Best Selling Books by Joel R. Beeke

Few teachings of the Puritans have provoked such strong reactions and conflicting interpretations as their views on preparing for saving faith. Many twentieth-century scholars dismissed preparation as a prime example of regression from the Reformed doctrine of grace for a man-centered legalism. In Prepared by Grace, for Grace , Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley make careful analysis of the Puritan understanding of preparatory grace, demonstrate its fundamental continuity with the Reformed tradition, and identify matters where even the Puritans disagreed among themselves. Clearing away the many misconceptions and associated accusations of preparationism, this study is sure to be the standard work on how the Puritans understood the ordinary way God leads sinners to Christ. Table of Contents: Introduction: The Question of Preparationism 1. Preparation and Modern Scholarship 2. Precedents to Puritan Preparation: Augustine to Calvin 3. Preparation and Early English Puritans: Perkins, Sibbes, and Preston 4. Preparation for Conversion: William Ames 5. Preparation in Early New England (I): Thomas Hooker 6. Preparation in Early New England (II): Shepard and Pemble 7. Preparation and the Antinomian Controversy: John Cotton 8. Preparation at the Pinnacle of Puritanism: Westminster, Burroughs, and Guthrie 9. Preparation under a Scholastic Lens: Norton 10. Preparation and Later Puritan Critiques: Goodwin and Firmin 11. Later Puritan Preparation: Flavel and Bunyan 12. Jonathan Edwards and Seeking God 13. Continental Reformed Perspectives: Zwingli to Witsius 14. The Grace of Preparation for Faith Appendix: William Ames's Theological Disputation on Preparation

God has blessed Joel and Mary Beeke with a wonderful marriage. God has also given them the opportunity to counsel many people in troubled marriages as well as to provide premarital counseling to scores of engaged couples. In this booklet, the Beekes share ten principles they emphasize in their counseling. Perhaps you and your spouse are due for a checkup in your relationship. If so, carefully consider the important marks of a God-glorifying marriage found in this booklet. Strive to put these things into practice, and your marriage will be better for it! Table of Contents: 1. Building on the Word of God 2. Cultivating Spiritual Fellowship 3. Praying Together 4. Practicing Family Worship 5. Loving Your Spouse 6. Developing Good Communication Skills 7. Complimenting Your Spouse 8. Cultivating Physical Intimacy 9. Developing Friendship and Common Interests 10. Developing Togetherness in Parenting 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.

Our Reformed and Puritan forebears were fond of viewing the Lord’s Supper as a feast given by the Lord of Hosts—the faithful, covenant-keeping God who, in Christ Jesus, is the author, founder, master, and divine host of this feast. Christ Himself, the feast’s provider, is the feast’s provision; He is the feast itself. In this booklet, Joel R. Beeke and Ray B. Lanning consider the benefits true Christians have as the Lord’s Supper, by the Spirit, reconnects us with Christ crucified, renews our covenant with God, and refreshes our inner life. Contents: The Words of Institution The All-Important Adverb: “Unworthily” First Benefit: Reconnection with Christ Crucified Second Benefit: Renewal of Your Covenant with God Third Benefit: Refreshment of Your Inner Life Summary of Benefits 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.

Prayer is a crucial part of the Christian life, and believers must give it careful attention and cultivation. As they pray, Christians exercise their faith in repentance, in submission to God’s will, and in praise to God. Believers in Christ, then, must grow in their prayer life—in their communion with God. In this pamphlet, Joel R. Beeke gives readers helpful, practical ways to improve their prayer lives by first disciplining themselves, in dependence on the Holy Spirit, and by then taking hold of God. Learn what a blessing it is to pray! Table of Contents: Take Inventory of Your Prayer Life Take Hold of Yourself Take Hold Of God 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.

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).

Do you need help teaching the Bible in your family? This guide to family worship helps you lead your children through the last four books of the Pentateuch.

How should we as parents view our children in the church as we are tasked with bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? How should we as congregants view the children in our churches, whom we have a solemn responsibility to evangelize and instruct? In this booklet Joel R. Beeke discusses theological and practical foundations for raising and nurturing children in light of the covenant of grace. Contents: Encouragement Through the Covenant Children of the Covenant The Covenant Promise Rearing Children by Faith Bringing Children to Christ 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.

