Free Books

Book Giveaway – An A-to-Z Guide to Biblical Prophecy and the End Times

To celebrate the near conclusion of by May-Term class on Daniel and Revelation, I have a copy of this book by J. Daniel Hays, J. Scott Duvall, and C. Marvin Pate.  Zondervan originally published this book as a Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, I reviewed it under that title in October of 2011.  This is a paperback version, but the contents are the same as the hard-back.

This is a handy, non-sensational guide to prophetic texts in both the Old and New Testaments.  The book includes summaries of prophetic books (Revelation is particularly helpful and has been “spun off” as an e-book for Kindle).  Other topics include schools of thought (dispensationalism, amilennialism, etc.) and specific prophetic images (great white throne, four beasts of Daniel 7, etc.)   Some more obscure topics are covered as well (gematria, 4 Ezra, for example).  As I said in my previous review, the book is a handbook rather than a detailed encyclopedia.  The authors give a quick definition and overview of the topics, enabling the student or busy pastor quickly to get what they need to read a passage.

To enter,  leave a comment and I will pick a winner at random from the comments.  I will close the contest on May 16 and announce the winner then.

Logos Free Book of the Month for May

Logos Bible Software is offering a free book each month in 2012.  For May, you can download Arthur Pink, The Godhood of God for free. The book can be read with either Logos Bible Software, Vyrso, or Bilbia.com, either on your desktop computer or using the Logos App for iPad or the Android. Follow the link to download the book and enter the drawing for the 40 volume Complete Works of A. W. Pink.

Pink is well-known as a Calvinist pastor and expositor of Scripture. Iain Murray said that “the widespread circulation of his writings after his death made him one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century.”  While this influence may have faded a bit in recent years, just about every pastor I know form a generation ago had numerous books by Pink on their shelves.

This little book is a celebration of the majesty of the sovereign God.  Concerning salvation, Pink writes:  “‎Salvation is God’s sovereign work. “God does not save a man because he is a sinner, for if so He must save all men, for all are sinners. Nor because he comes to Christ, for `no man can come except the Father draw him;’ nor because he repents, for `God gives repentance unto life;’ nor because he believes,’ for no one can believe `except it were given him from above;’ nor yet because he holds out faithful to the end, for `we are kept by the power of God.’”

Despite the age of the book, I find it quite readable.  This free book would make for excellent devotional reading.

Last Chance for Free John Bunyan from Logos Bible Software

April’s free book of the month was John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. Make sure you grab this classic before the month is out.

The book can be read with either Logos Bible Software, Vyrso, or Bilbia.com, either on your desktop computer or using the Logos App for iPad or the Android. Follow the link to download the book and enter the drawing for the Complete Works of John Bunyan.

According to Hugh Martin, “Grace Abounding is among the greatest stories of God’s dealings with the human soul—to be put on the shelf beside such treasures as Augustine’s Confessions, Law’s Serious Call, Baxter’s Autobiography, and Wesley’s account of his own spiritual travail” (from Martin’s preface to the 1955 edition of Grace Abounding). Written in 1666, Grace Abounding describes Bunyan’s spiritual journey from unrepentant sinner to a preacher of the Gospel.  In fact, the book was written while Bunyan was in prison for preaching without a license. As a member of the Puritan Free Church, Bunyan was a non-conformist preacher who refused to be silent when ordered to cease his ministry.  When he was arrested, he told the magistrates, “If you release me today, I will preach tomorrow.”

Grace Abounding is a classic Christian work which has long been available in the public domain via Project Guttenberg and similar sources.  Logos has converted the text for use on their Logos platform and added a brief introduction to the work.

Logos Free Book of the Month for April

Logos Bible Software is offering a free book each month in 2012.  For April, you can download John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. The book can be read with either Logos Bible Software, Vyrso, or Bilbia.com, either on your desktop computer or using the Logos App for iPad or the Android. Follow the link to download the book and enter the drawing for the Complete Works of John Bunyan.

According to Hugh Martin, “Grace Abounding is among the greatest stories of God’s dealings with the human soul—to be put on the shelf beside such treasures as Augustine’s Confessions, Law’s Serious Call, Baxter’s Autobiography, and Wesley’s account of his own spiritual travail” (from Martin’s preface to the 1955 edition of Grace Abounding). Written in 1666, Grace Abounding describes Bunyan’s spiritual journey from unrepentant sinner to a preacher of the Gospel.  In fact, the book was written while Bunyan was in prison for preaching without a license. As a member of the Puritan Free Church, Bunyan was a non-conformist preacher who refused to be silent when ordered to cease his ministry.  When he was arrested, he told the magistrates, “If you release me today, I will preach tomorrow.”

The title of the book is taken from 1 Timothy 1:15, where Paul describes himself as the “chief of sinners” who has received mercy and grace from the Lord Jesus Christ. Bunyan is keenly aware of his own estrangement from God.

Grace Abounding is a classic Christian work which has long been available in the public domain via Project Guttenberg and similar sources.  Logos has converted the text for use on their Logos platform and added a brief introduction to the work.

Free Book from Logos: Authentic Christianity, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

This month’s free book from Logos is Authentic Christianity by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the long-time pastor of Westminster Chapel in London (from 1939 to 1968).  Published by Banner of Truth in 2000 and currently distributed by Crossway in America, this volume is subtitled Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles, vol. 1: Acts 1-3.  The book consists of 22 sermons on short texts, some as little as a single verse.  The rest of Acts1-8  is covered in Courageous (Vol 2), Victorious (Vol 3), Glorious (Vol 4), Triumphant (vol 5), and Compelling (Vol 6) Christianity.    These are not commentaries — there is little interaction with the Greek nor does Lloyd-Jones engage in historical backgrounds to illuminate the text.  What you will read here is a sermon based on the text of Acts clearly presenting the Gospel.

Crossway Books currently publishes the whole series.  They pay tribute to Lloyd-Jones:

Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached on the first eight chapters of this dynamic Bible book during the peak of his ministry. Now those expository sermons are gathered together in a six-volume collection. His language is simple and clear so that the truth of the Scriptures would be available to all who desire to understand. Recognized as one of the twentieth century’s most gifted preachers, he is known for his astute analysis of man’s condition and his persuasive proclamation of the gospel as the only true solution.

The sermons in this book are good for devotional reading.  Lloyd-Jones was a preacher, and this clearly comes through each of these chapters.  For example, the conclusion to chapter 4 (Acts 2:37-40 – “Becoming a Christian”) ends with an altar call, urging the reader to give himself to the Lord whatever the cost.

Be sure to visit the Free Book of the Month site and register to win a set of ten Logos books by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.