Free Logos books 2015

Twelfth Day of Advent

Associate with the humble and the simple, with the devout and virtuous, and with them speak of edifying things.

Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good.​

THOMAS À KEMPIS​

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Medieval Church [LINK]
Elliot Ritzema and Rebecca Brant (editors) (2013)

Find precisely the words you need for any occasion with 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Medieval Church. Choosing a fitting quotation to share with your congregation—a task that can often take hours—will now take you minutes. In this resource you’ll find entries from more than 20 authors and works, including Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas à Kempis, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, John Wycliffe, and more. Share the quotations with professionally designed slides—one to accompany each quotation.

This curated collection of 300 quotations, which works with Proclaim and other presentation software, is organized by title, theme, and associated Scripture references. Every quotation includes a link to the original resource in your Logos library. Each quotation is just a few clicks away from being part of your sermon or message, edited to conform with modern English in a perfect length for preaching.

 

Second Sunday of Advent

A Miscellany Of Men [LINK]
by Gilbert K. Chesterton (1912)

NOTE SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THIS BOOK - CAREFULLY LOOK AT THE PRICE BEFORE PRESSING ORDER - YOU MAY NEED TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO ORDER THIS ONE
IF YOU WERE INADVERTENTLY CHARGED, CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE NEXT WEEK TO FIX THE PROBLEM

A Miscellany of Men contains essays on the most controversial topics of Chesterton’s day. It was written, says Chesterton, at “a time in which the liberal tradition, as I hold it, was not only dying but committing suicide.” His commentary is structured by analyzing the ranks and positions of individuals in the various strata of society. A Miscellany of Men also includes Chesterton’s oft-cited preface on the nature of human equality.

For those that think the present American society has reached its lowest point or that social and political injustice has reached a critical level, these essays about English society during the late 1800 and early 1900's will enlighten you to the fact that these dark characteristics are inherent in man of every age.

 

Fourteenth day of Advent

The Power of God unto Salvation [LINK]
by Benjamin B. Warfield (1903)

The Power of God unto Salvation contains a collection of sermons preached by Warfield in the chapel of Princeton Theological Seminary, which address both the pastoral and theological concerns of his students. These sermons cover a broad range of topics, including divine revelation, salvation, God’s omnipotence, and the person of the Holy Spirit, and reveal Warfield’s theological commentary on key texts.

In 1887 Warfield was appointed to the Charles Hodge Chair at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he succeeded Hodge's son A.A. Hodge. Warfield remained there until his death. As the last conservative successor to Hodge to live prior to the re-organization of Princeton Seminary, Warfield is often regarded by Protestant scholarship as the last of the Princeton theologians.

 

Short time Freebie on Vyrso and Kindle

Raising A Modern-Day Joseph: A Timeless Strategy for Growing Great Kids [LINK] . . . [KINDLE]
by Larry Fowler

Imagine this scenario for a typical teenager in your church: He's separated from his family and sent to live in a hedonistic, no-holds-barred culture. He's stripped of his spiritual support, left alone, and treated unfairly. Then, at his most vulnerable point, his ego is stoked with power and success. Throughout this rollercoaster ride, would he continue to serve God?

This very test was given to the Old Testament Joseph, whose faith remained rock solid. Yet it seems that our youth are ill-equipped to face the moral vacuum in today's culture. Worse, research shows that when young people leave home, many also leave the church. So how can we forge sons and daughters of faith and fortitude?

The vital answers are found in the story of Joseph. Drawing from this timeless narrative, author Larry Fowler offers a biblical plan for building teens who will love and serve Jesus Christ. Biblically based and up-to-the-minute relevant, Raising a Modern-Day Joseph is an essential guide to raising a generation that can pass life's tests with flying colors.

 

Another glitch today at the website; it was still charging for the free book.
Looks like It’s fixed now.

Fifteenth Day of Advent

Startling Questions [LINK]
by J. C. Ryle (1853)

Where art thou in the sight of God? Are you an heir to glory? Shall you be saved? How readest thou? What do you think and feel about the cross of Christ? Have you assurance? Each of these astonishing essays begins in the form of a question found in the Bible. J.C. Ryle’s exploration of these “startling questions” leads to powerful and inspiring answers.

It's readable although his language attempts to imitate KJV English.
There are quite a number of great group ice breakers to get discussion started.

 

Sixteenth Day of Advent

The Complaint of Peace (Querela Pacis) [LINK]
by Desiderius Erasmus [1521] (Open Court Publishing - 1917)

One of the most important figures of the 16th century, Desiderius Erasmus was a leading reformist and Renaissance humanist. Through his works and letters, Erasmus championed that true religion was a matter of inward devotion rather than outward symbols of ceremony and ritual, and sought to reform aspects of the Church from within. His works showed an astonishing intelligence, razor-sharp wit, and an authentic love for God and humanity. Soon after publication, his works were translated and read all over Europe.

Erasmus' personification of Peace is upset with the state of the world, and believes man would be better off paying more attention to it. "At the nativity of Christ did the angels sound the clarion of war?" Filled with Erasmus' customary wit, this volume is as pertinent today as it was when it was first written.

