Includes section "Reviews of recent literature."

Table of Contents: BIBLICAL STUDIES 1. The Age of the Spirit and Revival 2. Trust in the Incarnate Word 3. Our Glorious Adoption: Trinitarian-Based and Transformed Relationships 4. Paul and James: Are We Justified by Faith or by Faith and Works? 5. Gethsemane’s King-Lamb: A Sermon on John 18:7–8, 12–13a 6. The Man of Sin: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 7. Delighting in God: A Guide to Sabbath-Keeping SYSTEMATIC AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY 8. God-Centered Theology in the Ministry of the Word 9. Calvin on Sovereignty, Providence, and Predestination 10. Reading the Puritans 11. Godefridus Udemans: Life, Influence, and Writings 12. John Bunyan on Justification 13. Reformed Orthodoxy in North America 14. The Perspicuity of Scripture 15. Laurence Chaderton: His Life and Ecclesiology 16. Natural Theology: Some Historical Perspective EXPERIENTIAL THEOLOGY 17. Calvin as an Experiential Preacher 18. The Puritans on Conscience and Casuistry 19. Assurance of Salvation: The Insights of Anthony Burgess 20. Wilhelmus à Brakel’s Biblical Ethics of Spirituality 21. Images of Union and Communion with Christ PRACTICAL THEOLOGY 22. Puritans on the Family: Recent Publications 23. Consider Christ in Affliction: An Open Letter to True Believers 24. Learning from the Puritans on Being Salt and Light 25. Puritans on Marital Love PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND MISSIONS 26. God-Centered Adult Education 27. Plain Preaching Demonstrating the Spirit and His Power 28. How to Evaluate Your Sermons 29. Practical Application in Preaching 30. Authentic Ministry: Servanthood, Tears, and Temptations 31. Children in the Church 32. The Minister’s Helpmeet 33. Unprofessional Puritans and Professional Pastors: What the Puritans Would Say to Modern Pastors 34. Catechism Preaching 35. A Life in the Word 36. Why You and Your Family Should Go to Church: Biblical Answers to “Churchless Christianity” CONTEMPORARY AND CULTURAL ISSUES 37. Interview with Joel Beeke about Reformed Churches and Seminaries 38. Handling Error in the Church: Martin Downes Interviewing Joel R. Beeke 39. Practical Lessons for Today from the Life of Idelette Calvin 40. Rediscovering the Laity: The Reformation in the Pew and in the Classroom 41. In Commemoration of the Heidelberg Catechism’s 450th Anniversary: The Catechism as a Confession of Faith 42. How to Battle Hostility and Secularism 43. Busy but Fruitful: How to Manage Time 44. Nurturing Intimate Communication with Your Spouse

Preaching today all too often tragically misses the point. We've all heard sermons that sound more like a lecture, filling the head but not the heart. And we've all heard sermons tailored to produce an emotional experience, filling the heart but not the head. But biblical preaching both informs minds and engages hearts—giving it the power to transform lives. By the Spirit's grace, biblical preaching brings truth home from the heart of the preacher to the heart of the hearer. Joel Beeke—a pastor and professor of preaching with over four decades of experience—explores the fundamental principles of Reformed experiential preaching, examining sermons by preachers from the past and bridging the historical gap by showing pastors what the preaching of God's life-transforming truth looks like today.

This volume grows out of a conference at The John Owen Centre for Theological Study in London to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformer's birth. Topics covered include Calvin’s life and reforming work, his Institutes of the Christian Religion, aspects of his theology, and his commitment to revolutionary living and powerful preaching. The contributors are Joel Beeke, Sinclair Ferguson, Ian Hamilton, Anthony Lane, Ray Pennings, and Paul Wells. Table of Contents: Introduction – Gary J. Williams PART 1—LIFE AND WORK 1. Calvin the Man: A Heart Aflame - Sinclair B. Ferguson 2. Calvin the Reformer - Ian Hamilton 3. Calvin’s Way of Doing Theology: Exploring the Institutes - Anthony N. S. Lane PART 2—DOCTRINE AND EXPERIENCE 4. Calvin and Union with Christ: The Heart of Christian Doctrine - Paul Wells 5. Calvin and Christian Experience: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Christian - Sinclair B. Ferguson PART 3—CHRISTIAN LIVING AND MINISTRY 6. Calvin the Revolutionary: Christian Living in a Fallen World - Joel R. Beeke and Ray Pennings 7. Calvin and Preaching: The Power of the Word - Joel R. Beeke

Calvin for Today is an edited compilation of the stimulating addresses given at the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary’s annual conference in August 2009, at Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book contains a wealth of information and practical applications about how to use Calvin’s thought in our challenging day. Topics include Calvin on preaching Christ from the Old Testament, missions, the church, Scripture, the Spirit’s work, redemption, ethics, believers’ benefits, the early church, reprobation, marriage, and reforming the church. Table of Contents: Preface – Joel R. Beeke Introductory Sermon 1. What Kind of Love Is This? - Dr. David Murray Calvin and the Bible 2. Calvin on the Word of God - Dr. Gerald Bilkes 3. Calvin on Preaching Christ from the Old Testament - Dr. David Murray Calvin the Theologian 4. Calvin on the Holy Spirit - Dr. Joseph Pipa 5. Redemption: Speaking Peace in the 21st Century - Dr. Derek Thomas 6. Union with Christ, the “twofold Grace of God,” and the “Order of Salvation” in Calvin’s Theology – Cornelis Venema 7. Calvin’s View of Reprobation – Donald Sinnema Calvin and the Church 8. Calvin’s Doctrine of the Church - Rev. Neil Pronk 9. Calvin on Reforming the Church - Dr. Derek Thomas 10. Calvin and Missionary Endeavor of the Church – Dr. Michael Haykin 11. Calvin on the Early Church – Ligon Duncan Calvin the Ethicist 12. Calvin on Ethics – Nelson Kloosterman 13. Christian Marriage in the 21st Century: Listening to Calvin on the Purpose of Marriage - Dr. Michael Haykin Calvin and His Contemporary Impact 14. The Resurgence of Calvinism in America - Dr. Ligon Duncan 15. Why is Calvin Important Today? - Dr. Joel Beeke