Can I Honor Christ in Fighting Cancer?, Blackburn shows how this spiritual fight, conducted in a manner that honors Christ the Creator and Lord, will aid the cancer patient’s medical fight tremendously. Through Blackburn’s experience, a series of practical lessons derived from it, and from Scripture, you can better understand what a godly fight against cancer looks like.

In John 14:12-14, Jesus declares that His people would accomplish 'greater works' than His. What are these greater works the church would accomplish, and how could they be even greater than Christ's miracles? With biblical insight, author Ryan McGraw takes a closer look at this passage, along with the book of Acts, and explains that these greater works are connected to corporate prayer and faithful preaching, which are vital to the life of every local congregation. How Do Preaching and Corporate Prayer Work Together? affirms the priority of prayer and preaching in the church and offers practical instruction for effective corporate prayer that, by God's grace, will bear fruit in preaching. The Same Works and Greater Works \- Faith in Christ \- The Same Works That Christ Did \- Greater Things \- The Importance of Preaching The Means of Accomplishing These Greater Things \- Whatsoever You Ask? \- Why Corporate Prayer? \- Are You Responsible for the Sermon? Practical Conclusions \- Prioritize Corporate Prayer \- Recognize That Corporate Prayer Is Necessary \- Make Corporate Prayer a Regular Part of Your Life \- Focus on the Great Commission in Corporate Prayer \- Pray to Increase the Gifts and Graces of Your Minister \- Repent and Believe The Cultivating Biblical Godliness booklets treat matters that are vital to Christian experience, and each contribution aims to address a wide variety of people and circumstances at a fundamental and introductory level. This includes teaching people what to believe in order to practice personal holiness as well as specific directions on how to cultivate biblical godliness in relation to issues that are common to God's people.

Product Description: Christians often talk about “glorifying God,” but have we used this phrase so often and without thinking about what it means that it has become an empty slogan? In this booklet, Joseph A. Pipa helps us understand what God’s glory is, the ways we glorify Him, principles we can follow for glorifying God in all things, and motivations for pursuing this chief duty and delight. Endorsement: “Man’s chief end and the Christian’s desire is to glorify God and enjoy Him. But many Christians struggle with what a God-glorifying life actually looks like in the everyday circumstances of life. Dr. Pipa lets the Bible and the Reformed confessions speak directly to the issue. He offers succinct, practical, and biblical counsel that charts the course for a doxological life even in what may be the most mundane of circumstances. In this booklet, he effectively brings the theology of divine glory into the home, school, and workplace. Pipa makes it clear that the way to glorify God is by becoming more and more overwhelmed with the God of glory. This is a short read that will help the believer fulfill the purpose of his existence.” —Michael Barrett, Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean and Professor of Old Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids About the Author: Joseph A. Pipa Jr. is president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Every true believer lives to the glory of God and should desire to grow, develop, and make progress in spirituality. In this booklet, Maurice Roberts guides us through this spiritual growth and development with practical guidance for fostering heavenly-mindedness and spiritual conversation. The more we grow in heavenly-mindedness, the more we will shine as lights in this dark world. And the more we aim to promote God-honoring conversation, the more we will be seen to walk in the steps of our master Jesus Christ, of whom it was truly said, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46).

Many churches have an official process to join their membership. Is this really a biblical practice? The authors show that the Bible assumes the necessity of formal church membership so that we can fulfill the commands and apply the promises given to the church. Clearly and carefully, and answering contemporary objections along the way, the authors make the biblical case that God desires the members of His heavenly kingdom to join with the earthly society that reflects it―Christ’s body, the church. The Foundations of Church The Church as a Community The Duty of Church We Must Join This Community The Form and Means of Church Membership Rolls and Membership Vows Objections to Church Membership Series Description D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most all is “to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, ‘What is the secret of this?’” As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit’s grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

In this booklet, Danny Hyde opens up to the reader the meaning, graciousness, richness, and power of the biblical doctrine of justification by faith. With simple language, apt illustrations, and clear application, the author pastorally instructs us, opens our minds, and warms our hearts as we come to a better understanding of this vital Reformation doctrine. As you learn the divine truth of justification, you will experience joy, and your joy in Christ will lead you to rejoice in Christ.

A look at the news suggests world affairs are out of control. We get discouraged because it seems that the gospel is not advancing as quickly as doctrinal error is. And in our personal life, we wonder how we will endure the trials that engulf us. In this booklet, David B. McWilliams addresses these discouraging aspects of life in a fallen world and reminds us of the strength we find when we confess the wonder of the sovereign, incomprehensible God.

