This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Christian Focus Publications. They are offering copies of A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689  to five winners.

What People Have Said About the Book:
Joel R. Beeke: This is an important resource for Baptists to understand their historic doctrines that were rooted in the Reformation. While I would disagree with the appendix that argues for credobaptism, many of the chapters are superb in their biblical, theological, and experiential understanding and application of the great truths of Scripture.
 
Tom J. Nettles: This commentary on the 1689 contains all the riches needed in this peculiarly relevant undertaking. It is set in its rich historical context without destroying its ongoing contemporary relevance. The authors are committed to the confession’s theological position in the context of rigorous biblical exposition. Both the content of the confession and the outlay of its exposition contains all the strengths of doctrinal catholicity, orthodoxy, evangelicalism, and Baptist thought. Each author has a deep grasp of the rich heritage of historical theology and the issues involved in canonical biblical interpretation and brings these to bear on the specific article under discussion. This volume will add richness to the weekly study of a pastor and give an invaluable book for church groups for enriching their biblical knowledge and the contextual consistency and doctrinal coherence of the inspired Scriptures.

Conrad Mbewe: I am grateful that there is a growing interest in doctrinal Christianity here in Africa and all over the world. Whereas there are many books dealing with one or two aspects of theology, it is good to have one book that gives those coming to Reformed Baptist convictions a comprehensive view of what we believe. The New exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, written by proven men in ministry, is such a resource. Let us make it available to many. The fruit will be evident for all to see for generations to come!

Ian Hamilton: It may seem odd that a convinced Presbyterian should write a warm commendation to this volume expounding the 1689 Baptist Confession. However, I do so with pleasure and seriousness. Throughout church history, confessions of faith have served the church admirably, helping to guard the church’s biblical identity and gospel calling. You do not need to agree with every sentence in this 1689 Confession to benefit greatly from its exposition by men of theological orthodoxy and pastoral integrity. Martin Bucer’s maxim, ‘True theology is not theoretical but pastoral; the end of it is to live a godly life’, is richly expounded throughout this fine volume. Read and sink your mind and heart into the rich truths as expressed in this new work.
TO ENTER:
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of this fantastic new resource, enter your email address below.

Be sure to take a look at the “Blue Friday” sale this week at Logos. There is lots of good material on sale—books, commentaries, reference works, series, and more.

(Yesterday on the blog: She Died Too Soon)
Why You Don’t Need to Worry (So Much) about Your Schooling Choices
“Some parents seem to know exactly how they’re going to school their children from a very early age—whether homeschool, private school, or public school—never second-guessing themselves at any point from kindergarten through twelfth grade. That’s awesome. Terrific! I applaud those parents and commend them for their commitment to whichever school choice they’ve made for their kids. But this article isn’t for those parents. This article is for the rest of us…”
Let The Fire Fall (Video)
The John 10:10 Project has such neat videos: like this new one that celebrates “Firefall,” the phenomenon that takes place in February at Yosemite.
Charles Spurgeon on Social Justice
In the past century, one question has constantly plagued the church: How should the people of God respond to social issues? Rather than buying in to the “social gospel,” Alex DiPrima looks back to an unexpected source for biblical clarity: Charles Haddon Spurgeon. (Sponsored Link)
Why Baptists Can’t Be Theonomists
“Two recent events highlight that being a Baptist is incompatible with being a theonomist or Christian nationalist.” Joe Carter explains why these two things tend to be incompatible.
What Is Mormonism?
Ligonier Ministries offers a really helpful introduction to Mormonism. “Mormonism teaches that there are many gods, with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being three separate gods among many others. Furthermore, it is also possible for humans to ascend to godhood. Obedience to moral laws and observance of religious rituals are central to the Mormon faith.”
13 Pieces of Unconventional Preaching Advice
I don’t agree with all of this advice, but do think each of the 13 pieces is worth considering.
‘Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall’ Is No Longer a Fairy Tale
Trevin Wax: “Your phone is designed every day, every hour, to tell you that you’re the center of the universe. If your phone is your world, and if the settings and apps are tailored to you and your interests, then with you at all times is a world that revolves around you. No wonder we find it hard to set the phone aside. Nothing else has the same effect of putting us at the center. Nothing else makes us feel more in control, more Godlike, more knowledgeable, more connected.”
Flashback: The Beauty of Duty
In former days Christians…longed to be dutiful in devotion, dutiful in obedience, dutiful in every responsibility and every role. They believed that from their duty would grow a deepening delight.

Like Daniel in the Old Testament, we are called to live out the lifestyle of the Jerusalem (above) to which we belong, even when we live in the Babylon (below) where we don’t really belong. —Sinclair Ferguson

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’”

(Yesterday on the blog: God Has Found You Faithful)
Be Worthy of Your Gray
Andrée Seu Peterson: “Scripture says men are held in bondage all their lives by fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). And women by fear of gray. The secret is that once confronted, the boogeyman is not so formidable after all.”
When No One Is Watching: The Heart of a Christian Remote Worker
Reagan Rose has an article meant to challenge those who work from home. “If we’re being really honest, at times we’ve all taken advantage of the remote work arrangement in a way that felt less than honest. The problem, however, isn’t that remote work makes us lazy workers. It just makes it easier to get away with.”
Who Will ‘Stand in the Gap’?
D.A. Carson tells of a particularly important verse. “I do not have a ‘life verse,’ or even a favorite Bible verse. That is not a criticism of those who enjoy such blessings; it may even be a confession that in some domains I have a short attention span. But I would find it easier to list a hundred (or a thousand!) verses that have shaped my life in some significant way than to list one that can claim exclusive influence.”
More Concerning News on Social Media and How It Influences Us
“I’m very concerned about social media, where it is taking us, and how hard it is to extract ourselves from it, even if we want to. Worse, many of the platforms seek to get their users hooked, and data suggests they are downright harmful in a number of ways. I’m beginning to start thinking about ways to reduce how much I rely on these platforms.” Many of us share such concerns.
If a Tree Falls in a Forest?
“The woods looked like a maze of intersecting lumber.  Limbs, torsos of torn trees, and scattered boughs needed to be cleared. Power saws buzzed in nearly every direction. As I walked I found myself humming an old Fanny Crosby hymn, Rescue the Perishing. ‘Rescue the perishing, care for the dying. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.’”
Why Are So Many Young Childless Men Getting the Snip?
There is something so very tragic about this. “Often the reason that men are giving to Dr Low, who often asks them to consider their options before going ahead with the surgery, is that the world is running out of hope and why would you want to bring a child into it? Hope has gone. Climate change, sustainability issues, warfare, massive political upheaval. What’s the point of dumping that all on a young person? Won’t they hate you for it anyway?”
How Do I Read the Old Testament Historical Books Devotionally? (Video)
Dr. Peter Lee answers in this brief video from RTS.
Flashback: The Depth of My Depravity
You don’t know how deeply sinful you are by your unrighteousness deeds, but by your rejection of God and his grace. That is the most serious, heinous, and damnable sin of them all.

Sin can no more stand against the presence of the Holy Spirit than darkness can resist the gentle, all-pervasive beams of morning light. —F.B Meyer