Excerpt:
When I, whose name is Peace, do but hear the word Man pronounced, I eagerly run to him as to a being created purposely for me, and confidently promising myself, that with him I may live for ever in uninterrupted tranquility; but when I also hear the title of Christian added to the name of Man, I fly with additional speed, hoping that with Christians I may build an adamantine throne, and establish an everlasting empire.

But here also, with shame and sorrow, I am compelled to declare the result. Among Christians, the courts of justice, the palaces of princes, the senate-houses, and the churches, resound with the voice of strife, more loudly than was ever heard among nations who knew not Christ. Insomuch that though the multitude of wrangling advocates always constituted a great part of the world’s misfortune, yet even this number is nothing compared with the successive inundation of suitors always at law.
Erasmus, D. (1917). The Complaint of Peace, Translated from the Querela Pacis (A. D. 1521) of Erasmus (pp. 9–10).

 

Advent Day Seventeen

This one looks interesting! ...even if it is a bit moldy

The Idea of Biblical Theology as a Science and as a Theological Discipline [LINK]
by Geerhardus Vos (1886)

Delivered in May, 1894, as his inaugural address as professor of biblical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, this groundbreaking work has seen republication several times since, growing in popularity and referenced as often as any of Vos’ other works. Here he discusses the fundamental idea behind the pursuit of biblical theology, and the very nature of biblical theology itself.

 

Advent Day Eighteen

Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Career [LINK]
by Archibald T. Robertson (1909)

Archibald Thomas Robertson was born on November 6, 1863 in Chatham, Virginia, during the height of the Civil War. His family moved to Statesville, North Carolina, where he grew up. He was baptized in 1876 and immediately recognized God’s call to preach, and attended Wake Forest College. Upon graduation in 1885, Robertson entered The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he devoted himself to Greek studies under John Broadus. He was appointed Greek instructor as a student, and received his Th.M. in 1888. Robertson became an associate professor in 1890, and then served as Professor of New Testament Interpretation from 1895 to 1934. He devoted his life to preaching, teaching, scholarly activities, and giving public lectures, many of which have been reproduced in book form in this collection. He was a founding member of the Baptist World Alliance, and participated in numerous Bible conferences with Dwight Moody and F. B. Meyer.

The widespread success of Epochs in the Life of Jesus prompted Robertson to offer a treatment of Paul’s life in the same manner. In this companion volume, Robertson does not offer critical or textual discussions. Instead, he gives an honest and constructive account of Paul and his work in Acts and the epistles. Beginning with Paul’s life before his conversion, and chronicling his missionary efforts, arrest, and imprisonment, Robertson approaches Paul using all available resources: his own environment, his intellectual and spiritual reflections, his relation to Jesus, and his literary remains all illustrate the development of his theology and the journeys of his life.

 

Nineteenth Day of Advent

Chrysostom: The Orator [LINK]
by John Heston Willey (1902)

John Chrysostom (347 - 407) is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, and his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders. He was the archbishop of Constantinople and an influential early Church Father. He is recognized as a saint in the Orthodox and Catholic Churches and is one of the Three Holy Hierarchs along with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. Given to extreme asceticism, he lived as a hermit for two years before poor health forced him to return to Antioch, where he was ordained as a deacon—and later a priest—of the church at Antioch. His insightful expositions and discourses on the Bible made him a popular orator in the Church, and he was appointed archbishop of Constantinople in 397.

This volume contains John Heston Willey's biography examining the famed preaching of John Chrysostom, Chrysostom: The Orator.

 

Twentieth Day of Advent

Letters to a Christian [LINK]
by John D. Barry (2014)

The Christian life is a journey—and we need not take it alone. As we follow Jesus, we walk alongside fellow pilgrims, and we trace the steps of those who have gone before. We all have something to learn from one another. As the former editor-in-chief of Bible Study Magazine, John D. Barry has had a unique opportunity to share insights from his own journey in the form of letters from the editor. With this compilation, he now invites you to join his journey of personal exploration, faith, and transformation.

 

Twenty first day of Advent

The Bible in the Real World: 31 Inspiring Interviews [LINK]
by Rebecca Van Noord, Jessi Strong and John D. Barry (2014)

How does the Bible impact your life? The answer to that question will be a little different for everyone, and we benefit from hearing the perspectives of people from all walks of life. In this collection of stories, hand-curated from articles previously published in Bible Study Magazine, you’ll hear from ministry leaders, artists, writers, entertainers, scholars, and more. As we walk along with these men and women, we can discover how God’s truth speaks to us right where we are.

