"The soul is lifted up by the contemplation of the glory of God and of his only begotten Son," writes R. C. Sproul. "It is Christ in his glory who is the object of our worship and adoration. As Christians we join the communion of saints and the host of heaven in lifting up praise and honor to him." During his earthly life and ministry, Jesus experienced humiliation and suffering. "His humanity served as a veil that concealed the splendor of his deity," Sproul continues. "Yet there were moments when his glory shone through." These moments become the focus of The Glory of Christ. From the angels' revelation of Jesus' glory to the shepherds outside Bethlehem, to Jesus' life-changing revelation of his glory to Paul on the Damascus Road, Sproul guides us to a deeper understanding of Christ's glory. Paul said to King Agrippa about his conversion experience, "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." Sproul concludes: "This is the statement every Christian longs to make at the end of his life. This is the proper response to the manifestation of the glory of Christ." Book jacket.

The image of God as light abounds in Scripture and the Christian tradition. In The Radiance of God, Douglas M. Koskela explores the theme of divine radiance across the span of Christian doctrine. The book develops a constructive account of the Christian gospel that traces the journey from darkness into the marvelous light of God. Drawing on an ecumenical range of voices in the tradition, Koskela frames the discussion in terms of three central concepts: allure, movement, and joy. The image of divine radiance suggests the sheer beauty of God that captivates the attention of God’s creatures in wonder, love, and praise. The brilliance of this light initiates a process of movement toward it as the Holy Spirit transforms us in the image of Christ, the light of the world. The culmination of this journey is inexpressible and unending joy as we are immersed in the divine light. By following this threefold pattern through the classic loci of Christian doctrine, this volume offers a sustained and coherent treatment of the economy of salvation from creation to consummation.

The author of Desiring God reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Includes a study guide for individual and small-group use. Isn’t it true—we really don’t know someone until we understand what makes that person happy? And so it is with God! What does bring delight to the happiest Being in the universe? John Piper writes, that it’s only when we know what makes God glad that we’ll know the greatness of His glory. Therefore, we must comprehend “the pleasures of God.” Unlike so much of what is written today, this is not a book about us. It is about the One we were made for—God Himself. In this theological masterpiece—chosen by World Magazine as one of the 20th Century’s top 100 books, John Piper reveals the biblical evidence to help us see and savor what the pleasures of God show us about Him. Then we will be able to drink deeply—and satisfyingly—from the only well that offers living water. What followers of Jesus need now, more than anything else, is to know and love—behold and embrace—the great, glorious, sovereign, happy God of the Bible. “This is a unique and precious book that everybody should read more than once.” —J.I. PACKER, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia

Daily devotional readings for Advent 2018 with select scriptures on the subject of God’s glory. Beginning December 2nd (the first Sunday in Advent in 2018) going through Christmas Day. Put God’s glory at the centre of your Christmas season. Includes a daily Bible reading plan, and prayers for reflection. Christmas Eve: The Radiance of God’s Glory The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3) It’s Christmas Eve—time for us to look again at the baby of Bethlehem. He is worth a long and careful look, for as the writer to the Hebrews says, he expresses God’s nature and glory in a unique and powerful way. The New Testament writers comprehend Jesus as God. Even as he lay in the animal’s feeding trough, he was the Word made flesh. Even as the donkey brushed against his makeshift crib, he remained the one who “sustains all things by the word of his power,” (Hebrews 1:3) keeping all the countless stars in place—stars he had named! Some theologians speak of Jesus as laying aside his glory to be born into this world. The New Testament presents quite a different picture, that of Christ being the perfect manifestation of God’s glory (see 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15–16). Others speak of Christ emptying himself to become human, whereas the New Testament speaks not of emptiness but the “fulness of the godhead” dwelling in him “in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ came to reveal God’s glory, a glory which is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The radiance of God’s glory reaches out to you and me, inviting us in, to love the one who first loved us, worship the one who was born to redeem us, and praise the name of the one who died, so that the costly rescue mission he began at Bethlehem could be accomplished. Prayer: Lord, we praise you for the glory of Christmas—that God is with us and will never leave us. We praise you, for you so loved us, that gave up your heavenly home, shedding your blood on the cross to save us. It is this love, more than anything else, that reveals the fulness of God’s glory to us. Amen. Advent Themes: First Week: God Reveals His Glory. Second Week: The Prophets Foretell Future Glory. Third Week: God’s Glory Revealed in Christ. Fourth Week: To God be the Glory!

By anchoring your understanding of productivity in God's plan, What's Best Next gives you a practical approach for increasing your effectiveness in everything you do. There are a lot of myths about productivity--what it means to get things done and how to accomplish work that really matters. In our current era of innovation and information overload, it may feel harder than ever to understand the meaning of work or to have a sense of vocation or calling. So how do you get more of the right things done without confusing mere activity for actual productivity? Matt Perman has spent his career helping people learn how to do work in a gospel-centered and effective way. What's Best Next explains his approach to unlocking productivity and fulfillment in work by showing how faith relates to work, even in our everyday grind. What's Best Next is packed with biblical and theological insight and practical counsel that you can put into practice today, such as: How to create a mission statement for your life that's actually practicable. How to delegate to people in a way that really empowers them. How to overcome time killers like procrastination, interruptions, and multitasking by turning them around and making them work for you. How to process workflow efficiently and get your email inbox to zero every day. How to have peace of mind without needing to have everything under control. How generosity is actually the key to unlocking productivity. This expanded edition includes: a new chapter on productivity in a fallen world a new appendix on being more productive with work that requires creative thinking. Productivity isn't just about getting more things done. It's about getting the right things done--the things that count, make a difference, and move the world forward. You can learn how to do work that matters and how to do it well.

God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is object of the soul’s happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind’s certainty. God’s peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self-authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.