Future Friday Focus: Richard Sibbes

I've decided that the Friday Focus author for 2011 will be Richard Sibbes. 

Rather than read isolated titles by Sibbes, we will read all of Volume 1 of the Works (Available from Amazon or free here) and a good bit of Volume 4 (Available from Amazon or free here).  That should keep us in business for the whole of the year and really represent the best value for money - while you're at it you could consider asking a wealthy benefactor to give you all seven volumes of the Works for Christmas! (Available from Amazon)

Beeke and Pederson comment about the two volumes: 'The first volume of Works contains "The Bruised Reed" and the Soul's Conflict," a 175-page treatise on Psalm 42:11, showing how the believer can, by faith in Christ, gain victory over spiritual despair.  The volume concludes with five sermons on 1 Peter 4:17-19 and four other sermons.  The sermon "Christ is Best" (Phil. 1:23-24) alone is worth the price of the book...Volume 4 contains other sermons on texts or portions of the two epistles to the Corinthians, including "Glorious Freedom: The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law" and an exposition of 2 Corinthians 4. This volume emphasizes the centrality of Christ and role of the Spirit in the lives of believers.  According to Sibbes, the Spirit must be an integral part of our lives, our churches, and our world.  We must relish His indwelling and His comforting work, while striving not to grieve Him.  We should walk in daily communication with the Spirit through the Word, relying upon every office the Holy Spirit provides, as described in Scripture.' (quoted from Meet the Puritans, Available from Amazon).

But if you are intimidated by reading two volumes and want to read just a few smaller titles, Banner of Truth has published 'A Bruised reed' from Volume 1 of the Works (Available from Amazon) and also 'Glorious Freedom' from Volume 4 of the Works (Available from Amazon).  So if you want to join us for just those two titles, you're most welcome.

By my calculations we'll finish our current Friday Focus title, 'Knots untied', sometime in February 2011 and so we'll start Volume 1 of the Works then.