Read about the thunderstorm, some hidden treasure, and a Bible in a suitcase as well as many other stories about how we should live for God and read his Word. Themes: Living for God and the Value of Scripture.

In these pages Dr Joel Beeke provides us with a first-class tour of some of the great sites of Reformed theology and spirituality. Here we meet John Calvin, reformer extraordinaire; then we encounter the learned Dr William Ames and the insightful Anthony Burgess. Soon we have traveled north to meet the Scotsmen John Brown of Haddington, the great Thomas Boston and the remarkable brothers, Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine. Predictably, but happily our guide brings us to The Netherlands and to the time of the Nadere Reformatie, before taking us back to the New World in the company of the remarkable Theodorus Jacobus Freylinghuysen. But the climax of this tour is not reached until our trusted guide has brought us to the family roots from which all these theologians and pastors came to the strong foundations of Christian living in justification by faith and sanctification in life, nourished by the power of biblical preaching. Author Joel R. Beeke (Ph.D. Westminster Theological Seminary) is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editor of The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, and author of numerous books.

Using the alphabet as a guide, this book provides 26 devotional meditations for young children (ages 4–9), based on Bible texts that children can easily memorize. God’s Alphabet for Life stresses that, like adults, children must be born again, come by faith and repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and live lives of thankfulness to God for His great salvation.

Who were the Puritans, and why are they important? What can we learn from them today? The Puritan movement began in England during the sixteenth century and continued all the way into the early eighteenth century. Although the Church of England was formed as a result of the Reformation, the Puritans believed it needed much more reform. Puritan Heroes is a beautifully illustrated book that gives the reader an idea of what the Puritan movement was about and offers a glimpse into the lives of more than twenty of its most well-known leaders (among them William Perkins, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Goodwin, Anne Bradstreet, and Jonathan Edwards). The book concludes with ten important lessons readers can learn from the Puritans and study questions to help them retain these fascinating stories and assist them in applying the lessons to their lives. It also features a bibliography to encourage further study in greater depth, as well as a glossary and timeline to help readers understand historical context. Written for children and young people, it will prove a suitable introduction to the Puritans for adults as well. Table of Contents: 1. Who Were the Puritans? 2. Richard Greenham: Puritan Pioneer 3. William Perkins: Father of Puritanism 4. William Ames: Calvinist and Congregationalist 5. Richard Sibbes: Warm Heart 6. John Cotton: New England Leader 7. Thomas Hooker: Connecticut Founder 8. Jeremiah Burroughs: Gem of Contentment 9. Thomas Goodwin: Swallowed by God’s Love 10. John Eliot: Apostle to the Indians 11. Thomas Shepard: God’s Story 12. Thomas Brooks: Soul Servant 13. Anne Bradstreet: Pilgrim Poet 14. Richard Baxter: God’s Pen 15. John Owen: God’s Navigator 16. Christopher Love: Presbyterian Martyr 17. John Bunyan: Traveler and Prisoner 18. John Flavel: Providence’s Servant 19. John Howe: Living Temple 20. Joseph Alleine: God’s Arrow 21. Matthew Henry: Bible Commentator 22. Jonathan Edwards: In the Hands of a Loving God

Every Christian yearns to be more Christ-like. This book addresses how we can be more conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29) in four of the most difficult areas of the Christian life: cross-bearing, office-bearing, sorrow, and endurance. "A Christ-centered tour de force which gets us into Christ's servant heart and asks the pointed questions of what that means for us who are in union with Him. Deeply and affectionately pastoral, Dr. Beeke gives us a magisterial example of puritan-infused, preached prose that is as fresh as the air we breath. Like the puritan Richard Sibbes, know to his contemporaries as 'the sweet dropper' Dr. Beeke has a similar touch, presenting to us the confidence, richness, depth, and encouragement of the gospel." - Maurice Roberts

What brings out the best in believers? John Bunyan's life was changed when he abandoned doubt and despair, embracing the necessity and transforming power of the fear of the Lord.