The Bible in Personal Study

Ruth Graham
J. I. Packer
Peter Flint
Mark Goodacre
Howard Hendricks
Joni Eareckson Tada
Scot McKnight
Albert Mohler
Margaret Feinberg
Norman Geisler
Justin Taylor
Jeff Bethke
Charles Caldwell Ryrie

The Bible in Everyday Encounters

Gary Chapman
Voddie Baucham, Jr
Sally Lloyd-Jones
Sherry Surratt
Dennis & Barbara Rainey

The Bible in Christian Mission

Lindsay Olesberg
Brad Lomenick
Jim Liske
John Ashmen
Christine Caine
June Hunt
David Powlison
Don Moen
Kutless


The Bible in Extraordinary Places

Lisa Welchel, Joel and Michelle Pelsue
Jeff Totten
Jeff Ryan
Jeff Struecker

 

Twenty second day of Advent

Introduction to the New Testament [LINK]
by Louis Berkhof (1915)

Introduction to the New Testament is designed for students and general readers, and is intended to be instrumental in leading readers to a greater appreciation for New Testament writings. This book includes an extended analysis of literature on the New Testament, including Berkhof’s own appraisal of the most influential 19th century New Testament scholars. Although Berkhof’s subject is the Bible, his pursuit is unapologetically theological: he aims to explain why the church reads and honors the New Testament as the Word of God, and to vindicate the claims of the canonical books against the criticism of modernist skeptics.

 

Twenty third Day of Advent

Revival Addresses [LINK]
by R. A. Torrey (1903)

R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) was both an evangelist and a Bible scholar. Long associated with evangelist D. L. Moody, he became most prominent during world preaching tours in 1902 and 1921. His preaching in Wales in 1902 has been noted as one cause for the Welsh revivals of the early 1900s. He was the first superintendent of the Moody Bible Institute and wrote numerous devotional and theological books. Spiritual awakening followed R. A. Torrey throughout his career as an evangelist. In revivals with the popular gospel singer Charles W. Alexander, Dr. Torrey filled meeting halls with his magnetic presence, passion, and earnestness.

Torrey delivered these seventeen powerful and inspirational sermons over a number of years while preaching in Japan, China, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, India, England, and Scotland.

 

Twenty Fourth Day of Advent

All Free Advent book links remain active until midnight Pacific time

Understanding the Bible Commentary: Isaiah [LINK]
by John Goldingay (2012)

A free commentary on the book of Isaiah is a wonderful way to end the Logos Advent book promotion. Isaiah is oft quoted in the New Testament referring to our promised Messiah.

Excerpt from Isaiah 9:6:
"Christians will see what God did in Jesus as guaranteeing the vision’s fulfillment. In Jesus we see the evidence that the Mighty God really will bring to effect a wonderful purpose and that the Everlasting Father will act effectively as a commander, for the sake of people’s spiritual and physical well-being. But this is a judgment and a statement of hope based on what we know of Jesus rather than an exegetical judgment about the meaning of this passage. The passage is a vision of what God is committed to achieving through David’s line. It receives partial fulfillments in the achievements of kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, and then a fulfillment in Jesus that is potentially final even if its potential remains unrealized. It thus still indicates the agenda to which God has made a commitment and gives human beings grounds for hope.
The son’s name asserts that these four phrases indeed express key truths about Yahweh, who is committed to working with him and through him so that his reign will bring peace and justice (v. 7). The book gives no indication who this son is. It gives no hint about a fulfillment in some contemporary figure. We may call it a messianic vision, but we need to remember that the OT does not use the word messiah for a future redeemer, nor does the promise give the impression of a figure not due to come for centuries. While the beginning of Jesus’ ministry recalls verses 1–2 (Matt. 4:13–16), the NT does not refer verses 6–7 to Jesus, and a reign of shalom and justice does not seem yet to have been implemented in the world—any more than it was in the time of Isaiah."
Goldingay, J. (2012). Isaiah. (W. W. Gasque, R. L. Hubbard Jr., & R. K. Johnston, Eds.) (pp. 71–72). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

 

Just in time for Christmas -
Vyrso and Kindle - Expires 12/25

Flesh: Bringing the Incarnation Down to Earth [LINK] . . . [Kindle]
by Hugh Halter (2014)

Christ’s Body, Human Flesh
If we’re honest, no one really cares about theology unless it reveals a gut-level view of God’s presence. According to pastor and ministry leader Hugh Halter, only the incarnational power of Jesus satisfies what we truly crave, and once we taste it, we’re never the same. God understands how hard it is to be human, and the incarnation—God with us—enables us to be fully alive. With refreshing, raw candor, Flesh reveals the faith we all long to experience—one based on the power of Christ in the daily grind of work, home, school, and life. For anyone burned out, disenchanted, or seeking a fresh honest-to-God encounter, Flesh will invigorate your faith.

 

FaithLife generously offered so many great digital books this year.

Since the beginning of the year there have been well over 200 free books offered including:

• Twenty academic commentaries on 21 books of the bible, 11 published within the last 15 years... and more than 24 pastoral, devotional or shorter focused bible commentaries.
• Works by Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Desiderius Erasmus, John Owens, Charles H. Spurgeon, A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, Karl Barth, Walter Kaiser, N.T. Wright, and many others
• Lexham English Bible with N.T. audio and the Lexham Bible Dictionary
• 22 books from the Harvard Classics collection + Noet's American History collection (8 historical selections) , 7 other Noet titles and the complete Folger Digital Texts Shakespeare collection (42 volumes)

What were some of your favorites?

Rob