In this booklet, Michael Barrett walks us through Colossians 3:1-17, a text that is a classic example of how deep theology translates into the practices of life. He explains that the more we understand the gospel and our completeness in Christ, the more we can enjoy and experience the gospel in our lives, demonstrating that our faith starts on the inside and shows itself on the outside. How Can We Live Our Faith from the Inside Out? is an insightful, pastorally written guide to living out our faith so that there is no disconnect between what we know and believe in our heads and hearts and how we evidence this truth in our daily lives. The The Hidden Life The Fact of the Hidden Life The Imperatives of the Hidden Life The Prospect of the Hidden Life The The Seen Life Death to Sin Alive to Righteousness Series Description As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit's grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Some believers feel guilty when they grieve because they know that they should rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). Others use grief as an occasion to say, like Job, 'God hath overthrown me' (Job 19:6). Yet there is a better and more biblical path to follow. Using Lamentations 3:1-39 as a guide, Ryan M. McGraw furnishes readers with the necessary tools to grieve in a sanctified way and exercise faith under hardship. Come and learn to express rather than repress your grief as you walk through sorrows with Christ by faith. Table of Five Biblical Ways to Express Grief God's Displeasure Hard Providences Unanswered Prayer Persecution and Hardship Confessing Our Weakness How Should We Grieve? Exercising Faith Under Hardship Turn Our Grief into Prayer Confront Our Grief with Meditation Be Humbled under Grief How Should We Grieve through Faith in Christ? What About When I Lose a Loved one in Christ? Christ Is Near to Us in Our Grief Death Is from the Lord Grieve Rather than Stifle Grief Do Not Be Alone Series Description D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most all is 'to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, 'What is the secret of this?'' As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit's grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

In Ephesians 5:16, the apostle Paul instructs Christians to redeem 'the time, because the days are evil.' Author Ryan McGraw says that 'how you use your time measures the quality of your life.' But how can you manage your time in order to serve the Lord and the church well? In this pamphlet, you will learn what the Bible has to say about the gospel foundation for time management and how to apply its instruction so that you redeem the time in a God-honoring way. What is Paul Teaching Christians About Time Management? What Does This Mean for My Life? Conclusion Series Description D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most all is 'to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, What is the secret of this?' As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit's grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

To remain faithful Christians, "we need a robust theology of tithing," writes Dr. Pipa. In this pamphlet, you will learn to develop this theology both intellectually and spiritually. The author establishes the duty of tithing from both the Old and New Testaments and shows us that our stewardship is an important act of worship that flows from the grace of God. When we give faithfully, we and others enjoy blessings as the needs of the church are met at home and throughout the world.

Is Lord's Day observance simply a quaint tradition that was nice for previous generations but really isn't relevant for Christians today? Isn't the Sabbath just part of the Old Testament law that New Testament believers don't need to be concerned about? In this pamphlet, author Joseph Pipa carefully guides you through the Scriptures, answering frequently asked questions about the Lord's Day along the way, and helps you to see that the Lord's Day is for you not as a burden, but as a blessing that will lead you to delight in God as you are freed from work and worldly pleasures to worship Him. Temporary or Permanent? Instituting the Lord's Day Consecrating the Lord's Day Change of Day Keeping the Lord's Day Series Description D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that what the church needs to do most all is 'to begin herself to live the Christian life. If she did that, men and women would be crowding into our buildings. They would say, What is the secret of this?' As Christians, one of our greatest needs is for the Spirit of God to cultivate biblical godliness in us in order to put the beauty of Christ on display through us, all to the glory of the triune God. With this goal in mind, this series of booklets treats matters vital to Christian experience at a basic level. Each booklet addresses a specific question in order to inform the mind, warm the affections, and transform the whole person by the Spirit's grace, so that the church may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

As Christians, our hearts desire to please God always and everywhere. But how do we do that? In this booklet, Geoffrey Thomas shows us that pleasing God cannot exist apart from living by faith—entrusting all of yourself to all of Christ. He goes on to discuss how we must make pleasing God our goal, which is exemplified in having evangelistic compassion, doing our daily work as unto the Lord, keeping the Lord’s Day special, and having a Christian home. Author Geoffrey Thomas served as pastor of Alfred Place Baptist Church in Aberystwyth, Wales, for more than fifty years and continues to preach and speak at conferences around the world. Endorsement “Every true believer longs to please God. Due to indwelling sin and at times perhaps an ‘overly scrupulous conscience,’ as the Puritans used to call it, we can easily feel self-defeated in achieving our longing. In this booklet, Geoff Thomas wisely counsels us to flee to Christ and provides invaluable helps at how to grow in a daily consciousness of aiming to live each day intentionally to please God. You will find that reading this booklet slowly and prayerfully, with the Spirit’s grace, may well provide a great and steady boost in your spiritual pilgrimage. — Joel R. Beeke, president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Jesus taught believers to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). Paul urged Christ’s followers to forgive one another as Christ forgave them (Col. 3:13). Christ gives Christians a mandate to forgive and provides a model of forgiveness that is necessary for healthy relationships. But what is forgiveness, and how should we practice it? In How Should We Forgive?, Pastor Stanley Gale considers the nature of the forgiveness we receive from God, its role in our ongoing relationship with Him, and the way we must reciprocate by forgiving others as we have been forgiven.

While it is obvious to most Christians that there is great value and benefit in their baptism, it is not always obvious to them how they benefit from it. How can we profit from our baptism? Can we profit from it more? Ian Macleod answers these questions pastorally and biblically, pointing us to the riches of grace that have been signified and sealed to us in our baptism and showing us how the benefits derived from baptism through faith in Christ and with the Spirit’s blessing are lifelong.

Almost everyone diagnosed with cancer will endeavor to fight it. As a cancer survivor, Earl Blackburn encourages everyone diagnosed with cancer to fight it. Although he thinks medical treatment is important, the fight he is primarily interested in is spiritual. In How Can I Honor Christ in Fighting Cancer?, Blackburn shows how this spiritual fight, conducted in a manner that honors Christ the Creator and Lord, will aid the cancer patient's medical fight tremendously. Through Blackburn's experience, a series of practical lessons derived from it, and from Scripture, you can better understand what a godly fight against cancer looks like.