When thinking about Christ’s birth, we often focus our attention on Luke’s detailed gospel account. But to appreciate the main point of the story—that the eternal Son of God assumed our flesh-and-blood human nature—we need to learn from the rest of the Bible why Christ came to earth. Why did Christ come? In this book, thirty-one thoughtful meditations answer this vital question, and the answers encourage us to celebrate Christ’s birth more deeply, see more clearly how it is connected with the rest of His ministry, and recognize its importance for our lives. Table of Contents: To Do the Will of the Father To Save Sinners To Bring Light to a Dark World To Be Made Like His People To Bear Witness to the Truth To Destroy the Works of the Devil To Give Eternal Life To Receive Worship To Bring Great Joy To Demonstrate True Humility To Preach the Gospel To Bring Judgment To Give His Life a Ransom for Many To Fulfill the Law and Prophets To Reveal God's Love for Sinners To Call Sinners to Repentance To Die To Seek and Save the Lost To Serve To Bring Peace To Bring a Sword To Bind Up Broken Hearts To Give Us the Spirit of Adoption To Make Us Partakers of the Divine Nature To Reign as King To Restore Human Nature to Holiness To Be a Faithful and Merciful High Priest To Be the Second and Greater Adam To Satisfy Our Deepest Thirst To Be Loved by God's Children To Reveal God's Glory

Exposes worldliness in the church, and promotes the alternatives of genuine piety and holiness. Parts 1-3 are designed for laymen; part 4 for ministers.

The Reformation did not happen instantaneously; it was something God patiently arranged over a number of years. As you read this book, you will learn how the Lord used some people to plant the seeds of church reform long before October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther published his ninety-five theses. Luther's story is well-known; we trust you will find it interesting and instructive to read about him and about forty others (John Knox, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Zacharias Ursinus, Willem Teellinck, etc.) who contributed to the Reformation - some well known and others not so - most of whom are Reformation heroes. To provide a more full picture of the many sided Reformation, chapters are also included on the Anabaptist and Counter Reformation movements. The book concludes with a brief summary of the influence of the Reformation in different areas of life.

Can any good come from thinking about death? Our natural tendency is to answer that question no! But what if our meditation on death was informed by a theological understanding of death, a recognition of the comfort Jesus’s death affords Christians, and ethical guidance for dealing with death in these complicated days of modern medical developments? Rather than being morbidly unhelpful, authors Joel R. Beeke and Christopher W. Bogosh contend that meditating on dying and death can be profitable, even necessary, for us. Are you prepared to say that your death will be “gain” (Phil. 1:21)? Table of Contents: Part One: The Basics 1. Dying Depicted: Hope in the Old Testament 2. Dying Demystified: Facts about Death 3. Dying Defined: The Wages of Sin 4. Dying Delayed: The Grace of Medicine Part Two: Jesus’s Dying and Death 5. Dying Devotion: Jesus in Gethsemane (1) 6. Dying Devotion: Jesus in Gethsemane (2) 7. Dying Defeated: Jesus Conquering Death 8. Dying Destroyed: No More Death Part Three: Contemporary Issues 9. Dying Desperately: Pursuing Futile Treatment 10. Dying Deliberately: Wise Preparation for Death 11. Dying Demonstrated: Faithful Perseverance until Death 12. Dying Delightfully: Victorious Death

Most Christians know that they should read the Bible, and many have tried, but it is not unusual for people to get stuck, get lost, or get discouraged. Here is a booklet that lays out wise guidelines for how to read the most important book in the world and not give up. Joel Beeke offers many helpful tips on how to benefit from the Scriptures with the constant awareness that our attitude is crucial. Written especially for young people, How Should Teens Read the Bible? Is an extremely practical resource for anyone who wants to read the Scriptures with regularity, joy, and delight.

«Algunas personas piensan que la teología reformada solamente es doctrina y que poco tiene que ver con la doxología. Joel Beeke y Paul Smalley han demostrado lo contrario. Capítulo tras capítulo de su Teología Sistemática Reformada Vol. 1 llevan a sus lectores, no solo a las profundidades de nuestro Dios Trino, sino que también muestran lo que tienen que ver estas grandes verdades con la vida cristiana. Ninguna teología sistemática contemporánea traerá al lector a un mayor entendimiento de cómo la teología florece en doxología como lo hace esta». Matthew Barrett, Profesor asociado de teología cristiana, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary