Not
the Way I Used to Be
Practical Implications of the Bible's Large Doctrine of Regeneration
by Dr. Robert Spinney & Justin Dillehay
With the words, "You must be born again," the Lord Jesus Christ clearly established the necessity of the new birth. But what does regeneration actually do in a person? Should we expect the new birth to produce extensive changes in the soul or minor ones? Is the Bible’s doctrine of regeneration large or small? This booklet discusses five of regeneration’s most important practical implications: it highlights the free, uncaused, and sovereign character of God’s saving grace; it sets a high standard for personal holiness; it explains why true believers will always persevere in their faith; it helps Christians understand their union with Christ; and it answers a common objection to the Reformed understanding of salvation.
Are
You Legalistic?
Grace, Obedience & Antinomianism
by Dr. Robert Spinney
Everyone knows that legalism is bad. But what exactly is legalism? Is it legalistic to obey God's laws? Is it legalistic when we obey God too much or too carefully? On the narrow road that leads to eternal life, legalism is the ditch on one side of the road. The ditch on the other side is antinomianism. Determined to avoid misusing God's laws and becoming legalistic, some neglect God's laws altogether and become antinomian. Legalism is bad, but antinomianism is equally bad. Understanding legalism requires that we understand antinomianism, and this booklet explains both concepts.
Dressed
to Kill
Thinking Biblically About Modest & Immodest Clothing
by Dr. Robert Spinney
The issue of modest and immodest clothing is rarely discussed these days. Why? Many Christians are fearful of creating legalistic and grace-denying dress codes. In some circles, personal holiness is such a low priority that there is little concern with lust, sexual temptation, or becoming a stumblingblock to others. But if Jesus Christ is truly the lord of your entire life, surely He must be lord of your wardrobe. The Puritan pastor Matthew Henry put it this way: "The purity of the heart will show itself in the modesty of the dress." This booklet examines the biblical principles relating to modesty and includes practical suggestions regarding God-honoring Christian attire.
Looking for God in All the Wrong Places
An Appeal for Word-Based Corporate Worship
by Dr. Robert Spinney
In your church's worship services, does the worship stop when the preaching starts? It shouldn't. God typically mediates His presence to His people through His Word. When our corporate worship services consist of reading the Bible, singing the Bible, preaching the Bible, and praying the Bible, we meet with the living God in rich worship. This booklet calls for a return to the Word-based worship that was championed during the Protestant Reformation. It discusses issues like emotions, music, and the regulative principle. Special attention is given to why the preached Word of God is the highlight of the corporate worship service.
What
is the Meaning of Baptism?
A Guide for Christians Preparing for Baptism
by Dr. Robert Spinney
What should a new Christian understand about baptism in order to derive the full spiritual benefit from this ordinance? God invented baptism as a kind of visible Gospel message that communicates essential truths to the new believer. When rightly understood, baptism grounds the Christian in basic Bible doctrine. This short and readable booklet is designed for the new Christian who wants to be baptized. Pastors will find this a useful tool as they prepare new believers for baptism.
How
to Survive Your Pastor's Sermons
Six Ways to Make Pulpit Messages More Profitable to Your Soul
by Dr. Robert Spinney
Good preaching is hard work and requires skill. The godly minister will study and pray for hours. Packaging the message in an understandable manner requires more time. When it comes to Sunday morning sermons, the preacher is responsible for doing his task well. But the listener has a job to do as well. What does it mean to listen well? How can I hear my pastor's sermons in such a way that they deliver more benefit to my soul? This booklet will help you to have ears that hear.
Monkeying
Around With Dangerous Ideas
Four Reasons Outside the Field of Science Why Christians Should Reject Evolutionary Theory
by Dr. Robert Spinney
Christians should reject evolution because it is untrue and bad science. But there are other reasons - non-science reasons - why believers should affirm the biblical account of creation. This booklet examines how Darwinism erodes faith in the Bible's trustworthiness, undermines Scripture's explanation of how the Lord Jesus Christ saves lost men, promotes a naturalistic worldview that is hostile to the Christian worldview, and assaults the dignity of humans (which then leads to immoral behavior).
Why
Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Thinking Biblically About the Problem of Sin in Our World
by Dr. Robert Spinney
This booklet uses the famous question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" to organize an easy-to-read discussion of sin and grace, man's total depravity, God's just judgment of sin, and the redemptive grace found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Four questions are raised and answered: What does the Bible say about good people? What does the Bible say about bad things? Why do so many good things happen to bad people? What is the very best thing that can happen to bad people like us? Non-Christians will hear the gospel presented; believers will benefit from the explanation of sin and its consequences.
Peeking
Into the Devil's Playbook
Satan's Strategies for Tempting Christians to Sin
by Dr. Robert Spinney
Temptation is a nearly forgotten topic among Christians today. This is unfortunate because Satan's primary activity in this present age is tempting believers to sin. This booklet is based upon (and introduces the reader to) Puritan pastor Thomas Brooks' classic book Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. It identifies and explains twelve common tactics that Satan uses to tempt Christians to sin. This is spiritual warfare in the biblical sense of the word: warring against Satan as he wars against us by tempting us to sin.
Did
God Create Sports Also?
Thinking Christianly About Sports
by Dr. Robert Spinney
Just like art, music, and literature, sports are one of the many good gifts created by God. But like God's other gifts, this one can be abused and misused. What does it mean to think Christianly about sports? Should the believer think about recreation in the same way that the rest of our sports-crazed culture does? Can an excessive commitment to sports become a form of idolatry? This booklet helps the Christian use recreation so that it becomes a means (and not an impediment) to glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.