Free audio downloads of both Dietrich Bonhoeffer and John Piper
Each month christianaudio.com gives away a premium audiobook download for free. This month they are offering both The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper! Just use the coupon codes MAR2010 and MAR2010B. For more information, please visit http://christianaudio.com/free_download.php.

Five Big Issues Facing the Western Church
Tim Keller addresses five big issues currently facing the Western Church.

The GCM Collective website just launched as of this past Monday. Already there has been some outstanding ongoing discussion within the groups. I have personally found the conversation both thought provoking and helpfully. Well worth a look.

This from the GCM Collective website:

It is a gospel community that lives out the mission of God together, as family, in a specific area and to a particular people group by declaring and demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms. God is moving to create thousands of new gospel communities on mission around the world. Be a part of this movement.

Paul Tripp has a new book on marriage coming out May 1. There’s irony in this because as you’ll hear in the video below, Tripp “hates marriage books.”

Based on what I’m learning about What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, this is not a book that people serious about strengthening their marriage will hate. (And be sure to check out Crossway’s 35% off pre-order sale.)

Paul Tripp from Crossway on Vimeo.

Q. 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

http://www.ccel.org/creeds/heidelberg-cat-ext.txt

I have a beautiful wife, whom I love and treasure, and together we have two beautiful children. I am not deserving of the family God has blessed me with, and it breaks my heart to think of how many mornings I have rushed off to work giving little thought to the precious treasures I leave behind. I am thankful for both Andrew and the artist who created this video for providing a moment to stop and reflect upon the generous mercy and abounding grace of God in my life and His steadfast faithfulness to our family despite myself!

Because of this, I wanted to pass along the video as well, hopefully providing others with the same opportunity.

“Family Man” from Trevor Little on Vimeo.

Question 3. Whence knowest thou thy misery?

A. Out of the law of God.

Question 4. What does the law of God require of us?

A. Christ teaches us that briefly, Matt. 22:37-40, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Question 5. Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?

A. In no wise; for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbour.

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

Question 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?

A. Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

http://www.ccel.org/creeds/heidelberg-cat-ext.txt

Q. 123. Which is the second petition?

A. “Thy kingdom come”; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to thee; preserve and increase thy church; destroy the works of the devil, and all violence
which would exalt itself against thee; and also all wicked counsels
devised against thy holy word; till the full perfection of thy kingdom take place, wherein thou shalt be all in all.

http://www.ccel.org/creeds/heidelberg-cat-ext.txt

Q. 122. Which is the first petition?

A. “Hallowed be thy name”; that is, grant us, first, rightly to know thee, and to sanctify, glorify and praise thee, in all thy works, in which thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct
our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honoured and praised on our account.

http://www.ccel.org/creeds/heidelberg-cat-ext.txt

Q. 120. Why has Christ commanded us to address God thus: “Our Father”?

A. That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith,
than our parents will refuse us earthly things.

Q. 121. Why is it here added, “Which art in heaven”?

A. Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty, and that we may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.

http://www.ccel.org/creeds/heidelberg-cat-ext.txt